The Guilded Chain and Sky of Swords by Dave Duncan

[Rookie]

The Guilded Chain

I picked this up a while back along with "Sky of Swords" at my local Borders Book Store.

Its a story about one of the greatest of the King's Blades, the loyal trained bodygaurds of the king and his heirs. The Blades are trained at an academy and bound to a ward in a ritual, whether to the King himself in the Royal Guard, or some other noble or person designated by the King.

Durendal is the main character, confronted by betrayal, politics, deciet, and adventure.

Very good story and interesting plot. Definetly worth a read.

Sky of Swords

This is supposedly a sequal to The Guilded Chain, but could be read as a stand alone novel. It follows the unloved Daughter of King Ambrose from the Guilded Chain. It also includes Durendal in certain parts.

But then you get to a point where you're reading and you go, "WTF!?" but of course you figure it out in the end. Interesting to read.

Its a bit more graphic in terms of sexuality. But you can see clearly how events lead to other events to the final outcome, which is actually shown in the Gilded Chain even though it comes before Sky of Swords.

Both are good reads, Dave Duncan is a very good writer.

[Azuriell]

You have caught my attention. :)
I think I'll get these books monday when I go to the library, I'm in the mood for a new fantasy book.
Thank you.

Oh and what do you mean with a bit more graphic in terms of sexuality?

[Rookie]

the sex gets a little detailed in Sky of Swords, is what i mean. But only once and not for very long if i remember right. Not for immature readers.

I hope you like them.

[Azuriell]

Oh a sexscene in a book... a fantasy book.
Wierd...
I can imagine myself a couple of things.

And thank you, I'm sure I'll enjoy the books. :)

Are there any other sequels or books of this writer?

[Rookie]

He has a whole series about the Kings Blades.

Not including the two mentioned above:

Lord of the Fire Lands
Paragon Lost
Impossible Odds
The Jaguar-Knights (new according to the book)

Then theres a series called The Great Game:
Future Indefinite
Present Tense
Past Imperative

But i just grabbed those out of the back of the Guilded Chain, i havent read them personally. But you can read any of the Kings Blades as a stand alone, but they add up to a much larger story.
Enjoy.

[Azuriell]

So I can just read them in no particular order?
Or should I read them in some order, if I would like to read all.

[Rookie]

Might check the front cover for the exact order.

[Pendraeg]

heh, this was fun- I saw the name Dave Duncan and my brain almost melted trying to figure out why that name was so familiar. All hail wikipaedia! I have read one of his earliest series, somewhere around when it was new so i guess about 93-94 called 'A man of his word' that starts with 'The magic casement' I don't remember much about the books other than that it had a really interesting magic "system", all the "other" races like goblins and trolls and what not, was just novelty human races with a twist.. and that i at the time really enjoyed them. I might have to go back to his books sometime and read more of them i guess :)