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The Chevalier #1
Honour and the Sword
A man without honour is no man at all . . .
France, 1636.
The Thirty Years War rages across Europe, and a bloody and brutal campaign begins as Spanish armies flood into Picardy.
In their way lies the border village of Dax-en-roi. The Chevalier de Roland rallies a valiant defence, but his household guard are slaughtered, his estate burned and his life forfeit.
Only one survivor escapes the invaders' the Chevalier's son, and lone heir to the Roland name.
But André de Roland is little more than a boy. What can someone so young do against so many?
Yet he is determined to save his people from the savagery of their invaders. He will uphold the honour of the Roland name - to the death . . .
Honour and the Sword is a sweeping and epic novel of love and heroism, betrayal and courage in the tradition of Alexandre Dumas - perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Patrick O'Brian.
'A brilliant, fast paced story . . . it reads like Bernard Cornwell crossed with The Three Musketeers' Conn Iggulden
France, 1636.
The Thirty Years War rages across Europe, and a bloody and brutal campaign begins as Spanish armies flood into Picardy.
In their way lies the border village of Dax-en-roi. The Chevalier de Roland rallies a valiant defence, but his household guard are slaughtered, his estate burned and his life forfeit.
Only one survivor escapes the invaders' the Chevalier's son, and lone heir to the Roland name.
But André de Roland is little more than a boy. What can someone so young do against so many?
Yet he is determined to save his people from the savagery of their invaders. He will uphold the honour of the Roland name - to the death . . .
Honour and the Sword is a sweeping and epic novel of love and heroism, betrayal and courage in the tradition of Alexandre Dumas - perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Patrick O'Brian.
'A brilliant, fast paced story . . . it reads like Bernard Cornwell crossed with The Three Musketeers' Conn Iggulden
527 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
15 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Berridge
5 books34 followersA. L. Berridge worked as a teacher, a script editor, and a television producer before finally settling down as a full-time novelist. She inherited her love of history from her father, writer and Victorian specialist David Newsome, but her own passion is for military adventure, and the character and relationships of men at war. She is published by Penguin.
Her first novel, the epic HONOUR AND THE SWORD, was published in April 2010 and became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller. Set during the Thirty Years War, it follows the adventures of André, the young Chevalier de Roland, as he fights to survive the 1636 Spanish invasion of Picardy.
Its sequel, IN THE NAME OF THE KING, is the second in the ‘Chevalier’ series and came out in August 2011. This time the idealistic de Roland is caught in the crossfire of political intrigue, and has to deal with the 1642 conspiracy of Cinq-Mars before a final bloody showdown at the Battle of Rocroi.
Her latest novel, ‘INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH’, is set in the Crimean War, and is the first in a new series featuring Victorian military hero Harry Ryder. The book follows the adventures of four friends through the horrors of Alma and Inkerman as well as exploring the real-life mystery behind the Charge of the Light Brigade. It was published in May 2012, and its sequel is expected in 2013.
Her first novel, the epic HONOUR AND THE SWORD, was published in April 2010 and became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller. Set during the Thirty Years War, it follows the adventures of André, the young Chevalier de Roland, as he fights to survive the 1636 Spanish invasion of Picardy.
Its sequel, IN THE NAME OF THE KING, is the second in the ‘Chevalier’ series and came out in August 2011. This time the idealistic de Roland is caught in the crossfire of political intrigue, and has to deal with the 1642 conspiracy of Cinq-Mars before a final bloody showdown at the Battle of Rocroi.
Her latest novel, ‘INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH’, is set in the Crimean War, and is the first in a new series featuring Victorian military hero Harry Ryder. The book follows the adventures of four friends through the horrors of Alma and Inkerman as well as exploring the real-life mystery behind the Charge of the Light Brigade. It was published in May 2012, and its sequel is expected in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 11, 2012
One of the great joys of having set up the Historical Writers' Association is that I am being sent a lot of books I wouldn't otherwise read. A great many recently have been entrants for the HWA/Goldsboro Prize for Debut Historical Fiction and for obvious reasons, I can't review them here yet (when the winner has been announced, I may well do).
And then there are the books that are simply sent by thoughtful publicists who want to bring their authors to my attention. Such was the package that arrived recently containing three novels by AL Berridge. None of them was 'my era'. None of them had covers that would have made me pick them off a table, but that was definitely my loss. I'll know better next time.
The first is Honour and the Sword, first in a series concerning the life of one Andre de Roland, from his youth through to his turbulent adulthood.
