The Lion at Bay

Kingdom #2

by Robert Low

William Wallace fled to France after his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk, which ended his rebellion against the English King. He would have been slain at Falkirk but for the courage of Hal of Herdmanston, whose home was razed in reprisal by King Edward - but who has become a follower of the Earl of Carrick, known as the Bruce.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, War, Medieval, Scotland, Fiction

422 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2012

About the author

Robert Low is a Scottish journalist and historical novelist, with novels based on the Viking Age. He was war correspondent in Vietnam and also several other locations, including Sarajevo, Romania and Kosovo, until "common-sense, age and the concerns of my wife and daughter prevailed". Now he writes novels full time. He's also a historical reenactor performing with the Scotland-based group, the Vikings.

Series:
* Oathsworn
* Kingdom

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

I personally like bad news first so I can end on a better note with the good news, so how about I go in that order.

Bad news? The Wars of Scottish Independence do not really excite and delight me. I don't know why exactly. I do have some ideas though. Listed here, but in no particular order.
History class in school: made it a chore not a pleasure to learn about it. Braveheart: was a disaster that scarred me for life and everyone was into it and talked non stop about it and they still do, so I overdosed. Saturation levels reached: between school, Braveheart and current, I have had the History Channel off and on for many years and have seen numerous documentaries, not all of them good, and so I am kind of over it.

Good news? There's room for more Wars of Scottish Independence in my life as long as it is quality and entertaining. Both of which, Lion at Bay was for me.
See, isn't it always nice to have good news after bad?

I am always open about my admiration for Robert Low. His Viking series, The Oathsworn, is one of my favourite series'. In fact it is one of my 'top two' favourites, with Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series being the other. And yet despite my admiration and respect for the author and his Viking books, I still found myself having a lukewarm response to the idea of his Kingdom trilogy. I sat back on my heels for a little while, psyching myself up after the release of book one in the trilogy, The Lion Wakes.

I am not one those people that will devour anything a favourite author produces. Especially if they write historical fiction, because there are always periods and events in history that I have little or no interest in. Eventually I took the leap and read The Lion Wakes last year. It was good. I liked it, but I have to confess, the combination of a certain style of writing used in that book, and my lacklustre interest in the period, was like hefting a brick of lead and I ended up only giving it 3 stars out of 5.

Then, along came The Lion at Bay. The same but different. Less disorienting for me. More meaty.
In book one I found that I distracted easily from the book. It was more rambling and hard for me to get into. But in book two, I was either in a better headspace, or the author did something subtly different and I was much more invested in characters, events and scene.

What I can give you out of my experience with The Lion at Bay is this. If, like me, you were not exactly in love with book one, but had not written the trilogy off completely, then I would encourage you to give it another go. It is only a trilogy after all. Not like you have a long series to follow on with. Try book two, The Lion at Bay and see what you think. All your favourite characters will be there for you to revisit. There is battle, and blood, and love and betrayal. And there is one awesome tourney individual combat scene in the first half of the book that may have you screaming from the cheap seats. Or not. Maybe that was just me.

I will be moving onto the last book in the Trilogy, The Lion Rampant soon. I trust this trilogy to only get better.
4 out of 5 stars for you, Lion at Bay!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the first one, but it really doesn't rise to a fourth star.
I want so badly to love this series, but there's just not the connection or the action that I'm craving.
Started the final book in the trilogy yesterday.
Will move on from Mr. Low after that.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd wonderful volume of the amazing "Kingdom" (Scotland) trilogy.

This tale continues with Willam Wallace having fled to France after the battle at Falkirk, and so ending the rebellion against the English King Edward I.

William Wallace was rescued and helped on his way by Hal of Herdmanston, and for that action Sir Hal's home was razed to the ground, while the sly and cunning Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, has become a temporary friend and follower of the English Edward Longshanks.

By doing this Robert the Bruce is playing a very dangerous game towards the English but also to his Scottish friends and rivals in his attempt to become the Scottish King, but rivalry in Scotland itself makes the situation very difficult indeed.

Nevertheless Robert the Bruce escapes back to Scotland to start the rebellion again in attempt to be crowned King of Scotland, an action that will bring upheaval throughout Scotland, while also the returned William Wallace who's still supporting the previous King, John Baliol, now a prisoner of the Pope, will play an important part in establishing a certain status quo.

With conspiracies all over the place against Robert the Bruce and William Wallace from quite some powerful sources that include King Edward I, the Knights Templar, and a Curse that's laid on the Bruce's family, and so they are all trying to destabilise Robert the Bruce's claim for the Scottish throne.

Highly recommended, for this is a marvellous continuation to this amazing trilogy, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Kingdom (Scotland) Sequel"!

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
As with book one im left speechless by the excellent writing of Robert Low, his obvious passion and love of the subject matter come across in ever page and every character, im quite jealous of the fact that he has obviously spent the last couple of years doing something he loves for a living, it must have almost seemed effortless.. (git).

The bit i have at the start and im sure other reader might struggle with is the Scottish "brogue", i found a similar experience with Julain Stockwins Kydd series, but if you give yourself over to it you find that you can make that mental switch and soon you find yourself thinking in the same "brogue" just for fun...or maybe that's just me?
As Lows books go and his character go i still think the Oathsworn is his best work, but the Bruce series is so well written and the plot so well constructed that it will be hard for any one to not love it.
Yes there are some Historical tweaks, but that's par for the course, this is FICTION, not a text book, and the flow is more important at times than the facts. As long as the story transports you to the time, and the period costume is right and the description of the locations is spot on so that you are not sat at home reading a book, you are there in the thick of it at the shoulder of the hero & villains, then that's a good book...and thats just what this book does.

Excellent work Mr Low.

Highly Recommended
(Parm)

Product Description (From back of book)
A NATION WILL FIGHT FOR ITS FREEDOM.

Scotland in turmoil. Robert Low at his best.

William Wallace fled to France after his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk, which ended his rebellion against the English King. He would have been slain at Falkirk but for the courage of Hal of Herdmanston, whose home was razed in reprisal by King Edward - but who has become a follower of the Earl of Carrick, known as the Bruce, now a friend of the English.

The Bruce is playing a dangerous game in submitting to Edward since his own ambition, fostered by his auld reprobate grandfather, is to be the King of Scotland. But bitter rivalry amongst the Scots nobility is as grave an obstacle to its independence as the forces of the English Edward Longshanks, and the Bruce has powerful rivals.

Wallace has returned home, though he still faces betrayal from his own. His loyalty is to the previous king, John Baliol, a prisoner of the Pope. Knights Templar, Cathar heretics, and a Curse laid on the Bruce's family all conspire against Robert, as well as Edward's forces. Murder and treachery will be crucial weapons in the long and bloody rise of the Bruce to his coronation.

[Jonathan Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Low's 'Kingdom' trilogy and following my initial struggles with book one I was apprehensive this would follow a similar pattern.

I need not have worried, however. The author has drastically reduced the amount of dialect speech, the main characters are easily singled out and although there may be just as much politicking it's far easier to understand.

Thanks to these changes the whole story is pacier which adds more impetus to the storyline. My only minor gripe is the ending, which I won't give away, but that's often a problem with a 'second-of-three' story.

If you battled through 'The Lion Wakes' don't let the experience put you off this sequel - it's far better told.

[Alastair Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more enjoyable than the first but still suffers from the difficult style. There were passages that after three or four read throughs I just moved past, in the hope that it wasn't pivotal to the plot, far too often the subject of dialogue can be lost.

The characters however do develop from the first book as often isn't the case, it is set nicely for the final book in the series without feeling overly cliff hangery, as some historical fiction can whereby events are dragged out to fit a three book structure.

[Diane Cranson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great weave of historical and fictional characters into Scotland's fight for independence from England by William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and many others. Robert Low's writing is lilting and poetic, joyous and harsh. Looking forward to the third in the trilogy.

[Stephen Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing research and detail, the characters, time and landscape are meticulously developed. Wonderful series.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

NO

[Elspeth G. Perkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful no quarter storytelling

What could be better than sitting back and letting long gone names and fictional ones come alive? How about letting those same names roar and rage in your mind while a world of plots, counterplots and ambitions build to later battle scenes so stunning you can’t turn the pages fast enough or finding yourself in a back drop where you swear you can hear the metal clang of swords or smell the wood smoke, dampened earth and cold stones. That’s exactly what I experience when I enter into the captivating world that Mr. Low has created and with his masterful no quarter storytelling, night easily turns to daylight outside this reader’s window. It’s that good and I can't stop recommending it to anyone who will listen. First and foremost though I am honest and share that Mr. Low doesn’t shy away from realistic ruthless scenes of brutal history that may not be for everyone but if it suits those- they’re in for a rollicking ride where cunning and betrayals reign and it is easy to say chivalry is dying but a few remain that uphold the ancient traditions of love, honor and loyalty (it is up to you to look deeper into certain characters and I strongly recommend starting at the beginning with The Lion Wakes (Kingdom #1)).

Of course there is much more to these books than graphic depictions of the past, in The Lion at Bay (Kingdom #2) more chapters of mystery, olden relics, madness and poignant passages of revelations are showcased between galloping action scenes that only adds to the overall different facets of this saga and brilliantly sets it apart from so many other familiar retellings of the tempestuous affairs between Scotland and England during the late 13th to early 14th centuries. The characters are vividly drawn as before and if anyone can conquer the never ending lists of characters, alliances and feuds in The Accursed Kings or A Song of Ice and Fire series, you will feel right at home with Kingdom series. I must also note that the dialogue is as striking to the locale as in the prequel and becomes easier as the pages turn (still if you are hopelessly confused with the wonderful Scottish braid, the final pages hold a useful glossary of terms). For this reader, I don’t think I could find a better escape at the moment with all of these aforementioned positives. Still I must admit I was a little worried in the beginning that what I experienced with the first book may have been the end of my good luck of finding something completely riveting to read. Well that was a foolish notion because The Lion at Bay did not disappoint and I can’t wait to sit back with the highly-rated conclusion of this epic.




~*~For more reviews see http://asthefinalpageturns.blogspot.com

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce and Longshanks – the saga continues…

Following on from The Lion Wakes, this book continues the story of Hal, Laird of Herdmanston, caught up in the Bruce rebellion against Edward Longshanks.

Though fictionalised, the story is based on the actual events of the times and with a good degree of historical accuracy. Low relishes describing the horror of combat and in this bloody period of history he can and does give full rein to his imagination – each death, and there are many of them, is more gruesome than the last. Low is also a master at conveying the primitive conditions of the time: the filth, the smells, the disease. As was true of the time, the lives of the fighting men are hard and often short, while the women are almost entirely subservient to their fathers or husbands. Mixed in with the fighting and politics is the continued story of Hal’s love, Countess Isabel, who is based on a true character. Strong and wilful, Isabel has defied her powerful husband and he is now seeking revenge on both her and Hal.

Low writes well and powerfully and, while the book is laced with Scottish dialect, I feel this has been toned down quite a bit since the first book and should be more easily accessible to non-Scots. There is a glossary of Scots terms, though, if needed, and also a list of characters telling which are real and which fictional. I would suggest reading this after the book since it includes a potted history of some of the real characters which could be plot spoilers for anyone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of the history of this period.

