The Swordsman's Intent by G M White

I would like to thank the author for an advance copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published – Out Now

Price – FREEEE as an eBook

 The last competition Belasko won was the catch a slippery pig contest at his village fair.

Now he has to beat the best warriors in the kingdom.

Belasko, a farm boy who ran away to war, is a decorated soldier and war hero with a good military career ahead of him. When Markus, champion to the king of Villan, summons Belasko to take part in the competition to choose his successor, a world of possibility opens up to him. Possibility that Belasko cannot resist. In order to take the mantle of champion, and rise to one of the highest positions in the Villanese court, Belasko must prove himself yet further against the finest blades in the kingdom. Against warriors from all walks of life. From those who have had access to the best fencing instructors money can buy, to fellow career soldiers, he must best them all. Including a young noble named Ervan with whom his fate will be intertwined. Only by working hard alongside newfound friends and foes, pushing himself to the limit, and putting everything on the line, can Belasko fulfil his potential and become the first commoner to claim the title of Royal Champion.

Set fifteen years before The Swordsman’s Lament, this novella sets in motion both the events of that novel and Belasko’s destiny.

I really enjoyed G M White’s The Swordsman's Lament with its central character of Belasko a veteran soldier and the finest swordsman I the kingdom serving a king who gets swept up in a bitter betrayal. A commoner who matched the nobles, honest, gay and a tad world weary. While his future adventures are yet to come G M White has treated their readers to Balasko’s effective origin story - how he became The Royal Champion and its is an equally engaging tale.

This time we meet Belasko as a young man learning the current Champion Mark is calling upon various skilled swordsmen (and women as this world permits them to fight) to gather for a contest to choose their successor. Nobles, commoners, soldiers and lords assemble which is unusual in this Kingdom. Belasko already a famous war hero and yet young stands out as does someone we know in the future will become one of his most feared enemies Ervan and we know their meeting here will lead to future animosity.

This is a short novella and I will avoid spoiling you the ride. Safe to say we get lots of classic style scenes that as a fan of a good swordfight I love – training montages; friends becoming enemies and even the classic late-night drunken fight. I was very pleased that none of these scenes felt stale. Helped by White’s fine grasp of action to keep the story forever flowing but also a good handle on how to make characters stand out. Here Belasko is still recognisably the older man we know from the next book but here a touch inexperienced and with something still to prove yet he is never wallowing in violence. Neatly contrasted with his potential friend and eventual mortal enemy Ervan who sees this upstart as initially a threat to his prize role but actually starts to recognise him as a friend. The event that tears them apart you’ll know is coming but the origin was a surprise.

A charming adventure tale for those who love a buckle to be swashed and well worth tracking down