And the first shock (for me) is that it's written in multiple first person. To non-writers, this is probably an irrelevance, but given that I'm in the midst of writing a multi-first and thought it was fairly unique in the field of historical writing, at least further back than the astonishingly good multi-firsts penned by Laura Wilson - this comes as something of a shock. But having digested the fact that nothing on earth is as original as we (I) would like to think, it's a splendid example of the best that multi-first can be: inspiring, involving, thoroughly engaging, with a fast-paced, intricate plot and a hero who is fully fleshed out, genuine, plausible and thoroughly likeable.
The action is set in 1636 as the Thirty Years War ravages the continent, sending Spanish armies to occupy Spain. The bulk of the narrative comes from the perspective of Jacques, a stable boy on the estate of the local Lord and in the opening scenes, said Lord is slain by the Spanish invaders and Jacques flees with the strange, introverted twelve year old heir, Andre de Roland. Plunged from a pampered, if strictly coded, childhood where everyone tugs forelocks and stares at the ground as he passes, into life as a menial in the local village, hunted by the Spaniards for whom he would be the ultimate hostage, young Andre goes through a series of rites of passage, in which Jacques teaches him how to be a peasant - and Andre teaches Jacques how to fight and to be a nobleman. When they become part of the nascent guerilla army, other characters begin to impinge on their lives, most notably Stefan, the self-appointed leader of the rabble, who claims to loathe Andre and certainly goes about breaking him, while clearly falling in admiration, if not in love. Feminine interest is supplied by the Lady Anne who is a hostage in the local citadel and must, of course, be rescued against insuperable odds with the view into the Spanish side provided primarily by the aide to the local commander.
The tag line under the title says, 'Bernard Cornwell meets the Three Musketeers' which is, I am sure, a great selling point, but does little justice to what is a cleverly written, intelligent, entertaining and above all engaging book. I'd be reading the second one if my partner hadn't stolen it first - she's the one with the First in English Lit and we rarely cross over in our reading likes. There can be no greater testament than that we both thoroughly enjoyed this.
And then there are the books that are simply sent by thoughtful publicists who want to bring their authors to my attention. Such was the package that arrived recently containing three novels by AL Berridge. None of them was 'my era'. None of them had covers that would have made me pick them off a table, but that was definitely my loss. I'll know better next time.
The first is Honour and the Sword, first in a series concerning the life of one Andre de Roland, from his youth through to his turbulent adulthood.
And the first shock (for me) is that it's written in multiple first person. To non-writers, this is probably an irrelevance, but given that I'm in the midst of writing a multi-first and thought it was fairly unique in the field of historical writing, at least further back than the astonishingly good multi-firsts penned by Laura Wilson - this comes as something of a shock. But having digested the fact that nothing on earth is as original as we (I) would like to think, it's a splendid example of the best that multi-first can be: inspiring, involving, thoroughly engaging, with a fast-paced, intricate plot and a hero who is fully fleshed out, genuine, plausible and thoroughly likeable.
The action is set in 1636 as the Thirty Years War ravages the continent, sending Spanish armies to occupy Spain. The bulk of the narrative comes from the perspective of Jacques, a stable boy on the estate of the local Lord and in the opening scenes, said Lord is slain by the Spanish invaders and Jacques flees with the strange, introverted twelve year old heir, Andre de Roland. Plunged from a pampered, if strictly coded, childhood where everyone tugs forelocks and stares at the ground as he passes, into life as a menial in the local village, hunted by the Spaniards for whom he would be the ultimate hostage, young Andre goes through a series of rites of passage, in which Jacques teaches him how to be a peasant - and Andre teaches Jacques how to fight and to be a nobleman. When they become part of the nascent guerilla army, other characters begin to impinge on their lives, most notably Stefan, the self-appointed leader of the rabble, who claims to loathe Andre and certainly goes about breaking him, while clearly falling in admiration, if not in love. Feminine interest is supplied by the Lady Anne who is a hostage in the local citadel and must, of course, be rescued against insuperable odds with the view into the Spanish side provided primarily by the aide to the local commander.
The tag line under the title says, 'Bernard Cornwell meets the Three Musketeers' which is, I am sure, a great selling point, but does little justice to what is a cleverly written, intelligent, entertaining and above all engaging book. I'd be reading the second one if my partner hadn't stolen it first - she's the one with the First in English Lit and we rarely cross over in our reading likes. There can be no greater testament than that we both thoroughly enjoyed this.
April 6, 2011
A really good read! Well written and characters well developed. Only drawback for me was the book was narrated by several characters and I found it difficult to engage in the story through the eyes of the main character because of this. This was a compelling read however and I look forward to reading more of the authors work.
March 8, 2012
Honour and the Sword had a lot of potential, but it never really pulled it off. The constant jumping between points of views (every couple of pages, if not faster, especially in fight scenes) made it really difficult to get into the story - first you get one point of view, then the POV is switched and another person goes back in time a bit, tells their point of view and then continues from where the other left off... and then the POV is switched again. Basically, even though the choice to tell the story this way was a nice trick, it worked only to drag the story too much and even stalled it every now and then.
In addition to being told from several POVs, the story was also told in retrospective - through interviews and letters and diaries written by the characters several years after the events had taken place. This makes it impossible for the writer to build up any sort of excitement of what is going to happen or worry about the fates of the characters, as you pretty much know that all of the people reminiscing have to have lived through the ordeal (and you don't really care for the rest of them).
The story is also too simple to drag over 600 pages. The friendships of the main characters are relatively quickly established and the main story needed only a fraction of the pages used, so the rest of the book is filled by what could be called "side quests" of the heroes performing this or that feat. These bits are more or less unnecessary to the main story and serve little purpose even in developing the heroes' friendships. The whole would have been a lot better if some of these extra bits had been cut out and the story had been told in 400 pages or so.
One more thing I simply must mention is that one of the heroes is described as having been beaten up by his dad several times during his childhood. And very severely at that. And still we are supposed to believe that this son still loves his dad and yearns for his approval. I just find that _very_ difficult to believe.
Overall, although I love the period, I cannot say that I loved the story. I will still probably take a look at the sequel at some point, as I hope that - now that the childhood of the heroes is dealt with - the sequel might provide a more coherent story.
In addition to being told from several POVs, the story was also told in retrospective - through interviews and letters and diaries written by the characters several years after the events had taken place. This makes it impossible for the writer to build up any sort of excitement of what is going to happen or worry about the fates of the characters, as you pretty much know that all of the people reminiscing have to have lived through the ordeal (and you don't really care for the rest of them).
The story is also too simple to drag over 600 pages. The friendships of the main characters are relatively quickly established and the main story needed only a fraction of the pages used, so the rest of the book is filled by what could be called "side quests" of the heroes performing this or that feat. These bits are more or less unnecessary to the main story and serve little purpose even in developing the heroes' friendships. The whole would have been a lot better if some of these extra bits had been cut out and the story had been told in 400 pages or so.
One more thing I simply must mention is that one of the heroes is described as having been beaten up by his dad several times during his childhood. And very severely at that. And still we are supposed to believe that this son still loves his dad and yearns for his approval. I just find that _very_ difficult to believe.
Overall, although I love the period, I cannot say that I loved the story. I will still probably take a look at the sequel at some point, as I hope that - now that the childhood of the heroes is dealt with - the sequel might provide a more coherent story.
December 3, 2013
What could I possibly say about this book, besides the fact that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time? It was wonderfully written, masterful even. The characters were unique and their personalities remained true throughout the story. They had such depth to them! The book is written with several characters narrating their accounts, each told in first person POV. I loved the way this was done because it gave me a better understanding of each of the characters. I loved each of them . I would highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Jonathan Oliver. He brings the stories to life and narrates each character so that their personalities shine through. I'd say that one of the things I loved so much about the book was his narration. Many people found the format confusing, but with the audiobook it is easy to follow as each of the characters has their own unique voice.
There was so much suspense in this book! I felt like absolutely anything could happen at any time and just when I thought I knew how a situation would end...BAM! Everything would change. Just like real life, nothing is certain. The suspense nearly killed me. In a good way, of course. My heart was pounding, I wanted to either duck and cover or go fight someone.
I don't know much about the Thirty Years War except from what I read in the book, but it has spurred me on to learn more. The author wrote in a way that I could easily imagine the setting and the atmosphere of the place. It felt real. I wanted to be out there, fighting alongside the French defenders. The desperation, anger, grief...I felt it all keenly.
I loved every moment of Honour And The Sword. Finishing the book was like losing a very good friend. Nothing I write in this review could possibly do it justice. So read it! Do it.
There was so much suspense in this book! I felt like absolutely anything could happen at any time and just when I thought I knew how a situation would end...BAM! Everything would change. Just like real life, nothing is certain. The suspense nearly killed me. In a good way, of course. My heart was pounding, I wanted to either duck and cover or go fight someone.
