Release Date: 25/08/16
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
AD 72. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, known as Vespasian, is Emperor of Rome, but his grip on power grows increasingly fragile as economic disaster threatens. The enormous riches from his Judaean campaigns are all but spent, legions go unpaid, and the yields from Rome’s vital Spanish goldfields have fallen dramatically since the civil war.
Gaius Valerius Verrens is recently married and building a new home when the summons arrives from the Emperor. Vespasian needs a man with the combined skills of a lawyer and a soldier to investigate what is happening in remote, mountainous Asturica Augusta where the authorities claim a bandit called The Ghost is ravaging the gold convoys.
But when Valerius arrives in Asturica he faces a much more complex situation. Stalked from the shadows he cannot tell ally from enemy, the exploited native tribes are a growing threat, and the tortured landscape itself seems capable of swallowing him up. Gradually he finds himself drawn into a much wider conspiracy, one that could plunge the Empire into a new conflict and that will place him on a deadly collision course with his old friend and most dangerous adversary, the former gladiator Serpentius.
REVIEW:
I’ve read Douglas’ work since he burst onto the scene in 2008 with his first novel Caligula. He’s always been an author who has spent time doing a lot of research carefully adding details into novels to not only add a flavour of the time but to help enmesh the reader into the world. Its carefully done and presented in such a way that it doesn’t overwhelm the stories arc as some authors sadly do detracting from the tales pace.
Add to this Douglas’ ability to bring his characters to life allowing readers to get to know them via their foibles as well as abilities and all round you’re in for a treat especially when you add cracking pace and epic battle sequences. A real treat.
Release Date: 06/11/14
Publisher: Bantam Press
SYNOPSIS:
These are the voyages of the starship, A.S.F. Willful Child. Its ongoing mission: to seek out strange new worlds on which to plant the Terran flag, to subjugate and if necessary obliterate new life life-forms, to boldly blow the...And so we join the not-terribly-bright but exceedingly cock-sure Captain Hadrian Sawback - think James T Kirk crossed with 'American Dad' - and his motley crew on board the Starship Willful Child for a series of devil-may-care, near-calamitous and downright chaotic adventures through 'the infinite vastness of interstellar space'...The bestselling author of the acclaimed Malazan Book of the Fallen sequence has taken a life-long passion for 'Star Trek' and transformed it into a hugely entertaining spoof on the whole mankind-exploring-space-for-the-good-of-all-species-but-trashing-stuff-with-a-lot-of-hi-tech-kit-along-the-way type over-blown science fiction adventure. The result is smart. inventive, occasionally OTT and often very funny - a novel that both deftly parodies the genre and pays fond homage to it.
REVIEW:
Ah space, the not so final frontier as Steven Erikson brings his own take on the whole space opera as he brings the reader an absurd and bizarre reimaging to the froe in this comical tale that will not only delight space fans but will more than cement him into many readers TBR lists.
As expected its definitely something weird and when added to cracking prose alongside an author who knows how to create a tile that readers will just love to get behind all round gives you something that will have you chuckling along as it unfurls. Back this up with what feels like mini-episodes (almost as if written as short stories) and I was a more than happy reader.
Release Date: 31/07/14
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
1072 - The great battle has been lost. King William stands victorious. And for the betrayed and abandoned English rebels, the price of their crushing defeat is cruel: exile. Cut adrift from family, friends, home, their hopes of survival lie with one man, their leader Hereward. But can even that now-legendary hero navigate a safe course across a world torn by war? Their ultimate destination is the jewelled heart of the Christian emperor in the East, the New Rome - Byzantium. Here the English hope to find gold and glory by joining those pledged to protect the emperor, the elite and savage Varangian Guard. But this once-mighty empire is slipping into shadow. Beyond the vast walls, the endless Turkish hordes plan for an attack that could come at any moment. And within the sprawling city, rival factions threaten bloody mayhem as they scheme to seize the crown. Here begins a new chapter in the stirring tale of England's forgotten hero. But now the enemies are hidden, their methods bloodier, the battlefield and weapons unfamiliar and to stay alive in this cauldron of plot, betrayal and murder, Hereward and the English must fight as never before.
REVIEW:
OK, so here Hereward is out on his own away from any other ancient tales surrounding him from books that have gone before and boy, what a cracking tale we have with the hero. As usual with James’ writing the reader is in for a tale of heroics, of daring and of course action that doesn’t let up as enemies from the past merge with new foes.
