What do you think?
Rate this book
Bleeding Land Trilogy #2
Brothers' Fury
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 tghe 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?
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 tghe 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?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2013
20 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Giles Kristian
18 books1,612 followersGiles Kristian's first historical novels were the acclaimed and bestselling RAVEN Viking trilogy – Blood Eye, Sons of Thunder and Odin’s Wolves. For his next series, he drew on a long-held fascination with the English Civil War to chart the fortunes of a family divided by this brutal conflict in The Bleeding Land and Brothers’ Fury. Giles also co-wrote Wilbur Smith’s No.1 bestseller, Golden Lion. In God of Vengeance (a TIMES Book of the Year), Winter’s Fire, and the Historical Writers’ Association Gold Crown shortlisted Wings of the Storm, he returned to the world of the Vikings to tell the story of Sigurd and his celebrated fictional fellowship. Lancelot was published to great acclaim and hit The Times bestseller charts at No. 3. It was also a Sunday Times bestseller. He followed Lancelot with Camelot, and his next novel, a thriller called Where Blood Runs Cold, was the Times' Thriller of the Month, and won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2022. His next novel, Arthur, will be the final book in his Arthurian Tales. It will be published June 6th. Pre-order links here: https://linktr.ee/arthur_by_giles_kri...
To find out more about Giles: www.gileskristian.com
Follow Giles on Facebook and Twitter: @GilesKristian
To find out more about Giles: www.gileskristian.com
Follow Giles on Facebook and Twitter: @GilesKristian
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 30, 2021
Read this book in 2014, and its the 2nd volume of the "Bleeding Land" series, from the author, Giles Kristian.
We're heading into the year AD1643, and in this marvellous tale we'll see a trio of characters who's family is torn apart by love, hatred and by Sir Francis, their father's death, in their choices of loyalty towards on the one hand the King and the other Parliament, and in between those two figures someone who's trying hard to reconcile them.
On the one hand there's Tom Rivers, fighting for the Parliamentarian cause, and cast out by the rest of the family, and in his hate for his family and due to recklessness and contempt for authority he will dare anything, even entering the now King's Capital, Oxford, and destroy the King's printing press.
On the other hand we have Edmund Rivers, a firm Royalist and Cavalier, and anyone representing or fighting for Parliament is not save, and he'll be recognised as a fellow child of war by Prince Rupert, who will set him on different tasks, like tunnelling beneath the walls of Lichfield.
The peacemaker of the family is their sister, Bess Rivers, who after the deaths of her beloved Emmanuel and her father, Sir Francis, will make her hardest decision of her life by leaving her new-born son, and to depart Sheer House and risking her own life in an effort to find her brother Tom and get him a Royal pardon, and all that in a desparate attempt to try to douse the flames of her brothers' fury and reconcile them.
A wonderful historical English Civil War tale with lifelike characters and believable situations in a land that is torn apart on all sides, and all this is brought to life by the author in a most terrific fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is another marvellous addition to this series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Bleeding Land Sequel"!
We're heading into the year AD1643, and in this marvellous tale we'll see a trio of characters who's family is torn apart by love, hatred and by Sir Francis, their father's death, in their choices of loyalty towards on the one hand the King and the other Parliament, and in between those two figures someone who's trying hard to reconcile them.
On the one hand there's Tom Rivers, fighting for the Parliamentarian cause, and cast out by the rest of the family, and in his hate for his family and due to recklessness and contempt for authority he will dare anything, even entering the now King's Capital, Oxford, and destroy the King's printing press.
On the other hand we have Edmund Rivers, a firm Royalist and Cavalier, and anyone representing or fighting for Parliament is not save, and he'll be recognised as a fellow child of war by Prince Rupert, who will set him on different tasks, like tunnelling beneath the walls of Lichfield.
The peacemaker of the family is their sister, Bess Rivers, who after the deaths of her beloved Emmanuel and her father, Sir Francis, will make her hardest decision of her life by leaving her new-born son, and to depart Sheer House and risking her own life in an effort to find her brother Tom and get him a Royal pardon, and all that in a desparate attempt to try to douse the flames of her brothers' fury and reconcile them.
A wonderful historical English Civil War tale with lifelike characters and believable situations in a land that is torn apart on all sides, and all this is brought to life by the author in a most terrific fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is another marvellous addition to this series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Superb Bleeding Land Sequel"!
March 29, 2018
There is Grim Dark violence. And then there is Historical Fiction violence.....
This is historical fiction penned by a masterful hand. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
This is historical fiction penned by a masterful hand. Buy it. Read it. Love it.
March 20, 2013
Giles Kristian does it again with another ripsnorter (not my word, but it definitely fits) of a novel that will raise his legions – regiments? – of fans to new heights of delight. Sequel to The Bleeding Land, this passionate, intricate tale of two brothers caught on opposite sides of the English Civil War – and of the sister trying to reunite them – offers, above all else, a humane insight into the horror and savagery of war.
I still don’t fully understand the politics of the ECW, but I do know which side I’d have been on. What Giles, always, is to make me see the value, and the venality, of each side. Tom, on the Parliamentary side, turns undercover agent for a while, and we have a spy thriller set in the midst of a blood-and-thunder war novel. Meanwhile Mun battles on with troubles of his own; neither brother sits well under authority. And Bess is caught by the ghastly Lord Denton: if you don’t want to take up arms against him yourself by the novel’s end, you have no soul.
The action wears lightly the armour of the research – it’s not a field I know anything about, but I’m sure it’s all right; it certainly felt authentic, but always, the mud, the exhaustion, the horror and the sheer, blood-boiling joy of battle, of killing, of surviving when others have died, shines through. And he does horses well. Very well. I have just deleted my spoiler about the horses. All I’ll say is that it’ll make you cry.
This is the ECW of the Sealed Knot, but it’s done with such panache, such daring, such glory that you’ll be aching for the next installment.
I still don’t fully understand the politics of the ECW, but I do know which side I’d have been on. What Giles, always, is to make me see the value, and the venality, of each side. Tom, on the Parliamentary side, turns undercover agent for a while, and we have a spy thriller set in the midst of a blood-and-thunder war novel. Meanwhile Mun battles on with troubles of his own; neither brother sits well under authority. And Bess is caught by the ghastly Lord Denton: if you don’t want to take up arms against him yourself by the novel’s end, you have no soul.
The action wears lightly the armour of the research – it’s not a field I know anything about, but I’m sure it’s all right; it certainly felt authentic, but always, the mud, the exhaustion, the horror and the sheer, blood-boiling joy of battle, of killing, of surviving when others have died, shines through. And he does horses well. Very well. I have just deleted my spoiler about the horses. All I’ll say is that it’ll make you cry.
This is the ECW of the Sealed Knot, but it’s done with such panache, such daring, such glory that you’ll be aching for the next installment.
January 5, 2018
Giles Kristian is one of the finest writers of historical fiction about today. Having conquered the Vikings with his Raven trilogy, he is now bringing the English Civil War to life with a trilogy about the Rivers brothers - Edmund and Tom - divided by vengeance, grief and bloody mindedness, facing each other from opposing sides of the battlefield. After the immensely entertaining opener, The Bleeding Land, Giles Kristian takes the story to new heights with this second in the trilogy - Brothers' Fury. It is a masterpiece of storytelling, full of heart and compassion, as well as gore and brutal courage. It is also extremely clever in its structure, and includes some of the most outstanding battle sequences you could possibly read.
