Book Review: The Jaguar Knights

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Jaguar Knights     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Dave Duncan
Class/Genre:   Fantasy
Series: King's Blades
Eos, Oct 2004, $24.95, 400 pp.

He is the King’s Blade, bound to the monarch in a binding magical spell that forces him to protect his liege lord even though Sir Wolf despises the sneaky and untrustworthy royal. King Athelgar sends Sir Wolf and the Inquisitor Delores (a magic practitioner) to the Fortress of Quondom where raiders made off with the regal cast-off mistress Celeste. When the duo arrives they find magic was used to cause genocide and strange ornaments and curios unknown in Chivrial were left behind by the invaders who managed to escape.

Even more perplexing is finding a human arm with the claw of a jaguar on it. Delores does not recognize the magic used here, but they learn that the warriors come from the island of El Dorado in the little known lands across the sea. The pair travels there hoping to uncover the secrets of the strange magic and why the assault happened. This quest is not easy because El Dorado is an island at war with Distlain; the islanders have plans to stop them at all costs.

THE JAGUAR KNIGHTS is a fascinating sword and sorcery fantasy that takes place for the mots part far away from Chivrial. There is plenty of action and romance as the Blade and the Inquisitor go on their grand adventure together. Dave Duncan’s Blade series is an Indiana Jones-Lara Croft action thriller with magic a part of the storyline to add an extra spell on readers. Mr. Duncan continues to raise the S&S bar of excellence that few can achieve.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner