Book Review — Requiem, Changing Times by R. J. Parker #YoungAdult #scific

Requiem, Changing Times

By R. J. Parker

Clint and Corbin are having a weird day. Best friends for life, things are getting a little strange around their town, and at school. When they're followed by a strange man looking for Clint and later attacked by an imp, it makes sense to retreat to the safety of home. But when strangers from another world, Banks and O'Neil, arrive with their medley of allies, things get even weirder. Why are they here? What do they want? And what is The Requiem that everyone keeps talking about? As Clint and his friends and family are drawn deeper into a thrilling adventure, only one thing is for sure. They may not be getting out alive. And class with Mrs Christenson will seem like a walk in the park after this.

"Have you ever had a bad idea that you dismiss at once because it was a terrible idea?" Corbin asked Clint. "Well this was one of those ideas that I should have dismissed."

Up until the moment a very intense stranger stopped them, the only thing Clint "Staeli" Holden and Corbin Jenkins had to fear was their teacher, Mrs Christenson, and principle Miller's office. Oh, and Amber — who every boy wanted to date apart from Clint who had the misfortune of catching Amber's eye. But then Clint's mother and step-father went on an unexpected cruise, and now Clint and Corbin are being chased by Furies, Orcs, and Imps. Not to mention that Clint's house has been taken over by members of the Salvation Alliance. If that were not bad enough, Clint and Corbin have yet to decide who they are going to take to their school's Halloween dance!

Whoever said seventh-grade was fun, was clearly out of their mind.

With an elegant turn of phrase and a narrative that is as enthralling as it is addictive, Requiem, Changing Times by R. J. Parker is, in all ways, a Young Adult, Science Fiction / Dystopian triumph.

With an impressive sweep and brilliance, Parker has penned a book that is filled to bursting with cliff-hanger tension and characters that a reader can get behind. The protagonists are fun, refreshing, and very relatable for their intended audience. The antagonists are cruelly evil, determined in their goal, and seemingly unstoppable. The plot is tautly gripping — the non-stop excitement and the witty one-liners made this book compulsively readable and laugh-out-loud funny. This book has it all and then some.

One cannot help but be bewitched by the cinematic quality of this story. There is an essence of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes about this novel, especially in the opening chapters — Parker uses short sharp sentences to great effect. Likewise, the slowing down of the battle scenes by the use of long sentences enables the reader to experience the battles, rather than simply imagine. This approach to writing is incredibly hard to pull off, but Parker has seemingly mastered the art. Parker's innovative approach to his writing is refreshing, and it makes for a delightful read. This constant change in pace also makes a very long book seem somehow shorter.

This story is about two friends as their seemingly mundane life is torn asunder by the invasion of an alien mythological species which are determined to find the Requiem. The Requiem, an ancient relic, can either restore peace across the universe or cause chaos and suffering, so it mustn't fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately for Clint, his name is somehow connected to the Requiem, and is, therefore, a target for those who want to use the Requiem for ill purposes. The friendship between Clint and Corbin is steadfast, and where one goes, the other is not far behind. Clint is the hero of this story — the invading army, is determined to kill him, but it was Corbin who really closed the deal on this book for me. Corbin is incredibly witty and provides much of the humour in this story, which for a dystopian novel is something that is, at times, desperately needed.

There are many mythical characters in this book — from the cold and wicked Spell Binder to the frightening Furies — that are determined to find the prize. Parker has crafted some genuinely frightful characters, whose intentions and vile threats are demonstrated through their actions rather than by long explanations. Like Clint, when his questions about these creatures are brushed aside and not answered, I felt frustrated. Clint is going into battle blind — he only knows that his life and that of his family and friends are in mortal danger, he really deserves to know whom he is fighting and why. However, the cleverly crafted use of word-building over the length of this novel conveys these monstrous characters in all their frightful depiction.

Clint also has to keep up a facade that nothing is going on — which seems to be a common theme in books such as this. The scenes at school are incredibly entertaining — especially as Clint desperately tries to hide from Amber, the prima-donna of his year. And his inability to form a sentence whenever Melanie, the girl he has feelings for, crosses his path is incredibly sweet. Clint may be trying to save the world, but he is a fumbling buffoon when it comes to romance!