I don't know much about the Thirty Years War except from what I read in the book, but it has spurred me on to learn more. The author wrote in a way that I could easily imagine the setting and the atmosphere of the place. It felt real. I wanted to be out there, fighting alongside the French defenders. The desperation, anger, grief...I felt it all keenly.
I loved every moment of Honour And The Sword. Finishing the book was like losing a very good friend. Nothing I write in this review could possibly do it justice. So read it! Do it.
September 23, 2011
The title of the book - Honour and the Sword - is the shortest summary you can get which includes all you get.
In the tradition of Alxandre Dumas, Honour and the Sword offers with André de Roland the French answer to Robin Hood. Enter a time where honour was something completely different and the rapier the weapon of the nobleman.
Remember the time when you read first Robin Hood and The Three Musketeers. You can't turn back the time but instead you can read Honour and the Sword and feel young again.
Read my full review over a Edi's Book Lighthouse.
I gave five stars due to following reasons:
- An excellent description of the concept of Honour in 17th century
- great description of the impact of the Thirty Years War on a small community
- loveable characters you easily can connect with
- delivered gamut of emotions
- narrative structure
above all author A L Berridge
Then we have editor Edward Morton, MA, LittD, Cambridge,
who collected different sources like the memoirs of a priest, interviews, letters and journals which. The whole story is told from different point of views based on the mentioned sources.
In the tradition of Alxandre Dumas, Honour and the Sword offers with André de Roland the French answer to Robin Hood. Enter a time where honour was something completely different and the rapier the weapon of the nobleman.
Remember the time when you read first Robin Hood and The Three Musketeers. You can't turn back the time but instead you can read Honour and the Sword and feel young again.
Read my full review over a Edi's Book Lighthouse.
I gave five stars due to following reasons:
- An excellent description of the concept of Honour in 17th century
- great description of the impact of the Thirty Years War on a small community
- loveable characters you easily can connect with
- delivered gamut of emotions
- narrative structure
above all author A L Berridge
Then we have editor Edward Morton, MA, LittD, Cambridge,
who collected different sources like the memoirs of a priest, interviews, letters and journals which. The whole story is told from different point of views based on the mentioned sources.
Read
April 12, 2024What I wanted: An epic 'Ken Follett-esque' story
What I got: not that
What I got: not that
October 18, 2012
ESTRADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
December 7, 2017
Very occasionally, as a reader, you have the wonderful sensation of finding a book that might have been written especially for you. It feels as though the author has looked into your head, seen all your favourite things and put pen to paper with an indulgent sigh of, ‘Oh, go on then’. And this book did that for me. It’s a rip-roaring old-fashioned adventure story set in France in the early 17th century, full of courage, loyalty, duels, romance, dastardly Spaniards, impossible odds, hair’s-breadth escapes, skirmishes, secrets and, of course, honour. And, at its heart, there’s an irresistible young hero: a fierce little firebrand with his head full of chivalry, a sword at his side and vengeance in his heart. Even better, it’s the first of a projected series. I want more. Right now...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/12/06/h...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/12/06/h...
March 25, 2023
Great pacing, really nice guerrilla warfare sections, but the only real characters that were memorable were the main duo, Stefan, d' estrada and a couple more. Like, in the final battle there were a handful of deaths of the resistance members but I could barely remember who they were and what they had done in the story. The ones that were characterized were great though, I found Stefan quite complex and multifaceted, neither likable nor 100% hateable. Will go find the second one. Also, the book would make a really nice movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2020
Took a while to get into this with story being told from various perspectives. But once I did I found it a compelling mix of adventure and history; almost a ‘boys own’ feel to it at times. The story didn’t hold too many surprises but it was well told and the characters well drawn and developed. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the follow ups
October 25, 2020
I enjoyed this. The story told through depositions of the entourage of the central character. So the perspective and percieved motivations of the central character change. Interesting period of Europan history.
August 2, 2025
A true swashbuckler set during the occupation of France by Spain in the 1600’s. The story centers around a displaced nobleman and an army that he and his hodge podge of a resistance army formed defeat the Spanish. Definitely a page turner with disaster and victories galore.
August 8, 2018
The title about sums up the subtext to this historical cracker. I went straight on a binge read and bought the second
November 29, 2020
Enjoyed this. Very three musketeers and all that. Have just started the second book which is even better. Recommend to anybody who enjoys this sort of thing.
