Sebastien de Castell
@decastell.bsky.social
I write swashbuckling fantasy novels such as Traitor’s Blade, Spellslinger, Play of Shadows and Malevolent Seven. My books have been translated into fifteen languages and are available in ebook, hardback, paperback and audiobook.
What book changed your life? For me, it was "Bard" by Keith Taylor. It sparked my dream of being a bard—traveling, adventuring, and telling stories. Now as a musician, actor, and novelist, I’m living that dream! 🎶✨ #FridayVibes #Book #Writer #Author
December 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
What book changed your life? For me, it was "Bard" by Keith Taylor. It sparked my dream of being a bard—traveling, adventuring, and telling stories. Now as a musician, actor, and novelist, I’m living that dream! 🎶✨ #FridayVibes #Book #Writer #Author
“We all got ugliness inside us, kid. Yours is worse? Then fight harder. Figure it out.
But don’t you ever pretend you don’t have a choice.”
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
But don’t you ever pretend you don’t have a choice.”
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
December 5, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“We all got ugliness inside us, kid. Yours is worse? Then fight harder. Figure it out.
But don’t you ever pretend you don’t have a choice.”
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
But don’t you ever pretend you don’t have a choice.”
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
I hate knights. How did these self-involved bullies become heroes in fantasy? The same brutal thugs who pillaged Europe and the Middle East in the name of God. Who convinced us they were paragons of honor?
decastell.com/2014/07/07/w... 🤔
#MiddleAges #Knights #Fantasy #History
decastell.com/2014/07/07/w... 🤔
#MiddleAges #Knights #Fantasy #History
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
I hate knights. How did these self-involved bullies become heroes in fantasy? The same brutal thugs who pillaged Europe and the Middle East in the name of God. Who convinced us they were paragons of honor?
decastell.com/2014/07/07/w... 🤔
#MiddleAges #Knights #Fantasy #History
decastell.com/2014/07/07/w... 🤔
#MiddleAges #Knights #Fantasy #History
I got to speak on the Southside Broadcasting podcast for an energetic conversation with @K.T. Anglehart and @triciacopeland.bsky.social ⚔️✨
🎧 Listen now: southsidebroadcasting.podbean.com/e/kt-angleha...
🎧 Listen now: southsidebroadcasting.podbean.com/e/kt-angleha...
December 2, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I got to speak on the Southside Broadcasting podcast for an energetic conversation with @K.T. Anglehart and @triciacopeland.bsky.social ⚔️✨
🎧 Listen now: southsidebroadcasting.podbean.com/e/kt-angleha...
🎧 Listen now: southsidebroadcasting.podbean.com/e/kt-angleha...
Christian Cameron blends sharp historical detail with gripping storytelling, dropping you straight into the life of a 14th-century knight. Chivalry, chaos, and hard-won honour collide, making every page feel like a step back in time.
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Christian Cameron blends sharp historical detail with gripping storytelling, dropping you straight into the life of a 14th-century knight. Chivalry, chaos, and hard-won honour collide, making every page feel like a step back in time.
"Never trust a man who brings a hundred soldiers to a wedding."
~Falcio
decastell.com/book/tyrants...
#quote #writer #characterquote #thursdayvibes
~Falcio
decastell.com/book/tyrants...
#quote #writer #characterquote #thursdayvibes
November 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"Never trust a man who brings a hundred soldiers to a wedding."
~Falcio
decastell.com/book/tyrants...
#quote #writer #characterquote #thursdayvibes
~Falcio
decastell.com/book/tyrants...
#quote #writer #characterquote #thursdayvibes
The Sword of Seven Tears
The Price of Freedom
A former thief is granted his freedom and a place among the legendary Greatcoats if he can retrieve a dangerous weapon of unimaginable power, but can old habits really die so easily?
decastell.com/book/the-swo...
The Price of Freedom
A former thief is granted his freedom and a place among the legendary Greatcoats if he can retrieve a dangerous weapon of unimaginable power, but can old habits really die so easily?
decastell.com/book/the-swo...
November 26, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The Sword of Seven Tears
The Price of Freedom
A former thief is granted his freedom and a place among the legendary Greatcoats if he can retrieve a dangerous weapon of unimaginable power, but can old habits really die so easily?
decastell.com/book/the-swo...
The Price of Freedom
A former thief is granted his freedom and a place among the legendary Greatcoats if he can retrieve a dangerous weapon of unimaginable power, but can old habits really die so easily?
decastell.com/book/the-swo...