Knights of the Salvation Alliance — Commander Banks and his second in command, O'Neil — are an alien species who are sent to earth to protect Clint and find the Requiem. These characters are introduced very early on in the story, and we are given a glimpse of the world in which these two inhabit. They are hardened warriors who are formidable opponents for the dangerous creatures who are now stalking the earth. I thought the portrayal of both Banks and O'Neil was sublime. Parker captured the very essence of these two characters remarkably well.

Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson will find something endlessly fascinating about R. J. Parker's Requiem, Changing Times. I look forward to reading Book 2 of what promises to be a fabulous series.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

Requiem, Changing Times

Amazon UK • Amazon US

R. J. Parker

Russell Parker was born in Bountiful, Utah. As his father was safety manager he had to move around until his senior year of high school, when he came to Cache Valley, Utah to stay. He married the most wonderful woman in the world and they are the parents of four fantastic kids, with one crazy dog. Russell played all kinds of sports and was an outdoors man until an accident brought him to writing. A writer since high school, encouragement brought his stories to life.

Connect with Russel: Website • Facebook • Goodreads.

#BookReview — This Day is Ours by Gretchen Jeannette #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance

This Day is Ours

By Gretchen Jeannette

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to end.

The American Colonies, 1776.

As the flames of revolution spread across a divided land, a shadowy figure prowls the city of Philadelphia. Known only as Jack Flash, rebel highwayman, he preys on wealthy aristocrats loyal to the British Crown. The unpredictable outlaw always manages to stay one step ahead of his foes. Until the night he targets a Loyalist lady whose fiery spirit could spell his doom.

Alexandra Pennington believes she has her future well planned when a chance encounter turns her world upside down. Betrothed to a dashing king's man suited to her in every way, the young widow becomes entangled with an unrefined rebel fiercely opposed to British rule. Against all reason, she finds common ground with an enemy of the Crown. The sensible course for her is clear, but her bond with the notorious rogue will test her loyalty not only to her king but also to the man she vowed to marry.

From the drawing rooms of Philadelphia to the battlefields of an emerging nation, one woman stands between two men fighting for love and honor in a war destined to change all their lives forever.

"He's committed eleven robberies in the past three months. Last night alone, he stole a necklace worth a small fortune… He preys on Loyalists. It's obvious he's one of those Independents."

Well, at least they had one thing right. Jack Flash was all for an America independent of British rule, and if the wealthy aristocrats of Philadelphia, who were loyal to the Crown, could be persuaded to part with a few of their glittering jewels to help the cause then so much the better. 

But last night, Flash had made a mistake. He had strayed where he should not. He had almost been beguiled by a woman's fragrance scent and a desperate desire to steal not only her jewellery but also a kiss. Fool that he was — every thief worth his salt knew that a man who could rob successfully while kissing a pretty girl was not giving the kiss the attention it deserved.

Mrs Alexandra Pennington missed her late husband dreadfully, but perhaps now she would be able to marry for love, and not out of necessity. Charles Villard was charming, handsome, and attentive. Alexandra thought she could be happy with a man like him. That was until she found herself pinned against her bedpost with a pistol caressing her cheek. Alexandra felt violated, but more than that she felt an incredible rage because the necklace Jack Flash had stolen was a cherished wedding gift from her late husband, John.

Chance would have it that the thief and the widow would meet again, and that chance meeting would change the course of their lives forever...

From a daring robbery to The Battle of Monmouth in 1778, This Day is Ours by Gretchen Jeannette is an enthralling Historical Romance that not only threatens to mesmerise, but does.

Written with a poetic verse and a romantic, yet tender, sensuality, This Day is Ours has a lot to recommend it. With an impressive sweep, Jeannette has not only penned an irresistible romance, but she has also composed a story that encompasses the American War of Independence in all its vivid detail.

Jeannette does not romanticise the American Revolution. With a keen sense of time and place, Jeannette has depicted the relentless misery of war — from the sheer terror of battle to the frustration of red-tape which stopped supplies from going to where they were needed. But Jeannette also explores the camaraderie between the men, the persistent courage of those who fought for the right to rule their country without interference. Their patriotic cause inflamed them. Even when it seemed that their cause was lost, they did not give up. They fought on until victory was theirs. The historical detail of this book has to be commended. I can only imagine how many hours Jeannette has spent researching this era for she has captured the very essence of America during this period of volatile history. Kudos, Jeannette. Kudos, indeed.

This book, of course, would be nothing without the fabulous characters that grace the pages. I fell totally in love with Jack Flash from the opening chapter. He is something of a contradiction. He is a thief, but he has more honour in his little finger than some of the other characters we meet in this book. Flash's gentle nature is at odds with his occupation, but at the same time, it is somehow fitting. Jeannette has given her readers a protagonist that they can really get behind. Flash is an endlessly fascinating character whom I enjoyed reading about very much.

