What do you think?
Rate this book
Conquest #1
Sworn Sword
January 1069. Less than three years have passed since Hastings and the death of the usurper, Harold Godwineson. In the depths of winter, two thousand Normans march to subdue the troublesome province of Northumbria. Tancred a Dinant, an ambitious and oath-sworn knight and a proud leader of men, is among them, hungry for battle, for silver and for land.
But at Durham the Normans are ambushed in the streets by English rebels. In the battle that ensues, their army is slaughtered almost to a man. Badly wounded, Tancred barely escapes with his life. His lord is among those slain.
Soon the enemy are on the march, led by the dispossessed prince Eadgar, the last of the ancient Saxon line, who is determined to seize the realm he believes is his. Yet even as Tancred seeks vengeance for his lord's murder, he finds himself caught up in secret dealings between a powerful Norman magnate and a shadow from the past.
As the Norman and English armies prepare to clash, Tancred begins to uncover a plot which harks back to the day of Hastings itself. A plot which, if allowed to succeed, threatens to undermine the entire Conquest. The fate of the Kingdom hangs in the balance ...
But at Durham the Normans are ambushed in the streets by English rebels. In the battle that ensues, their army is slaughtered almost to a man. Badly wounded, Tancred barely escapes with his life. His lord is among those slain.
Soon the enemy are on the march, led by the dispossessed prince Eadgar, the last of the ancient Saxon line, who is determined to seize the realm he believes is his. Yet even as Tancred seeks vengeance for his lord's murder, he finds himself caught up in secret dealings between a powerful Norman magnate and a shadow from the past.
As the Norman and English armies prepare to clash, Tancred begins to uncover a plot which harks back to the day of Hastings itself. A plot which, if allowed to succeed, threatens to undermine the entire Conquest. The fate of the Kingdom hangs in the balance ...
380 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2011
70 people are currently reading
3005 people want to read
About the author
James Aitcheson
8 books144 followersJames Aitcheson was born in Wiltshire in 1985 and studied History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he developed an interest in the Middle Ages, and in Anglo-Saxon England and the Norman Conquest in particular.
His debut novel, Sworn Sword, featuring the knight Tancred and set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings, was published in 2011. The first volume in the Conquest Series, it has since been followed by two sequels: The Splintered Kingdom and Knights of the Hawk.
The Harrowing, James’s fourth novel, was published by Quercus in July 2016 and named by The Times as a Book of the Month.
www.jamesaitcheson.com
His debut novel, Sworn Sword, featuring the knight Tancred and set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings, was published in 2011. The first volume in the Conquest Series, it has since been followed by two sequels: The Splintered Kingdom and Knights of the Hawk.
The Harrowing, James’s fourth novel, was published by Quercus in July 2016 and named by The Times as a Book of the Month.
www.jamesaitcheson.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
September 6, 2016
James Aitcheson's star is rising.
However, it is not quite there yet, he has some growth to develop and I expect that will be present in the next book The Splintered Kingdom when it comes out September 2012. Still, Sworn Sword was a fabulous surprise. I had been put off by the covers of the book for such a long time as they have a rather mass market design to them, but unlike me, others should not be put off by the action sequence covers as they do not tell the real truth of this author's work. As the author Ben Kane is quoted as saying on the front of Sworn Sword 'a terrific writer' I would tend to agree for the most part. Aitcheson has talent and I expect to see many more books from him in the future. And many more in this series too!
The story itself was probably not as action filled as I had expected. (another place where the covers are misleading). There is action, but it plays minor roles and the meat of the book details the journey of the Norman Knight Tancred a Dinant. Tancred is charged with escorting the wife and daughter of a northern noble to Lundene, and then this Lord's own chaplain further still with a secret message for a nunnery in the south. From about halfway in this book until 100 pages to go, or there abouts, the writing and plot does on occasion get weak. Then it picks up again to finish in the manner in which it had started. With action and Knights and all things nice.
I liked the characters, most especially Tancred himself, although I must admit, there is a woman love interest in this story and I cannot for the life of me work out why this character would be interested in such a sour, moody, scowling creature as that. I know she annoyed the daylights out of me with her surly unfriendliness and I was wishing she would disappear from the story. I suppose I had better not reveal to those reading this review, who have not read the book, whether or not my wishes came true on that.
However, it is not quite there yet, he has some growth to develop and I expect that will be present in the next book The Splintered Kingdom when it comes out September 2012. Still, Sworn Sword was a fabulous surprise. I had been put off by the covers of the book for such a long time as they have a rather mass market design to them, but unlike me, others should not be put off by the action sequence covers as they do not tell the real truth of this author's work. As the author Ben Kane is quoted as saying on the front of Sworn Sword 'a terrific writer' I would tend to agree for the most part. Aitcheson has talent and I expect to see many more books from him in the future. And many more in this series too!
The story itself was probably not as action filled as I had expected. (another place where the covers are misleading). There is action, but it plays minor roles and the meat of the book details the journey of the Norman Knight Tancred a Dinant. Tancred is charged with escorting the wife and daughter of a northern noble to Lundene, and then this Lord's own chaplain further still with a secret message for a nunnery in the south. From about halfway in this book until 100 pages to go, or there abouts, the writing and plot does on occasion get weak. Then it picks up again to finish in the manner in which it had started. With action and Knights and all things nice.
