I enjoyed this quite a bit. This is the second in the "Tales of the King's Blades," a series I'd seen recommended. I couldn't find the first, The Gilded Chain in stores but took a chance on this one, and fortunately as Duncan tells you upfront, this is a stand-alone. I find the premise intriguing: the king's blades of Chivial are superbly trained swordsmen who are bound to their wards. For the time bound, in some cases for life, almost their entire personality is subsumed in protecting their ward--and they gain a preternatural sense when their ward's life is threatened.
That form the backdrop to, but isn't really the central focus of the novel. That really is the "Fire Lands" of Baels. If Chivial is reminiscent of England, then the land of the Baels is reminiscent of Denmark, and most of the book is set there and deals with gaining its kingship--although yes the blades are involved--in particular two trained at their college, Raider and Wasp. The book is decently-written, gripping and flowing. The plot definitely isn't predictable, and the main characters by and large appealing. I'd definitely be interested in reading more in the series and think it's a shame it's not more popular. It's a satisfying, entertaining read for anyone who enjoys high fantasy, even if perhaps a tad too generic to be a standout.