I initially feared, as I do with all Historical Romances, that Alexandra Pennington was going to be one of those wilting heroines, whose wit and intelligence is somehow compromised by the era in which she lives, or, worse still, she was going to be one of those strong independent women who has very modern views that would be totally out of place to the century the book is set. Thankfully, Jeannette has given us a heroine that is neither wilting nor exceedingly modern. Alexandra sits very comfortably in 18th Century Philadelphia. Alexandra's story was endlessly fascinating. Alexandra risks everything by listening to her heart and falling for the roguish hero of this story. She risks not only the scandal, but during such a violent and uncertain time, Alexandra risks a great deal more. I thought Jeannette depicted Alexandra with a wonderful skill and diligence. I could not help but like Alexandra. She is a courageous woman who is faced with impossible choices which could have terrible consequences for herself and those she loves. I thought her depiction was brilliant and in keeping with this era and this story.

I am not going to talk about the antagonist of this tale for I do not want to give away any spoilers, but I would like to mention Alexandra's brother-in-law from her first marriage, George Pennington. George is such a lovable scoundrel, who is incredibly opinionated, which lands him and those around him in trouble more than once. Yet, he is utterly devoted to Alexandra. George is like a father to her. Alexandra is his beloved, and he just wants to see her happy and safe. I thought George's depiction was wonderful. He is superbly drawn — a real larger than life character.

As I approached the 2nd part of this book, I had a moment of fear that Jeannette would lose the momentum, lose the romance that had carried this story forward so beautifully and so compellingly. How would the lovers survive as war tore them apart? But I need not have feared, for the brilliance of this book is in the writing. It is in Jeannette's captivating narrative, her skill at depicting realistic and believable characters. Jeannette's ability as an author to grasp all aspects of the human condition — from love to hate and everything in between, makes this book an absolute triumph from start to finish. I fell in love with this book in the opening chapter, and I continued that love affair right up until the very last full stop. This Day is Ours is the kind of book that deserves the highest of accolades, for it is fresh, it is vivid, and it is absolutely enchanting. 

If you are a lover of quality Historical Romance with a realistic setting and a tautly gripping plot then you will love This Day is Ours by Gretchen Jeannette. This is the kind of book that demands to be read again and again and again until the spine breaks and the pages fall out. It is deserving of a place on your bookshelf.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

The Day is Ours

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Gretchen Jeannette

Gretchen Jeannette was born in 1955 in Wilmington, Delaware. She lives and works in Chester County, Pennsylvania, an area rich in Revolutionary War and Colonial American history. Her enduring interest in 18th Century America began at a young age, inspired by the novels of Dale Van Every and Allan Eckert, whose timeless tales of adventure and romance capture the essence of early American lore. Eager to read more such stories, to her disappointment she had trouble finding them on bookshelves, so she decided to write one of her own. Thus began a journey fueled by her passion for breathing life into history through believable characters, authentic historical details, and plots woven with adventure, romance and suspense.

Connect with Gretchen: Website • Twitter • Goodreads.

#BookReview — Oath of Allegiance (Allegiance, Book 2) by Jana Petken #HistoricalFiction #WW1 #Ireland

Oath of Allegiance

(Allegiance, Book 2)

By Jana Petken

As the Great War enters its most deadly phase, Patrick, Jenny, and Danny Carmody must cast aside their personal desires in order to stand with Britain against Germany and her allies.

Danny, who is recovering from serious wounds, is devastated when he learns he must return to the Continent to fight at the front.

Patrick, traumatised by his experience on HMHS Britannic, prays for a shore posting, but the Royal Navy has something much more insidious in store for him.

Jenny and Kevin rekindle their love for one another but their relationship is tested when the Irish people demand their independence from Britain and its king. Jenny must choose between her brothers and her new husband’s Anglo-Irish aristocratic family.

"I promise you, my darlin', I'll not get involved in Ireland's troubles when I come home..."

That's if he came home. Danny Carmody had already cheated death once. He doubted he would do so again. Danny had thought his war over when he had been gassed at the Front, but no. Here he was back at the Somme, waiting for the orders that would send him over the top and towards certain death. And for what? To gain a few miles of land? It was a war governed by fools who sent lambs to the slaughter while expecting a result other than butchery.

