Way of the Argosi

Overview

The first of three prequels to the bestselling Spellslinger series.

The Alchemist meets The Three Musketeers—with card tricks. A brilliant origin story of adventure, wit, and philosophy to enrapture devotees as well as newcomers to the Spellslinger series.

Ferius Parfax has a simple plan: kill every last inhabitant of the spell-gifted nation that destroyed her people, starting with the man who murdered her parents. Killing mages is a difficult and dangerous business, of course, but when she meets the inimitable and extraordinary Durrall Brown, she discovers that physical strength is not the only way to defeat evil of all kinds. So Ferius undertakes to study the ways of the Argosi: the loosely-knit tribe of tricksters known for getting the better of even the most powerful of spellcasters. But the Argosi have a price for their teachings, and by the time Ferius learns what it is, it may be too late.

Reviews

"Dramatic, gripping, and fantastically fun." — Kirkus Reviews

"A fun, fast-moving adventure, with surprising depth and insight." Jim C. Hines, Hugo Award-winning author, on Spellslinger

"An intriguing system of magic, wry humor, and a twisting plot make for an entertaining series debut. Kirkus Reviews on Spellslinger

"Exotic, original and gripping from the get-go, Spellslinger is a must-read. Jonathan Stroud, New York Times bestselling author, on Spellslinger

"Told with the conviction of Ursula Le Guin and the dash of Alexandre Dumas." New Statesman on Spellslinger

"Spellslinger is the start of something truly special. Sebastien de Castell is a master of breakneck pacing, dagger-sharp dialogue, and twists you didn't see coming--and this series has it all." Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld on Spellslinger

"Hugely enjoyable - fast-paced, compassionate, wise and with terrific characters." Amanda Craig, author of Hearts and Minds on Spellslinger

"A tremendously fun read full of wit and action." James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost on Spellslinger

"A bucket-load of tension is offset with humour, power struggles, lots of magic and some great characters. Fantasy junkies will devour with relish." Guardian on Spellslinger

"Written with such obvious joy and brio that it demands to be read." RJ Barker, author of Age of Assassins on Spellslinger

"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." Observer on Spellslinger

"We can confidently say that de Castell's new series has hit the ground running." Starburst Magazine on Spellslinger

"It has cliff hangers, pace, humour, life lessons, and a memorably feisty squirrel cat." Sunday Times on Spellslinger

Author Biography

Sebastien de Castell lives in Vancouver with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. Follow Sebastien at www.decastell.com or on Twitter: @decastell