Independent reviews of your favourite books & role play games
The Age of Chivalry
Brethren by Robyn Young
First of a trilogy, this novel by new writer Robyn Young is an exciting tale of two men, Will Campbell a young, Scottish Templar sergeant and Amir Baybars who fought his way from slavery to become a fearsome commander and sultan. After seeing his father forced to pawn the Crown Jewels to the Templars, Prince Edward of England swears to get them back by whatever means he can use. An attempt to snatch them back is foiled by Will and the other Templars escorting the Jewels to The Temple in Paris and Edward has to seek other means to get his hands on them. Learning that a book has been stolen from the Templars which contains secrets which could discredit the order and damage their reputation beyond repair, Edward send his agents to seek it out. Will too finds his fate linked to that of the book and sets out on a trail which leads him to The Holy Land and conflict as the region is plunged into war as Baybars vows to purge it of the European invaders who have made it their home.
Boris has had an interest in he Templars since reading about the nasty one in Sir Walter Scott’s ‘Ivanhoe’ and was most disappointed when he found out that they no longer existed and so couldn’t join them. Mrs Boris
Knights of the Black & White by Jack Whyte
The Order, an ancient secret society in 1088 recruits its latest member, a young knight named Hugh de Payens. Wreathed in secrecy, the Order unites France’s noble families in a bond more sacred than their loyalty to King & country. Soon Hugh is fighting in the Holy Land on the First Crusade, but sickened by the horrors he witnesses he vows to dedicate the rest of his life to God. Forming an order of warrior monks who in later times will be known as the Knights Templar, Hugh and his order commit to protecting pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. The Order has not forgotten Hugh however and charges him to seek and find its lost treasure, buried beneath the lost temple of Solomon, a treasure which contains revelations that could destroy the Catholic Church!
Another novel about the origins of the Templars. Boris
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Relics by Pip Vaughan-Hughes
In 13th Century England Brother Petroc lives a simple life as a novice, but his world is changed forever when he is conned by Sir Hugh de Kervezey, a sinister former Knght Templar. Framed by Sir Hugh for theft and murder, Petroc flees for his life when his best friend Will is killed. He finds sanctuary with the enigmatic Monsieur de Sol, a relic-hunter and leaves England on board his ship the ‘Cormaran’. Petroc is soon accepted as a member of its motley crew and finds comradeship and later love, when the Byzantine Princess Anna joins them. Determined to avenge the death of Will, Petroc and Sir Hugh’s paths cross again for a final time and only one of them will survive the encounter.
A debut novel by a promising writer and one which Boris very much enjoyed. Princess Anna sounds like a feisty sort of girl, a bit like Mrs Boris in fact. Boris
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
As a pilgrim band approaches medieval Cambridge, among their number is a renowned investigator and his aides, a young Arab and Adelia. She is a rare person in the Middle ages, a female doctor and an expert in the study of corpses. Their skills are desperately needed, as a child has been horribly murdered and other children have vanished. The Jews, who provide much of the King’s revenue are being held in the castle for their own safety, accused by angry townsfolk of the murder. Adelia needs all her skill and courage to investigate with the help of her companions. Along the way she makes unexpected friends, finds romance and unwittingly puts herself in great danger.
I thoroughly enjoyed this first historical novel from the author, which is rich in detail and thoroughly captivating. I should warn male readers however that some of the medical procedures may cause them to wince in sympathy. Mrs Boris
What is it with Mrs B and her fascination with medical matters. If she’s not watching ‘Casualty’, it’s ‘Holby City’ or them programmes where they cut up Mummies (of the Egyptian kind)! Boris
The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick
An excellent follow up to ‘The Greatest Knight’, this novel relates the latter half of the life of William Marshall. In this novel, William Marshall has been richly rewarded for his service and loyalty as a knight in the royal household by marrying Isabelle de Clare, the heiress to vast estates. The couple fall deeply in love and seem set for a secure and contented life, when all is shattered by the death of King Richard. Their eldest sons are taken hostage and their lands seized by King John. William consequently has to steer a perilous course between his loyalty to the king and rebelling against these injustices. Their loving marriage threatens to flounder and Isabelle and William must come to terms with the path their lives must take to secure their own future. An excellent, soundly researched novel rich in detail, telling the struggle of William Marshall to stay true to his own beliefs, secure his family’s safety and eventually guide the country through a hazardous period in history.