Patrick Carmody had, unlike his brother, joined the Royal Navy. However, if Patrick never stepped on a boat again, it would be too soon. The White Star Line was cursed, or so it seemed. Patrick had survived the sinking of HMHS Britannic, but would he be so lucky a second time?

Jenny Carmody was at last married to the man she loved, and that was all that mattered. However, Kevin had not told Jenny the whole truth about who his family were. Jenny knew they were protestant and of standing, but there was so much more she did not know. So much more...

From the horrors of The Western Front to the disappointment of The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, Oath of Allegiance: Allegiance, Book 2 by Jana Petken is the unforgettable story of the Carmody family, and how they survived one war but were very nearly torn apart by another.

Where do I even begin to attempt to express how wonderful this book is? I could speak of how Petken stimulated all five senses with her vivacious storytelling. I could praise Petken for her fabulous historical descriptions. I could celebrate Petken's novelist eyes for human failings — her emphatic understanding of the human condition. I could, of course, praise the narrative, which is as lucid as it is enthralling. Or, the prose that washed over me in riotous colours of green and white and orange. This is a book where the patriots become the terrorists. Where those who are meant to protect become a seedy colour of Black and Tan. Where life is torn asunder by a war that had been going on for years and would continue to go on for decades more. This is a story about the day the Emerald Isle began to drown in the blood of her own people. This is a story about the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This is the story of one family whose life would never be the same again.

The historical detailing of this book has to be commended. Petken has really nailed this era. Not only is Petken a talented author, she is also the most dedicated of historians. Petken's knowledge of what conditions were like at the Somme, to her understanding of the events that led up to Bloody Sunday and the Civil War in Ireland has to be commended. One does not just sit down and write a historical fiction book that is so incredibly authentic and as true to the history as can be without hours and hours of research. Petken is, without a doubt the creme de la creme of historical fiction writers. If you don't believe me, pick up this book.

Petken's depiction of The Battle of the Somme was vivid in all its desperate detail. We experience the brutalities of trench warfare through the eyes of Danny Carmody. The horror of learning that you were being sent back to where you had almost died is beyond comprehension. But when in Hell, Danny is pragmatic enough to keep walking. Danny endures so many unbearable events in this book, and he finds himself embroiled in a world that is dark and dangerous. He survives one world war, only to fight in a very different type of warfare when he finally makes his way home. Danny is a fabulous example of an anti-hero — as a reader, I sympathised with Danny so much, he is dealt one terrible blow after another, and he finds himself in an incredibly dark place. Danny's demons are always near him, and for some reason, he seems to believe that he has no right to happiness and peace. However, what he becomes, and the things that he does with such cold and calculated precision makes him something short of monstrous. His character reminded me greatly of Frankie McGuire, in Vincent Patrick's, David Aaron Cohen's, and Kevin Jarre's, The Devil's Own. Like Frankie, Danny is a really likeable character, and I feared for him throughout this book. I just wanted him to escape this dangerous cycle of violence that he can't seem to see his way out of, not that he wants to be out of it. Danny becomes a fanatic, but there is so much more to him than that. I thought Danny's portrayal was absolutely fabulous, and his narrative made Oath of Allegiance unputdownable. His depiction was brilliantly executed.

Patrick Carmody is the glue that holds this troubled family together. He is the one constant in everybody's life. But unbeknown to anyone, Patrick has his own demons. Demons, that if discovered, could end in imprisonment and, in a worst-case scenario, his execution. Patrick fights a different type of war to his brother, although like Danny's it is one shrouded in secrets and untruths. This book is set during a time where a person's sexual identity concerning the gender to which they were attracted to was, in some cases, illegal, and if discovered, your life was over. Not being able to hold hands with the person you loved, having to be always on guard must have been a dreadfully frightening burden. I thought Petken approached Patrick's character with a tenacious understanding of the time this book is set in. I wept for Patrick, I really did. Add to that Patrick's attempts to keep his family together when circumstance was tearing them apart, made him, for me, the hero of this story.