I liked the characters, most especially Tancred himself, although I must admit, there is a woman love interest in this story and I cannot for the life of me work out why this character would be interested in such a sour, moody, scowling creature as that. I know she annoyed the daylights out of me with her surly unfriendliness and I was wishing she would disappear from the story. I suppose I had better not reveal to those reading this review, who have not read the book, whether or not my wishes came true on that.
July 30, 2016
With his first novel, author James Aitcheson looks at a period of history that is not often explored in historical fiction, the Norman consolidation of their hold on England, post Hastings. This novel is set in winter, early spring of 1069 as the Normans are attempting to complete their pacification of Northumbria. As the novel opens they are literally handed their heads at the Battle of Dunholm (Durham) by followers of Eadgar the Atheling, the Saxon claimant to the crown.
The story is told through the eyes a Norman knight, Tancred a Dinant. After the Norman defeat, he manages to escape to York, but his Lord has perished in the battle and he is now at a loss of what to do. The Norman Viscomte of York takes Tancred as one of his household knights. Seeing York is going to be attacked and likely fall, he assigns Tancred along with a couple of other survivors of Durham to escort his wife, daughter and personal priest to London. Once there they are to escort the priest on to a monastery outside of Winchester to deliver a secret message to one of the nuns there.
What follows is somewhat of a travelogue of Post Conquest England. As they make their way towards London, Tancred and his band try to avoid roving bandits, Saxon rebels, Vikings and miscellaneous bad guys, not always successfully. Upon delivering the Viscomte's wife and daughter safely to London, they continue on to Winchester, completing the final part of the mission. As Tancred and his fellow knights are travelling, they become curious as to why the Saxon priest is to go on to Winchester and just what is the message he is carrying. Their solving of the mystery was a little disappointing to me and was probably the weakest part of the novel.
While they have been traveling the City of York has fallen, but the castle still holds out. Tancred and company join King William’s army in the relief of the Castle of York. Once again the author delivers excellent battle sequences as Tancred covers himself in glory and wins a new Lord.
Except for Tancred the characters are not particularly well developed. Also, there is a minor love story between Tancred and the daughter of the Viscomte that really doesn’t go anywhere. However, the battle sequences are well written, exciting and in my opinion comparable to those of Bernard Cornwell.
Many of the characters including the Viscomte of York and his family are historical figures. Tancred and his immediate companions are fictional as well as the priest. Also Mr. Aitcheson in the manor of Cornwall in his Saxon Stories series, uses the contemporary (Old English/ Saxon) place names. This can be a little confusing for one who is not well versed in English history. There is a good glossary however, and I had it bookmarked as I was constantly referencing it.
In short this novel has basically 3 parts. A travelogue/mystery sandwiched between two excellent battle sequences. While battle sequences are superb, the middle leaves a bit to be desired. All in all I found this a good solid 4 star read and an excellent first novel.
The story is told through the eyes a Norman knight, Tancred a Dinant. After the Norman defeat, he manages to escape to York, but his Lord has perished in the battle and he is now at a loss of what to do. The Norman Viscomte of York takes Tancred as one of his household knights. Seeing York is going to be attacked and likely fall, he assigns Tancred along with a couple of other survivors of Durham to escort his wife, daughter and personal priest to London. Once there they are to escort the priest on to a monastery outside of Winchester to deliver a secret message to one of the nuns there.
What follows is somewhat of a travelogue of Post Conquest England. As they make their way towards London, Tancred and his band try to avoid roving bandits, Saxon rebels, Vikings and miscellaneous bad guys, not always successfully. Upon delivering the Viscomte's wife and daughter safely to London, they continue on to Winchester, completing the final part of the mission. As Tancred and his fellow knights are travelling, they become curious as to why the Saxon priest is to go on to Winchester and just what is the message he is carrying. Their solving of the mystery was a little disappointing to me and was probably the weakest part of the novel.
While they have been traveling the City of York has fallen, but the castle still holds out. Tancred and company join King William’s army in the relief of the Castle of York. Once again the author delivers excellent battle sequences as Tancred covers himself in glory and wins a new Lord.
Except for Tancred the characters are not particularly well developed. Also, there is a minor love story between Tancred and the daughter of the Viscomte that really doesn’t go anywhere. However, the battle sequences are well written, exciting and in my opinion comparable to those of Bernard Cornwell.
Many of the characters including the Viscomte of York and his family are historical figures. Tancred and his immediate companions are fictional as well as the priest. Also Mr. Aitcheson in the manor of Cornwall in his Saxon Stories series, uses the contemporary (Old English/ Saxon) place names. This can be a little confusing for one who is not well versed in English history. There is a good glossary however, and I had it bookmarked as I was constantly referencing it.
In short this novel has basically 3 parts. A travelogue/mystery sandwiched between two excellent battle sequences. While battle sequences are superb, the middle leaves a bit to be desired. All in all I found this a good solid 4 star read and an excellent first novel.
August 15, 2016
Unfortunately I was kinda disappointed with this one. I really came into it with the best of intentions and high hopes, as I love this period of history and was looking for a new series that can scratch the itch only historical fiction can. Things started well enough with a harrowing battle between Norman knights and a bunch of pissed off Northumbrians. Aitcheson can definitely do guy-hits-other-guy-with-cool-sword type stuff as well as any other guy or gal that writes this kinda stuff, but there just weren’t enough decent characters to keep my interest.