Full review to follow closer to the novel's publication in May. In the meantime, make a point of adding it to your wishlists and getting The Bleeding Land read if you haven't already.
Full review to follow closer to the novel's publication in May. In the meantime, make a point of adding it to your wishlists and getting The Bleeding Land read if you haven't already.
May 8, 2016
Impressed doesn't quite cover it. Doesn't in any way come close.
I couldn't have been more impressed it it'd fallen...no, I've done that one. Try again. I couldn't have been more impressed with this book if I'd been run over by a steamroller with it stuck to its wheel…Something like that'll do.
It’s been a couple of years since I read the first book, The Bleeding Land. I wasn’t sure I could take any more of the English Civil War for a while after that. It’s never really been a period I’ve over interested myself in, maybe because it reminds me of what we had to study at school. Giles, fresh off the back of a successful Viking saga with the Raven series, launched his new series with a flourish, followed it up with Brothers’ Fury, then…nothing. Except, a sudden return to the Vikings, where he is currently in the middle of a prequel saga to the Raven books (I haven’t read them yet, so don’t press me too much for details). Why? Well, the obvious is that the Civil War stuff didn’t sell. The end of Brothers’ Fury is set just fine for a third instalment, and I’d bet it’s sat there in a drawer at Kristian Towers ready to go. However, while the book might be ready for the readers, the readers don’t seem to have been ready for Giles writing about the Cavaliers and Roundheads. I’d say they’re not ready for Giles not writing about Vikings. They should be. They’re missing out on an unbelievably good story, sequel and series.
So, through reading the start of this superb book, I’m suddenly thinking “Why have I waited so long? O why, Lord, why?!” Then I got all caught up in the story and carried away and stopped worrying and started enjoying. So what’s your excuse? Don’t like enjoying your reading? Don’t like involving, invigorating exceptionally good storytelling? Gone mad? Still stuck on Vikings?
You’re familiar with the style, there’s no learning curve (even if you haven’t yet started the first one) either with the period or the characters, you’re drawn immediately in and the story then focusses in on one family, the Rivers and the English Civil War. As the blurb on the back says, the warring ideologies cut across family and friends and often set 'brother against brother', as here. I’d be hesitant about saying that it cut across the class divide, as the non-aristocrats had never had real power (not since just after the Black Death anyway) and would perhaps have seen the Parliamentarian side as being more in tune with their aims than the Royalists. The Royalists of course, want to keep the status quo. As they would, having ruled the country as far back as anyone can remember. In a similar situation to the Parliamentary ‘democracy’ we have in Britain now, where talking about reforming the electoral system is a non-starter - turkeys will never vote for Christmas.
Unless I’ve misread it completely, or read too much into it (it can happen), Giles does seem to put over that the ‘rebels’ are fighting to give themselves a better future. The Royalists are fighting them, to put them back where they were. To put the serfs back in their place. Where the Royalists know they belong. We’re on the cusp of change (again) in English history here and the only ones fighting to move society forward not back, are the Parliamentarians.
The way I read it, Giles has maybe thought about the tale of the fox running after the rabbit and giving up. The fox is chasing the rabbit for his lunch, the rabbit is running for his life. For the Parliamentarians, it’s life or death. If they didn't fight, they'd remain in the death grip of the Royalists, if they lose they'll be surely killed by the Royalists out for revenge. For the Royalists, it feels like it’s more like sport. See some of the hunting similes used here by Prince Rupert, for instance. Rupert, as the name suggests (!), represents all that is dislikable about the Royalist side. "Those traitors would raise arms against their king!” Arrogance born of privilege, bred of contempt, not earned. A right to rule, maybe not quite god-given, but it was in the past, so shall it be in the future. There’s also a feeling of shock amongst the Royalists, because they cannot come to terms with the Parliamentarians questioning the status quo and their right to rule.
The Royalist in the Rivers’ family, is Edmund. Or ‘Mun’ as he is pretty much always called here. Quite apart from the daft shortened name (I'd have gone for 'Ed' if only to stop me reading 'Mum' every time), he is (ironically) the puritanical one. He tries to be a bad boy, but his heart is still in the wrong place to pull it off convincingly.
The two Rivers’ sister, Bess, does feel a little off-the-shelf from the Hist Fic General Store, Women section. A little cutout and keep. She was last time out as well. You meet her in many books of this era/period. The Wars of The Roses books by Derek Birks, in parts. Actually, the woman/women do have an important role to play. They are there for the practical things in life, the link and the common sense in between the two sides. Of course she’s irritating as all women in books like this who do that are, mainly because she wants them to stop all their fussin’ and a-fightin’. And be friends. One happy family again. Damn them! There is of course a time and a place for that - it's after the third volume in this trilogy has finished, for example.
For me, the book actually revolves around the other Rivers brother, Tom. He seems the more interestingly complex character - the good boy gone bad always is. He is the one who is going against his background and upbringing in siding with Parliament rather than his family’s background and heritage with the Royalists. He is the one following his heart and conscience, not just his pre-programmed, pre-determined duty. It’s him too that wants to break his own shackles. Yeah, I went completely la-la reading this.
Everything builds to the second half’s two huge battle scenes. A huge battle at Bristol, then another at Newbury. Newbury was a surprise, as I was done in, nerves in shreds after Bristol! It’s here that the book really raises itself above most everything else you’re likely to read. Previously, the book has been quite tense, the skulking in the dark parts and intriguing in the outcomes of various physical and mental conflicts. But that’s nothing to how well-handled - well-marshalled - the enormous battles at Bristol and Newbury are. I didn’t feel like I was reading. I was watching a video of the fighting in my head. Vivid, tense, thrilling, nervous, all hanging on a knife-edge, ups and downs, ebb and flow, uphill, back down. All this and more. And relentless. The constant pounding action, the no way out unless we win, this is only gonna end with our end, why won’t they stop, on and on, we must go on and on...All means these two are quite possibly and probably, the best, most involving battles you or I will ever read. Any period. I can safely say I've never read the like, or been affected so much. The next best/worst thing next to actually being there, as I thought more than once. This is writing at the absolute peak of the fiction genre. Not just Historical Fiction, Fiction.
This series should not be overlooked or overshadowed by his Viking series, as I think Giles (also) feels it is. I think it is quite probably his best work (though I’ve yet to get stuck into the Raven prequels). It's maybe more difficult to write for this period than you or I would at first think. Than writing about Vikings. Because there is more documentation, there’s more of a framework to fit the story to and of course, more chance of clever-dicks popping up saying ‘that sort of thing couldn't/didn’t happen!’ More than clever dick-esses popping up and telling you what actually happened in 1066/7, for instance... Less lee-way, artistic license than further back in time. So much more impressive to weave a new story in and out of old, established frameworks.
On the evidence of Brothers' Fury, Giles is putting a considerable talent on hold with the Viking books. But what sells, sells, I guess. The third is set up there at the end. We better hope it’s gonna come one day. As I say, if I know GK, he’ll have it in the bag ready for when the readers are done with mead drinking and tales of Vikings. The Burning Land was very good. Brothers’ Fury is incredible. #3? Finish with your Vikings, then let’s camp out on Transworld’s door until they sign off on the third.
See all my (excellent) reviews in one place! Speesh Reads
I couldn't have been more impressed it it'd fallen...no, I've done that one. Try again. I couldn't have been more impressed with this book if I'd been run over by a steamroller with it stuck to its wheel…Something like that'll do.
