Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

November Medieval Group Read is:

Sworn Sword

n ambitious young Norman soldier fights against desperate odds to consolidate the conquest of England in the years after the Battle of Hastings. Brilliant first novel in the mould of Requiem""by Robyn Young.
January 1069. Less than three years have passed since Hastings and the death of the usurper, Harold Godwineson. In the depths of winter, two thousand Normans march to subdue the troublesome province of Northumbria. Tancred a Dinant, an ambitious and oath-sworn knight and a proud leader of men, is among them, hungry for battle, for silver and for land.
But at Durham the Normans are ambushed in the streets by English rebels. In the battle that ensues, their army is slaughtered almost to a man. Badly wounded, Tancred barely escapes with his life. His lord is among those slain.
Soon the enemy are on the march, led by the dispossessed prince Eadgar, the last of the ancient Saxon line, who is determined to seize the realm he believes is his. Yet even as Tancred seeks vengeance for his lord's murder, he finds himself caught up in secret dealings between a powerful Norman magnate and a shadow from the past.
As the Norman and English armies prepare to clash, Tancred begins to uncover a plot which harks back to the day of Hastings itself. A plot which, if allowed to succeed, threatens to undermine the entire Conquest. The fate of the Kingdom hangs in the balance.

Have it ready on me reader. I think I am really going to enjoy this one!

I liked it. Gave it 4 stars way back when.

Since I have read Sworn Sword and won't be rereading it, I am going to read book two while you all read the first one.

The Splintered Kingdom

I have it here ready to go but I'm reading other books in the meantime.
It's a temptation to hold off because it's here staring at me. :)

lol. Well stay strong!

A message to the group from the author:

Thanks to everyone who voted for Sworn Sword

Terri wrote: "November Medieval Group Read is:

Sworn Sword"

Awesome. I'm in. Got it sitting in the leaning stack of doom.

Seems to be one of those books that doesn't get mentioned a lot in group, but it goes in a group read poll and everyone comes out and says they own it! LOL.
It has been surprising how many people already owned it and haven't had a chance to get to it.

No excuses anymore people. November is your date with Sworn Sword. :)

Terri wrote: "lol. Well stay strong!"

I'm trying! I've kept it separate from my tbr pile so it won't tempt me [I hope].
Thought it only fair to the author I read the Goodreads giveaway book--quite a change in pace.

Great news.
James Aitcheson is also going to do a blog interview with me to coincide with the group read of his book.

Both authors of our group reads in November are so lovely. Really open and friendly

I'll look forward to that Terri I really enjoyed the book when I read it. Haven't been able to get the second one from the library yet, but certainly will do when I can.

The author assures me that he thinks the second one is better than the first...and the third one is better than them both. :-) He also admits he is biased.
I'll soon find out (cause I will be reading book two during the group read of one).

I guess I'm reading this one, as the library has it. I attempted to read this awhile ago if I recall and wasn't that impressed but I'll give it another shot for the sake of the group read.

I think it will appeal the most to people with an interest in the era. Have you ever had an interest in the 11th century or pre and post Norman Invasion Britain, Dawn? That was where my like for the book came from.

So far my interests haven't been that specific to era in anything prior to the 16th century.
It was the writing style that turned me off before and that can change with my mood so it's worth another try.

I know what you mean. I can like an author's writing style one month, not like it the next. And vice versa.

I couldn't resist and read the first chapter... I liked it, very brutal and realistic battle scenes. Good, solid writing. But now I'm trying to finish this month's books before I go back to it.

Lol. That's the danger in sneaking looks into books we aren't ready to read yet. They can tempt us off what we need to finish. :-)

As long as this cold I've got doesn't stop me from getting to the library, I will have my copy of this book on Monday. So I'll be prepared to start on time. :)

OK - "Usurper Harold " doesnt go down very well with me LOL.*Ahem, But Am prepared to let that go! It will be good for me to read a book about the conquest from the Norman point of view. James is a really nice young man as well so this will be a lot of fun!