Our hero is Tancred a Dinant, who has a cool name and is loyal and ambitious or whatever, but is also humorless and bland. The other characters include...man, I don’t remember a single other motherfucker from this whole book. There’s the usual redshirt loyal companions, the love interest, the admirable Duke/Earl/Whatever that Tancred serves, etc. None of them seemed the slightest bit interesting to me. I certainly don’t have to like every character in a book I read and often don’t even want to, but I do have to enjoy reading about them and getting to watch a section of their lives. I couldn’t make this connection at all.
The things I do have to give Aitcheson credit for are obviously thorough research, clear and fluent prose, and the willingness to write this kind of novel from the perspective of what I think most people (at least most English) would consider to be the “bad guys” in this whole mess. There seem to be an utter shitload of books from the English perspective but few from this one, so that alone makes it somewhat novel and worth looking at. And again, if you dig a good battle scene Aitcheson won’t disappoint. This was really one of those books where I have to say I didn’t like but wouldn’t turn anyone away from it. It has a lot of stuff going for it, the stars just didn’t align for me. And my faith in the utter coolness of the Norman haircut remains unshaken. Google yielded this picture of a dude wearing one while presumably scanning the horizon for English peasants to conquer the shit out of:
Our hero is Tancred a Dinant, who has a cool name and is loyal and ambitious or whatever, but is also humorless and bland. The other characters include...man, I don’t remember a single other motherfucker from this whole book. There’s the usual redshirt loyal companions, the love interest, the admirable Duke/Earl/Whatever that Tancred serves, etc. None of them seemed the slightest bit interesting to me. I certainly don’t have to like every character in a book I read and often don’t even want to, but I do have to enjoy reading about them and getting to watch a section of their lives. I couldn’t make this connection at all.
The things I do have to give Aitcheson credit for are obviously thorough research, clear and fluent prose, and the willingness to write this kind of novel from the perspective of what I think most people (at least most English) would consider to be the “bad guys” in this whole mess. There seem to be an utter shitload of books from the English perspective but few from this one, so that alone makes it somewhat novel and worth looking at. And again, if you dig a good battle scene Aitcheson won’t disappoint. This was really one of those books where I have to say I didn’t like but wouldn’t turn anyone away from it. It has a lot of stuff going for it, the stars just didn’t align for me. And my faith in the utter coolness of the Norman haircut remains unshaken. Google yielded this picture of a dude wearing one while presumably scanning the horizon for English peasants to conquer the shit out of:
June 24, 2018
The reader is drawn into the world of Tancred a Dinant in the years following the Norman invasion of England (It pulled me to read this series-I read all three books).Very readable, writing is very good...good plotted and well paced, lot of battles, tense last-minute rescues etc but it's really just one battle after another... The author wants us to believe that Tancred is a knight who is held in high renown and has a reputation. But that did not happen. Given what he does or achieves in this book did not capture my imagination at all. The action sequences were well done (as well as historical research of events), but the characterizations left a lot to be desired (lack of deeper emotions,poor and superficial connection between characters etc)
This is novel full of action and adventure. However, there are still things to improve. I gave 4 stars as a support to author because he is a beginner...and on the right path
This is novel full of action and adventure. However, there are still things to improve. I gave 4 stars as a support to author because he is a beginner...and on the right path
May 2, 2016
Interesting because it's from the POV of a young Norman [actually he's from Brittany] knight in the aftermath of Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest, but the novel itself was not outstanding. The action sequences were well done, but the characterizations left a lot to be desired. Tancred a Dinant, the protagonist, was fully-fleshed, but the others paled in comparison--not exactly cardboard--but types. The novel read smoothly and was not a long read.
Right from the start the English and Normans battle each other and action doesn't let up in the whole novel, resulting in a final conflict at Eoferwic [York]. Tancred's lord is killed at the opening battle and Tancred pledges fealty to a new lord. Two of his loyal henchmen [not meant in a pejorative sense] follow him. Tancred is given two missions by Lord Guillaume, his new lord. In carrying them out, Tancred uncovers intrigue and treachery which is dealt with eventually.
Instead of really developing personalities, most of the characters become more and more unpleasant as the story progresses. The leading lady is irritating from the start and still nasty at the conclusion. I will never understand how Tancred, likeable and a "parfait, gentil knight", is so naive where she is concerned. I could have given him a good shake or two. I liked the author's giving some of Tancred's life previous to the opening of the novel. It helped me understand him a little better. I had fun trying to translate the Anglo-Saxon/Old English before the author gave the meaning subsequently. The author showed a definite flair for writing; his talent is apparent, but this novel shows the author's immaturity in writing. I appreciated his 'Author's Note', where he explained the history of the period he covered, and how he deviated from it in his novel. However, as a person who's not from the UK, I didn't take in the Conquest 'with my mother's milk', so I would have appreciated some background material on the "why" of the conquest and on William the Conqueror. There were only disjointed sentences here and there in the book. I'm sure there are more non-UK people, like me. At this point, I don't think I'll continue with the series.
Recommended only because of the Norman point of view of the Conquest.