Jenny Jackson is a very strong heroine, who, like Patrick, has to fight for what she wants. She is a woman and therefore should, as society dictates, be ruled by her husband. The very idea that she wants access to her own money seems almost scandalous. Times were changing, but they were not changing that fast. Thankfully, Jenny married Kevin, who adores the ground she walks on. Unfortunately, with the onslaught of escalating troubles in Ireland, Jenny must make an impossible choice. Jenny is married into a wealthy and very influential protestant family. Her father-in-law is a member of the House of Lords and a British Loyalist. Jenny's brother-in-law is a detective at Dublin Castle, whereas Jenny's brother, Danny, becomes a known member of the IRA. This is a family where loyalties are fundamentally divided, but the deep love the Carmody siblings have for each other makes estrangement incredibly challenging. Jenny comes from a very loving and very loyal family, and the path that Danny chooses has devastating consequences for all of them. I adored Jenny, she is a wonderful heroine who will not be cowed by her husband’s aristocratic family, nor will she be used by Kevin's brother who is desperate to find out Danny's whereabouts. I thought her depiction was marvellous.

As one would expect, there are some historical figures in this book. One cannot write a book about the IRA in the early 20th century without mentioning Michael Collins. Petken presents her readers with a very charismatic man in Collins, but she also stuck very close to the documented history about him. Collins commands respect, and he does not tolerate disloyalty. I was intrigued by her depiction of Collins, and although he is only a secondary character in this book, Collins is of course, as he once was in life, controlling the narrative.

Petken portrays the IRA as a very violent organisation, but she also explains why these men thought such actions were necessary. Petken does not make them heroes but like with Danny's characterisation, she does try to provide a balanced view of who they were and what they were fighting for, which of course was an independent Ireland. The actions are at times utterly deplorable, but then so was the activities of the RIC which Petken also depicts in all its reprehensible behaviour.

Petken is a multi award-winning and international bestselling author, and I can understand why. All of her books are amazing, I am already a massive fan of Petken's work, but Oath of Allegiance completely blew me away. It is outstanding. This book deserves a place on your bookshelf, and if ever a book deserved to be the next big series on Netflix, then it is this one.

I Highly Recommend

Review by Mary Anne Yarde

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

Oath of Allegiance

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Jana Petken

Jana Petken is a bestselling historical fiction novelist and screenwriter. 

She is critically acclaimed as a bestselling, gritty, author who produces bold, colourful characters and riveting storylines. She is the recipient of numerous major international awards for her works of historical fiction and is presently in talks with film producers regarding one of her titles.

Before life as an author, she served in the British Royal Navy. During her service, she studied Naval Law and history. After the Navy, she worked for British Airways and turned to writing after an accident on board an aircraft forced her to retire prematurely.

Connect with Jana: Website • Twitter  • Goodreads

#BookReview — Siege (The First Crusade, Book One) by Richard Foreman #HistoricalFiction #Crusades

Siege

(The First Crusade, Book One)

By Richard Foreman

1098.

The crusader army still stands outside Antioch. Starving. Deserting.

An enemy force, led by Kerbogha of Mosul, is days away from relieving the walled city.

Bohemond of Taranto calls upon the English knight, Edward Kemp, to meet with an agent, who is willing to provide the Norman prince with access to Antioch.

But Bohemond is not alone in wishing to capture and lay claim to the prize. Edward must contend with enemies in his own camp.

Should the knight's mission fail, then so may the entire campaign.

Antioch must fall.

Siege is the first book in a new series, set during the First Crusade, by bestselling historical novelist Richard Foreman.

"The Army of God has turned into the army of God Help Us..."

It began with an inspirational speech. Pope Urban II called all of the Christians of Europe to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims. "Deus vult," Urban had cried. "God wills it." Glory and riches, in this life, and the next, would be the reward to those brave enough to wrestle the Holy Sepulchre from the Saracens.

"Deus vult," he had cried. "Deus vult."

And so it seemed God had indeed willed it. Until the day His army looked upon the high fortified walls of the City of Antioch. It was then that His soldiers began to doubt the sincerity of Pope Urban II's words.

From a contest between Raymond's nephew and a knight of Bohemond's to the breaching of the walls of Antioch, Siege (The First Crusade, Book 1) by Richard Foreman is the most compelling historical fiction book I have ever read about the Crusades. Like a snapshot in time, Foreman has thrown his readers into the desperate situation facing the Crusaders as they came upon a colossal stumbling block in their bid to retake the Holy Lands.

With a narrative that is almost ornate in the telling and with an astoundingly ambitious, yet very successful, plot, Foreman has presented a book that lovers of great historical fiction can get very excited about. Not only is Siege vastly entertaining, but it is also next to impossible to put down. One more page became one more chapter. This is the kind of book that makes a reader forgo sleep to finish. 