Mrs B has always admired William Marshall and considers him an excellent role model for any aspirational modern day knight. Boris is also a good role model, after of course, Mrs B’s tuition. Mrs Boris
The Champion by Elizabeth Chadwick
Alexander de Montron was sent to a monastery to complete his education, before taking his vows as a monk. Fleeing from the shameful corruption at the monastery, Alexander seeks the protection of his brother and is determined to succeed as a knight on the tourney circuit, hoping to win fame and fortune.
Monday de Cerizay granddaughter of the Lord of Stafford, is smitten with Alexander, until she finds herself another of his conquests. Alone & pregnant, Monday is desperate to leave the insecurity of life on the tourney circuits and determines to make a new life for herself. She eventually becomes the mistress of Prince John, but finds that the doubtful security of her new life comes with a heavy price.
Alexander, after being left destitute must rebuild his career from nothing. When Monday & Alexander meet again, it is as strangers and they must face the wrath of a king and vengeful relatives before they can be together again.
Monday de Cerizay granddaughter of the Lord of Stafford, is smitten with Alexander, until she finds herself another of his conquests. Alone & pregnant, Monday is desperate to leave the insecurity of life on the tourney circuits and determines to make a new life for herself. She eventually becomes the mistress of Prince John, but finds that the doubtful security of her new life comes with a heavy price.
Alexander, after being left destitute must rebuild his career from nothing. When Monday & Alexander meet again, it is as strangers and they must face the wrath of a king and vengeful relatives before they can be together again.
Mrs Boris found this to be a solidly researched historical novel full of period detail, from the stench of privies to the very real dangers of jousting. History really comes alive with this writer and you really feel that you are living in the medieval world. Mrs Boris
Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
Boris has long enjoyed Bernard Cornwell’s historical stories and his epic tale of one of England’s heroic battles against the French is no exception. The story is told by Nicholas Hook, one of the archers in Henry’s army. The tale starts in England nearly two years before the famous battle with Nicholas contemplating murdering one of his family’s enemies and ends after the battle back in England. Along the way Nicholas goes into exile after hitting a priest and enlisting as a mercenary in the employ of the Burgundians, Nicholas survives the siege of Soissons and the horrors that followed its fall. Escaping the mayhem he returns to England and enlists in the army King Henry is assembling to take to France to pursue his claim to the French throne. Nicholas takes part in the siege of Harfleur and the march across France which culminates in the events of 25th October 1415 when an estimated English force of around 6000 defeated 30000 French and the cream of their chivalry.
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland
A desperate band of travellers are trying to escape the Black Death in England in 1348. A scarred trader in relics, a young couple on the run, a conjurer, a musician and his apprentice, a midwife and a young girl who reads the runes. All of them have their own secrets and reasons to flee and are only united by their desire for safety in these dark, terrible times. They are haunted by a curse from which they cannot escape, a curse which proves even more dangerous than the pestilence , they must flee for their very lives if they are to live. An atmospheric tale of terrifying times which is not one for reading alone by candlelight in a power cut. Oh no!
The Death Maze by Ariana Franklin
Adelia Aquilar, graduate of the School of Medicine in Salerno was introduced to readers in ‘Mistress of the Art of Death’ reviewed below. In this sequel, Adelia has an even harder challenge than before. Someone has poisoned Rosamund Clifford, the beloved mistress of King Henry. Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Queen, is a natural suspect and should the suspicion be proven then the outcome will be a bloody civil war. Rowley, Adelia’s lover and the father of her daughter Almeisan, does not think that the King’s wife was involved in Rosamunds murder and the pressure is therefore on Adelia to find the real killer. More murders follow as a bitter winter grips the land and with a dangerous assassin on the loose, Adelia finds that her life too is very soon in danger.
Excellent atmospheric story. Ariana Franklin brings the period to life and fortunately not too many nasty medical procedures to read through this time. Boris still winces at some of the ones described in ‘Mistress of the Art of Death’. Boris
Boris remembers well being taught all about Azincourt or Agincourt as it was known in those days and best of all being taken on a school trip to see the 1944 film Henry V, which portrayed the battle and no Mrs B! it wasn’t when it first came out!! Boris
