How do you survive a mage's duel without magic? Kellen's about to risk everything: His family, his home, even his own life...
Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology
when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realised
how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very
focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer,
fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor and product
strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled
dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and
that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in
his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a
Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that
way.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver with his lovely wife and two
belligerent cats. Follow Sebastien at www.decastell.com or on
Twitter: @decastell
It has cliff hangers, pace, humour, life lessons, and a memorably
feisty squirrel cat
*Sunday Times*
'There's room for wit and playfulness amid the high-stakes duels
and death matches, and Kellen's career is likely to run and
run.'
*The Observer*
Magic with a wild west flavour, served with flair
*Financial Times*
On the basis of this first instalment, which introduces a
fascinating society, some strong themes and a bunch of characters
we want to spend more time with, we can confidently say that De
Castell's new series has hit the ground running. Or perhaps we
should say that it's quick on the draw?
*Starburst Magazine*
Hugely enjoyable - fast-paced, compassionate, wise and with
terrific characters... I love the humour and the thoughtfulness as
well as the plot
*Amanda Craig*
This is one of the best young-adult novels I've seen in a long time
- larky, clever and slick.
*The Literary Review*
'packed with wise cracking humour, larger than life colourful
characters and non-stop action, this is the first in a highly
enjoyable new fantasy series. A very promising beginning'
*School Library Journal*
Spellslinger is a unique YA book, there's a complex layer of magic,
mystery and mythology all wrapped up in this fantastic story. I
also must say how much I love that cover, it's absolutely stunning.
The world building in this book is superb, and I really felt sucked
into the story. My only complaint is that now I have to wait so
long to find out what happens to Kellen next. Spellslinger is one
fantastic book, and is already one of the front runners for my
favourite book of 2017.
*The Bibliophile Chronicles*
Excellent, page-turnery reading
*Blue Book Balloon*
Spellslinger was an enjoyable read, perhaps particularly good for
male readers who enjoy Pratchett or Stephen King's The Dark Tower
books.
*Adventures With Words*
This story is so unique, the writing is so superb, and the message
of this story is so very important. Accepting who you are is
sometimes the hardest battle we will fight in this life, and seeing
Kellen become who he is and not what others expect him to, whether
it's his family or the world, is something so beautiful that I
don't have words for.
*Mel to the Any*
an enjoyable read, with magic, mayhem, myth and intrigue...and a
very cocky talking squirrel cat.
*Askews*
the first book in a beautifully refreshing young adult
series...Sebastien de Castell treats the reader to short punchy
chapters that make it easy to read 'just one more' time after
time...there is a clever message here which hopefully will strike a
chord.
*SciFiNow*
I really, really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the variety
and depth of not only characters, but also their reactions to
situations and the moral and ethical dilemmas they faced. A
vicious, sardonic, bloodthirsty talking squirrel cat with a filthy
mouth and a resentful debt to pay, he is my aboslute favourite
thing about this book. By turns funny and tragic, his exasperated
and violent advice is almost never helpful but almost always adds
nuance and humour to the book. My main complaint is that a) it
hasn't even been published yet, which means b) it's going to be
ages until Shadowblack, the second in the series, comes out! Five
Stars and highly recommended.
*Much Ado about Books*
'compelling, filmic storytelling in the first of a new fantasy
series'
*The Bookseller*
The first in an entertaining Pratchett-type fantasy series
*INIS Reading Guide*
Sebastien de Castell's Spellslinger is a roister-doistering tale of
a magical world navigated by a boy who, alas, has no magic; full of
memorable characters (including a red-haired lady card sharp), this
is one of the year's standouts
*Books For Keeps*
An intoxicating mix of weird magic and high adventure, and
populated by an extraordinary cast of characters, both human and
furred. The world de Castell conjures is strange and fascinating,
but he laces it through with genuine emotional power. Exotic,
original and gripping from the get-go, Spellslinger is a
must-read
*Jonathan Stroud*
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