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Summary: Fun book, decent read
Review: This book is worth your time, as good as or better than most fantasy novels out there.
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Summary: Duncan Transitions to a fantastic new series
Review: Few authors can generate so many complex and different worlds which are exactingly consistent within themselves, let alone populate them with such interesting characters. From the "Reluctant Swordsman", to the "King's Blades", characters are portrayed with depth and realism. They are the kind of people that you'd like to get to know as friends, and Duncan lets you do just that.
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Summary: You will be glad you read this book:
Review: If you are reading this then you are most likely deciding if The Gilded Chain is a book that you'd like to read. You should. Why? A swashbuckling adventure. Conspiracies against the king. A mysterious five year quest. Heroism, honor and treachery. The entire story of a man who grows into a legend. All in a single volume.Dave Duncan's books have always reeked of intelligence. The writing is crisp, and the dialog is witty. There were times The Gilded Chain made me laugh out loud. Every world that he has created has been filled with clever ideas. While, the world of The Kings Blades is more like our world then any of his others, it is no exception. If you are looking for a memorable story filled with adventure, magic, and true heroes then Buy This Book. You won't even have to wait 10 years for the ending!
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Summary: Duncan's a great fantasist
Review: This is not Duncan's best work (that honor goes to his superb _Future Indefinite_), but that's okay, because even average Duncan is very, very good. As we'd expect in a work by the estimable Mr. Duncan, the setting is original, the characters interesting, and the plot exciting and unpredictable. Almost as nice in this era of never-ending series, the book is self-contained, and comes to a satisfying conclusion. In all, a most enjoyable read. Recommended. (In contrast to an earlier reviewer, I would not compare this to Goodkind at all; where Goodkind revels in hackneyed cliches and stock characters, Duncan always manages to create something wholly original.)
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Summary: A tale of magical bodyguards
Review: "The Gilded Chain" is a standalone fantasy novel, so if cliffhanger endings rile you, don't worry. It also begins a series of books about the sorcerous bodyguards called The King's Blades, and thus it should appeal to those who like to explore a larger world. (This is known as eating your cake and having it too.) The main characters are the swordsman Durendal and his lord, King Ambrose IV of Chivial. I set out to write a sword-and-sorcery, because none of my previous books had exactly fitted into that sub-genre. To some extent I succeeded, because there are monsters and clashing swords, but this is certainly not a typical example. (I never manage to write anything typical.) It has been winning a lot of rave reviews and a few boos, which is a healthy mixture. Although I have created some bizarre worlds in my time, the land of Chivial, in which "The Gilded Chain" is set, is an obvious rerun of Tudor (16th Century) England, with Ambrose playing the role of Henry VIII. This is not entirely due to laziness. The comfy-familiar feel of the background lets readers find their way into the story more easily, and when Durendal does arrive in distant Samarinda, the contrast is all the greater. But enough of telling ABOUT the story. Why not let me introduce you to the Blades themselves--Sir Wolfbiter, Sir Montpurse, Sir Quarrel and the greatest of them all, Sir Durendal...?