February 22, 2013
One of my beefs with publishers is that in their efforts to put authors and their novels into boxes with a distinct label they can sell they actually deceive readers. Fatal really as readers buying a book in the expectation that it is a particular genre style read, but find it is not like the blurb at all, tend to bin the book and vow never to read that author again. A.L. Berridge’s book ‘Honour and the Sword’ has a title, cover and blurb which led readers to expect a jolly, all chaps together ‘Three Musketeers’ experience. What an insult to the author and the story. And so frustrating to the reader. Until I got my head round the fact that this novel is not a 3rd POV, romping narrative, adventure story, I really could not read it. I kept getting stuck. What was this so called editor’s note? And this business about interviews with the Abbe? Where was the Hero, the Main Character? When was the adventure starting? And all these characters who kept popping up and disappearing. What was going on?
It took a little while to understand that this was a novel which needed a new cover and a different blurb, a better title too. Once light dawned, that ‘Honour and the Sword’ was a multiple, 1st POV, literary novel about growing up, about seeing how things can seem to be one thing and yet actually be another, about loving and understanding people and their dreams, I was able to read it. But I do curse the publishers for nearly losing me a rich reading experience because of their stupid ‘fit the box’ marketing.
‘Honour and the Sword’, is set in the 17thC, during the Thirty Years War, a very complicated war which involved many countries but mainly between Spain and France and the Holy Roman Empire. The plot deals with young Andre de Roland, twelve years old, grappling with his stern father’s instructions about honour and the correct behaviour of gentleman from a noble family. The story begins in 1636. Andre de Roland is the heir of a large estate in Picardy, France, but that year his world comes to an end. The Spanish invade, overrun the estate and murder his family. He manages to escape because his friend, the stableboy, Jacques, rescues him and hides him. It’s a complicated plot, told by many different characters, and covers several years, Andre de Roland’s growing up years. They are filled with love and friendship, learning and betrayal, and his driving urge to recover his estate and free his people. The writing’s tight, the plot filled with tension and surprises. The reader watches Andre de Roland grow up, hunted by the Spaniards, because he would be a rich hostage, fiercely clinging to his aim of driving off the Spaniards and regaining his estate. He is also trying to learn who he is and what his role in life is, a difficult task without his family. Andre achieves nearly everything. He becomes part of a guerilla army, formed by his people on the estate, and finally drives off the Spaniards. But there are costs. How far should honour extend? Readers ‘see’ the action through other characters as well as Andre and Jacques, all these view points do make for a richer and rounder read. We understand far more than if the novel had been told from a single narrative point of view.
‘Honour and the Sword’ is not a quick afternoon’s read. It is an intelligent, thought provoking and very entertaining novel. It requires the reader not just to engage and follow the characters, but to think about their actions and understand their motives. I still feel that it does not need the complications of the notes from the pseudo-editor and might even do without the ‘we’re telling all this to the Abbe’ start, but this is a novel to reread and enjoy. I thoroughly recommend it look forward to reading and reviewing the next novel about Andre, ‘In the Name of the King’
It took a little while to understand that this was a novel which needed a new cover and a different blurb, a better title too. Once light dawned, that ‘Honour and the Sword’ was a multiple, 1st POV, literary novel about growing up, about seeing how things can seem to be one thing and yet actually be another, about loving and understanding people and their dreams, I was able to read it. But I do curse the publishers for nearly losing me a rich reading experience because of their stupid ‘fit the box’ marketing.
‘Honour and the Sword’, is set in the 17thC, during the Thirty Years War, a very complicated war which involved many countries but mainly between Spain and France and the Holy Roman Empire. The plot deals with young Andre de Roland, twelve years old, grappling with his stern father’s instructions about honour and the correct behaviour of gentleman from a noble family. The story begins in 1636. Andre de Roland is the heir of a large estate in Picardy, France, but that year his world comes to an end. The Spanish invade, overrun the estate and murder his family. He manages to escape because his friend, the stableboy, Jacques, rescues him and hides him. It’s a complicated plot, told by many different characters, and covers several years, Andre de Roland’s growing up years. They are filled with love and friendship, learning and betrayal, and his driving urge to recover his estate and free his people. The writing’s tight, the plot filled with tension and surprises. The reader watches Andre de Roland grow up, hunted by the Spaniards, because he would be a rich hostage, fiercely clinging to his aim of driving off the Spaniards and regaining his estate. He is also trying to learn who he is and what his role in life is, a difficult task without his family. Andre achieves nearly everything. He becomes part of a guerilla army, formed by his people on the estate, and finally drives off the Spaniards. But there are costs. How far should honour extend? Readers ‘see’ the action through other characters as well as Andre and Jacques, all these view points do make for a richer and rounder read. We understand far more than if the novel had been told from a single narrative point of view.
‘Honour and the Sword’ is not a quick afternoon’s read. It is an intelligent, thought provoking and very entertaining novel. It requires the reader not just to engage and follow the characters, but to think about their actions and understand their motives. I still feel that it does not need the complications of the notes from the pseudo-editor and might even do without the ‘we’re telling all this to the Abbe’ start, but this is a novel to reread and enjoy. I thoroughly recommend it look forward to reading and reviewing the next novel about Andre, ‘In the Name of the King’
January 13, 2016
Jeez, where to start. I enjoyed this -- it's a long book and poorly typset but I read it in maybe a day and it was a pretty good time. Well-paced, interesting characters, and the action scenes are great. It's hard to write a good swordfight, and Berridge manages a bunch.
BUT. But. I have some problems.
It's set during the Thirty Years' War; there's a province on the French border that is occupied by the Spanish army, and the book is ostensibly about the local lord and his rebel army. All right, but mostly the rebel army spends huge amounts of their time hunting down and/or thwarting rapists. A worthy goal, to be sure, but let me tell you how much I love the plot: "Lady is raped. Man who loves her experiences Personal Growth." I do not love this plot! And this plot appears often. This is a super rapey book. There is maybe one woman who doesn't spend the entire thing being threatened with rape, and she's not hot, so.
The other thing that was not so great is the conceit of the book, which is that it is ostensibly transcribed interviews from participants, as told to some reporter/historian/monk/whatever. Multiple participants, multiple POVs. It's fine to a limited extent because it gives you an interesting look at the main character, but it was probably unnecessary, ultimately unconvincing and occasionally annoying when they would break down the fourth wall and talk directly to the reporter/me/whomever. It also removes a lot of the tension because you know perfectly well who lives and who doesn't, given who is giving interviews and who isn't.
And finally, it has kind of a weird... sprawl. The author is a television person and this is her first novel, and it shows. There is the overplot, and then a bunch of episodes with loosely connected sideplots that are only tangentially related to the main event. Like there would be entire long stretches where nothing anyone is doing is related to the Spanish occupation. It would have been a better book if the episodic aspect had been either played up more or eliminated with some judicious editing. As it stands, though, it was just kind of strange.
So, I don't know. I'll probably give the next one a look.
BUT. But. I have some problems.
It's set during the Thirty Years' War; there's a province on the French border that is occupied by the Spanish army, and the book is ostensibly about the local lord and his rebel army. All right, but mostly the rebel army spends huge amounts of their time hunting down and/or thwarting rapists. A worthy goal, to be sure, but let me tell you how much I love the plot: "Lady is raped. Man who loves her experiences Personal Growth." I do not love this plot! And this plot appears often. This is a super rapey book. There is maybe one woman who doesn't spend the entire thing being threatened with rape, and she's not hot, so.
The other thing that was not so great is the conceit of the book, which is that it is ostensibly transcribed interviews from participants, as told to some reporter/historian/monk/whatever. Multiple participants, multiple POVs. It's fine to a limited extent because it gives you an interesting look at the main character, but it was probably unnecessary, ultimately unconvincing and occasionally annoying when they would break down the fourth wall and talk directly to the reporter/me/whomever. It also removes a lot of the tension because you know perfectly well who lives and who doesn't, given who is giving interviews and who isn't.
And finally, it has kind of a weird... sprawl. The author is a television person and this is her first novel, and it shows. There is the overplot, and then a bunch of episodes with loosely connected sideplots that are only tangentially related to the main event. Like there would be entire long stretches where nothing anyone is doing is related to the Spanish occupation. It would have been a better book if the episodic aspect had been either played up more or eliminated with some judicious editing. As it stands, though, it was just kind of strange.
So, I don't know. I'll probably give the next one a look.
April 4, 2014
I fucking worship this book. Absolutely mindblowing. I'm an exclusive fantasy reader but I picked this up in the library and couldn't pry my fingers off it. That means it's really, REALLY good. I bought a copy just to have it there. It's amazing.
The multiple viewpoints helped to give it the feel of a real historical manuscript. It was amazing how well Berridge did with their voices - you can always tell which person is narrating. The main character, Andre de Roland, is so impossible to not love that it's tragic. You see him sticking to his strict code of honour, and that gets him into shit (or at risk of being in shit) so much that your teeth grind. But when he breaks out of it to protect someone, you can feel all the hurt and pain and effort it took to do that one thing and you really, really wish he hadn't. But then you know it's for the best. Gah, you just wish it wasn't so.
A lot of the tension actually rode on this need of honour, these things that bind a man so tightly at his core it's worse than chains. Andre's practically wading into hell because of it. You know and he knows. And he's still going to do it.
This is one of the only books which has had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It's racked my nerves and had me laughing at points, cringing over and over, and bleeding tears. I don't usually cry over books but here's one that did it for me. It was such a rough ride of I'll-fuck-with-your-emotions that I've been planning to reread it for so long, but have put it off because … well, it's tough.
The multiple viewpoints helped to give it the feel of a real historical manuscript. It was amazing how well Berridge did with their voices - you can always tell which person is narrating. The main character, Andre de Roland, is so impossible to not love that it's tragic. You see him sticking to his strict code of honour, and that gets him into shit (or at risk of being in shit) so much that your teeth grind. But when he breaks out of it to protect someone, you can feel all the hurt and pain and effort it took to do that one thing and you really, really wish he hadn't. But then you know it's for the best. Gah, you just wish it wasn't so.
A lot of the tension actually rode on this need of honour, these things that bind a man so tightly at his core it's worse than chains. Andre's practically wading into hell because of it. You know and he knows. And he's still going to do it.
This is one of the only books which has had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It's racked my nerves and had me laughing at points, cringing over and over, and bleeding tears. I don't usually cry over books but here's one that did it for me. It was such a rough ride of I'll-fuck-with-your-emotions that I've been planning to reread it for so long, but have put it off because … well, it's tough.
June 15, 2012
This book actually works a lot better than you think. The idea of using different characters to provide what appears to be different points of view isn't at all its actually a very good way of giving the writer and the reader different viewpoints of the story and AL Berridge really uses this writing tool or device to draw the reader into the world that the characters live in so your reading an "historical novel" set in France in 16 something or other but that doesn't matter because that is just the background to the story and the story is well told and does keep you reading the story.
I didn't find it a fast read it was very much painting scene by scene and accounts but AL Berridge keeps the reader interested and when the action intensifies so does the pace. And there are plenty of "real life" dark places and feelings in there too so although its a bit of a "boys adventure tale" its got plenty of "weight" in it. Some difficult emotions and discoveries are crafted really well. You come away knowing the characters some how and wondering what will happen in there life.
Different to what you would expect in a good way.
I didn't find it a fast read it was very much painting scene by scene and accounts but AL Berridge keeps the reader interested and when the action intensifies so does the pace. And there are plenty of "real life" dark places and feelings in there too so although its a bit of a "boys adventure tale" its got plenty of "weight" in it. Some difficult emotions and discoveries are crafted really well. You come away knowing the characters some how and wondering what will happen in there life.
Different to what you would expect in a good way.
August 12, 2012
The novel is written as a series of interviews or memoirs from France during the time of the 30 years war and so includes a number of different voices put together by a fictional professor - Edward Morton. Sounds complicated? Perhaps, but it works brilliantly. Like a patchwork this method gradually builds up the picture of events from all the partisan points of view. Told in the first person present tense, some of it is written in very modern-sounding English but this has the effect of drawing the reader in. Mostly told from the point of view of Jacques the stable lad, and his erstwhile employer's son, an aristocrat called Andre de Roland, the slow development of the relationship between these two boys is what glues the book together. We watch them through the highs and lows of warfare, through heroism and despair as Andre de Roland seeks to avenge his parents death at the hands of the Spanish. This book has some excellent set-piece action scenes, with gripping sword fights, pistols and cannon.At the climax the action zips from person to person in a few lines - and this filmic technique like cutting from shot to shot, was breathtaking.Highly recommended.
December 10, 2013
The story and characters drew me instantly into the drama and carried me away in this epic historical fiction. Funny but I didn't know until halfway into the book that Honour and the Sword was written by a woman! My hat is off to her in taking on such a subject matter that probably only men attempt, though, I am no authority on historical fiction and those who write them. I am looking forward to more of her novels. I am usually not drawn to such books about sword play, battles and honour but the writing was so well done that I soon forgot my usual ill at ease disdain for "manly adventures".
