A new link in the tale begun in The Gilded Chain from "one of the
great unsung figures of Canadian fantasy and science fiction" (Quill &
Quire).
Originally issued as a YA trilogy called the King's Daggers (including
volumes Sir Stalwart, The Crooked House, and Silvercloak), The
Monster War works equally well as a single novel. The story fills a gap
in the first Blades novel, The Gilded Chain, when King Ambrose sought
to shut down the evil sorcery of the Elementaries, and the sorcerers
fought back by trying to kill him. The same great characters are all
here: Ambrose himself, Grand Master, and Blades Durendal, Bandit, and
Snake. Appearing for the first time are Sir Stalwart, the only Blade who
does not bear a binding scar, and Emerald of the White Sisters, the only
girl ever enrolled in Ironhall. The action wanders across Chivial from
the White Sisters' headquarters at Oakendown, to Grandon, and into the
heart of Ironhall, for the evil penetrates even there. If you missed
this one the first time (and most Blades fans did), then here is your
chance to join the action as the King's Blades ride again!