Back this up with prose that just leaps into the readers imagination gives the reader a tale that will be hard to miss and if you haven’t tried the series to date, where have you been, its cracking British Heroism at its best. Magic.
Release Date: 03/06/14
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because “Princess” looks so pretentious on a driver’s license. I was the first faerie princess born on American soil, but I wouldn't be the only one for much longer...
Merry Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean. Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men, at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they will do anything to have babies of their own.
Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce Merry and, failing that, raped her. He’s using the human courts to sue for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can’t prove it.
To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in danger of becoming collateral damage.
REVIEW:
After a hell of a wait for this, the latest outing in the Merry Gentry series, I was more than looking forward to getting back to the series to see how the tale would pan out, although to be honest I expected just another day and a half of the pregnant Merry’s story within.
What occurs within is set a good few years later and to be honest that’s the best thing that can be said about it. The characters are blurry (I often forgot who was who within), the plot line none existent and when added to a “story” that just seems to go from one bonk scene to another with no plot use other than to fill pages, all round left me not only cold but totally cheated. It’s going to be a long time before I pick up another LKH book.
Release Date: 28/08/14
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
Summer, AD 69. Rome and its empire are in turmoil, caught in the coils of a desperate and destructive civil war.
The emperor Otho is dead by his own hand and his rival, Aulus Vitellius, occupies the imperial throne. However, a new challenge has arisen in the East - the legions of Titus Flavius Vespasian have declared him their Emperor.
In the dry heat of an August morning, Gaius Valerius Verrens prepares for his last day on earth. Wrongly accused of deserting his legion on the field of Bedriacum, it seems he is destined to die a coward's death.
Then the executioner's hand is stayed. Vitellius' enemies will spare the life of the man who was once Hero of Rome if he pledges allegiance to Vespasian and his cause. Valerius - tired of the endless slaughter and hoping that he might be reunited with his lost love - agrees. And so he must battle his way south to Rome in order to persuade his friend Vitellius to stand down for the greater good of the city, its people and the Empire.
But this is civil war and this is Rome, and Valerius - his loyalties divided and branded an enemy of the people - is trapped in a maze of distrust, corruption, betrayal and blood-letting . . .
REVIEW:
The latest outing from Douglas Jackson for Gaius and perhaps the one that puts him in the most danger to date as he is offered a way out from execution if he pledges to Vespasian. As usual with Douglas’ writing the reader is treated to not only a kick ass story with solid bloody battle sequences but also accompanied by a deep intelligence of cunningly added with political machinations alongside double-dealing.
It’s definitely something unique and for me a series that I have had a hell of a lot of fun with. (Usually meaning only to read a few pages and then notice the sun creeping through the curtains.) All round a great piece of writing and for me a UK name that truly delivers with each release. Magic.
Release Date: 24/04/14
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
The king's coronation brings hope. Until a murderer strikes. Spring 1661. After years of civil war followed by Oliver Cromwell's joyless rule as Lord Protector, England awaits the coronation of King Charles II. The mood in London is one of relief and hope for a better future. But when two respectable gentlemen are found in a foul lane with their throats cut, it becomes apparent that England's enemies are using the newly re-established post office for their own ends. There are traitors at work and plans to overthrow the king. Another war is possible. Thomas Hill, in London visiting friends, is approached by the king's security advisor and asked to take charge of deciphering coded letters intercepted by the post office. As the body count rises and the killer starts preying on women, the action draws closer to Thomas - and his loved ones. He finds himself dragged into the hunt for the traitors and the murderer, but will he find them before it's too late?
REVIEW:
I love returning to yesteryear to be immersed in a world that is just as complex and politically tricky as the one in which we currently live and whilst I’m not under the constant threat of death from my own side alongside the opposition, when I’m thrust into those days, I want to be able to feel the city that I walk through with the principle character, the cobbled streets, the stench of the gutter and of course the various scents of a live city and to be honest its t tricky thing to pull off.
Why?
Well it’s a fine line between what many would assume is either info-dump or too little detail and when that vies against storyline it can be a bit of a pickle for the author to get it right, and sadly for me, that’s where Andrew has failed in this the third outing of his high octane series. That’s not to say that it isn’t good, I love the puzzles, the storyline and of course the principle player however without that additional detail it could technically be set in any time. Don’t get me wrong it does work on so many levels but if I don’t get the full experience I’m left feeling a little cheated.