Right from the start the English and Normans battle each other and action doesn't let up in the whole novel, resulting in a final conflict at Eoferwic [York]. Tancred's lord is killed at the opening battle and Tancred pledges fealty to a new lord. Two of his loyal henchmen [not meant in a pejorative sense] follow him. Tancred is given two missions by Lord Guillaume, his new lord. In carrying them out, Tancred uncovers intrigue and treachery which is dealt with eventually.
Instead of really developing personalities, most of the characters become more and more unpleasant as the story progresses. The leading lady is irritating from the start and still nasty at the conclusion. I will never understand how Tancred, likeable and a "parfait, gentil knight", is so naive where she is concerned. I could have given him a good shake or two. I liked the author's giving some of Tancred's life previous to the opening of the novel. It helped me understand him a little better. I had fun trying to translate the Anglo-Saxon/Old English before the author gave the meaning subsequently. The author showed a definite flair for writing; his talent is apparent, but this novel shows the author's immaturity in writing. I appreciated his 'Author's Note', where he explained the history of the period he covered, and how he deviated from it in his novel. However, as a person who's not from the UK, I didn't take in the Conquest 'with my mother's milk', so I would have appreciated some background material on the "why" of the conquest and on William the Conqueror. There were only disjointed sentences here and there in the book. I'm sure there are more non-UK people, like me. At this point, I don't think I'll continue with the series.
Recommended only because of the Norman point of view of the Conquest.
March 8, 2014
rating: 4/5
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, it was a bookclub read my library had and sounded like it would have sword battles and shield walls and other action-y goodness. And, although it has some flaws, I loved it! It starts with a well written, action-packed battle. But then slows down and lets the plot progress before a big finish with another epic battle.
Tancred is a knight sworn to a Norman (French) lord during the invasion of England in 1060s. Having fought at the Battle of Hastings, he is now in charge of a conroi settling the unrest in Northumbria. But with the English rebellion growing, his lord killed, and Tancred wounded the story is just beginning.
I am a bit conflicted about Tancred, I do like him but he just seemed too serious (although it may be just my bias toward the witty, sarcastic sword wielding personas). He did have a degree of complexity but so much seemed to be still hidden just bubbling under the surface (which was odd for a book written in the first person). I wished the author would have dug deeper, pulled out all the possibilities from within.
I disliked Beatrice. Thankfully she didn't take up much space in the book. She just seemed cold and I have no idea why Tancred actually liked her.
As far as the other characters are concerned, the other knights just seemed to be *insert a random medieval knight stereotype*, they were decent cookies, just cut out of the same cookie batter. However, I loved Ælfwold! We see him from Tancred's POV so we only see biased bits and pieces, but his complexity mirrors my own mixed feelings; I really connected with him.
I love that the story is told from the POV of the conquerors, the Normans, and not the English. It gives it another dimension, one where there isn't a clear right or wrong. It is too easy to write a story where the invaders are the bad guys and the good guys fight to protect themselves and their families against the invading "evil." However, this story takes into account the complexity of humanity. And I love that Aitcheson explores that complexity, especially with the ending that left me hollow inside, .
Again, I am conflicted about the plot. It seemed really simplistic, yet at the same time it was a good method to explore bigger issues and the historical era. I guess I should admit that I was a little disappointed by it but, please, don't take it to mean that it was bad. It wasn't and the mystery kept my attention. I think I was just hoping for something so much more than it actually turned out to be, the build up being so much more intense than what we received in the resolution.
Having said all that I have to reiterate just how f-ing awesome the battle scenes were. Tancred is a bad ass in battle, slashing and killing and fighting in well-written and realistic, although graphic but not gratuitous, battle scenes. I will definitely be reading the next novel in this trilogy.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, it was a bookclub read my library had and sounded like it would have sword battles and shield walls and other action-y goodness. And, although it has some flaws, I loved it! It starts with a well written, action-packed battle. But then slows down and lets the plot progress before a big finish with another epic battle.
Tancred is a knight sworn to a Norman (French) lord during the invasion of England in 1060s. Having fought at the Battle of Hastings, he is now in charge of a conroi settling the unrest in Northumbria. But with the English rebellion growing, his lord killed, and Tancred wounded the story is just beginning.
I am a bit conflicted about Tancred, I do like him but he just seemed too serious (although it may be just my bias toward the witty, sarcastic sword wielding personas). He did have a degree of complexity but so much seemed to be still hidden just bubbling under the surface (which was odd for a book written in the first person). I wished the author would have dug deeper, pulled out all the possibilities from within.
I disliked Beatrice. Thankfully she didn't take up much space in the book. She just seemed cold and I have no idea why Tancred actually liked her.
As far as the other characters are concerned, the other knights just seemed to be *insert a random medieval knight stereotype*, they were decent cookies, just cut out of the same cookie batter. However, I loved Ælfwold! We see him from Tancred's POV so we only see biased bits and pieces, but his complexity mirrors my own mixed feelings; I really connected with him.
I love that the story is told from the POV of the conquerors, the Normans, and not the English. It gives it another dimension, one where there isn't a clear right or wrong. It is too easy to write a story where the invaders are the bad guys and the good guys fight to protect themselves and their families against the invading "evil." However, this story takes into account the complexity of humanity. And I love that Aitcheson explores that complexity, especially with the ending that left me hollow inside, .