Overall, I found this a very enjoyable read – perhaps just a little bit too much fighting and gore for my personal taste, but giving a real sense of the politics and personalities of the time, particularly Bruce and King Edward. I look forward to the third and last part of this trilogy, The Lion Rampant, which is due out in the UK on 25th April, 2013, though seemingly not till August over the pond.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

C2012. FWFTB: reprisal, ambition, rivalry, loyalty, murder.Impressed by the first volume of the The Kingdom Series, it was a forgone conclusion that I was going to get my hands on this book. This man can write! The words that I have selected for the FWFTB are indicative of the stirring nature of this story even if you are actually reading it from the “enemy’s” perspective.I learnt a lot from this book including some really colourful words which I am determined to put into use somewhere along the line.The action sequences are excellent no doubt assisted by the author’s hobby of enactments but he has a wonderful way of descriptive writing that really makes you feel that you are taking part (clichéd, I know – but true, IMHO). Take this bit: “The Scots sat their shaggy, mud-raggled ponies uneasily talking so softly that the suck of feathered garron hooves pulling from the soft ground, the clink and clank and tinkle of harness and blade sounded loud against their hush.” How brilliant is that?! No praise for this particular book on the cover which is a pity because I felt that it was way better than the first however Ben Kane’s opinion is boldly stated “A real master of historical fiction” which I can only echo and repeat and shout from the hills.Cover art has been attributed to Larry Rostant. From his FB page “Larry Rostant is a photographer living and working in Great Britain. Although known primarily for his work in publishing he has a growing reputation as an image-maker across all fields. By his combination of photography and illustration Larry is able to produce work that has a uniquely illustrative aesthetic.” I can see a faint castle (photograph?)on the back cover and would love to have known which castle this was. Wholeheartedly recommended to all the normal crew.FCN: Hal (actually Sir Henry Sientcler) of Herdmanston, Sim Craw, Black Roger (Roger Kirkpatrick), Isabel MacDuff , William Wallace (a monstrous frightener of bairns’).

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I could not put this book down! So much action, adventure, intrigue, political plotting, friendship, and betrayal abound in this novel! I love any story about Scottish history, and this one really makes you think twice about what could have really happened during Robert the Bruce's struggle for the kingship of Scotland. Did he really betray William Wallace, or was it someone else? Did he really send out his assassin to get rid of certain "troubles" he had? The novel does tell the story from different characters' points of view, but the main character, Hal of Herdmanston, is the vital character in this story. Being a loyal knight to Bruce causes much heartache for him. All he really wants to do is go back to his home and lead a peaceful life with his love, the Countess Isabel of Buchan. But this has not happened by the end of this book. Hal is searching for Isabel to rescue her from the Earl of Buchan's gaoler, Malise Bellejambe. But he is caught by English knights when he lets Kirkpatrick, Bruce's assassin, escape with the one horse that they have. He knows that Kirkpatrick is vital to Bruce's kingship, so gives himself up so Kirkpatrick can escape. Now let's see how Hal fares in the third book.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suppose it's the same with any book, like the characters you'll most likely enjoy the book.You don't need me to tell you what the story is about,there are plenty of places to find that out. This is the second part of the Kingdom Series, I loved the first one and I adored the second. Dreading the third and final book. This is full of great characters, the story builds on the first installment, fleshing out the main characters and the story, just like the firt it is written in scots english and takes a bit of getting used to. Personally I feel it makes the reading experience all the more enjoyable, more atmospheric. I can't wait for the third part and hope hope hope Robert Low can find another couple of stories for the cast. Thats how much I liked it.

[Linda Humberstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again a smashing read from Robert Low. Found it difficult to put this book down as I have the other books in the series. Characters are so realistic and together with the skirmishes and fights Low creates an empathy with the bitter lives of the Scots and their relentless struggle for freedom from English rule. I think Edward 1st must have been a so and so and not only because of the way he managed to entice some Scottish nobility to betray Wallace. I shall have to read The Lion Rampant again, as unfortunately I read that first not knowing that it was the last of this captivating set.

[Klever · Rating 3 out of 5]

1305 with the Scotts fighting the English. You need to be a big fan of that sort of book.

[Adam Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent second instalment to leave you hanging on the edge ready for the final part of the trilogy.

[Rachael Elders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of characters in and it is rather hard to keep track of them all but is a very good historical book.