Release Date: 10/04/14
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
Inspired by the Emmy Award-winning title sequence that opens each episode of the hit HBO series, Game of Thrones: A Pop-Up Guide to Westeros is guaranteed to thrill the show's legions of fans. Featuring stunning pop-up recreations of several key locations from the series, including the formidable castle of Winterfell, the lavish capital city King's Landing, and the Wall's stark majesty, this book takes readers into the world of the series like never before. Game of Thrones: A Pop-Up Guide to Westeros features five stunning spreads that fold out to create a remarkable pop-up map of Westeros, as well as numerous mini-pops that bring to life iconic elements of the show, such as direwolves, White Walkers, giants, and dragons. All the pops are accompanied by insightful text that relays the rich history of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond, forming a dynamic reference guide to the world of Game of Thrones. Visually spectacular and enthrallingly interactive, Game of Thrones: A Pop-Up Guide to Westeros sets a new standard for pop-up books and perfectly captures the epic scope and imagination of the series.
REVIEW:
I’ve been a huge fan of the Song of Fire and Ice series for a number of years and with the tv series being such a big hit, its great fun to have a pop-up book that also pulls out as a map. Its quirky, it is wonderfully put together and as a huge fan its something I’m going to treasure and utilise quite a few times.
All round a great bit of fun and a wonderful addition to any GoT fan, definitely something unique and of course perhaps that different option for either a birthday or Christmas. Great stuff.
Release Date: 17/07/14
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret by foster parents after her mother - Queen Elyssa, as vain as she was stupid - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's 19th birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...
And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, earn the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...
REVIEW:
To be honest with you I spend a lot of time in fantasy worlds and whilst I always enjoy being treated to a new one, this title sadly had so many elements wrong with it that it felt like the fantasy aspect was more of a second thought with references that were from an earlier version still hanging on to this one.
A key example of this is the use of America, England, the literary books within (that the queen cherished) all round left me feeling cheated with the work within feeling like it was haphazard and shoddy. Don’t get me wrong I did like a lot of the elements within but when the reader is amidst fantasy and then suddenly has real world references thrown in it ruins the illusion with something that could quite easily have been fixed.
Secondly whilst I did get to like the Queen and her principle guards there was so much wrong considering that she had been raised in isolation. Yes she had books to read but her knowledge seemed to encompass way too much for it to be purely literal with her interactions feeling way too scripted to be functional considering that she’d only had two people in her life until 19.
It just didn’t work on that level and all round left me feeling what the hell was happening within the book. All round, its not a book that a lot of fantasy fans will love and with so much confusion surrounding the world building alongside the competency of the principle cast all round left me feeling cheated.
Release Date: 24/04/14
Publisher:
SYNOPSIS:
Norway 785 AD. It began with the betrayal of a lord by a king...But when King Gorm puts Jarl Harald's family to the sword, he makes one terrible mistake - he fails to kill Harald's youngest son, Sigurd. On the run, unsure who to trust and hunted by powerful men, Sigurd wonders if the gods have forsaken him: his kin are slain or prisoners, his village attacked, its people taken as slaves. Honour is lost. And yet he has a small band of loyal men at his side and with them he plans his revenge. All know that Odin - whose name means frenzy - is drawn to chaos and bloodshed, just as a raven is to slaughter. In the hope of catching the All-Father's eye, the young Viking endures a ritual ordeal and is shown a vision. Wolf, bear, serpent and eagle come to him. Sigurd will need their help if he is to make a king pay in blood for his treachery. Using cunning and war-craft, he gathers together a band of warriors - including Olaf, his father's right hand man, Bram who men call Bear, Black Floki who wields death with a blade, and the shield maiden Valgerd, who fears no man - and convinces them to follow him. For, whether Odin is with him or not, Sigurd will have his vengeance. And neither men nor gods had best stand in his way...
REVIEW:
OK, I like Giles’ writing and to be honest with you, I like to sit back with a tankard of mead, a roaring fire and a few hours of peace and quiet to devour a tale of vengeance, hard hitting action and bloodshed and with Giles’ that’s exactly what you get. Here in this outing is a book that has a cracking lead character, some double dealing and of course a pace that really doesn’t let up from start to finish.
As a reader it gives me everything I want and whilst for some it’s a little light on the time period detail, it’s the overall arc that really will sit with you. All round a great offering and one that I was more than happy to spend my time with. Magic.
