Arc Review: A Novel of the Court of Shadows

Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien de Castell

Publication Date: February 6, 2024 (US) First published December 7. 2023

Summary from NetGalley:

ARC provided by Hachette Book Group via NetGalley for an honest review.

Confession:

This was a wonderful return to the world of Tristia and the Greatcoats. This is a beautifully written standalone that introduces us to a new Greatcoat who is responsible for investigating the supernatural phenomenon in this magical world where the gods have died and faith is waning.

I loved Estevar Burros, he is such a great character. He is smart, charming, and has some wonderful witty and yet contentious banter. He knows how to investigate and find the answers that need to be found, and even though he finds them, they can sometimes elude the other characters and the readers who come along for the ride. We find Estevar at a kind of crossroads in his life, he was injured in his last duel and is struggling to recover. He finds himself in the middle of a war at one of the most holy sights in the country. He needs to find allies fast, and still keep the demons, both real and his own at bay.

There are a lot of other great characters in this book, many of them Estevar’s suspects, but the one that I liked the most was Caeda. She is a young woman who lived in the village near the abbey and she was done some grievous harm before Estevar takes her under his wing. He teaches her some of his investigative techniques, and she proves quite good at it, figuring things out on her own. She is smart, and though she is angry, she can keep control of herself. She is often the one to keep Estevar grounded in their investigation. Her role in the story becomes more apparent and important as the mystery is solved and the end of everything is imminent.

I also need to mention Estevar’s trusty companion, Imperious, a mule that is by his side throughout the story. He is a wonderful companion that appears to know more of what is going on than anyone else in the story. He is very brave and also very stubborn. I love how he defends and saves Estevar many times.

The plot is a truth seeking journey that has at its heart a murder mystery. There is also a lot of philosophical and religious discussions amongst the many players of this tale. The writing is beautiful and captivating both in the descriptions of the decaying and doomed abby and the action sequences. The pacing is a tad slower than the previous books, but it never feels tedious or drawn out. The frenetic pace of the action sequences certainly make up for the slower bits, although these are few. The mystery is nicely done, with the clues woven into the story to be found by the reader and the final reveal was stunning. 

This is a standalone book, but there are references to events that happened in the Greatcoat series, which doesn’t take away from this story, but might be a tad confusing. Also the role of the Greatcoats as magistrates is not explained as well here as in the series, which for first time readers might lead to some misunderstandings. That said, this still a great way to be introduced to this marvelous world and the wonderful characters that inhabit it. I highly recommend that you give this one, or better yet, the Greatcoat series,a chance. Especially if you like your stories full of swashbuckling heroes that will capture your heart.