Again, I am conflicted about the plot. It seemed really simplistic, yet at the same time it was a good method to explore bigger issues and the historical era. I guess I should admit that I was a little disappointed by it but, please, don't take it to mean that it was bad. It wasn't and the mystery kept my attention. I think I was just hoping for something so much more than it actually turned out to be, the build up being so much more intense than what we received in the resolution.
Having said all that I have to reiterate just how f-ing awesome the battle scenes were. Tancred is a bad ass in battle, slashing and killing and fighting in well-written and realistic, although graphic but not gratuitous, battle scenes. I will definitely be reading the next novel in this trilogy.
July 22, 2013
A great book. The English have been invaded by the vile French. A French king proclaims the English land as his domain and its people as his subjects. So we know that the good guys are going to be some dashing English knights who are called upon to rescue the day. But no! James Aitcheson gives us a completely different viewpoint.
The story is told via narrative from the thoughts and actions of a French knight - Tancrid. And the novel shows us how in his own little world, this French knight believes in his king's cause and goes to show how he supports the lords to whom he has sworn his sword.
There is a bit of mystery in the plot as well as well drawn up battle scenes. There is definitely good use of factual events and well researched history.
And from the end of the book, while the story is completely wrapped up for us, the author has also given us a hint that there may be more adventures for his dazzling French knight.
The story is told via narrative from the thoughts and actions of a French knight - Tancrid. And the novel shows us how in his own little world, this French knight believes in his king's cause and goes to show how he supports the lords to whom he has sworn his sword.
There is a bit of mystery in the plot as well as well drawn up battle scenes. There is definitely good use of factual events and well researched history.
And from the end of the book, while the story is completely wrapped up for us, the author has also given us a hint that there may be more adventures for his dazzling French knight.
November 4, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. For a first effort from the author, I was truly impressed.
Action right from the start, which drew me in. Much less action through the middle, but replaced with intrigue. Picked up again at the end.
Never got bored; never scratched my head and said "huh?"; nothing I had to reluctantly slog through to get to the good parts.
Anxious to read the next one!
Action right from the start, which drew me in. Much less action through the middle, but replaced with intrigue. Picked up again at the end.
Never got bored; never scratched my head and said "huh?"; nothing I had to reluctantly slog through to get to the good parts.
Anxious to read the next one!
November 5, 2013
Well this such hard book to review, on one side we have wonderfully written scenes of battle, life in 1069 england. Then we have not very interesting characters, annoying characters and characters who are just meh.
I will be reading the others in this series as the author has improved in his writing skills from what I have been imformed
I will be reading the others in this series as the author has improved in his writing skills from what I have been imformed
April 8, 2014
Sworn Sword sweeps us into the 11thc just as the English are on the rise after their devastating defeat at Hastings just over two years before. From the outset we are thrust into a world of where life depends on who wins the battles. Bloodshed and loss is now a way of life for most people since William of Normandy clawed the English crown from the head of the usurper’, Harold Godwinson.
With the opening focusing on an English uprising in the streets of Dunholm, strong hold of Robert de Commines, Lord of the North, we meet our protagonist, Tancred, a Breton, commanding his own conroi. Tancred and his comrades have been trying to fight off the attack when Tancred hears that his beloved Oswynn Is murdered by the marauders; but there is no time to grieve, for he must save his lord, Robert, set upon with his men in the mead hall. Tancred leads his conroi to the rescue but they are too late and Lord Robert is burned alive with his comrades inside the blazing hall. The Normans are slaughtered almost to a man, but Tancred, who has been badly injured, is carried by his surviving friends Eudo and Wace to the relative safety of York. There the trio find refuge in the house of Robert’s vicomte, Guillaume (William) Malet.
Tancred spends some time under the care of Malet’s priest, Aelfwold who tends his patient’s wounds and saves him from developing a life threatening infection. When he is well, Malet gives the now lordless knight an ultimatum: owe him a debt for the succour and hospitality he had provided him with, or carry out a mission that would set him free of any obligation owed. Reluctantly, he accepts, for he would rather stay behind in York to exact revenge upon the English who killed his lord and his woman Oswynn. But little did he realise when he gave his oath to Malet, that he would become embroiled in a secret that holds the fate of the kingdom in the balance...
I approached this novel with caution, a) because I am a die-hard Anglo-Saxon supporter and b) because the Normans did terrible things to the English during the invasion, so when I realised this was going to be a story told from the point of view of one of the invaders, I was unsure as to whether or not I was going to enjoy it. It’s not that I am so narrow minded I can’t enjoy a book from any other viewpoint other than the English one, it is that I didn’t want to read something that promoted the Norman invasion as a good thing and that William was a good guy fighting for his rights, and by the shedding of much English blood, winds up on the English throne. Although Tancred fought on the Conqueror’s side at the Battle of Hastings, views the English with suspicion and believes that the rightful King now sits on the throne, this is a book that tells the story of one man’s journey to find a new purpose to his life, now that his beloved lord is no longer in the world.
What I liked about James Aitcheson’s portrayal of an England in the aftermath of Hastings, is that it shows the reader how the scene would have looked to just such a man, especially as it is written in the first person, without making it heavily pro-Norman or pro- English. Although the latter are seen as pretty much the bad guys in a way, and the former as the righteous, it’s understandable, because we are seeing it from Tancred’s point of view and as far as he is concerned, he and his comrades are vindicated, for they represent loyal supporters of the rightful King, assisting him in keeping the peace in his new kingdom that was bequeathed to him, quite honourably by his cousin Edward, and stolen from him by the usurper Harold Godwinson. Presented as thus, I found it easy to glide into the story from the start.