It’s been a couple of years since I read the first book, The Bleeding Land. I wasn’t sure I could take any more of the English Civil War for a while after that. It’s never really been a period I’ve over interested myself in, maybe because it reminds me of what we had to study at school. Giles, fresh off the back of a successful Viking saga with the Raven series, launched his new series with a flourish, followed it up with Brothers’ Fury, then…nothing. Except, a sudden return to the Vikings, where he is currently in the middle of a prequel saga to the Raven books (I haven’t read them yet, so don’t press me too much for details). Why? Well, the obvious is that the Civil War stuff didn’t sell. The end of Brothers’ Fury is set just fine for a third instalment, and I’d bet it’s sat there in a drawer at Kristian Towers ready to go. However, while the book might be ready for the readers, the readers don’t seem to have been ready for Giles writing about the Cavaliers and Roundheads. I’d say they’re not ready for Giles not writing about Vikings. They should be. They’re missing out on an unbelievably good story, sequel and series.
So, through reading the start of this superb book, I’m suddenly thinking “Why have I waited so long? O why, Lord, why?!” Then I got all caught up in the story and carried away and stopped worrying and started enjoying. So what’s your excuse? Don’t like enjoying your reading? Don’t like involving, invigorating exceptionally good storytelling? Gone mad? Still stuck on Vikings?
You’re familiar with the style, there’s no learning curve (even if you haven’t yet started the first one) either with the period or the characters, you’re drawn immediately in and the story then focusses in on one family, the Rivers and the English Civil War. As the blurb on the back says, the warring ideologies cut across family and friends and often set 'brother against brother', as here. I’d be hesitant about saying that it cut across the class divide, as the non-aristocrats had never had real power (not since just after the Black Death anyway) and would perhaps have seen the Parliamentarian side as being more in tune with their aims than the Royalists. The Royalists of course, want to keep the status quo. As they would, having ruled the country as far back as anyone can remember. In a similar situation to the Parliamentary ‘democracy’ we have in Britain now, where talking about reforming the electoral system is a non-starter - turkeys will never vote for Christmas.
Unless I’ve misread it completely, or read too much into it (it can happen), Giles does seem to put over that the ‘rebels’ are fighting to give themselves a better future. The Royalists are fighting them, to put them back where they were. To put the serfs back in their place. Where the Royalists know they belong. We’re on the cusp of change (again) in English history here and the only ones fighting to move society forward not back, are the Parliamentarians.
The way I read it, Giles has maybe thought about the tale of the fox running after the rabbit and giving up. The fox is chasing the rabbit for his lunch, the rabbit is running for his life. For the Parliamentarians, it’s life or death. If they didn't fight, they'd remain in the death grip of the Royalists, if they lose they'll be surely killed by the Royalists out for revenge. For the Royalists, it feels like it’s more like sport. See some of the hunting similes used here by Prince Rupert, for instance. Rupert, as the name suggests (!), represents all that is dislikable about the Royalist side. "Those traitors would raise arms against their king!” Arrogance born of privilege, bred of contempt, not earned. A right to rule, maybe not quite god-given, but it was in the past, so shall it be in the future. There’s also a feeling of shock amongst the Royalists, because they cannot come to terms with the Parliamentarians questioning the status quo and their right to rule.
The Royalist in the Rivers’ family, is Edmund. Or ‘Mun’ as he is pretty much always called here. Quite apart from the daft shortened name (I'd have gone for 'Ed' if only to stop me reading 'Mum' every time), he is (ironically) the puritanical one. He tries to be a bad boy, but his heart is still in the wrong place to pull it off convincingly.
The two Rivers’ sister, Bess, does feel a little off-the-shelf from the Hist Fic General Store, Women section. A little cutout and keep. She was last time out as well. You meet her in many books of this era/period. The Wars of The Roses books by Derek Birks, in parts. Actually, the woman/women do have an important role to play. They are there for the practical things in life, the link and the common sense in between the two sides. Of course she’s irritating as all women in books like this who do that are, mainly because she wants them to stop all their fussin’ and a-fightin’. And be friends. One happy family again. Damn them! There is of course a time and a place for that - it's after the third volume in this trilogy has finished, for example.
For me, the book actually revolves around the other Rivers brother, Tom. He seems the more interestingly complex character - the good boy gone bad always is. He is the one who is going against his background and upbringing in siding with Parliament rather than his family’s background and heritage with the Royalists. He is the one following his heart and conscience, not just his pre-programmed, pre-determined duty. It’s him too that wants to break his own shackles. Yeah, I went completely la-la reading this.
Everything builds to the second half’s two huge battle scenes. A huge battle at Bristol, then another at Newbury. Newbury was a surprise, as I was done in, nerves in shreds after Bristol! It’s here that the book really raises itself above most everything else you’re likely to read. Previously, the book has been quite tense, the skulking in the dark parts and intriguing in the outcomes of various physical and mental conflicts. But that’s nothing to how well-handled - well-marshalled - the enormous battles at Bristol and Newbury are. I didn’t feel like I was reading. I was watching a video of the fighting in my head. Vivid, tense, thrilling, nervous, all hanging on a knife-edge, ups and downs, ebb and flow, uphill, back down. All this and more. And relentless. The constant pounding action, the no way out unless we win, this is only gonna end with our end, why won’t they stop, on and on, we must go on and on...All means these two are quite possibly and probably, the best, most involving battles you or I will ever read. Any period. I can safely say I've never read the like, or been affected so much. The next best/worst thing next to actually being there, as I thought more than once. This is writing at the absolute peak of the fiction genre. Not just Historical Fiction, Fiction.
This series should not be overlooked or overshadowed by his Viking series, as I think Giles (also) feels it is. I think it is quite probably his best work (though I’ve yet to get stuck into the Raven prequels). It's maybe more difficult to write for this period than you or I would at first think. Than writing about Vikings. Because there is more documentation, there’s more of a framework to fit the story to and of course, more chance of clever-dicks popping up saying ‘that sort of thing couldn't/didn’t happen!’ More than clever dick-esses popping up and telling you what actually happened in 1066/7, for instance... Less lee-way, artistic license than further back in time. So much more impressive to weave a new story in and out of old, established frameworks.
On the evidence of Brothers' Fury, Giles is putting a considerable talent on hold with the Viking books. But what sells, sells, I guess. The third is set up there at the end. We better hope it’s gonna come one day. As I say, if I know GK, he’ll have it in the bag ready for when the readers are done with mead drinking and tales of Vikings. The Burning Land was very good. Brothers’ Fury is incredible. #3? Finish with your Vikings, then let’s camp out on Transworld’s door until they sign off on the third.
See all my (excellent) reviews in one place! Speesh Reads
March 10, 2013
Review
Before I start on the book a small note about the author: Giles is one of the truly nicest most genuine people I have met, not just in the world of writers but just in life.
I feel that this genuine real personality is something that influences his writing. Don’t get me wrong his books are not nice guy books, they are not judgemental, they don’t push an agenda. You get a story (or in the case of the Raven, a saga). The characters are real people, real people set in the past, living a real existence that is accurate to the period.
In book one; The Bleeding Land, we met the Rivers family and experienced the pain and suffering, the love and the adventures that all members of the family endured. http://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/w...
Brothers Fury (bk 2) picks up not long after the end of book 1. We see and experience how the brothers Mun and Tom have changed, how the war has changed them both, how the spectre of death has shaped them
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar
the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our
hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair
face of this beautiful world. ~Robert E. Lee
The English Civil war has torn a country, families, neighbours communities asunder. The Rivers family are all changed by this war. Both Mun and Tom are now killers, not born but made by the hell of civil war.