Only one other author that will keep my interest in battle scenes is the well-known Bernard Cornwell. I need to explore this genre after experiencing yet another author of this type of historical fiction.
Only one other author that will keep my interest in battle scenes is the well-known Bernard Cornwell. I need to explore this genre after experiencing yet another author of this type of historical fiction.
August 9, 2011
Presented as a series of transcripted interviews and extracts from memoirs or diaries rather than as a straight narrated story, and set in France during the time of the 30 years war (so, roughly the same timeas 'The Three Musketeers'), I can see why this novel has been described as a mix of Alexandre Dumas and Bernard Cornwell.
An enjoyable enough read, but not really a pick-up-and-read type of book: this one, I found, could be quite heavy going at times, mainly as it does require some serious commitment instead of my usual 10 minutes here, 1/2 an hour there (which meant, that by the time I was beginning to get back into it, it was time to put it down again!) ...
An enjoyable enough read, but not really a pick-up-and-read type of book: this one, I found, could be quite heavy going at times, mainly as it does require some serious commitment instead of my usual 10 minutes here, 1/2 an hour there (which meant, that by the time I was beginning to get back into it, it was time to put it down again!) ...
May 30, 2012
"Sprawling" and "Epic" come immediately to mind -- but overall a very enjoyable read, with plenty of people getting skewered by swords and having their faces blown off -- more than enough to keep the pages turning, and the main character (the young, newly orphaned Sieur of Dax) is one pretty cool dude -- and the relationship that develops between him and his stable-boy aide, as they battle the nasty spaniards who invaded their town in the middle of the 30 Years War, is pretty engaging ... At moments a little emotionally mushy, but these moments were always compensated for by some good sword-skewering ... I wouldn't have minded shaving a hundred pages off the book, though .....
October 14, 2014
I was hoping for much more from this book but it didn't manage to deliver.
I expected a story of adventure and history but instead got a bromance where they get in trouble that could easily be avoided if honour didn't have to be satisfied all the time. It made the characters unrelatable, not sympathetic and often annoying. Neither the story or the characters had enough depth to overcome these issues.
The choppy writing style wasn't conducive to a smooth reading experience, with many narrators and fast changes from one point of view to another and then to another.
It was a good time period to write an adventure tale in but it just didn't capture my imagination.
I expected a story of adventure and history but instead got a bromance where they get in trouble that could easily be avoided if honour didn't have to be satisfied all the time. It made the characters unrelatable, not sympathetic and often annoying. Neither the story or the characters had enough depth to overcome these issues.
The choppy writing style wasn't conducive to a smooth reading experience, with many narrators and fast changes from one point of view to another and then to another.
It was a good time period to write an adventure tale in but it just didn't capture my imagination.
November 9, 2013
Thanks to goodreads people for this recommendation. When I read that the novel is told from the rotating perspectives of different people close to the action plus some letters and diary entries I must admit it nearly put me off. How glad I am that it didn't, this is hugely enjoyable, the tone is spot on, and the use of modern idiom just works. Dumas updated to the current day, and yes I do mean it as a compliment. Romantic historical fiction done as it be, but rarely is. I look forward to reading all Ms Berridge cares to write, this my discovery of the year.
August 13, 2011
Good book. I'm not a great fan of this era. A bit Three Musketeerish. After the first few pages I felt a bit bored but the author was just setting the scene and the story of comradeship against the odds could be as relevant today as it was in 16th century Europe. Ended up being a certainly good story and near the end I ended up reading over 100 pages a night.
September 20, 2013
This book has completely surprised me, I cannot believe it is based around a real character, but indeed it is! This book has had me in tears, made my heart beat faster and has made me reflect on what it means to be human.
This book was beautifully written and at no point boring, cannot wait to read book 2. Loved it!
This book was beautifully written and at no point boring, cannot wait to read book 2. Loved it!
April 23, 2014
I only did buy that book with the intention of improving my English vocabulary skills as English is not my mother tongue....but both the compelling story and the adorable creativity of the author - providing the book with everything that might be expected from a bestseller and even more, turned out to reveal me the real beauty of "Honour and the Sword". Definitely a Must Read !
June 10, 2012
Didn't finish this one. Got about five chapters in and found myself too bored too continue. Didn't get the feel for different characters through the narration and it just didn't work for me. Oh well.
November 27, 2013
I must admit that it took me sometime to get used to the style of a multi narrative, but it was worth it and I'm looking forward to reading more of the authors work.
Good story based on fact. Excellent characters.
Good story based on fact. Excellent characters.
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