Tancred himself is portrayed as a battle hardened, traumatised character who, having lived through the horrors of Hastings, loses his lord and beloved in that one night at the siege of Dunholm. Lord Robert had taken him into his service and saved him from a life of poverty and starvation when he was a young run away from the cruel monastery he had been brought up in. Oswynn was the English girl who he had taken as his lover and Tancred, devastated by both losses, swears vengeance on the young, arrogant claimant to the throne, Eadgar Atheling, the perpetrator of their deaths. The design of vengeance and the need to atone for not preventing their murders embeds itself throughout the book and sets the theme for the sequel, Splintered Kingdom.
Tancred is a likeable character, although at times morose and stubborn. In swearing an oath to the man who he is indebted to for saving his life, he is set upon a course that will force him to examine his own values in order to find a new purpose in life after Commines death. He is like a lost soul, searching for his rightful place in the world and along his journey, we meet the beautiful, but changeable Beatrice, who appears to be hiding a tragic past of her own. Their relationship seems doomed as Beatrice’s impenetrable facade and Tancred’s equal aloofness, makes their liaison a difficult one although they are both inexplicably drawn to each other.
We also meet Aelfwold, the priest who saves Tancred’s life with his healing skills. Aelfwold comes across as a gentle, loyal servant of Malet’s, charged with a secret mission for his lord in which Tancred is forced to become involved. Malet extracts an oath out of Tancred to pay back the debt he owes to him, by accompanying Beatrice and her mother to safety in London when Eadgar’s forces threaten York. But the mission doesn’t finish there, Tancred must continue to Wilton with Aelfwold who has a message for a mysterious woman about a ‘body’. Tancred and his friends, Eudo and Wace become suspicious of Aelfwold. Is he the amiable holy man he appears to be, or is there something more sinister lurking beneath his priest’s mantle?
So, to summarise, Sworn Sword is a great read, an engaging plot, interesting characters and a couple of great battles, one which marks the end of the book and paves the way for Tancred’s next adventure. Mostly this book is very enjoyable and I am looking forward to read the next books in the series. There were a couple of things, however, that raised my eyebrows, but they were only minor: one was the cheek-plates on Eadgar’s helmet and being a re-enactor I know that these Coppergate type of helms were not likely to have been worn in the 11thc but belong to a much earlier time. Also the description of a two storey monastery building with a long corridor and rooms leading off it sounded more like a Gothic manor than an pre-Norman building. However these are the most negative things I could probably find and certainly do not spoil what is a fantastic debut and story. I highly recommend this book especially to those who are looking for good quality historical fiction about the consequences of the Norman Invasion on England as a whole.
I rate this book 4.5 stars
With the opening focusing on an English uprising in the streets of Dunholm, strong hold of Robert de Commines, Lord of the North, we meet our protagonist, Tancred, a Breton, commanding his own conroi. Tancred and his comrades have been trying to fight off the attack when Tancred hears that his beloved Oswynn Is murdered by the marauders; but there is no time to grieve, for he must save his lord, Robert, set upon with his men in the mead hall. Tancred leads his conroi to the rescue but they are too late and Lord Robert is burned alive with his comrades inside the blazing hall. The Normans are slaughtered almost to a man, but Tancred, who has been badly injured, is carried by his surviving friends Eudo and Wace to the relative safety of York. There the trio find refuge in the house of Robert’s vicomte, Guillaume (William) Malet.
Tancred spends some time under the care of Malet’s priest, Aelfwold who tends his patient’s wounds and saves him from developing a life threatening infection. When he is well, Malet gives the now lordless knight an ultimatum: owe him a debt for the succour and hospitality he had provided him with, or carry out a mission that would set him free of any obligation owed. Reluctantly, he accepts, for he would rather stay behind in York to exact revenge upon the English who killed his lord and his woman Oswynn. But little did he realise when he gave his oath to Malet, that he would become embroiled in a secret that holds the fate of the kingdom in the balance...
I approached this novel with caution, a) because I am a die-hard Anglo-Saxon supporter and b) because the Normans did terrible things to the English during the invasion, so when I realised this was going to be a story told from the point of view of one of the invaders, I was unsure as to whether or not I was going to enjoy it. It’s not that I am so narrow minded I can’t enjoy a book from any other viewpoint other than the English one, it is that I didn’t want to read something that promoted the Norman invasion as a good thing and that William was a good guy fighting for his rights, and by the shedding of much English blood, winds up on the English throne. Although Tancred fought on the Conqueror’s side at the Battle of Hastings, views the English with suspicion and believes that the rightful King now sits on the throne, this is a book that tells the story of one man’s journey to find a new purpose to his life, now that his beloved lord is no longer in the world.
What I liked about James Aitcheson’s portrayal of an England in the aftermath of Hastings, is that it shows the reader how the scene would have looked to just such a man, especially as it is written in the first person, without making it heavily pro-Norman or pro- English. Although the latter are seen as pretty much the bad guys in a way, and the former as the righteous, it’s understandable, because we are seeing it from Tancred’s point of view and as far as he is concerned, he and his comrades are vindicated, for they represent loyal supporters of the rightful King, assisting him in keeping the peace in his new kingdom that was bequeathed to him, quite honourably by his cousin Edward, and stolen from him by the usurper Harold Godwinson. Presented as thus, I found it easy to glide into the story from the start.
