The Gilded Chain

Reader reviewed by Mairi

Once the Brat of Ironhall, at the age of fourteen he chose the name Durendal, after a great swordsman, the sort of Blade he hoped he would grow up to be. And, indeed, the second Sir Durendal was the one of the greatest Blades Ironhall ever produced, though at first he was bound to a useless Marquis instead of the King. He made a name for himself at court, though, and fate intervened to see him a member of the Royal Guard and the King's favorite.

I checked this book out of the library, put it on my shelf, and semi-forgot about it- I had better things to read. But at about that time I began to see references to this book everywhere. I finally picked it up, wondering how it had gotten so popular, and found it was, indeed, a truly remarkable book.

That being said, it is also a bit gruesome at parts.