I've got it ready on kindle now. I just have to try to hold off starting until the 1st! I've got high hopes for this one.

I have ready on me sony.

Paula wrote: "OK - "Usurper Harold " doesnt go down very well with me LOL.*Ahem, But Am prepared to let that go! It will be good for me to read a book about the conquest from the Norman point of view. James is a..."

You'll be interested in the interview when I post it. I asked him a couple questions about what his perceptions of the ivnasion and William are. His answers are good reading.

We are always interested in all your interviews!

My library copy will be due Wed. so I've had to renew it. I'll read this one first, so I can get it back to the library. The other group read I bought and is on order. It comes when it comes, I guess...

looking forward to this one later this month. Sounds intriguing.

Terri wrote: "Paula wrote: "OK - "Usurper Harold " doesnt go down very well with me LOL.*Ahem, But Am prepared to let that go! It will be good for me to read a book about the conquest from the Norman point of vi..."

Wow, can't wait to read it.

Dawn wrote: "We are always interested in all your interviews!"


aww shucks. :D

Hey guys, this might be useful:
http://www.essentialnormanconquest.co...

I broke down and started--finished Chapter 2. Any battle so far is no more violent than I've read in other books. I'll be interested to read the Norman point of view on the Conquest.

mixal wrote: "Hey guys, this might be useful:
http://www.essentialnormanconquest.co..."

Thanks for that, Michel. That is handy for those wanting to familiarise themselves with the basics of the invasion.

Woo hoo! My copy just arrived in the mail. Must...fight...temptation...to...start...reading...
I guess I'll have to console myself by finishing The Crown.

I've read another chapter... chapter 2. :(

Can't help it but only two more days to hold out, maybe I can make it without reading anymore.

Alicja wrote: "I've read another chapter... chapter 2. :(

Can't help it but only two more days to hold out, maybe I can make it without reading anymore."

Oh you are so weak. So very weak. ;D

Jarrod wrote: "Woo hoo! My copy just arrived in the mail. Must...fight...temptation...to...start...reading...
I guess I'll have to console myself by finishing The Crown."

I am holding out too. IN fact, as I type, book two (which I will be reading the same time as you all read book one) is sitting here next to my laptop. A constant reminder.

I am going to try and get the interviews up on the group blog today. If I don't get too busy.

My copy's lying on the big table in the bedroom, so for most of the day it's out of sight, out of mind. I'll probably start it over, since I only read 2 chapters. I think I'll like it. Powell's just informed me today they mailed out Hero of Rome so I should be getting that in the next 10-14 days.

The interview with the author, James Aitcheson, is up on the blog. :)

http://ancientandmedievalmayhem.blogs...

Good interview

He's a very articulate author. And he gets to use the Cambridge Library. *jealous*

Thank you Terri & James! Great interview.

I would love to get unlimited access to Cambridge Library. Of course I am in a different country, but still....:)

Very good as always terri.

Glad you are all enjoying it. :)

Very interesting interview and he expresses himself well.

Terri wrote: "I would love to get unlimited access to Cambridge Library. Of course I am in a different country, but still....:)"

write a letter...maybe you could work something out.

Jane wrote: "I broke down and started--finished Chapter 2. Any battle so far is no more violent than I've read in other books. I'll be interested to read the Norman point of view on the Conquest."

I know, I am keen to see something from the Norman perspective.

Cool interview, thanks Terri!

Did I finish the book only one day before I was supposed to start reading it? I really need more self-discipline...

mixal wrote: "Did I finish the book only one day before I was supposed to start reading it? I really need more self-discipline..."

Haha! And I thought I was bad with my two chapters read!!

mixal wrote: "Did I finish the book only one day before I was supposed to start reading it? I really need more self-discipline..."

Mixal, you can always reread if you want to. Whenever I reread something, I try to let a long amount of time go by. And I'm surprised what I pick up the second time around that I missed the first.

Terri,

Good interview as always - now I've got to get my hands on a copy :)