Paragon Lost
A Chronicle of the King's Blades
-
-
4.6 • 5 Ratings
-
-
- $4.99
-
- $4.99
Publisher Description
Many legends have emerged from the shadows of Ironhall, yet surely none can surpass the greatness and glory predestined for Sir Beaumont—possessor of the purest and strongest of hearts, and a mind as quick, keen, and accurate as his sword. But the day he sets out in the service of the elderly Lord Wassail turns to a black one, and young Beau's journey ends in horror and blood . . . and disgrace. Banished from the King's Blades, he now faces a grim future as a homeless pariah, a creature to be shunned and despised. But redemption can come from unexpected directions and in unrecognizable guises. Approached in secret by the legendary Durendal, now Grand Master of the Order, the dishonored paragon is offered one last chance to win back his weapon and his place among his brothers in arms. But to do so, Beau must ride alone back through the icy gates of Hell . . . and do battle with the Devil himself.
Customer Reviews
Solid swashbuckling fun!
The Kings Blades - graduates of the foremost school of swordsmanship in the continent- are bound by magic to protect their Ward : no MATTER WHAT IT TAKES. Whether that means protecting their Ward from weather, bandits, civil war, or his own poor planning or stupidity, the Blades are there. What happens when a reluctant Ward is forced to take three new bonded Blades into the steppe lands on a secret diplomatic mission? A mission so secret, it has been embarked on with no preparation, no understanding of the land or its perils both political and geographic ? And apparently, no sense of geography ? (Its HUNDREDS of LEAGUES, with NO ROAD? ) Even worse, an Ivan the Terrible type autocrat is willing to do anything to obtain Blades of his own, because his paranoia sees The Kings Blades as the magical solution to his constant terror of traitors plotting against him and his family. Guarded by a personal army unit who remain loyal, because they know the people would kill them for their inhuman crimes at the behest of the same Tzar, even these men may become tools for the Blades to keep their Ward from disappearing into one of many isolated dens of torture and dark magic where the tzar finds his entertainment. However well they perform, however, the Paragon will not escape the wrath of the King- sometimes, sacrifices need to be made, to prevent a multinational war, to hold onto a throne, to keep a nation whole- even when those sacrifices are The Kings Blades. Sandwiched between two kings and two princes, all seeking to preserve their own power, The Paragon of the Blades, Beau, must find a way to dance, lunge, parry and score his hits on the worlds political stage, as well as with his sword. All the while, making sure that he gets the girl- or all the girls, in the best Blade tradition.
“Just one more chapter” rating: up till 2 AM. Solid 4+/5