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Summary: Wonderful Reviews for THE GILDED CHAIN:
Review: THE GILDED CHAIN has received wonderful reviews from both Publishers Weekly and The SF SITE: From Publishers Weekly, Oct 12, 1998 (a starred review): Duncan (The Great Game) raids some of the juiciest eras of European history for this classy opener to his King's Blades series. In the sorcery-ridden land of Chivial, the grim Ironhall nurtures unwanted boys, transmuting them by muscle-building, weapons-training and fearsome magic ritualizing into an elite corps of swordsmen, each spiritually bonded to defend a master unto death. Bound first to an outrageous fop, then to a Henry VIII look-alike monarch, rebellious knight Durendal pursues adventure and the horrifying secrets of immortality. Duncan's people are marvelously believable, his landscapes deliciously exotic, his swordplay breathtaking. Initially, the narrative disconcertingly alternates between dashing young Durendal and righteous Chancellor Roland, but all soon becomes satisfyingly clear. "Durendal," the sword that legendary Roland used to smite his Saracen enemies in France's national epic, binds swordsman and statesman into one irresistable hero in this handsomely crafted commentary on honor and betrayal. Copyright (c) 1998, Publishers Weekly. All rights reserved. From The SF SITE, October 19, 1998: Buy this book. OK, now that it's obvious that I liked The Gilded Chain, let me move on to why.... Dave Duncan's work has always been original and loads of fun to read. This time out, Duncan takes a step away from his trademark backdrop of intriguing uses of magic and concentrates on telling a story. Sub-titled "A Tale of the King's Blade," The Gilded Chain is just that. It is the tale of the best swordsman in the land of Chivial. The Blades, as they are known, are the finest swordsmen in the land, bound by magic to serve their wards with absolute loyalty. Durandel is the best of those knights and his story is filled with intrigue, adventure, tournaments, and dark magic. Of course, to become the greatest knight, Durandel does have to overcome a couple minor obstacles. Being bound to "an effete noble fop" does make the goal of charging into battle at the side of your liege a bit of a challenge, and having to deal constantly with a vicious inquisitor who is convinced Durandel is destined to betray his king, does make life interesting. Duncan, never one to tell a simple tale when a more complex one would be even better, has put together a truly great story. He has taken what could have been a uninspired rehashing of every sword-swinging hero motif and molded a tale that draws more from the characters and the depth of the story line than it does from bloodshed and swordplay. Of course, there is lots of swordplay: after all, this is a story of a swordsman. However, what makes The Gilded Chain great is the depth of the characters and the elaborate detail which fills the story. Duncan has a rare talent with words and uses them to his advantage. ...Duncan is a true master of his craft. Buy this book, you won't regret it. Copyright © 1998 by Wayne MacLaurin
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Summary: An orignal page-turning fantasy
Review: I have been reading and enjoying Dave Duncan's (DD) novels for over a decade. Each one is different and unique. "The Gilded Chain" is no exception. This fantasy novel is set in a world unlike any that I have read about before. It was a pleasure reading this novel. The main character, Durendal, is a man whose heart is in the right place. We see him as a young, inexperienced man, then as seasoned warrior and finally as man wise in the ways of the world and its politics. By the end of the book Durendal is not the same person as at the beginning. DD has developed a character that we feel for and are interested in. Durendal travels through many lands and as usual with DD, we see an original world rich with a wide variety of cultures. I also enjoyed that the characters in this novel were fully developed, not all black or white. They all had their share of virtues and faults, up to and including the king. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to fans of fantasy novels.
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Summary: A wonderfully fast-paced fantasy novel.
Review: Dave Duncan sets a new standard for "sword and sorcery" novels. No heavy-thewed barbarians here, just a boy who becomes a master swordsman and has to make his way in a well-realized world rife with political intrigue and just enough magic to keep the plot moving along. The best-drawn character, surprisingly, isn't Durandal, the protagonist, but perhaps is either the King (who gives you new sympathy for Henry VIII) or Kromman, the black-robed inquisitor who could give Tolkien's Grima Wormtongue a run for his money. Duncan has never disappointed me in his writing; his worlds, political systems, magic systems and characters keep me coming back for more. I'm definitely looking forward to another King's Blades book.
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Summary: An exciting, well-writen fantasy by a master of the genre.
Review: Dave Duncan's newest novel "The Gilded Chain" was a real delight, the sort of thing I read in one gulp. The characters are interesting and well developed, the plot twists surprising enough to keep you interested and the settings well-established. It IS "traditional" in that most of the people, places and events are in the classic mode for "Sword & Sorcery" fantasy, but that is a strength in my opinion. The only complaint that I would have is that it is coming out as a hard-cover which is going to make it price-y for the average consumer. That's not Mr. Duncan's fault though. I recommend purchase, and if you can't afford it, make large hints for Christmas, or request it at your school or public library.
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Summary: A truly splendid work in the vein of Terry Goodkind.
Review: THE GILDED CHAIN is certainly worthy of Duncan's previous excellent books--a great premise supported by a thrilling story. It is every bit as good as Terry Goodkind's THE SWORD OF TRUTH series or Robin Hobb's FARSEER series. I'm not a huge high fantasy fan, but the storytelling is wonderful, the characters are richly filled-out, and the perils that Durendal goes through are as gripping as anything turned out by Patricia Cornwell. I truly enjoyed this first installment of "The King's Blades", and I'm looking forward to more in this series.
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