While clinging to the sanity of family and trying to pull her beloved brothers back from the brink of chaos is Bess Rivers. She is scouring the country with her protectors looking for Tom, certain that finding him and talking to him will be enough to put out the fires of his fury and the pain of his loss.
Giles characters are so real it can be quite scary at times. I can relate to Mun in particular, his desire to do the right thing, to live and if need be die for his honour and his family, whilst controlling the killer he has within. While the brothers are on opposite sides of the war they share the same traits of fearless fighters, but where Mun is a controlled killer of men, Tom is almost swamped by his rage in battle a baresark warrior,, a man who gives himself over to the rage and black fog of war.
It’s this realistic characterisation that makes this such a special book. Giles is exceptional at his historical research down to the geek level of the right uniform, weapons, even the buttons and material. But the people are so real so life-like you can relate to every emotion. The setting of a portion of the book in Oxford, my birthplace and a wonderful historic place to grow up was just the icing on the cake. Roll all of that into a story told in such a flowing compelling style and Brother Fury will be one of the finest books you read this year, and is a tale you can re-read many times as years go by. It has all the quality of a timeless classic of the genre.
My Highest recommendation
(Parm)
Other Books by Giles:
Raven
1. Blood Eye (2009)
2. Sons of Thunder (2010)
3. Odin’s Wolves (2011)
The Bleeding Land (2012)
Before I start on the book a small note about the author: Giles is one of the truly nicest most genuine people I have met, not just in the world of writers but just in life.
I feel that this genuine real personality is something that influences his writing. Don’t get me wrong his books are not nice guy books, they are not judgemental, they don’t push an agenda. You get a story (or in the case of the Raven, a saga). The characters are real people, real people set in the past, living a real existence that is accurate to the period.
In book one; The Bleeding Land, we met the Rivers family and experienced the pain and suffering, the love and the adventures that all members of the family endured. http://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/w...
Brothers Fury (bk 2) picks up not long after the end of book 1. We see and experience how the brothers Mun and Tom have changed, how the war has changed them both, how the spectre of death has shaped them
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar
the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our
hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair
face of this beautiful world. ~Robert E. Lee
The English Civil war has torn a country, families, neighbours communities asunder. The Rivers family are all changed by this war. Both Mun and Tom are now killers, not born but made by the hell of civil war.
While clinging to the sanity of family and trying to pull her beloved brothers back from the brink of chaos is Bess Rivers. She is scouring the country with her protectors looking for Tom, certain that finding him and talking to him will be enough to put out the fires of his fury and the pain of his loss.
Giles characters are so real it can be quite scary at times. I can relate to Mun in particular, his desire to do the right thing, to live and if need be die for his honour and his family, whilst controlling the killer he has within. While the brothers are on opposite sides of the war they share the same traits of fearless fighters, but where Mun is a controlled killer of men, Tom is almost swamped by his rage in battle a baresark warrior,, a man who gives himself over to the rage and black fog of war.
It’s this realistic characterisation that makes this such a special book. Giles is exceptional at his historical research down to the geek level of the right uniform, weapons, even the buttons and material. But the people are so real so life-like you can relate to every emotion. The setting of a portion of the book in Oxford, my birthplace and a wonderful historic place to grow up was just the icing on the cake. Roll all of that into a story told in such a flowing compelling style and Brother Fury will be one of the finest books you read this year, and is a tale you can re-read many times as years go by. It has all the quality of a timeless classic of the genre.
My Highest recommendation
(Parm)
Other Books by Giles:
Raven
1. Blood Eye (2009)
2. Sons of Thunder (2010)
3. Odin’s Wolves (2011)
The Bleeding Land (2012)
October 15, 2013
enjoyable read in latest saga of the rivers family during the early days of the English civil war
June 30, 2019
Graphic, gutsy and gripping
I first read the Viking novels in as much time as it takes TV viewers to watch a Box-Set. Now this, the first English Civil War novels that I have read.
Having read the first two books of this series/ Trilogy I still don’t know how whose side I would be on.
The author has not only demonstrated the realities of a nation being torn apart but has skilfully interwoven the harsh realism of an upper crust family being severed as a consequence of the war.
The battle scenes are described with Cornwellian gusto and may have some readers reaching for their history books with a view to enhancing the images that Giles Kristian has created.
I am awaiting the third and final novel and thoroughly recommend that you read the first two. Who knows Kristian may decide to continue this saga into 4 or more novels because after all the Civil War lasted a bloody 9 years ( 1642 - 1651 ) and these two books have only covered the first 3-4. I truly believe that Giles is enjoying himself writing these novels and with his permission I would like to join him for a few more.
I first read the Viking novels in as much time as it takes TV viewers to watch a Box-Set. Now this, the first English Civil War novels that I have read.
Having read the first two books of this series/ Trilogy I still don’t know how whose side I would be on.
The author has not only demonstrated the realities of a nation being torn apart but has skilfully interwoven the harsh realism of an upper crust family being severed as a consequence of the war.
The battle scenes are described with Cornwellian gusto and may have some readers reaching for their history books with a view to enhancing the images that Giles Kristian has created.
I am awaiting the third and final novel and thoroughly recommend that you read the first two. Who knows Kristian may decide to continue this saga into 4 or more novels because after all the Civil War lasted a bloody 9 years ( 1642 - 1651 ) and these two books have only covered the first 3-4. I truly believe that Giles is enjoying himself writing these novels and with his permission I would like to join him for a few more.
August 10, 2018
Part II of Kristian's "trilogy" about the British Civil War. Unfortunately, he chose to all it quits after this book and leaves the reader hanging at the end.......if there was ever a book that was begging for a concluding volume, this is it. You have to wonder why he quit. There is no resolution at the end and when you finish, you're kind of "huh? is that all there is?" This is apparently going to be the concluding volume since he has gone on to writing other books about other subjects and has left us wondering what happens next. You come to like the characters and you want the family re-united, you want the brothers to come back together and there is no third book to finish the series. To say this is frustrating is to put it mildly.
It's a great book, but read it at your own risk, knowing you will be greatly disappointed in the ending.
It's a great book, but read it at your own risk, knowing you will be greatly disappointed in the ending.
August 7, 2017
I enjoyed this second book in the series. Again, it really brings home the brutality of the Civil War era while also allowing you to sympathise with the main characters (or some of them, at least). I especially like the portrayal of Bess - so often in historical fiction, the female characters are left at home while the men get all the glory, but here she is venturing out on a mission of her own devising and showing just as much courage as her brothers.
Now I just have to wait for Mr Kristian to write the next book. Anyone with access to history books knows how the English Civil War turned out, but I'm itching to know what becomes of these characters. And I don't recall ever having seen Stoke-on-Trent mentioned in a historical novel before. Yay for the Midlands!
Now I just have to wait for Mr Kristian to write the next book. Anyone with access to history books knows how the English Civil War turned out, but I'm itching to know what becomes of these characters. And I don't recall ever having seen Stoke-on-Trent mentioned in a historical novel before. Yay for the Midlands!
February 8, 2022
Conveys a good image of the Civil War from both camps, with both brothers and their sister on their own individual journeys, each encountering danger and being surrounded by violence. There was enough action to keep the story moving along at a consistent pace. A bit disappointing that there doesn't seem to be a follow up, as this story seemed to have been written as the middle of a trilogy with various plot arcs requiring resolution.
