The Sword Saint

This is the most underrated trilogy I've ever read. Conn Iggulden using a pen name for this trilogy definitely impacted how many people have heard of it, which is a shame because the entire trilogy was great.

Clocking in at a little under 1000 pages for the entire trilogy, it's one of the leanest series I've ever read. The Sword Saint in particular - about 330 pages- was all killer no filler. This entire book was fantastic, it set up an entirely new bad guy and did it easily while paying off the narrative threads of the last two books. Iggulden does a fantastic job with characters, every single one of them feels real and all the major characters have satisfying arcs, besides maybe one. Iggulden is able to maximize investment in character with very little page time.

The magic in this series is cool. There are magical objects around that grant abilities and they have been largely hoarded by noble families who each have a family heirloom, but occasionally, a person also just have a magical ability, or a “knack”, like being able to see a few seconds into the future or nulling the magical objects around.

The combination of magic, compelling characters, and surprising plot developments (plus very tense action sequences!) made this entire series extremely bingeable and compelling. If you like political fantasy, fantasy about thieves and outlaws (the series vaguely feels like Gentleman Bastards to me), or fast paced novels that don't bog themselves down with worldbuilding, I highly encourage you to check this trilogy out.

And Done!!!!!

Reading the first chapter, I knew we were back with Darien(Rome), hoping Shiang(China or any Asian Empire) will become an ally nation or anything just to hold on to Hondo, Bosin and Taeshan, just to mix up the story a bit and YES!!!! We do have some mixing up and a new nation Féal(European more like French undertones because of the names Jean and Louis).

So many good things, Elias is back and that surprise tidbit in his family life WOW!!! We see the return of Nancy again(Darien's version of Shandril), Vic Deeds as good as ever with pistols and as self centered as ever, of course a lot more(three more to be exact, characters) Arthur, I was hoping Mr. Iggulden would finally use him or something but.........(I mean you have a golem albeit the stature of a kid, but can learn anything[I wonder if he sees Vic, can he suddenly use and shoot as good as him]), such a waste of materiél, the formation of good team(sort of the Seven Samurai).........

The story was fast paced, faster than the previous books, I like his pacing method, build up, build up and then fighting starts, so many plot lines, there were some that the author finished, there were some still hanging, Arthur........the Fool(the last of the Returners), Lord Jin, the other families and one heck of a cliffhanger(honestly please resolve this story, Mr. Iggulden, I love your characters, everyone, even those that passed away.......biggest one was........(ooopppsss)

All I can say is the whole trilogy felt like it had so many unfinished stories, threads, a new trilogy would really be great to really finish those unfinished topics, also some more hints on the other cities, the formation of Darien, the family stones.........The Salt Empire, where the heck is the salt.............why was it called the Salt Empire, I know during the Greek Empire, salt was used as payment.......I just hope someone really answer this one.

All in all the whole series was good, a lot of threads unaswered, those answered were done in spectacular battles, I will definitely come back for more, for Arthur, for the stones, the ancient history, the knacks, magic........ohhhhh also a new follower of C. F. Iggulden!!