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Greatcoats #5.3
Grave of Thorns
The price of betrayal...
Murielle de Vierre was once the King's Thorn, a loyal member of the legendary swordfighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats. But a single poor choice turned her into a traitor and set her on a path that led far from the ideals to which she'd once held. Now she wanders alone, disgraced and despised, searching for the road home.
Murielle de Vierre was once the King's Thorn, a loyal member of the legendary swordfighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats. But a single poor choice turned her into a traitor and set her on a path that led far from the ideals to which she'd once held. Now she wanders alone, disgraced and despised, searching for the road home.
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2021
141 people want to read
About the author
Sebastien de Castell
55 books5,060 followersHi Folks!
My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT is now available. Cade Ombra and his misfit band of mercenary war mages are determined to prevent a cataclysmic war between supernatural beings. But peace at any price might mean killing an awful lot of people. The Malevolent Seven might be heroes, but they'll be the good guys . . .
My seventeenth novel is titled PLAY OF SHADOWS. A swashbuckling fantasy set in the world of mystical theatre where exalted actors can channel the spirits of the historical figures they portray on stage. But Damelas Chademantaigne seems to be summoning the spirit of a notorious villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!
My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
You can get a pair of free stories here.
The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.
As to who I am? Well . . .
Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT is now available. Cade Ombra and his misfit band of mercenary war mages are determined to prevent a cataclysmic war between supernatural beings. But peace at any price might mean killing an awful lot of people. The Malevolent Seven might be heroes, but they'll be the good guys . . .
My seventeenth novel is titled PLAY OF SHADOWS. A swashbuckling fantasy set in the world of mystical theatre where exalted actors can channel the spirits of the historical figures they portray on stage. But Damelas Chademantaigne seems to be summoning the spirit of a notorious villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!
My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
You can get a pair of free stories here.
The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.
As to who I am? Well . . .
Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 8, 2022
Another brilliant short story from Greatcoats saga
April 12, 2024
Wow this was a great short story. The last chapter is a nice payoff. Sebastian de Castell's writing really shines here.
June 10, 2022
A cracking short story from the Greatcoats series, set after the Tyrant's Throne and beautiful little story of redemption and regret. Murielle de Vierre was once the King’s Thorn, a loyal member of the legendary swordfighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats. But a single poor choice turned her into a traitor, and set her on a path that led far from the ideals to which she’d once held. Now she wanders alone, disgraced and despised, searching for the road home. I'm absolutely loving these background stories of some of the characters we have seen through out the quartet. If you love the Greatcoats series, these will give you a fix to what you have been missing. Highly recommended....😁💙🔥🗡
September 29, 2024
Excellent short story set after the conclusion of the main series and told from the perspective of one of the 13 greatcoats who returned to Falcon’s ‘side’ after joining those who turned to another cause (in Tyrant’s Throne). The notes on these stories at the end of the collection are a really good perspective and are particularly good for this short story.
October 16, 2023
...and I'm crying again. Sebastien de Castell is a wonderful writer, and Kristin Atherton is a fantastic narrator.
July 30, 2025
This is a perfectly written portrayal of emotions for one of the King’s Greatcoats. One, the King’s Thorn, of the 41 that betrayed their country when the choice came & Morn’s army came. It helps if you’ve read The Greatcoats series before reading this story. Am a huge fan of de Castell’s work & will read anything he writes.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews