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Chivalry: A Jake Savage Adventure
Review at Edi’s Book Lighthouse:
“The pacing is excellent and Mark Lord does not waste a word too much.”
Magic, Murder and Mayhem in the Middle Ages!
With the code of chivalry being dragged through the mud and blood of war-torn France will anyone stand up for what is right?
Perhaps Jake Savage, a common archer, and no Knight, will stick up for the oppressed. But to do so would be to betray his comrades and his country.
In Chivalry: A Jake Savage Adventure, a single silent knight armoured in black plate defends a narrow bridge in the hills of Auvergne, blocking the path of a band of desperate English soldiers. On the bank defended by the knight is a pavilion where sits a French noble-woman, who taunts the English. Cold, wet and hungry, Jake and his comrades have seen a tower high in the hills beyond the bridge, which they hope will provide food, drink and shelter and even a little loot. But the knight and the lady prove more difficult opponents than they imagined.
Magic mingles with the harsh realities of war in this medieval historical fantasy short story set during the Hundred Years War.
“The pacing is excellent and Mark Lord does not waste a word too much.”
Magic, Murder and Mayhem in the Middle Ages!
With the code of chivalry being dragged through the mud and blood of war-torn France will anyone stand up for what is right?
Perhaps Jake Savage, a common archer, and no Knight, will stick up for the oppressed. But to do so would be to betray his comrades and his country.
In Chivalry: A Jake Savage Adventure, a single silent knight armoured in black plate defends a narrow bridge in the hills of Auvergne, blocking the path of a band of desperate English soldiers. On the bank defended by the knight is a pavilion where sits a French noble-woman, who taunts the English. Cold, wet and hungry, Jake and his comrades have seen a tower high in the hills beyond the bridge, which they hope will provide food, drink and shelter and even a little loot. But the knight and the lady prove more difficult opponents than they imagined.
Magic mingles with the harsh realities of war in this medieval historical fantasy short story set during the Hundred Years War.
ebook
First published August 29, 2011
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lord
56 books18 followersMark Lord studied Medieval Studies at the University of Birmingham and wrote his M. Phil. Thesis on Medieval Alliterative Poetry. Since then he has worked in publishing and writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction in his spare time.
Mark is the author of the novels Hell has its Demons, The Return of the Free and numerous short stories. He is also editor of the popular Alt Hist magazine - one of the few literary magazines to focus exclusively on historical fiction and alternate history.
He lives in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Mark is the author of the novels Hell has its Demons, The Return of the Free and numerous short stories. He is also editor of the popular Alt Hist magazine - one of the few literary magazines to focus exclusively on historical fiction and alternate history.
He lives in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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June 9, 2021Rating: UNRATED*
"Do you love gritty medieval fantasy?" it asks on the sales page on Amazon. And yes, I love dark and gritty stories. It continues: "In "Chivalry" magic is mixed with the harsh realities of the Hundred Years War." Yes, war comes with very harsh realities, and I'm not unaware of what might have gone down amongst the battle-hardened men of those times. However! And this is something I see as extremely important: There should be a trigger warning when a story includes rape. ESPECIALLY AN EXPLICIT RAPE SCENE. This is regardless of the theme, or if it states that this is an adult fantasy story, or that it is "gritty medieval fantasy."
The story is not without its good parts. The author doesn't shy away from blood and gore, and I liked the overall feel of the world. You definitely get the different personalities of the various characters despite the limited page count. The only off-putting part:
This was a decent read up until the end. The ending itself was also very abrupt and left me perplexed more than anything.
*I leave books unrated if I cannot justify at least a 3 star review.
"Do you love gritty medieval fantasy?" it asks on the sales page on Amazon. And yes, I love dark and gritty stories. It continues: "In "Chivalry" magic is mixed with the harsh realities of the Hundred Years War." Yes, war comes with very harsh realities, and I'm not unaware of what might have gone down amongst the battle-hardened men of those times. However! And this is something I see as extremely important: There should be a trigger warning when a story includes rape. ESPECIALLY AN EXPLICIT RAPE SCENE. This is regardless of the theme, or if it states that this is an adult fantasy story, or that it is "gritty medieval fantasy."
The story is not without its good parts. The author doesn't shy away from blood and gore, and I liked the overall feel of the world. You definitely get the different personalities of the various characters despite the limited page count. The only off-putting part:
This was a decent read up until the end. The ending itself was also very abrupt and left me perplexed more than anything.
*I leave books unrated if I cannot justify at least a 3 star review.
January 20, 2012
You should know that this is the first in a series of stories featuring Jake Savage an English archer thrust into the horrors of war during the Hundred Years War in Fourteenth Century France [Info from author].
My Expectations
I expected a short and entertaining story which gives a first impression of the English archer Jake Savage.
The Delivery
Be warned! This is a violent story and not a Sunday afternoon tea time read.
I don't know how familiar you are with Hundred Years War. It was a horrible time full of blood, violence and disease. In the end France lost half of its population.
Mark Lord delivers a story which has nothing to do with an adventure an average reader would expect. I have been surprised too. I'm not addicted to violence and I think the story would not work on the way it does without all the violence. Mark Lord gives a very intense and painstakingly depiction of the horrors of war. The setting is an unexpected one and the supernatural sparkle intensifies the atmosphere a lot. The description of the surrounding is well dosed and fit. The story delivers one more example which you find so often in military history:
Arrogance combined with power does not always win the day.
Jake Savage seems to be a good archer. Compared to his comrades he acts cautious. Beside that he does something which one should not expect from a common soldier: He think and reflects his situation.
The pacing is excellent and Mark Lord does not waste a word too much. The end is a tricky one. It is not an expected one and it delivers not the 100% solution. But it is as satisfying as the story itself.
Thumbs up or down
I hope there will be more Jake Savage stories (a full novel would be great) soon.
Chivalry: A Jake Savage Adventure satisfied my craving for historical fiction with a mystery touch which is taking a greater part within my reading comfort zone of epic fantasy, steampunk and space opera.
My Expectations
I expected a short and entertaining story which gives a first impression of the English archer Jake Savage.
The Delivery
Be warned! This is a violent story and not a Sunday afternoon tea time read.
I don't know how familiar you are with Hundred Years War. It was a horrible time full of blood, violence and disease. In the end France lost half of its population.
Mark Lord delivers a story which has nothing to do with an adventure an average reader would expect. I have been surprised too. I'm not addicted to violence and I think the story would not work on the way it does without all the violence. Mark Lord gives a very intense and painstakingly depiction of the horrors of war. The setting is an unexpected one and the supernatural sparkle intensifies the atmosphere a lot. The description of the surrounding is well dosed and fit. The story delivers one more example which you find so often in military history:
Arrogance combined with power does not always win the day.
Jake Savage seems to be a good archer. Compared to his comrades he acts cautious. Beside that he does something which one should not expect from a common soldier: He think and reflects his situation.
The pacing is excellent and Mark Lord does not waste a word too much. The end is a tricky one. It is not an expected one and it delivers not the 100% solution. But it is as satisfying as the story itself.
Thumbs up or down
I hope there will be more Jake Savage stories (a full novel would be great) soon.
Chivalry: A Jake Savage Adventure satisfied my craving for historical fiction with a mystery touch which is taking a greater part within my reading comfort zone of epic fantasy, steampunk and space opera.
Read
April 14, 2021‘Chivarly: A Jake Savage Adventure’ is a short story that elegantly examines the concept of chivalry. Like so many idealised concepts, that of the noble warrior can be destroyed by the reality of war or the aftermath. Stories of battle more usually depict the bravery of the mounted soldiers who lead the charge, the strategy, the cunning and, if you’re lucky, the blood and the gore. Medieval battle was horrific. Even the smallest wound could turn septic and kill a man. Not many stories cover what happens after. The filth and more lingering varieties of death: aforementioned wounds and privation. An army of any size requires vast quantities of food. They can leave the countryside stripped and starving. That’s the setting of this short story.
Desperate for food and warmth, a small band of English soldiers make for a castle behind a deserted French village. They suspect the remaining villagers are holed up there, along with any supplies. The promise of shelter from the rain is motivation enough. A lone knight guards the bridge. A lady sits in a pavilion behind and it is she who warns off the English soldiers. The knight is curiously silent, but soon proves deadly.
Invited to duel the knight, the English quickly abuse the notion of chivalry. The archers, Jake Savage among them, are ordered to attack first. When their arrows apparently have no effect, men are sent onto the bridge two at a time. The knight cuts them down like wheat. Jake is directed to find another way around the bridge.
At this point in the story, it becomes obvious there is an element of fantasy at play. Arrows appear to slip through the knight’s armour and his sword is wickedly sharp and accurate. The English become more desperate. Jake does find a way around the knight and a way to stop him. It is in the aftermath of this skirmish that Jake proves he is more chivalrous than the knight leading the English band.
Mark Lord is the author of several adventures in alternate history. His interest in both history and fantasy are obvious in this story. He also edits ‘Alt Hist’, a magazine of historical fiction and alternate history. ‘Chivalry’ is the first story of his I have read and liked it a lot. Aside from his choice to play with the definition of chivalry, I also liked the setting, that of the aftermath of battle. I don’t think it is covered enough, which is a shame as the ashes of war give rise to some of the most history and alternate history tales I have read.
Written for and originally posted at SFCrowsnest.
Desperate for food and warmth, a small band of English soldiers make for a castle behind a deserted French village. They suspect the remaining villagers are holed up there, along with any supplies. The promise of shelter from the rain is motivation enough. A lone knight guards the bridge. A lady sits in a pavilion behind and it is she who warns off the English soldiers. The knight is curiously silent, but soon proves deadly.
Invited to duel the knight, the English quickly abuse the notion of chivalry. The archers, Jake Savage among them, are ordered to attack first. When their arrows apparently have no effect, men are sent onto the bridge two at a time. The knight cuts them down like wheat. Jake is directed to find another way around the bridge.
At this point in the story, it becomes obvious there is an element of fantasy at play. Arrows appear to slip through the knight’s armour and his sword is wickedly sharp and accurate. The English become more desperate. Jake does find a way around the knight and a way to stop him. It is in the aftermath of this skirmish that Jake proves he is more chivalrous than the knight leading the English band.
Mark Lord is the author of several adventures in alternate history. His interest in both history and fantasy are obvious in this story. He also edits ‘Alt Hist’, a magazine of historical fiction and alternate history. ‘Chivalry’ is the first story of his I have read and liked it a lot. Aside from his choice to play with the definition of chivalry, I also liked the setting, that of the aftermath of battle. I don’t think it is covered enough, which is a shame as the ashes of war give rise to some of the most history and alternate history tales I have read.
Written for and originally posted at SFCrowsnest.
September 16, 2011
This is a well crafted tale of knightly misadventure, set during the Hundred Years war. You can feel every blow of sword and pole-arm through the realism of the action sequences.
In this story, you follow Jake Savage as he struggles with his personal standards and morality in a time and place filled with violence and violation. He acts with honour, and loyalty; supporting his dark-souled comrades in their efforts to take a French strong-hold and find sustenance for another night. Standing in their way is a mysterious knightly figure, standing silent in defence of his lady. As the hardened English men-at-arms advance on their foe, the calls from the defiant lady seem cruel and taunting, as she apparently offers herself to the victor.
The black knight seems invincible, and the English advances are smoothly dispatched.
Read this short by Mark Lord and discover how chivalry can still be found, even in the darkest of times.
In this story, you follow Jake Savage as he struggles with his personal standards and morality in a time and place filled with violence and violation. He acts with honour, and loyalty; supporting his dark-souled comrades in their efforts to take a French strong-hold and find sustenance for another night. Standing in their way is a mysterious knightly figure, standing silent in defence of his lady. As the hardened English men-at-arms advance on their foe, the calls from the defiant lady seem cruel and taunting, as she apparently offers herself to the victor.
The black knight seems invincible, and the English advances are smoothly dispatched.
Read this short by Mark Lord and discover how chivalry can still be found, even in the darkest of times.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews