The Blinding Knife
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Brent Weeks |
| Products | Epic fantasy novel |
The Blinding Knife is a 2012 epic fantasy novel authored by New York Times Bestselling writer Brent Weeks. It serves as the second installment in his Lightbringer series, succeeding The Black Prism. The narrative centers on Kip Guile as he uncovers his hidden magical abilities. The Library Journal recognized it among its "Seven Not-to-Miss SF/Fantasy Titles for Fall 2012."
Plot
The events of The Blinding Knife commence four days following those in the preceding book.
Gavin/Dazen, the Prism, sends Kip alongside Ironfist to the Chromeria with the intent of training him as a Blackguard. Meanwhile, the Prism travels with Karris to Seer's Island, ostensibly to provide refuge for those displaced by Garriston's invasion but primarily to seek counsel from a woman endowed with precognitive abilities. His objective is to locate and eradicate the blue bane—an island created by unstable blue luxin resulting from his loss of control over that color. These temples dedicated to the color Gods grant their avatars abilities such as influencing nearby drafters and perfect chromaturgy within luxin-infused wights. This mission occupies much of the Prism’s early storyline.
Simultaneously, the genuine Gavin endeavors to break free from his confinement.
Kip endures repeated defeats in 9 Kings against his grandfather Andross, who uses the game as a means to punish Kip and his companions. Seeking improvement, Kip consults Janus Borig, a "mirror," who crafts specialized decks. Each deck portrays historical events through potent magical cards that enable drafters to physically relive those moments. During one such experience, Kip briefly witnesses a vision involving a treasonous letter concerning the red God.
After losing control over green and blue luxin, the Prism returns to the Chromeria and orchestrates political alliances across the spectrum to prepare for war against the Color Prince. This effort unites most colors but alienates red, blue, and yellow while eliminating green entirely. Under pressure from Andross, the Prism marries Karris instead of green just before hostilities begin.
The real Gavin escapes his green imprisonment by consuming blue bread but is unable to advance beyond yellow luxin. Following a fierce confrontation with the Prism, he is shot despite apparent plans for either exile or release.
With green lost, a Green bane emerges at the Color Prince’s next target location. The Prince intends to deploy it alongside blackguards, allied warships, and the Prism himself in battle. He sends Liv Danavis to ensure the God’s avatar is born and an ally embodies it. Although successful, Kip destroys the Green bane using a cannon shell and kills several giants guarding it, reverting them back to humans stripped of their luxin. The God is revealed as a former ally of Dazen and father of an ex-Green spectrum member.
Aboard their flagship, Andross reprimands the Prism for marrying Karris and other transgressions while scheming to overthrow him. Kip recognizes this scene from a card depicting Andross as a red wight. A violent altercation ensues; Kip stabs Andross with his dagger before a brawl breaks out. The Prism contemplates killing Kip but instead wounds himself and jumps overboard; Kip follows him.
Although some luxin is drained from Andross by the dagger wound, he regains clarity with his halos intact, allowing safer drafting.
The Color Prince commends Liv’s achievements and promises greater rewards, suggesting she will be chosen as avatar of an upcoming Superviolet bane. He declares the Prism dead and proclaims himself unstoppable.
A pirate named Gunner rescues both the Prism and Kip, confiscates Kip’s dagger—which now resembles a broadsword combined with a musket—and revives the Prism. Gunner retains 'Gavin' but casts Kip into the ocean; Kip washes ashore and is captured by Zymun Whiteoak, who returns him to Chromeria under Andross's orders. It is revealed that Zymun is Kip’s half-brother—the son of Karris and the real Gavin, who is also Kip’s father.
The Prism awakens aboard Gunner’s ship as "galley slave #6" and discovers he has become entirely colorblind.
Reception
Publishers Weekly offered a largely favorable critique of The Blinding Knife, highlighting its imperfections as "authentic" while also mentioning that the story felt somewhat "predictable." RT Book Reviews called it a "respectable attempt" but criticized it for being "influenced heavily by earlier epic fantasy and science fiction titles such as Ender’s Game."
In 2013, The Blinding Knife was honored with the David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novel.