Epic Fantasy, No Waiting: Julia Knight’s Duellists Trilogy

Released back-to-back-to-back in October, November, and December of 2015, the books star a brother-and-sister pair of professional swordsmen, Kacha and Vocho, who have risen from nothing to become stars of the fabled duellists’ guild, a group of master fighters who stand in eternal guardianship of their country, but aren’t beholden to its leaders. As the series begins, Kass and Vocho are caught in a spot of trouble (just a wee misunderstanding involving a stabbing) that results in their exile from their city and their profession, forcing them to make their living as fugitives.
The duo engages in madcap duels and repartee as sharp as their swords, but things don’t stay that simple. As the series progresses, the siblings get caught up in greater doings—the machinations of politics, religion, and the personal ambitions of the kind of people you know are going to spoil the fun. Brother and sister rise to each increasingly higher stakes, or sometimes, they very much don’t (I love that Knight is not above throwing in a metaphorical banana peel or two in front of her characters). And of course the swashbuckling. So. Much. Swashbuckling.

Swords and Scoundrels was one of my favorite reads of last year. As the first novel in the series, it has the enviable job of setting the scene in an incredibly fun world centered on the capital city of Reyes, where we meet the wounded, but strong and fabulous fighter Kacha, and the wisecracking, preening Vocho. We see them on the run, fighting back-to-back to survive, and engage in pulse-raising, witty-as-hell swordplay.
We meet the glittering duellists’ guild; the deposed nobles, with their weak king and their simmering hate (including one, Petri Egimont, who will become a major player); and the repressive clergy that replaced them—not to mention some magicians powered by blood magic, who plans for Reyes. We’ve got characters with enormous chips on their shoulders, leaders with hidden agendas, and a populace caught in-between. It’s a world of leftovers and endings and people struggling to start again. It’s a great introduction that sets up our heroes’ connection to the events at the heart of the larger story while remaining focused on their personal stories. There are triumphs, but with question marks rather than exclamation points.
Book two, Legends and Liars is, in fine Star Wars fashion, the Empire Strikes Back of the series. This is the book where it gets ugly all around—even the bond between brother and sister is called into question. A vexed villain from the past may still live, causing a great deal of trouble for Kass, Vocho, and everyone involved. In this book, things held sacred fall off their pedestal, and ideals are deeply tested. Horrible things happen, and the whirlwind of politics, religion, and ambition become a cyclone as events come to a head—and a bad end. We see how myths are made, and why cover-ups exist.

I love it when the last book is the best, and Warlords and Wastrels is by far my favorite of the trilogy. The pithy version is, it shows how emotionally damaged characters with swords do therapy. Quite a bit has been left undone, and anyone who has survived this far has at least festering wound that hasn’t had a chance to heal. Some show it more than others, but almost everyone is aiming for closure however they can. Our heroes are in positions of power now, and finding that difficult. One of our sibling protagonists is really not doing well—at least, until it appears a quest might help them set the wrong things right. This is a book about facing what you’ve done and moving on—or avoiding doing so at all costs. It’s about the pain of change, and realizing you can’t go back—or that others will never change at all.
By book three, it’s clear Knight is confident in her storytelling and comfortable with her characters. The conclusion is surprising, but fitting, and the more I think about it, the more it’s exactly what I wanted it to be. Great fantasy, no waiting. Jump right in.