Now, the question I never get asked is, “where do you get your groove from?” Maybe this sounds like a silly question. After all, books don’t have a groove, do they?
decastell.com/2014/08/28/t...
decastell.com/2014/08/28/t...
November 25, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Now, the question I never get asked is, “where do you get your groove from?” Maybe this sounds like a silly question. After all, books don’t have a groove, do they?
decastell.com/2014/08/28/t...
decastell.com/2014/08/28/t...
Guédelon Castle blew me away—a full medieval fortress being built from scratch with 13th-century tools. Watching blacksmiths, masons, and builders at work feels like stepping back in time.
#Guédelon #France #LivingHistory #Craftsmanship #MedievalEngineering
#Guédelon #France #LivingHistory #Craftsmanship #MedievalEngineering
November 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Guédelon Castle blew me away—a full medieval fortress being built from scratch with 13th-century tools. Watching blacksmiths, masons, and builders at work feels like stepping back in time.
#Guédelon #France #LivingHistory #Craftsmanship #MedievalEngineering
#Guédelon #France #LivingHistory #Craftsmanship #MedievalEngineering
Short stories used to feel like torture—until I learned to stop plotting, drop a character into conflict, and let the tale unfold. Now they’re my favourite way to explore new ideas and spark creativity. What’s the biggest creative lesson you’ve learned?
November 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Short stories used to feel like torture—until I learned to stop plotting, drop a character into conflict, and let the tale unfold. Now they’re my favourite way to explore new ideas and spark creativity. What’s the biggest creative lesson you’ve learned?
“We are such a small people. For all our magic, we're scared, paranoid little children trying to protect ourselves from the bullies of the world by becoming bigger bullies ourselves.“ ~ Kellen
decastell.com/spellslinger
#author #writer #spellslinger #characterquote
decastell.com/spellslinger
#author #writer #spellslinger #characterquote
November 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
“We are such a small people. For all our magic, we're scared, paranoid little children trying to protect ourselves from the bullies of the world by becoming bigger bullies ourselves.“ ~ Kellen
decastell.com/spellslinger
#author #writer #spellslinger #characterquote
decastell.com/spellslinger
#author #writer #spellslinger #characterquote
Fun Castle Fact:
Some castles had “murder holes” built right above the main gateway.
Despite the scary name, they weren’t (usually) for murder — defenders used them to drop rocks, boiling water, hot sand, or even beehives onto attackers trying to break through the gate.
Some castles had “murder holes” built right above the main gateway.
Despite the scary name, they weren’t (usually) for murder — defenders used them to drop rocks, boiling water, hot sand, or even beehives onto attackers trying to break through the gate.
November 20, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Fun Castle Fact:
Some castles had “murder holes” built right above the main gateway.
Despite the scary name, they weren’t (usually) for murder — defenders used them to drop rocks, boiling water, hot sand, or even beehives onto attackers trying to break through the gate.
Some castles had “murder holes” built right above the main gateway.
Despite the scary name, they weren’t (usually) for murder — defenders used them to drop rocks, boiling water, hot sand, or even beehives onto attackers trying to break through the gate.
I’ve had the fairly rare opportunity to choreograph sword fights both for the theatre and in print as part of my fantasy novel, Traitor’s Blade, and so I’m sometimes asked about the difference in working with the two different mediums.
decastell.com/2014/07/07/t...
#article #swords #fantasy #novel
decastell.com/2014/07/07/t...
#article #swords #fantasy #novel
November 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I’ve had the fairly rare opportunity to choreograph sword fights both for the theatre and in print as part of my fantasy novel, Traitor’s Blade, and so I’m sometimes asked about the difference in working with the two different mediums.
decastell.com/2014/07/07/t...
#article #swords #fantasy #novel
decastell.com/2014/07/07/t...
#article #swords #fantasy #novel
After seven years, my novel is finally nearing publication! I’m meant to be proofing for typos, but of course, that hasn’t stopped me from revising a chapter here or there… or everywhere.
#author #comingsoon #ourladyofblades
#author #comingsoon #ourladyofblades
November 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
After seven years, my novel is finally nearing publication! I’m meant to be proofing for typos, but of course, that hasn’t stopped me from revising a chapter here or there… or everywhere.
#author #comingsoon #ourladyofblades
#author #comingsoon #ourladyofblades
Humour is humanity’s cleverest way of facing the dark. It helps us endure and connect — but it has to be earned. The joke should come from what the characters truly feel, not from a writer forcing a laugh. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting
November 14, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Humour is humanity’s cleverest way of facing the dark. It helps us endure and connect — but it has to be earned. The joke should come from what the characters truly feel, not from a writer forcing a laugh. #WritingCommunity #AmWriting
“First thing you learn wandering the long roads, kid. Everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story.”
