Colours in the Steel (Fencer Trilogy) - K.J. Parker

Hang on... This is familiar...

This is not the first Parker book I've read - I started the Engineer trilogy back in 2005 and enjoyed the mix of real life engineering and political intrigue. When I started reading this book, it all seemed very very familiar indeed, even down to matching characters off between books. That said, it's an enjoyable read, but I'm just not compelled to go an complete the series.

Good book but avoid the sequels - seriously

As a number of other reviewers have mentioned, this is an enjoyable book with some quite likeable characters. As a fencer myself, the discussion and description of the fencing was quite interesting.

The real strength is that as the plot develops you can feel real possibilities opening up for where the story might lead. Sadly the next two in the trilogy are REALLY not very good and do not expand on these, particularly the third one. So buy this and read it, just don't bother with the other two.

I enjoyed this thoroughly - BUT...

I enjoyed this book: it was well-written and entertaining. The information Parker provides (throughout the trilogy) on weapons / weapons-making is fascinating, and his characters and world are intriguing.

I looked forward to the sequels, but I was very disappointed in "The Belly of the Bow" and "The Proof House": without wanting to ruin the story for those who are still interested, the trilogy gets increasingly violent and depressing as it progresses, so that by the time I started the 3rd book I was forcing myself to read, skimming just so I could see how it ended. And by the time I finished it, I was wishing I had never heard of the books in the first place...

I was very positive about the first book, it was a great beginning, but honestly cannot recommend it now that I know where it leads.

This is an excellent book

I agree with the review by the other reader. This book is brilliant. It grips from the word go and is a real through to early morning read. But the sequels are a poor relation and not worthy of mention. Buy this and read it is as if it were a single tome - and enjoy it!

Unbelievable!

This was the only book I have bought without being sure that I could get the next in the series. Am I ever glad that I did! By the end of the first chapter I was hooked. It is such a new idea, completely unique.The medieval feel, with an almost modern twist was Grade A material. I wasn't able to put it down. I read the whole book in one day and as soon as I finished I went online to get The Belly of the Bow. Smashing series. Can't wait for a new one!

Hang on... This is familiar...

This is not the first Parker book I've read - I started the Engineer trilogy back in 2005 and enjoyed the mix of real life engineering and political intrigue. When I started reading this book, it all seemed very very familiar indeed, even down to matching characters off between books. That said, it's an enjoyable read, but I'm just not compelled to go an complete the series.

Good book but avoid the sequels - seriously

As a number of other reviewers have mentioned, this is an enjoyable book with some quite likeable characters. As a fencer myself, the discussion and description of the fencing was quite interesting.

The real strength is that as the plot develops you can feel real possibilities opening up for where the story might lead. Sadly the next two in the trilogy are REALLY not very good and do not expand on these, particularly the third one. So buy this and read it, just don't bother with the other two.

I enjoyed this thoroughly - BUT...

I enjoyed this book: it was well-written and entertaining. The information Parker provides (throughout the trilogy) on weapons / weapons-making is fascinating, and his characters and world are intriguing.

I looked forward to the sequels, but I was very disappointed in "The Belly of the Bow" and "The Proof House": without wanting to ruin the story for those who are still interested, the trilogy gets increasingly violent and depressing as it progresses, so that by the time I started the 3rd book I was forcing myself to read, skimming just so I could see how it ended. And by the time I finished it, I was wishing I had never heard of the books in the first place...

I was very positive about the first book, it was a great beginning, but honestly cannot recommend it now that I know where it leads.

This is an excellent book

I agree with the review by the other reader. This book is brilliant. It grips from the word go and is a real through to early morning read. But the sequels are a poor relation and not worthy of mention. Buy this and read it is as if it were a single tome - and enjoy it!

Unbelievable!

This was the only book I have bought without being sure that I could get the next in the series. Am I ever glad that I did! By the end of the first chapter I was hooked. It is such a new idea, completely unique.The medieval feel, with an almost modern twist was Grade A material. I wasn't able to put it down. I read the whole book in one day and as soon as I finished I went online to get The Belly of the Bow. Smashing series. Can't wait for a new one!

Hang on... This is familiar...

This is not the first Parker book I've read - I started the Engineer trilogy back in 2005 and enjoyed the mix of real life engineering and political intrigue. When I started reading this book, it all seemed very very familiar indeed, even down to matching characters off between books. That said, it's an enjoyable read, but I'm just not compelled to go an complete the series.

Good book but avoid the sequels - seriously

As a number of other reviewers have mentioned, this is an enjoyable book with some quite likeable characters. As a fencer myself, the discussion and description of the fencing was quite interesting.

The real strength is that as the plot develops you can feel real possibilities opening up for where the story might lead. Sadly the next two in the trilogy are REALLY not very good and do not expand on these, particularly the third one. So buy this and read it, just don't bother with the other two.

I enjoyed this thoroughly - BUT...

I enjoyed this book: it was well-written and entertaining. The information Parker provides (throughout the trilogy) on weapons / weapons-making is fascinating, and his characters and world are intriguing.

I looked forward to the sequels, but I was very disappointed in "The Belly of the Bow" and "The Proof House": without wanting to ruin the story for those who are still interested, the trilogy gets increasingly violent and depressing as it progresses, so that by the time I started the 3rd book I was forcing myself to read, skimming just so I could see how it ended. And by the time I finished it, I was wishing I had never heard of the books in the first place...

I was very positive about the first book, it was a great beginning, but honestly cannot recommend it now that I know where it leads.

This is an excellent book

I agree with the review by the other reader. This book is brilliant. It grips from the word go and is a real through to early morning read. But the sequels are a poor relation and not worthy of mention. Buy this and read it is as if it were a single tome - and enjoy it!

Unbelievable!

This was the only book I have bought without being sure that I could get the next in the series. Am I ever glad that I did! By the end of the first chapter I was hooked. It is such a new idea, completely unique.The medieval feel, with an almost modern twist was Grade A material. I wasn't able to put it down. I read the whole book in one day and as soon as I finished I went online to get The Belly of the Bow. Smashing series. Can't wait for a new one!