Customer Reviews

Paragon Lost: A Chronicle of the King's Blades

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Every King needs guards that are loyal to and willing to give up their lives in service to his majesty. In the kingdom of Chivial, the king's Blades are bound to their liege through a secret magical spell and to whomever the king binds them to as well. Sir Beaumont is the Blade with the best skills and is an excellent planner. His schemes are always successful, a trait that irritates his king.

Beau is bound by King Athlegar to Wasseil for the trip to Skyrria whose ruler Czar Igor is a madman willing to do anything to learn the binding spell for the king's blades. Beau uses chicanery and sleight of hand to successfully complete his mission and the king, instead of being grateful, dismisses Beau from his services.

This is an excellent swords and sorcery fantasy starring a protagonist who is right so much of the time, it is easy to see why he grates on the King's nerves. Skyrria feels like czarist Russia as a place where everyone has a hidden agenda, spellbound dogs are killing Igor's enemies and the people are afraid to say a word for fear of being killed. Chivial is too tame for the likes of Beau and it is hoped that he will appear in another king's Blade adventure living in a place like Skyrria.

Harriet Klausner

Paragon Lost by Dave Duncan starts another set (three) of book dealing with King's Blades. The first set, A Tale of the King's Blades dealt with a central theme and, for the most part, story line. The next three books I believe are stand-alone novels that deal with events after the first set of books. I think to really understand the events of this book you should read the first set of books before tackling these books. The best order to read the first set is: Gilded Chain, Lord of the Fire Lands, and Sky of Swords. Then move on to this set of books. I only say that because the back story will make the events in this book much more enriching. However, if this is the only Duncan book you can track down you won't be too lost reading this first.

This book follows the style that Duncan fans have come to know and love. Again Duncan weaves a tale where both the plot and the characters are equally important. Just when you think one will trump the other, the other rears up and takes over. It's flawlessly done and makes for yet another fantastic read and one that is definitely hard to put down.

The plot of this book is rather simple, but done in a way that adds depth and intrigue to the entire book. The plot is basically a disgraced bade is given a mission that no one else could do. However, in between finding out what the mission is and the culmination of the mission, Duncan gives the reader a look into this disgraced Blade's past and shows the reader why he is in the position he is in. Along the way there area few side-plots as well as an epic battle. At times, some authors put in side-plots and they often feel forced or rushed, however, with Duncan they flow well and become more enriching to the story.

The characters in this book are just as crisp and likeable as any other character I have read from Duncan. He truly does have a knack for writing characters that readers can not only identify with, but care about as well. I wish I could describe more, but I don't want to spoil anything for potential readers.

I would recommend this book to any fantasy fan who is looking for a lightly different twist of traditional sword and sorcery books. This is truly a diamond in the rough series of books that I think the vast majority of people would really enjoy. I can't say it enough, people need to get a hold of these books and read them!

My wife and I are both Dave Duncan fans. Our favorites have been his Seventh Sword and Man of His Word series, and they both rank high on my reading list for all fantasy authors. Paragon Lost ranks up there with any of Duncan's previous works. It is a big-time get-lost-in-the-time-warp page-turner. Great characters, fast-moving and unpredictable plot, set in an interesting, consistent world. As always, Duncan's characters are believable, flawed (human) but lovable. They move you as you read. Well worth getting in hardback.

What a brilliant read. This matches Duncan's first in this loosely connected series, 'The Gilden Chain', one of my top 5 fantasy reads. This book is stylish, witty and immediately engaging. Fabulous characters, intense plotting, superb narrative construction with some truly gorgeous prose. Run, don't walk, to get this. And if you haven't read 'The Gilded Chain' shame on you ... rectify the omission immediately!

Very good once again an old fashioned fantastic adventure that is light on the magic (thank god). The book follows a group of Blades as they leave their country of origin and go to a country that in a lot of ways mirrors medieval Russia.

Its sort of a back story for the events that were chronicled in "the gilded chian" so some of the characters are very familiar. It is good to see most of them in their prime. It is still wonderful but it is my least favorite book of all of the David Duncan books that I have read.

Overall-Still, just buy the book and thank me later.

Duncan has a knack of keeping you glued to your page even if the plot is puerile - and this is one great plot, the best of all the King's Blades series that I've read so far.
Beau manages to get through impossible tasks with fine-honed reasoning and an almost preternatural sense of how things will fall out - and you don't get the idea that he's unbelievable for all that.
Fantasy, romance and mystery fans will love this book.

I have been a fan of The King's Blades series since it's start. The characters are very real, and the plots are a few notches above the plots in most of the fantasy books on the market. In fact I would say that the plots are better than just about any book out there. The wind and turn and keep you guessing.