Release Date: 24/10/13
Publisher: Bantam Press
SYNOPSIS:
With over 200 new breweries opening in the UK every single year, there's no excuse for sticking to 'a pint of the usual'. Beer advocate Andy Hamilton has tried literally hundreds if not thousands of pints in this avalanche of flavours, to make sure that you don't miss out on the perfect porter, an irresistible IPA, a super stout or that marvellous mild. You can discover how to tempt a lager lout off lager, which beer will win over wine lovers, the ideal temperature for serving ale, and the best glass to drink it from. You can experiment with 40 recipes from ancient times to the modern day, uncovering secret ingredients. You can hone your tasting skills at sessions in local pubs, breweries and beer festivals near you. This is the essential companion for our beer drinking nation on its search for that elusive perfect pint.
REVIEW:
Whilst there’s a lot of people out there that enjoy wine, it feels to a certain degree that I’m a man out of my time. I love a good pint of bitter which for me has a great nutty flavour, a depth of richness and of course a taste that could accompany any number of meals that works wonderfully well.
SO when I had a chance to learn from a brew master about what hops and yeast to utilise for a cracking pint, I was more than intrigued. After all, I can take what I love from the various different types and tailor it to my taste buds. Add to this a comprehensive guide to some well-known brews out there alongside the chance to learn from years of experience all round has given me a confidence to try creating not only something from scratch rather than a standard brew kit, but will allow me to hopefully take a further step on a journey for my own perfect pint. Thank you Andy.
Release Date: 24/09/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
The Devil Delivered: In the breakaway Lakota Nation, in the heart of a land blistered beneath an ozone hole the size of the Great Plains of North America, a lone anthropologist wanders the deadlands, recording observations that threaten to bring the world's powers to their knees. Revolvo: In the fictitious country of Canada, the arts scene is ruled by technocrats who thrive in a secret, nepotistic society of granting agencies, bursaries, and peer review boards, all designed to permit self-proclaimed artists to survive without an audience. Fishing with Grandma Matchie: A children's story of a boy tasked with a writing assignment becomes a stunning fantastical journey with his tale-spinning grandmother.
REVIEW:
To be honest here I do love Steven’s Malazan series but at times I feel that jumping genre to write something different isn’t perhaps the best thing an author can do when they’re writing under the same name. Here I feel this book will sell more because of an established fanbase rather than because the writing is outstanding in its own right.
That’s not to say that the stories within aren’t interesting. They are, but when compared to a lot of other fiction that there is out there its one that really fits into the background without shoving its way to the fore to stand on its own two feet. All round, I suspect if you’re a fan you’ll buy it regardless however that said, I’d perhaps suggest borrowing it from the library first to see if it fulfils what you want rather than jumping straight in with both feet.
Release Date: 10/10/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
From a gardener who has been working on his allotment for over 50 years, a brilliant guide to organic vegetable growing and allotment life in general. Month by month Terry give us: an overview of the plot; things to do this month; what to watch out for; key crops for the month; progress reports on all the standard veg; top variety tips; main tasks for the month; allotment; and tales. With all the charm that shone through "My Life on a Hillside" Allotment, Terry takes the gardening reader by the hand and leads them through the gardening year. He is the perfect companion, giving technical help, quick tips, reassurance, and plenty of entertainment along the way.
REVIEW:
In a day and age where we find our food bills going up, any way that you can do something to help lower it, will be grabbed by people all over. In fact it, at times, feels like we’re stepping back in time to a day when a lot of the produce in your home was grown not only by your own fair hand but not far away. Yet when you’re starting, you really have to rely on help from others to get you started and a whole lot of reading to figure out what to do at what time of year to get the most from your garden.
In this book Terry brings a charming book, that has not only helpful advice but a month by month guide for your vegetable space, maximising the potential alongside variety of veggies throughout the year. Finally add to this that you not only get hard earned knowledge but presented in a clear, helpful manner all round makes this something that will be a must own title for anyone with an interest in home grown produce.