July 22, 2022
An epic page turner
I probably haven't got so into a series of books since the last kingdom by Bernard Cornwell. The first 2 books in this series are brilliant the way it's written you get 3 stories in the one of the Rivers family and each is gripping there is never a dull moment and it's hard to put down.
I probably haven't got so into a series of books since the last kingdom by Bernard Cornwell. The first 2 books in this series are brilliant the way it's written you get 3 stories in the one of the Rivers family and each is gripping there is never a dull moment and it's hard to put down.
May 28, 2025
A very enjoyable and exciting read. The continuing story of the Rivers siblings follows each one (Edmund, Tom & Elizabeth) as they fight for what they believe in.
I don’t think the storyline flows as well as the previous novel as it jumps between the siblings throughout. Other than that this is a really good read.
I don’t think the storyline flows as well as the previous novel as it jumps between the siblings throughout. Other than that this is a really good read.
June 21, 2018
In the second part it was really difficult for me to like any of the main characters, though I still sympathize with the Parliament's cause. And I really dislike when most of non-main characters die in the last chapters
September 3, 2021
Frustrating. Unfinished.
Great story but don't expect a resolution as this is an unfinished trilogy, with no immediate prospect of a 3rd book.
Ends on an obvious cliffhanger.
A shame
Great story but don't expect a resolution as this is an unfinished trilogy, with no immediate prospect of a 3rd book.
Ends on an obvious cliffhanger.
A shame
May 28, 2024
Have to say as a fan of the English Civil War fiction genre this series does absolutely not disappoint! I found the characters believable and the attention to details excellent. I cannot wait for the 3rd in the series.
May 8, 2017
Very well written and rather graphic "war" novel.
A great insight into the English civil war, although I probably should have read the first in the series first!
A great insight into the English civil war, although I probably should have read the first in the series first!
December 18, 2017
I've really enjoyed the first two books in the Bleeding Land trilogy, and like all good series, it leaves the reader hanging. Giles, please write the third soon.
June 22, 2018
A bone-chilling experience. 5/5.
September 18, 2020
Not as good as the first in this series. I found myself flipping forward quite a bit. I still really like the series and am hoping to see another in this one.
September 5, 2022
Pity there is no book 3
April 23, 2024
Barely managed to finish it. Definitely not wort the effort.
September 30, 2024
A very very good and interesting insight off a civil war
It a easily read book looking forward to book 3 to read about out the end of I can find it
It a easily read book looking forward to book 3 to read about out the end of I can find it
June 10, 2013
The first book in this series
The Bleeding Land
, made the top 5 of my favourite books of 2012, so my expectations for Brothers' Fury were high. How would Kristian follow up the harrowing and fascinating experience of that book? Quite well, actually. In fact, I could just copy/paste my review for The Bleeding Land, update some of the details so they'd apply to this book and you'd have a pretty good description of how I felt about this book. Of course, I won't do that, so I'll focus on some different elements than I did last time.
Before I do so, however, just a quick look at our three protagonists. Like last time, we still follow all three Rivers children, though I did feel Bess was rather under represented. Every time I really started to wonder what Bess was up to, however, Kristian would switch to her arc, so perhaps the pacing on her arc was expertly done. Still, I would have loved to have seen more of her and her companions on their quest to find Tom. Of the two brothers Mun is still the more sympathetic one, as he seems to really believe in his cause, as opposed to Tom, who is in this for a change at revenge. Had Tom chosen to fight for Parliament from a deep-seated conviction that they were in the right and that the king was wrong in his governing of the country, I might have found his actions less troubling. As it is, he comes across as a bit of a sociopath, who lives to fight and sees himself as a killer pur sang. Mun also enjoys battle perhaps more than he should; he seems to revel in it less than Tom does. Neither of them doubts whether they are fighting on the side of the angels; it's Bess who shows us the consequences of war for the non-combatants and who, despite remaining a royalist, fears the troops on both sides.
In my last review I mostly focused on Kristian's use of language and his battle descriptions, both of which are still awesome, but what I said last time still applies, so this time I'll focus on the mirroring bond both brothers have with a 'second-in-command'. Mun has a good friend and someone to watch his back in O'Brien, his corporal. O'Brien is a loyal companion and he's a fierce and seasoned warrior. Tom has a similar companion in Will Trencher. What is different in these friendships is that Mun and O'Brien share the same convictions and outlook on life, while Tom and Trencher are quite different; for all that they are loyal to each other. Where Tom is truly a soldier of fortune, choosing to fight for Parliament to achieve his revenge, Trencher is a true believer and is convinced that 'King Jesus' will effect the saviour of England through Cromwell. It's also through these two men that both brothers learn to lead men and to take responsibility for those who follow them. But it is Tom who will grow in his leadership role the most. Another way the brothers mirror each other is in the bond they share with their horses. Kristian puts a lot of emphasis on this, both with the stallions they took from home and the various replacement horses they ride. The men consider these horses their friends and valuable allies in battle. I loved this depiction of the bond between a cavalryman and his horse, how much the horse becomes part of the man and Kristian also made it clear that a real cavalryman looks after his horse before he looks after himself. Both brothers keenly miss their stallions and it is especially Tom's longing for his Achilles that humanises him. Also it took me two books, but I found the fact that Mun's stallion was called Hector and Tom's stallion was called Achilles a rather telling detail.
With a little more political scheming, diplomacy and spying added to the straight-up gripping fights, Brothers' Fury is an awesome sequel to The Bleeding Land and again a contender for best book of the year. I adore Kristian's clear, visceral, and riveting storytelling and while I know how the Civil War ends, I can't help but hope there will be a somewhat happy reunion in the Rivers family's future. For now, Kristian leaves this book hanging on several cliff hangers, far more so than the previous book, and you can be sure I'll be back for the next one. If you're a historical fiction reader and you like good sword work and gripping battle scenes, do yourself a favour and go get both The Bleeding Land and Brothers' Fury and read them now. You can thank me later, after you've surfaced from Giles Kristian's fascinating Civil War England.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
Before I do so, however, just a quick look at our three protagonists. Like last time, we still follow all three Rivers children, though I did feel Bess was rather under represented. Every time I really started to wonder what Bess was up to, however, Kristian would switch to her arc, so perhaps the pacing on her arc was expertly done. Still, I would have loved to have seen more of her and her companions on their quest to find Tom. Of the two brothers Mun is still the more sympathetic one, as he seems to really believe in his cause, as opposed to Tom, who is in this for a change at revenge. Had Tom chosen to fight for Parliament from a deep-seated conviction that they were in the right and that the king was wrong in his governing of the country, I might have found his actions less troubling. As it is, he comes across as a bit of a sociopath, who lives to fight and sees himself as a killer pur sang. Mun also enjoys battle perhaps more than he should; he seems to revel in it less than Tom does. Neither of them doubts whether they are fighting on the side of the angels; it's Bess who shows us the consequences of war for the non-combatants and who, despite remaining a royalist, fears the troops on both sides.
In my last review I mostly focused on Kristian's use of language and his battle descriptions, both of which are still awesome, but what I said last time still applies, so this time I'll focus on the mirroring bond both brothers have with a 'second-in-command'. Mun has a good friend and someone to watch his back in O'Brien, his corporal. O'Brien is a loyal companion and he's a fierce and seasoned warrior. Tom has a similar companion in Will Trencher. What is different in these friendships is that Mun and O'Brien share the same convictions and outlook on life, while Tom and Trencher are quite different; for all that they are loyal to each other. Where Tom is truly a soldier of fortune, choosing to fight for Parliament to achieve his revenge, Trencher is a true believer and is convinced that 'King Jesus' will effect the saviour of England through Cromwell. It's also through these two men that both brothers learn to lead men and to take responsibility for those who follow them. But it is Tom who will grow in his leadership role the most. Another way the brothers mirror each other is in the bond they share with their horses. Kristian puts a lot of emphasis on this, both with the stallions they took from home and the various replacement horses they ride. The men consider these horses their friends and valuable allies in battle. I loved this depiction of the bond between a cavalryman and his horse, how much the horse becomes part of the man and Kristian also made it clear that a real cavalryman looks after his horse before he looks after himself. Both brothers keenly miss their stallions and it is especially Tom's longing for his Achilles that humanises him. Also it took me two books, but I found the fact that Mun's stallion was called Hector and Tom's stallion was called Achilles a rather telling detail.
With a little more political scheming, diplomacy and spying added to the straight-up gripping fights, Brothers' Fury is an awesome sequel to The Bleeding Land and again a contender for best book of the year. I adore Kristian's clear, visceral, and riveting storytelling and while I know how the Civil War ends, I can't help but hope there will be a somewhat happy reunion in the Rivers family's future. For now, Kristian leaves this book hanging on several cliff hangers, far more so than the previous book, and you can be sure I'll be back for the next one. If you're a historical fiction reader and you like good sword work and gripping battle scenes, do yourself a favour and go get both The Bleeding Land and Brothers' Fury and read them now. You can thank me later, after you've surfaced from Giles Kristian's fascinating Civil War England.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
May 23, 2013
The Civil War is still ravaging Britain and for the Rivers family the conflict has been especially traumatic. On opposite sides of the war, the River brothers are both struggling to come to terms with the slaughter at The Battle of Edgehill. (The Bleeding Land)
For Munn, losing his father and brother in-law and only narrowly saving the family estate from Parliament forces has hardened his hearts against the rebels and traitors. Determined to take the war to the Rebels, Munn leads his men wraith like against rebel supply columns and patrols earning himself a notoriety that the Royalist leadership are keen to exploit.
If it was possible, the Battle for Tom was even worse . Not only did he have to contend with the death of his father but he also had to cope with being left for dead on the corpse strewn battlefield.
Waking amongst the shattered remains of his comrades changes Tom and this leads him to a darker part of his soul.
Making back to his unit, Tom becomes a lucky charm for some…The man who cheated death at Edgehill.
Believing himself charmed, Tom is prepared to take ever greater risks that will lead him into the heart of the King’s capital and face to face with an old foe.
Meanwhile their sister Bess is on a mission off her own. Traveling across the war-torn country, she is determined to reunite her brothers and bring the family back together but she could be placing them both into even worse danger.
For the Rivers brother they are both inexorably drawn to Newbury and the sounds and sights of battle. Will they end up facing each other in the heat of battle and can they both survive the slaughter?
Brother’s Fury is the second book in Giles Kristian’s trilogy on the Rivers family and their exploits during the English Civil war.
This book picks up from where The Bleeding land ends and follows the brothers as they battle the psychological demons released by the slaughter at Edgehill.
As a self confessed EnglishCivilwarphope these books have brought to life the struggles and dangers of the period. From the religious strife to the development of modern warfare this books show the progression from the old world into new. It touches on the development of propaganda and the power of the written word and also the importance of supply and intelligence.
I really enjoyed the character development in this book. We see both brothers move from idealistic young men who believe passionately about their causes to hard bitten, battle scared leaders of men. It is really interesting as they both flirt with the dark side of their souls and struggle to contain the bloodlust.
Giles Kristian has two main strengths in my opinion. The first is the bond he develops between his main characters. You will see this in this excellent Raven series and it continues here. The horror and exhilaration of battle and conflict draw these men together and as you read the book, you invest a lot in these comradeship’s.
The banter and the conversations the author wraps around these groups of hard bitten men means you grow to like and admire them and as is the authors wont, when he kills one of them you really feel it!
The second strength of these books is the authors ability to write a compelling battle scene. I have always said that the author is unrivaled in his power to bring the sounds and sights of a battle to life. Whether its the drumming of the hooves of a cavalry charge or the screams of the injured and dieing the descriptions suck you into the middle of the battle. Also, because we follow both brothers on opposite sides of the field you get an all round feel for the battle as you flick from one brother to another. I would almost call it 3D writing!
I must warn you that the last 100 pages of this book are amazing. As the battle unfolds I literally couldn’t put the book down. With each volley of musketry and cavalry charge I was desperately tearing through each page eager to find out what happened next and by the end I was breathless with excitement, it really was that good and if ever a book deserved the title ‘A page turner’ then this book is it!
As a fan of Giles Kristian I can happily say that he has delivered another outstanding book and one I can easily recommend!
For Munn, losing his father and brother in-law and only narrowly saving the family estate from Parliament forces has hardened his hearts against the rebels and traitors. Determined to take the war to the Rebels, Munn leads his men wraith like against rebel supply columns and patrols earning himself a notoriety that the Royalist leadership are keen to exploit.
If it was possible, the Battle for Tom was even worse . Not only did he have to contend with the death of his father but he also had to cope with being left for dead on the corpse strewn battlefield.
Waking amongst the shattered remains of his comrades changes Tom and this leads him to a darker part of his soul.
Making back to his unit, Tom becomes a lucky charm for some…The man who cheated death at Edgehill.
Believing himself charmed, Tom is prepared to take ever greater risks that will lead him into the heart of the King’s capital and face to face with an old foe.
Meanwhile their sister Bess is on a mission off her own. Traveling across the war-torn country, she is determined to reunite her brothers and bring the family back together but she could be placing them both into even worse danger.
For the Rivers brother they are both inexorably drawn to Newbury and the sounds and sights of battle. Will they end up facing each other in the heat of battle and can they both survive the slaughter?
Brother’s Fury is the second book in Giles Kristian’s trilogy on the Rivers family and their exploits during the English Civil war.
This book picks up from where The Bleeding land ends and follows the brothers as they battle the psychological demons released by the slaughter at Edgehill.
As a self confessed EnglishCivilwarphope these books have brought to life the struggles and dangers of the period. From the religious strife to the development of modern warfare this books show the progression from the old world into new. It touches on the development of propaganda and the power of the written word and also the importance of supply and intelligence.
I really enjoyed the character development in this book. We see both brothers move from idealistic young men who believe passionately about their causes to hard bitten, battle scared leaders of men. It is really interesting as they both flirt with the dark side of their souls and struggle to contain the bloodlust.
Giles Kristian has two main strengths in my opinion. The first is the bond he develops between his main characters. You will see this in this excellent Raven series and it continues here. The horror and exhilaration of battle and conflict draw these men together and as you read the book, you invest a lot in these comradeship’s.
The banter and the conversations the author wraps around these groups of hard bitten men means you grow to like and admire them and as is the authors wont, when he kills one of them you really feel it!
The second strength of these books is the authors ability to write a compelling battle scene. I have always said that the author is unrivaled in his power to bring the sounds and sights of a battle to life. Whether its the drumming of the hooves of a cavalry charge or the screams of the injured and dieing the descriptions suck you into the middle of the battle. Also, because we follow both brothers on opposite sides of the field you get an all round feel for the battle as you flick from one brother to another. I would almost call it 3D writing!
I must warn you that the last 100 pages of this book are amazing. As the battle unfolds I literally couldn’t put the book down. With each volley of musketry and cavalry charge I was desperately tearing through each page eager to find out what happened next and by the end I was breathless with excitement, it really was that good and if ever a book deserved the title ‘A page turner’ then this book is it!
As a fan of Giles Kristian I can happily say that he has delivered another outstanding book and one I can easily recommend!
May 28, 2013
The Bleeding Land was my top book last year, despite some hefty opposition. It was, for me, a game-changer of a book and certainly propelled Giles from an entertaining Skald to a first-rate producer of literature. It was also something of a self-contained novel. I worried upon starting Brothers’ Fury as to whether he could really keep up the dreadful heartbreak of the first into a second book. Well in a way, he hasn’t. And in a way that was the best thing to do.
TBL was harrowing and dark, bleak and soul tearing. Oh, it entertained and there was humour, but the darker side of it was extraordinarily powerful. I did suspect that Giles would struggle to reproduce that for a second run with the same effect on the reader. But he has, I suspect, not tried to. Instead, this novel takes a more active, immediate and even at times positive direction, which adds a new dimension to the saga and makes it fresh and gives it a new draw. Where the first book was a dark tale of grief and struggle with flashes of humour and adventure, this is more a story of war and action with flashes of the darkness that pervaded the first. In short, where the first novel left the reader fearing for the future of the Rivers family, Brothers’ Fury provides sparks of hope for the future.
It is not quite so much a self-contained novel in the way of the first, but appears as something of a bridge between the introductory heartbreak of TBL and the epic conclusion that is to come in book 3. You see, this is a trilogy, and I often find trilogies fall easily into the Star Wars analogy. The first book was Star Wars. It was almost a complete tale in itself. The third book will be ‘Jedi’ it will finish the tale with gusto and edge-of-the-seat action. The middle tale (Brothers’ Fury) is ‘Empire’. It is an exercise in the building of character and the deepening of the situation. It places the protagonists at their most crucial moments and spins the threads that will allow the conclusion to draw together. Mun, Tom and Bess are (to analogise further) frozen in carbonite, flying out in the Falcon and recovering in sickbay (no guesses who’s doing what). For a while I felt that the plot was a little disjointed until I realised what it was doing: it was preparing me for what was to come.
Brothers’ Fury takes us from a solid conclusion in book 1 to a breath-taking ‘Dear God‘ situation at the end of the second by way of epic battles, heart-stopping sieges, close encounters and stealthy forays into enemy territory. The three main characters grow and deepen and to some extent become more understandable and sympathetic, and the introduction of new characters is also welcome. Jonathan Lidford in particular was a highlight for me.
Giles has lost nothing of his style, language and storytelling ability. Brothers’ Fury was a joy to read and continued the tale of the Rivers children in just the right manner to avoid treading the same ground again and just right to thoroughly entertain. It left me wanting part three straight away, which is always a good sign.
A highly recommended read for the summer. Go get it, people.
TBL was harrowing and dark, bleak and soul tearing. Oh, it entertained and there was humour, but the darker side of it was extraordinarily powerful. I did suspect that Giles would struggle to reproduce that for a second run with the same effect on the reader. But he has, I suspect, not tried to. Instead, this novel takes a more active, immediate and even at times positive direction, which adds a new dimension to the saga and makes it fresh and gives it a new draw. Where the first book was a dark tale of grief and struggle with flashes of humour and adventure, this is more a story of war and action with flashes of the darkness that pervaded the first. In short, where the first novel left the reader fearing for the future of the Rivers family, Brothers’ Fury provides sparks of hope for the future.
It is not quite so much a self-contained novel in the way of the first, but appears as something of a bridge between the introductory heartbreak of TBL and the epic conclusion that is to come in book 3. You see, this is a trilogy, and I often find trilogies fall easily into the Star Wars analogy. The first book was Star Wars. It was almost a complete tale in itself. The third book will be ‘Jedi’ it will finish the tale with gusto and edge-of-the-seat action. The middle tale (Brothers’ Fury) is ‘Empire’. It is an exercise in the building of character and the deepening of the situation. It places the protagonists at their most crucial moments and spins the threads that will allow the conclusion to draw together. Mun, Tom and Bess are (to analogise further) frozen in carbonite, flying out in the Falcon and recovering in sickbay (no guesses who’s doing what). For a while I felt that the plot was a little disjointed until I realised what it was doing: it was preparing me for what was to come.
Brothers’ Fury takes us from a solid conclusion in book 1 to a breath-taking ‘Dear God‘ situation at the end of the second by way of epic battles, heart-stopping sieges, close encounters and stealthy forays into enemy territory. The three main characters grow and deepen and to some extent become more understandable and sympathetic, and the introduction of new characters is also welcome. Jonathan Lidford in particular was a highlight for me.
Giles has lost nothing of his style, language and storytelling ability. Brothers’ Fury was a joy to read and continued the tale of the Rivers children in just the right manner to avoid treading the same ground again and just right to thoroughly entertain. It left me wanting part three straight away, which is always a good sign.
A highly recommended read for the summer. Go get it, people.
July 3, 2013
I was sent this book by the publishers for a review.
Tom Rivers is a rebel fighting the King’s army during the British civil war. Left for dead on a battlefeild and nursed back to health after having his finger cut off by looters for his ring he has a point to prove to all those on the enemy side.
Edmund ‘Mun’ Rivers is fighting for the Kings course however he is now fighting with a group of marauders killing those who fight against the King.
Bess Rivers fresh from the loss of her father and Emmanuel, the father of her young son, sets off on a task to search out her brother for a royal pardon. However in order to do this she has to cross the English countryside during the civil war.
This is a very interesting book set during the Bristish civil war about three siblings that all have there own struggles to contend with while trying to stay alive and reach there own personal goals. I have read a few books set in this time period however they are normally on one side or the other. What makes this book unique is the fact that the story is told from both sides and more interestingly from the perspective of two brothers, both of whom think that there side is the better and should be the ones winning the war.
The brothers story is full of action and what it was like to fight during those times. It also brings into perspective just how many people died from the British Civil War. At times there is a lot of battle scenes and these are a little gorey but what with the type of book that it is it is to be expected and also to add to the story. It was a little sad with some of the battle scenes where some of the horses died but again that is another factor of the war during that time.
Bess’ story broke up the fighting and i feel that this really made the book. She is trying to get her brother back and get him a pardon but he proves to be a difficult person to find. She is not without danger though and this is told throughout the book.
This is the second book in the trilogy and unfortunatly I have not read the first one but now that I have read the second I really want to read the book. I found it very easy to pick up the story and while it may have been easier to pick up the story first if I had read the first in the series it wasnt to hard to get into it.
I found this book very easy to get into and I really enjoyed the story to it. I am going to get my hands on the first book in the series and also I cant wait for the next book to come out as it left on a very big cliffhanger.
Tom Rivers is a rebel fighting the King’s army during the British civil war. Left for dead on a battlefeild and nursed back to health after having his finger cut off by looters for his ring he has a point to prove to all those on the enemy side.
Edmund ‘Mun’ Rivers is fighting for the Kings course however he is now fighting with a group of marauders killing those who fight against the King.
Bess Rivers fresh from the loss of her father and Emmanuel, the father of her young son, sets off on a task to search out her brother for a royal pardon. However in order to do this she has to cross the English countryside during the civil war.