The scope of the historical detail in this book has to be commended. Foreman has captured not only the desperation of the soldiers as food becomes scarce and starvation sets in but also the political intricacy and rivalry of men such as  Bohemond and Raymond. Foreman has, it seems, an intuitive understanding of what makes history worth reading.

The crusading army was meant to be one of unity, but all men are ambitious, especially when it comes to peer esteem and wealth. The rivalry and the ambitions of the nobles who took up the Cross have been wonderfully explored in this book. Foreman concentrates on two rival companies.The first company is led by Bohemond of Otranto, and the second, by Raymond of Toulouse. Foreman demonstrates this rivalry between Bohemond and Raymond with great skill and diligence. Both men want to best the other — they both want to be victorious, although whether that was for God's sake or their own is open to debate. 

Bohemond is portrayed as a man who commands the respect of his men. Men such as Edward Kemp and Thomas Devin — the protagonists in this story. Bohemond is also a very shrewd politician, as well as a military leader. He comes across as a very intelligent, and very knowledgeable commander. It seems that Foreman has brought Bohemond back from the dead and has breathed new life into him.

Raymond of Toulouse, as history tells us, was a very religious man who wished to die with honour in the Holy Lands. He was also extremely ambitious, and he wanted to be remembered. Foreman has given his readers a man who is more determined to vanquish Bohemond than to defeat the actual enemy, which I thought was an interesting take on this man's character and it was one that certainly helped to drive the story forward.

The protagonists of this book are two very different, and yet very wonderful men. Edward Kempt is a man who has suffered much during his life. He isn't a religious man at all. He sees what happened to him as a child as God's fault — God did nothing to stop the atrocities, or his parents murder. Edward is of the same mind as the seriousness of this siege takes hold. Men are starving. Men are dying because there is not enough food. Whose fault could this be but God's? They are, after all, fighting His war. Throughout this book, Edward struggles with his relationship with God, which I thought was endlessly fascinating. Also, Edward isn't in this fight because he wants to liberate the Holy Lands — he wants to earn enough money so he can buy a cottage, retire, get married, and raise a family. When you think of the Crusades, you think of men fighting under the banner of God, but Foreman reminds us with his characterisation of Edward that there were men whose swords were hired — they were not fighting for God, they were fighting for money. I thought Edward's depiction was fabulous. I really enjoyed reading about him.

My favourite character in this book is, without a doubt, Thomas Devin. Thomas is a profoundly pious young man who Edward calls a Holy Fool, because of his endless charity. Thomas would willingly starve to death if he could help someone else to live. He is a lamb amongst ravenous wolves, and I did fear for his safety on more than one occasion. However, like all lambs, there is a thread of a lion inside of Thomas, which is waiting to burst free and show the world what kind of man he truly is. I adored everything about Thomas, he makes solemn promises not only to God, but to his fellow man, and he will not break those promises, no matter what. He is a man that is fit to bursting with integrity, and I think this is what made him particularly appealing. Siege, is a story of desperate men, and an equally frantic battle to take control of the city. Thomas is a breath of fresh air in a world torn asunder by war.

As with any campaign during this era, and indeed, right up to very modern warfare, it was common for the army to have followers, be that the wives of the men, or prostitutes hoping to make some money from soldiers so far away from home. Foreman has given us the latter in Emma. Emma's war is not like her lover, Edward's, and nor is it like Thomas'. But I think it was a genius move by Foreman to add Emma into this story of war and ambition, for his readers get to witness the Siege of Antioch from a completely different perspective of that of a soldier or a knight. Emma's position is precarious — if the Crusaders lose, then she could end up dead or perhaps worse, a slave. This insight, I thought made this book scrumptiously balanced and gave an excellent depiction of what life may have been like for those who followed the army.

Siege (The First Crusade, Book 1) by Richard Foreman is a monumental work of scholarship. This book is bold, brutal and brilliant. I cannot wait to read Book 2 of what promises to be an irresistible series.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy of

Siege

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Richard Foreman

Richard Foreman is the bestselling author of numerous historical series set during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, including the Augustus Caesar books, Sword of Empire and Sword of Rome. He is also the author Warsaw, Raffles: The Complete Innings and Band of Brothers, a series charting the story of Henry V and the Agincourt campaign. Richard writes modern thrillers too, under the pseudonym of Thomas Waugh. He is a judge for the HWA Crowns and the founder of the London History Festival. He lives in London.

Connect with Richard: Sharpe Books • Twitter • Goodreads.