And this book sets itself apart from the others in the series with the creation of a truly likeable hero. The kind that makes you cheer outloud. Sir Beaumont, the best swordsman in the world. And yet, he never resorts to the sword but his cleverness and, yes, more guts than any human being has any right to have. This is fantasy after all. The type of guy to walk right into a trap the villains have set. And make it work against them. And above all, a man of his word. What more could you ask for?

Here is the latest in the wonderful Blade series by Dave Duncan. The whole idea of the Blade series is beautifully concieved and each 'chronicle' has enriched the legend. This new one is the best by far. The hero, Beaumont, is the most interesting Blade so far. There are continuing characters and situations. I love the Baels for one example. You will too. They are here in all their Baelish splendor. Get it now--if you have not read the others get them too. They do not have to be read in order but it helps. I was a great fan of Patrick Obrien and this is the sword and sorcery equivalent. Why are you still reading this--order the BOOK!!!

I didn't think that this could happen, after reading the rather abysmal "King's Daggers" series, but Dave Duncan has written another masterpiece in Paragon Lost, a chronicle of the King's Blades.
For those of you who haven't yet read the "King's Blades" trilogy, it might be a good place to start before you try this one. A lot is referred to from those books, especilly pertaining to Durrendal. While this info isn't necessary to enjoy the book, it's nice to realize that you know EXACTLY what the characters are talking about when referring to their hero.
In this book, you read about the daring Sir Beaumont, first Brat at Ironhall after Durrendal became Grand Master. This most promising blade soon falls far from glory in a horrific and bloody journey. Now, he's offered one chance to regain all that was lost, honour, respect, and his cats-eye sword.
A fantastic book, especially for those who are fans of the series, I would reccomend this book to anyone at all. It's got so many different topics in it that it shoud please just about anyone.

Paragon Lost (2002) is the fourth fantasy novel in the King's Blade series, following Sky of Swords. This is the story of Sir Beaumont, a protege of Sir Roland and probably the best swordsman ever produced by Ironhall. Moreover, Beaumont is a political genius, a Machiavelli, a Mycroft Holmes to Roland's Sherlock.

In this novel, Ned is born in a rich Alderman's household as the cook's [...]. While never acknowledged by his father, he lives in this household for almost twelve years. Upon the master's death, however, he is shipped off to Ironhold.

When Ned arrives, Sir Roland has just become the acting head of Ironhall upon the death of the Grand Master. Roland makes time to interview the boy and decides that he is too young. He shows such promise, however, that Roland arranges for Ned to work at a nearby farm for a year.

At his delayed admission to Ironhall, Ned chooses the non-traditional name of Beaumont. Although now the Brat, he wins admirers among the staff and students and is even allowed to dine with the Sopranos. While he is smaller than average, he is strong and nimble and quickly becomes proficient with all types of swords.

Upon becoming prime, Beau is told that he, as well as Arkell and Oak, are to be bound to Lord Wassail. A loyal supporter of the King during the Thencaster affair, Wassail had adamantly refused to bind Blades to himself, but has been overruled by the King and was convinced by Roland of the necessity. He has been chosen to escort Princess Tasha, niece to the Czar of Skyrria, back to Cavil to become King Athelgar's bride. Thus, the Blades are an honor -- and actual -- guard for the future queen.

Wassail, Beau, Arkell, Oak and their company take ship to Isoland. In Lavalle, Beau falls in love with Isabelle, an Isolandian working in the Chivan Ambassador's household. From there the party travels overland to Skyrria. Beau completes his mission and returns with Princess Tasha, but has to leave other members of the mission behind. Worse, his ward has died on the return journey, with homicidal affects among the Blades. Upon their return to Lavalle, Beau marries Isabelle and takes her back to Grandon with him. After reporting to the King, Beau is released from his bond, becomes Ned Cookson once again, and lives as a casual laborer in Grandon.

All this is preliminary to the loss of the paragon, which takes Ned back to Skyrria to conclude the affair.

The author provides a vivid portrait of Medieval Russian character and environment. Igor is loosely based on Ivan the Terrible, but even more evil. Fedor, his son, is only casually evil through selfishness. Sophie, Igor's wife, is delightful and her younger sister, Tasha, is naive but good-natured. Dimitri, the older brother of Sophie and Tasha, is loyal and protective, but also naive.

This story has a larger scope than the previous novels. It provides a deeper look at the geography and politics of the Euranian continent and some more about Athelgar's family.

Duncan has surpassed himself with this novel. It has all the hallmarks that you expect him -- likeable but eccentric characters, political chicanery, swordfights, mysterious occurrences -- as well as probably the most notable protagonist of his career, a Beau Geste of substance. With his release from the King's service, Ned is truly a paragon lost.

Don't miss this one!

-Arthur W. Jordin