Release Date: 12/09/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
Jay Harper, one of the last 'angels' on Planet Earth, is hunting down the half-breeds and goons who infected Paradise with evil. Intercepting a plot to turn half of Paris into a dead zone, Harper ends up on the wrong side of the law and finds himself a wanted man. That doesn't stop his commander, Inspector Gobet of the Swiss Police, from sending him back to Paris on a recon mission ...a mission that uncovers a truth buried in the Book of Enoch. Katherine Taylor and her two year old son Max are living in a small town in the American Northwest. It's a quiet life. She runs a candle shop and spends her afternoons drinking herbal teas, imagining a crooked little man in the belfry of Lausanne Cathedral, a man who believed Lausanne was a hideout for lost angels. And there was someone else, someone she can't quite remember ...as if he was there, and not there at the same time. A man with a disfigured face emerges from the shadows. His name is Astruc, he's obsessed with the immortal souls of men. Like a voice crying in the wilderness, he warns the time of The Prophecy is at hand ...a prophecy that calls for the sacrifice of the child born of light...
REVIEW:
To be honest this is a book that is the second in the series and you have to read the first one before starting this. It’s not an insult to your intelligence but with the twists and turns of the events within you really need to know not only your starting point but what the characters have been up to prior to the events within. Its complex, it has some wonderful twists but if you take your eye off the words for one second well you can get awfully confused quite quickly.
That’s not to say it’s a bad book, far from it, it’s a book that’s one hell of a read but if you want something simple, then avoid this one for now as it does require quite a bit of memory alongside brain power to keep up with the complexity. All round a book that I enjoyed reading as I loved the way that the author not only brings the characters over but also gives you a plot that will keep you guessing as well as glued until its conclusion and even when you think you know how some will react, free will alongside the ability to choose may well surprise you within as well. A great book.
Release Date: 01/08/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
Spring, 1648. When Thomas Hill, a bookseller living in rural Hampshire, publishes a political pamphlet he has little idea of the trouble that will follow. He is quickly arrested, forced on a boat to Barbados and condemned to life as a slave to two of the island's most notoriously violent brothers. In England war has erupted again, with London under threat of attack. When news of the king's execution reaches the island, political stability is threatened and a fleet commanded by Sir George Ayscue arrives to take control of the island for Cromwell. The threat of violence increases. Thomas finds himself witness to abuse, poison, rape and savage brutality. When a coded message from Ayscue to a sympathiser on the island is intercepted, Thomas is asked to decipher it. A disastrous battle seems inevitable. But nothing turns out as planned. And as the death toll mounts, the escape Thomas has been relying on seems ever more unlikely.
REVIEW:
The second book in this series and one that continues to build upon the success of The King’s Spy. As with the original its wonderfully written, the background wonderfully rich and when added to a writing style that really does bring the time period to the modern reader all round gives you a story to sit back and savour.
Add to the mix some great prose, a wonderful turn of phrase and of course a lead character that readers will love to spend time with all round generates a story that is an absolute joy to read,. Throw into this that is the second novel in a trilogy and one that gives the readers just as much flavour alongside enjoyment as the original alongside building upon its foundations and for me, it means that the third part is going to be explosive.
Release Date: 15/08/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
"The story I now commence is rich in vicissitudes, grim with warfare, torn by civil strife, a tale of horror even during times of peace". (Tacitus, "The Histories" AD 68). The Emperor Nero's erratic and bloody reign is in its death throes when Gaius Valerius Verrens is dispatched to Rome on a mission that will bring it to a close. With Nero dead, the city holds its breath and awaits the arrival his successor, Servius Sulpicius Galba, governor of Hispania. The Empire prays for peace, but it prays in vain. Galba promises stability and prosperity, but his rule begins with a massacre and ends only months later in chaos and carnage. This will become known as the Year of the Four Emperors, a time of civil war which will tear Rome apart and test Valerius' skills and loyalties to their very limit. Fortunate to survive Galba's fall, Valerius is sent on a mission by Rome's new Emperor, Otho, to his old friend Vitellius, commander of the armies of the north. Vitellius' legions are on the march, and only Valerius can persuade him to halt them before the inevitable confrontation. In an epic adventure that will take him the length and breadth of a divided land, the one-armed Roman fights to stay alive and stave off a bloodbath as he is stalked by the most implacable enemy he has ever faced.
REVIEW:
OK, you love historical fiction, want high octane action which when backed with twists and turns of the political machinations of Rome generates a story that you just can’t leave. So what are you going to do? Well if you’ve been following the release schedule for the last few years, you’ll have seen Douglas Jackson going from not only strength to strength but adding a set of figures that make him one of the growing stars of the genre for me.