Tancred himself is portrayed as a battle hardened, traumatised character who, having lived through the horrors of Hastings, loses his lord and beloved in that one night at the siege of Dunholm. Lord Robert had taken him into his service and saved him from a life of poverty and starvation when he was a young run away from the cruel monastery he had been brought up in. Oswynn was the English girl who he had taken as his lover and Tancred, devastated by both losses, swears vengeance on the young, arrogant claimant to the throne, Eadgar Atheling, the perpetrator of their deaths. The design of vengeance and the need to atone for not preventing their murders embeds itself throughout the book and sets the theme for the sequel, Splintered Kingdom.
Tancred is a likeable character, although at times morose and stubborn. In swearing an oath to the man who he is indebted to for saving his life, he is set upon a course that will force him to examine his own values in order to find a new purpose in life after Commines death. He is like a lost soul, searching for his rightful place in the world and along his journey, we meet the beautiful, but changeable Beatrice, who appears to be hiding a tragic past of her own. Their relationship seems doomed as Beatrice’s impenetrable facade and Tancred’s equal aloofness, makes their liaison a difficult one although they are both inexplicably drawn to each other.
We also meet Aelfwold, the priest who saves Tancred’s life with his healing skills. Aelfwold comes across as a gentle, loyal servant of Malet’s, charged with a secret mission for his lord in which Tancred is forced to become involved. Malet extracts an oath out of Tancred to pay back the debt he owes to him, by accompanying Beatrice and her mother to safety in London when Eadgar’s forces threaten York. But the mission doesn’t finish there, Tancred must continue to Wilton with Aelfwold who has a message for a mysterious woman about a ‘body’. Tancred and his friends, Eudo and Wace become suspicious of Aelfwold. Is he the amiable holy man he appears to be, or is there something more sinister lurking beneath his priest’s mantle?
So, to summarise, Sworn Sword is a great read, an engaging plot, interesting characters and a couple of great battles, one which marks the end of the book and paves the way for Tancred’s next adventure. Mostly this book is very enjoyable and I am looking forward to read the next books in the series. There were a couple of things, however, that raised my eyebrows, but they were only minor: one was the cheek-plates on Eadgar’s helmet and being a re-enactor I know that these Coppergate type of helms were not likely to have been worn in the 11thc but belong to a much earlier time. Also the description of a two storey monastery building with a long corridor and rooms leading off it sounded more like a Gothic manor than an pre-Norman building. However these are the most negative things I could probably find and certainly do not spoil what is a fantastic debut and story. I highly recommend this book especially to those who are looking for good quality historical fiction about the consequences of the Norman Invasion on England as a whole.
I rate this book 4.5 stars
February 17, 2013
I enjoyed the story in this one set in post Norman invasion Britain. Told from the perspective of a Norman Knight it covers events during 1069 and focuses on Saxon attempts to throw out the Normans, especially from Northern England. It has lots of interesting characters and for a first novel Aitcheson writes well, with only the odd inconsistency. I did fine that the latter part of the book wasn't quite as good as the rest of it, so overall probably 3 1/2 rather than a strong 4. However, there is enough good stuff in here to make me look forward to reading the next in the series and the author is so good in his first novel that I think he will just get better and better. I'm picking that he will have a long and successful career and I look forward to what he writes when he reaches the peak of his powers.
January 8, 2025
I finished it. That’s the best thing I can say about my experience reading this book.
Although I didn’t dislike it enough to not finish reading it, it wasn’t the most enjoyable throughout. At parts I found myself getting into it, especially nearer the end, but overall I found no desire to finish this at all.
Additionally, on top of everything I was meant to be rooting for the French destroying the English???
If not for being on a 3+ hour flight but little else to do I really doubt whether I would have finished this at all.
However I have finished it and can admit that the writing wasn’t bad and the fast pacing was for the best, this genre and style of book just isn’t for me.
Although I didn’t dislike it enough to not finish reading it, it wasn’t the most enjoyable throughout. At parts I found myself getting into it, especially nearer the end, but overall I found no desire to finish this at all.
Additionally, on top of everything I was meant to be rooting for the French destroying the English???
If not for being on a 3+ hour flight but little else to do I really doubt whether I would have finished this at all.
However I have finished it and can admit that the writing wasn’t bad and the fast pacing was for the best, this genre and style of book just isn’t for me.
December 15, 2019
4.5. Terrific debut and a promising start to what I am confident will be an exceptional series.
December 4, 2013
History is written by the winners.
As someone much cleverer (Winston Churchill?) than me once said.
Except for the aftermath of the 1066 invasion and conquering of Olde England, by the Normans. All the stories about that disaster I can remember reading, are by the losers; the English.
Well, we've got the Bayeux Tapestry, of course, but that stayed in Normandy and is a little biased, I think most people would admit.
There is 'The Doomsday Book', but that is more a stock-taking and history has to be prised from it and implied and it doesn't read like a novel.
In later years, long removed from 1066, we generally hear from the poor, down-trodden 'Saxons' in their constant struggle against the dastardly Normans, personified in the tales of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
That I know of, anyway.