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 AM
“First thing you learn wandering the long roads, kid. Everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story.”
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
— Ferius Parfax
decastell.com/spellslinger
There was something oddly welcoming about those old pocket books that feels absent from today’s mass market paperbacks...
#author #inspiration #oldbooks #reader #writer
#author #inspiration #oldbooks #reader #writer
November 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
There was something oddly welcoming about those old pocket books that feels absent from today’s mass market paperbacks...
#author #inspiration #oldbooks #reader #writer
#author #inspiration #oldbooks #reader #writer
Turmoil & Tribulation in Series Fantasy: Why Authors Torment Your Favourite Characters
decastell.com/2015/04/18/t...
decastell.com/2015/04/18/t...
Turmoil & Tribulation in Series Fantasy: Why Authors Torment Your Favourite Characters | Sebastien de Castell
I slammed down my copy of George R. R. Martin's Storm of Swords on top of the bed. It bounced. “That son of a—" “Please stop yelling at the book,” ...
decastell.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Turmoil & Tribulation in Series Fantasy: Why Authors Torment Your Favourite Characters
decastell.com/2015/04/18/t...
decastell.com/2015/04/18/t...
Dijon is a city that feels like it’s been polished by centuries of quiet pride. You can stroll through medieval streets where every corner reveals another spire, another café, another reminder that France once built beauty not for tourists, but for itself.
November 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Dijon is a city that feels like it’s been polished by centuries of quiet pride. You can stroll through medieval streets where every corner reveals another spire, another café, another reminder that France once built beauty not for tourists, but for itself.
Would you agree that there is a difference between not doing something and not being responsible for it?
#bookquote #spellslinger #author #writer #thoughtoftheday
#bookquote #spellslinger #author #writer #thoughtoftheday
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Would you agree that there is a difference between not doing something and not being responsible for it?
#bookquote #spellslinger #author #writer #thoughtoftheday
#bookquote #spellslinger #author #writer #thoughtoftheday
These are four silver chess pieces from an innovative silver mint in Korea. I quite love the designs . . .
#chess #inspiration #writer #author #silver
#chess #inspiration #writer #author #silver
November 5, 2025 at 2:51 PM
These are four silver chess pieces from an innovative silver mint in Korea. I quite love the designs . . .
#chess #inspiration #writer #author #silver
#chess #inspiration #writer #author #silver
I’m a big fan of the Strike television show (I mean, Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger? I’d watch them reading out the phone book – all the while wondering if they’ll ever kiss). The books make for fun beach reading, full with the never-ending “will they/won’t they”
November 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I’m a big fan of the Strike television show (I mean, Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger? I’d watch them reading out the phone book – all the while wondering if they’ll ever kiss). The books make for fun beach reading, full with the never-ending “will they/won’t they”
This unusual silver piece displays four famous pirates and contains an actual working compass. I really think more coins should contain working compasses....
#SebastienDeCastell #SwashbucklingFantasy #Greatcoats #PirateVibes #FantasyAesthetic #FantasyCollectors
#SebastienDeCastell #SwashbucklingFantasy #Greatcoats #PirateVibes #FantasyAesthetic #FantasyCollectors
October 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This unusual silver piece displays four famous pirates and contains an actual working compass. I really think more coins should contain working compasses....
#SebastienDeCastell #SwashbucklingFantasy #Greatcoats #PirateVibes #FantasyAesthetic #FantasyCollectors
#SebastienDeCastell #SwashbucklingFantasy #Greatcoats #PirateVibes #FantasyAesthetic #FantasyCollectors
🗡️ Fun sword fact: The word “sword” comes from Old English sweord — but the earliest swords weren’t steel! Around 1600 BCE they were bronze, short, ornate, and bent mid-battle. ⚔️
📸 Image: Rama, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 FR)
#SwordLore #HistoryNerd #BronzeAge #FunFact
📸 Image: Rama, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 FR)
#SwordLore #HistoryNerd #BronzeAge #FunFact
October 28, 2025 at 1:42 PM
🗡️ Fun sword fact: The word “sword” comes from Old English sweord — but the earliest swords weren’t steel! Around 1600 BCE they were bronze, short, ornate, and bent mid-battle. ⚔️
📸 Image: Rama, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 FR)
#SwordLore #HistoryNerd #BronzeAge #FunFact
📸 Image: Rama, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 FR)
#SwordLore #HistoryNerd #BronzeAge #FunFact