I love his characters, I love the way he blends historical facts into the story and above all else, for me, I love the way he utilises great action sequences to help the pace alongside balancing the slower moments that are just as full of tension as a misplaced word can have all sorts of catastrophic effects. All round another solid offering in this series and one that readers will gather around to see what is next in line for the principle hero. However the only downside in this book and one that I’m letting readers know about is you have to have read the other titles in the series first to get the most from this. All round though, great stuff.
Release Date: 14/07/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
England, 1071. Five years have passed since the crushing Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings. The country reels under the savage rule of the new king, the one they call 'the Bastard'. The North has been left a wasteland - villages razed, innocents put to the sword, land stolen. It seems no atrocity is too great to ensure William's grip upon the crown. Rats feed upon fields of the dead And now he turns his cold gaze east, towards the last stronghold of the English resistance. After years of struggle, he will brook no further challenge to his power: his vast army masses and his siege machines are readied. In their fortress on the Isle of Ely, the English have put their faith in the only man who might defeat the murderous invaders. He is called Hereward. He is a warrior and a master tactician - as adept at slaughter as his enemy and plans have been been set in motion for a bloody uprising that will sweep the Norman king off the throne once and for all. But Hereward is missing. With their hopes of victory dwindling, can the English rebels find the leader who seems to have abandoned them before William the Bastard begins his final, devastating assault that will truly be the end of days...Here is a tale of heroism and treachery - and the bloodiest rebellion England has ever known.
REVIEW:
To be honest I’ve always loved this series since the original book by James was released. I loved the action sequences, I loved the guerrilla warfare and to be honest whilst in any other time Hereward would be seen as a villain, yet here, he’s a hero of the people fighting against the oppressive Normans.
Yet whilst the war wages on, the personal costs are high, the book deals with loss, how characters deal with it and also how sometimes fighting inner turmoil can take a toll almost as high as that of the very war they’re fighting. All round a cracking book and a wonderful addition to the series. Magic.
Release Date: 18/07/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
July 1943. With North Africa secured, the Allies launch an invasion of Sicily, and the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Rangers are in the van of the assault on the Italian beaches. Now B Company Commander, Tanner's promotion has brought him fresh problems. Not only has his new Battalion Commander decided to make his life as difficult as possible, but he and his men soon find themselves battling against some of the toughest troops in the Wehrmacht. In the bitter fighting that follows, Tanner witnesses a new kind of warfare where the end will justify the means. Erstwhile outlaws, the Sicilian mafia are supposedly on the side of the Allies but their real purpose is feathering their own nests. And it is not just the Mafia who are playing dirty. It soon becomes clear that in the quest to force Italy out of the war, compromises and brutal choices need to be made - choices where the lines between right and wrong have become horribly blurred. Forced to question the cause for which he has fought so long, Tanner and his trusted sidekick, Sykes, find themselves embroiled in a fight that has become deeply personal, where they have to use all their resolve, skill and experience if they are to have any chance of survival.
REVIEW:
Whilst there’s a certain amount of scope that can be taken with historical fiction, the closer to modern times you get the more information is available about troop movements, attack plans as well as having living memory from people who were actually there. Here in this latest Jack Tanner novel, James brings the scope onto Sicily bringing the modern reader to a country that quite a few have yet to visit.
Its well written, the prose is sharp and to be honest the way that the author keeps the story moving (even when describing the landscape) really does add to the reading pleasure. Add to the mix a wonderful overall arc and of course a character that you just can’t help but like and all round I’m a firmer fan than I was before starting this story.
Release Date: 20/06/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
AD 69. Aulus Caecina Severus has thrown in his lot with the hedonistic Vitellius and prepares his legions for a gruelling march over the Alps. Driven by the desire to repay the treachery of his former patron, the Emperor Galba, and to keep his rival Valens in check, Severus leads his army against barbarian rebellions and against the mountains themselves in his race to reach Italy first. With the vast Po valley almost in sight, news reaches the army that Galba has been killed in a coup, and that Otho has been declared Emperor by the Praetorians who he had bribed to murder their own emperor. But there is no turning back for Severus, even if he wanted to. The Rhine legions want their man on the throne, and they won't stop until they reach Rome itself. Even once Otho is defeated, the battle for supremacy between Severus and Valens is far from over. The politics of the court and the mob is the new battleground, and Severus needs the help of his wife Salonina and his freedman Totavalas in this constant game of thrones. When stories spread of a new power in the east, Severus has to decide where his real loyalty lies: to his Emperor, to his city or to himself?
REVIEW:
I love a historical period that I really don’t know too much about as the events within come as a complete surprise to me. Being thrust into this world for the second time by Henry was something that I was a little worried about. Not that I didn’t expect a great read but the fact that book two for any author is the make or break for anyone.
What Henry does well is bring the time to life wonderfully, he gives the reader a principle character that they can really associate with, solid prose and of course a wonderfully woven tapestry of double dealing, political machinations alongside twists and turns that really do keep you guessing throughout. All round a cracking title and one that really has helped bring the author to the historical fiction scene.
Release Date: 23/05/13
Publisher: Bantam Press
SYNOPSIS:
The next moment he was upon him, his eyes blazing, his mouth open to reveal his fangs.
Osokin began to pray, not that he would live but that he would truly die . . .
Turkmenistan 1881: the fortress city of Geok Tepe has fallen to the Russians.
Beneath its citadel sits a prisoner. He hasn't moved from his chair for two years. Neither has he felt the sun on his face for more than fifty . . . although for that he is grateful.
Into this subterranean gaol marches a Russian officer. He has come for the captive. Not to release him, but to return him to St Petersburg - to deliver him into the hands of an old, old enemy who would visit damnation upon the ruling family of Russia: the great vampire Zmyeevich . . .
But there is another who has escaped Geok Tepe and followed the prisoner. He is not concerned with the fate of the tsar, or Zmyeevich or the officer. All he desires is revenge.
And other forces have a part to play. A group of revolutionaries has vowed to bring the dictatorship of Tsar Aleksandr to an end, and with it the entire Romanov dynasty. They call themselves The People's Will . . .
REVIEW:
To be blunt whilst I enjoyed the first couple I’m really starting to find that the books are losing me as they’re spent with more explanations rather than concentrating on plot and keeping me glued as a reader. The writing whilst OK didn’t keep my attention, the characters felt more 2d rather than rounded and overall I felt that in places the plot lacked quite a bit of pace.
Don’t get me wrong, I did love the setting and whilst I’m not that familiar with the historical context, I love the uncertainty of knowing the survivability as well as how each of the plot aspects will play out. On this front its alright overall but on the whole I felt a little upset with the way that it feels like the series is spinning out of control.
Release Date: 23/05/13
Publisher: Bantam
SYNOPSIS:
Rebel Cast out from his home, rejected by his family, Tom Rivers returns to his regiment. But his commander believes the young hothead's recklessness and contempt for authority has no place in his troop. But to a spymaster like Captain Crafte, Tom's dark and fearless nature is in itself a weapon to be turned upon the hated Cavaliers - who else would dare to infiltrate Oxford, now the Royalist capital, to destroy the King's printing press and strike a blow at the very heart of the enemy?
Renegade Raw with grief at the death of his father, Edmund Rivers rejects the peace talks between Parliament and the King. He chooses instead to lead a hardened band of marauders across the moors, appearing out of the frozen world to fall on unsuspecting rebel columns like wolves. But Prince Rupert - recognising in Mun a fellow child of war - has other plans for him, from stealing a colossal gun, to tunneling beneath the walls of Lichfield. The only peace the enemy will get from Mun Rivers is that of the grave.
Huntress Her heart broken following the deaths of her beloved Emmanuel and her father, Bess Rivers takes the hardest decision of her life: to leave her new-born son and depart Sheer House in search of the one person who might help her re-unite what is left of her broken family. Risking her own life on the road, Bess will do whatever it takes to find her brother Tom and secure his Royal pardon, but can she douse the flames of her brothers' fury and see them reconciled?
REVIEW:
I love a journey into the past and getting to live in history alongside heroes that you wish had existed in times of peril that shaped the nation and perhaps, as far as Britain is concerned, one of the most startling times was during the English Civil War when brother fought brother, father fought son and whole families were torn asunder as the Roundheads fought the Cavaliers.
To this arena, Giles began a saga that places his lead characters family in just such a situation as they fight for their leaders under separate banners with familial bonds being pulled and torn with various struggles. It’s a story of heartrending proportions, a story that taps into the readers emotions and with Giles’ usual style of graphically written combat backed up with dialogue that works wonderfully all round makes this a book to sit down to and lose oneself.
Add to this a very strong story arc, great prose and all round I had a lot of fun with this title. I can’t wait to see what the next part has in stall for all concerned.