This is a very interesting book set during the Bristish civil war about three siblings that all have there own struggles to contend with while trying to stay alive and reach there own personal goals. I have read a few books set in this time period however they are normally on one side or the other. What makes this book unique is the fact that the story is told from both sides and more interestingly from the perspective of two brothers, both of whom think that there side is the better and should be the ones winning the war.
The brothers story is full of action and what it was like to fight during those times. It also brings into perspective just how many people died from the British Civil War. At times there is a lot of battle scenes and these are a little gorey but what with the type of book that it is it is to be expected and also to add to the story. It was a little sad with some of the battle scenes where some of the horses died but again that is another factor of the war during that time.
Bess’ story broke up the fighting and i feel that this really made the book. She is trying to get her brother back and get him a pardon but he proves to be a difficult person to find. She is not without danger though and this is told throughout the book.
This is the second book in the trilogy and unfortunatly I have not read the first one but now that I have read the second I really want to read the book. I found it very easy to pick up the story and while it may have been easier to pick up the story first if I had read the first in the series it wasnt to hard to get into it.
I found this book very easy to get into and I really enjoyed the story to it. I am going to get my hands on the first book in the series and also I cant wait for the next book to come out as it left on a very big cliffhanger.
January 24, 2014
Behind blood, sweat, fear and loyalty of conflict, battle and war Giles reminds us all that all soldiers, fighters and rebels are human with their own dreams and nightmares pushing them forward or haunting their steps.
For brothers Tom and Edmund Rivers it is no truer for they must overcome family loyalty to do what each believes is right in a world where no one knows what choice is wrong. It is an era where everyone has black and white beliefs but Giles reveals the blurred lines, the blending borders of a grey area which fractured a family, broke hearts, severed bonds and fuelled ever more chaos as every character we get to know tries their best to make their world right again. The engines of war are repeatedly churning the land to battlefields and ruin. Both sides struggling to claim as much land as they can whilst a sister searches for redemption for her youngest brother and hopes forgiveness from her eldest sibling. Even women protected or not are not safe from the men who dominate this age regardless of class. The battles and war the reader experiences is hot, dirty and filled with key moments of decision for when one will, or won't, overcome another. The brutal truth of it all is a very literal fight for survival even when their armour is good, the horses bold and the men well trained and loyal. In a split second none of that can matter, in the blink of an eye the advantage can be gained or lost. It is another edge of seat gripping read leaving the reader as always struggling to support either side but endlessly hoping and maybe even praying like Bess that the brothers can reunite in peace and kinship when the fury of the age has passed. Which leaves a small knot of concern in the readers chest as they wait and hope for their to be less strife for the Rivers family in the much anticipated book 3.
For brothers Tom and Edmund Rivers it is no truer for they must overcome family loyalty to do what each believes is right in a world where no one knows what choice is wrong. It is an era where everyone has black and white beliefs but Giles reveals the blurred lines, the blending borders of a grey area which fractured a family, broke hearts, severed bonds and fuelled ever more chaos as every character we get to know tries their best to make their world right again. The engines of war are repeatedly churning the land to battlefields and ruin. Both sides struggling to claim as much land as they can whilst a sister searches for redemption for her youngest brother and hopes forgiveness from her eldest sibling. Even women protected or not are not safe from the men who dominate this age regardless of class. The battles and war the reader experiences is hot, dirty and filled with key moments of decision for when one will, or won't, overcome another. The brutal truth of it all is a very literal fight for survival even when their armour is good, the horses bold and the men well trained and loyal. In a split second none of that can matter, in the blink of an eye the advantage can be gained or lost. It is another edge of seat gripping read leaving the reader as always struggling to support either side but endlessly hoping and maybe even praying like Bess that the brothers can reunite in peace and kinship when the fury of the age has passed. Which leaves a small knot of concern in the readers chest as they wait and hope for their to be less strife for the Rivers family in the much anticipated book 3.
July 15, 2013
If The Bleeding Land lays down the visceral gauntlet of war, then this continuation of the English Civil war story, in Brothers' Fury, certainly continues the theme of mayhem and destruction, however, this time the narrative is interspersed with a more character centred focus, namely, on the two brothers whose fury is duly illustrated. Thomas and Edmund Rivers continue the quest to fight for their beliefs, and whilst both brothers are admirable in their loyalty, it is the very fact that they remain on opposing sides, which gives the book its heart and soul.
Giles Kristian never shies away from the graphic and true nature of conflict, but he seems to have mellowed the story in this middle book of the trilogy. There seems to be less emphasis on shock tactics and more focus on purpose, and the added inclusion of sister Bess’s role as she seeks to unite her family adds a more subtle touch to what is still in effect, one of the best English Civil war stories.
There is no doubt that the author has found his niche with his interpretation of history, and yet what’s refreshing is that whilst his historical narratives are realistic to the point of explicitness, there is never any doubt that the story being recounted is as powerful and as accurate as the author can make it.
I am sure that the conclusion of the trilogy will be every bit as powerful.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Uk, Tranworld Publishers for my ecopy of this book.
Giles Kristian never shies away from the graphic and true nature of conflict, but he seems to have mellowed the story in this middle book of the trilogy. There seems to be less emphasis on shock tactics and more focus on purpose, and the added inclusion of sister Bess’s role as she seeks to unite her family adds a more subtle touch to what is still in effect, one of the best English Civil war stories.
There is no doubt that the author has found his niche with his interpretation of history, and yet what’s refreshing is that whilst his historical narratives are realistic to the point of explicitness, there is never any doubt that the story being recounted is as powerful and as accurate as the author can make it.
I am sure that the conclusion of the trilogy will be every bit as powerful.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Uk, Tranworld Publishers for my ecopy of this book.
June 23, 2013
If you have read the first part 'The Bleeding Land' then this second part of the trilogy might be unexpected.
It is less emotive and seems to be the interim book, the book in the middle that lays the foundation for the end of the trilogy. Book 1 was raw, emotional and left no prisoners. This gives a little more insight into the the paths the brothers and sister have taken after the traumatic events of the last book.
One brother is pitted against the other in a merciless war and the sister is willing to risk all to see them reunited.The brothers are alike in their inner anger, however one controls it and the other lets the fury lead him.
Other than the detailed battle scenarios there was another element to the characters that gave me pause for thought. The brothers and their horses. In some way I think they each connect with their animals as a substitute for the loss of the person closest to them. They are less likely to betray them in battle or fight for the other side. These scenes show more intimacy with the horses than with their fellow humans. Possibly a by-product of the war.
I hope the author can combine the best of both books for the next part. The emotional tidal wave and the detailed warfare.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
It is less emotive and seems to be the interim book, the book in the middle that lays the foundation for the end of the trilogy. Book 1 was raw, emotional and left no prisoners. This gives a little more insight into the the paths the brothers and sister have taken after the traumatic events of the last book.
One brother is pitted against the other in a merciless war and the sister is willing to risk all to see them reunited.The brothers are alike in their inner anger, however one controls it and the other lets the fury lead him.
Other than the detailed battle scenarios there was another element to the characters that gave me pause for thought. The brothers and their horses. In some way I think they each connect with their animals as a substitute for the loss of the person closest to them. They are less likely to betray them in battle or fight for the other side. These scenes show more intimacy with the horses than with their fellow humans. Possibly a by-product of the war.
I hope the author can combine the best of both books for the next part. The emotional tidal wave and the detailed warfare.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews