I think my review could boil down to just four words. I'm not sure which four words best sum up my experience but there are some options:
I didn't like it.
It wasn't for me.
Alas, I did try.

I persevered, I battled to the bitter end and turned each and every one of the near to 500 pages hoping I would change my mind. As much as I wanted to get swept up in the story or the camaraderie, I just couldn't get behind the premise. As a fantasy reader, I've conjured up realistic dragons, dwarves and even the odd unicorn in my mind. I've placidly tagged along on doomed quests dreamt up with questionable logic or shaky motivations. However for whatever reason, I just couldn't let go and give in to the suspension of disbelief that the singular way the hidden truth of society's corruption could be uncovered is through a play-by-play reenactment of a ghost's long-forgotten memories in front of a live audience. It also didn't sit comfortably that the dangerous and bloodthirsty enemy were waiting in the shadowy wings, ready to swoop in and deliver death blows to all those who dared act in this blasphemous performance.. though they were of course always happy to watch and wait for the final curtain or intermission to intervene. 

I'll admit, I have not read this author's previous works and so I'm not familiar with the rest of the books within the Greatcoat universe. I've also never been big on theatre or performance-based art, nor fencing or duelling. Perhaps the charm of this book was lost on me, due to my lack of understanding when it comes to those pursuits and the shared culture of those individuals who love them as much as the author does. I think for those people, this book will be a wonderful adventure and I do not want my opinion to deter or put them off in any way. De Castell's passion and knowledge shine through in his work, I can only regret that it was lost on me.

The writing was of great quality and I found myself indulging in a snort laugh or two at the humour (eaten by cows/eaten by crows moment was a personal favourite, as well as the panic of seeing red/facing the curtain). In line with any story set primarily on a stage and involving a troupe of performers, it did lean into the melodrama a tad. The pretentious, embellished language of the theatre was plentiful and there were more than a fair share of smug or over-dramatised characters indulging in poetic soliloquies and monologues, often to massage their egos and further inflate their self-importance. I would roll my eyes if I met them in person, so it's only natural I found myself doing the same when meeting them on the page.

Thank you Quercus Books & Sebastien de Castell for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.