Saint's Blood: The Greatcoats Book 3

This shows that a review should be written immediately after reading. This was my first buddy-read with BBB (Buddies, Books and Baubles) and I was kind of waiting for everyone to finish before I wrote my review and then Xmas ensued. So here's the belated and probably less enthusiastic sounding review although this book has earned all the enthusiasm I have because it took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride the likes of which are rare and left me with a bad case of book hangover.

So if you thought the first one was good, and in the second one our heroes had to suffer and it couldn't be worse. I have to tell you this: you know nothing! Because apparently one can always make them suffer MORE (caps intentional)! Never mind the reader. I can feel SdC snickering somewhere when he hears about peoples reactions to Kest dying right in the middle of the f.... story. Really? Really? And if you thought that was bad, wait till you get to the end. Of course I didn't believe for one second - well maybe 60 or a few more - that Kest would actually stay dead. If Falcio can survive the Lament, why should Kest stay dead. Having Brasti kill Falcio is just evil though.

And we are in for some new and surprising developments. Like Falcio allying with Jillard albeit not very enthusiastically. "You might as well accept it, Falcio (...) it's you and me against the forces of darkness: two dashing heroes preparing to risk all to put that darling little girl on the throne."

The whole matter with the masks is gruesome. I hated that Valiana had to wear one even though it made it clearer what kind of person she has become. And I hated that eventually Falcio had to put it on the woman he loves or thinks he loves or ...

I am not happy with the Falcio-Ethalia thing. I am not the only one. Somebody put the question "What's up with that whole love at first sight" to SdC and if you look at his author's page you'll find a very interesting answer.

At least we have Brasti ("Every village needs an idiot!") to lighten up the dark places in this book. Which makes it worse when things get so bleak that Brasti is crying. "Oh well then I suppose I should just forget the fact that the actual living God of this shithole of a country is out to get us. I mean it's not like I didn't know you had a unique ability to piss people off, Falcio, but even I underestimated how truly skilled you are at making powerful enemies..

And there is Quentis Maren who reminded me so much of Shuran that I was shivering any time he appeared. Glad that turned out well in the end

There actually was a part of this book I enjoyed - beyond all the suffering: it is when it becomes clear that our heroes really are con-men. They even have pretty names for their cons. "She's pulling a God's Line on them" (Others: Flock of Swallows, Cloak and Tickle, Snake in the soup ...)

But the longer I was reading the more sure I became that everything would go horribly horribly wrong. And about that: I wasn't wrong.

The Blacksmith reminds me of someone. "We must make Tristia strong again." I wonder if it was intentional or a random occurrence of that particular order of words.

My favorite scene comes toward the end when Valour appears, and all the characters see someone else in his place. Falcio sees Tommer, Brasti sees Falcio (which surprised me to actual tears), and Kest sees Valiana. Of course Brasti has to spoiler the mood by ... giggling. <3)

At least we end up with some Greatcoats alive. And when you read the credits ... just like at the movies if you stay long enough ... you get the bonus content. When you thought all the tears were cried .... There's a letter from Tommer ... .

This review comes a month late, and does not do this book justice. It is a masterful piece of drama and I am not sure that I can bear to read number four (due April '17) because SdC has upped the ante with each sequel so far.

DO NOT KILL BRASTI! YOU HEAR ME?