This is an unusual book then, in that it is written from the point of view of one of the conquering Normans, only a couple of years after the 'Battle of Hastings'. Britain isn't completely conquered, the English people are still rebellious and the Normans see them as still rebelling against their new masters. In the pre-internet and national newspaper days, that's probably because not all Englishmen have heard that they in fact have new masters yet.
The story concerns a reasonably middle-ranking Norman Knight, who fought at Hastings (must point out here that the battle actually took place at what is now a town called Battle and the invading fleet probably landed near what is now Hastings). He has journeyed to the north of England, to the furthest reaches of the Normans' power, just two years after 1066. He loses his original Lord to the rebellious English and is sworn to another, embarking then on a mysterious mission, which on the surface seems easy enough - to protect a Churchman while he delivers a message for his nobleman, in the south of England - but develops and becomes more and more dangerous and, to him, develops treasonous over- and undertones, the longer the journey goes on.
This is where the book is, to me, an oddity. I am English and so used to reading about the Normans as the enemy. The English are the noble freedom fighters, battling to rid our green and pleasant land from the vicious enslavers. However, this book, by dint of being written from the Normans' point of view, turns all that on its head. And creates some very odd moments during its reading. To the book's hero, our Knight called Tancred, the Normans are of course, the rightful masters. Their King - William - the rightful King Harald Godwinsson is a traitor and usurper, who went back on a sworn promise to support William's claim to the throne. The English are the terrorists, intent on causing trouble and treachery at every turn and with every sly glance. Whether I had to hold myself back from hoping the Norman Knight would succeed in his mission, or win his battles against seemingly insurmountable odds, or come through in tense, sticky situations...I wouldn't like to admit. It's certainly an odd feeling to wonder if you should cheer for the Normans or hope the English suceed in their rebellious ways. Of course, it's not as easy as always seeing French-speaking, arrogant Normans against heroic, (Old) English-speaking natives. It's never completely black and white, right against wrong, conquerors against conquerees (?). All of which tends to keep you on your toes, keeps you thinking and keeps you involved in the tale.
'Sworn Sword' is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast moving, constantly surprising, satisfying, hard to put down, blood-soaked rampage through a post-Viking England. The old ways are about to be ridden rough-shod over, by the new, unfeeling, sophisticated and, for goodness' sake, French speaking invaders (themselves, old Viking stock, of course). For his first novel (as I understand it) James Aitcheson writes with great verve, passion and a sure style that puts him immediately in the same shield-wall as Bernard Cornwell, Robert Low, Giles Kristian and very few others. He Tweets me that there is a sequel out later in the year and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into that and having my English emotions twisted again very much indeed.
You really can't say fairer than that.
As someone much cleverer (Winston Churchill?) than me once said.
Except for the aftermath of the 1066 invasion and conquering of Olde England, by the Normans. All the stories about that disaster I can remember reading, are by the losers; the English.
Well, we've got the Bayeux Tapestry, of course, but that stayed in Normandy and is a little biased, I think most people would admit.
There is 'The Doomsday Book', but that is more a stock-taking and history has to be prised from it and implied and it doesn't read like a novel.
In later years, long removed from 1066, we generally hear from the poor, down-trodden 'Saxons' in their constant struggle against the dastardly Normans, personified in the tales of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
That I know of, anyway.
This is an unusual book then, in that it is written from the point of view of one of the conquering Normans, only a couple of years after the 'Battle of Hastings'. Britain isn't completely conquered, the English people are still rebellious and the Normans see them as still rebelling against their new masters. In the pre-internet and national newspaper days, that's probably because not all Englishmen have heard that they in fact have new masters yet.
The story concerns a reasonably middle-ranking Norman Knight, who fought at Hastings (must point out here that the battle actually took place at what is now a town called Battle and the invading fleet probably landed near what is now Hastings). He has journeyed to the north of England, to the furthest reaches of the Normans' power, just two years after 1066. He loses his original Lord to the rebellious English and is sworn to another, embarking then on a mysterious mission, which on the surface seems easy enough - to protect a Churchman while he delivers a message for his nobleman, in the south of England - but develops and becomes more and more dangerous and, to him, develops treasonous over- and undertones, the longer the journey goes on.
This is where the book is, to me, an oddity. I am English and so used to reading about the Normans as the enemy. The English are the noble freedom fighters, battling to rid our green and pleasant land from the vicious enslavers. However, this book, by dint of being written from the Normans' point of view, turns all that on its head. And creates some very odd moments during its reading. To the book's hero, our Knight called Tancred, the Normans are of course, the rightful masters. Their King - William - the rightful King Harald Godwinsson is a traitor and usurper, who went back on a sworn promise to support William's claim to the throne. The English are the terrorists, intent on causing trouble and treachery at every turn and with every sly glance. Whether I had to hold myself back from hoping the Norman Knight would succeed in his mission, or win his battles against seemingly insurmountable odds, or come through in tense, sticky situations...I wouldn't like to admit. It's certainly an odd feeling to wonder if you should cheer for the Normans or hope the English suceed in their rebellious ways. Of course, it's not as easy as always seeing French-speaking, arrogant Normans against heroic, (Old) English-speaking natives. It's never completely black and white, right against wrong, conquerors against conquerees (?). All of which tends to keep you on your toes, keeps you thinking and keeps you involved in the tale.
'Sworn Sword' is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast moving, constantly surprising, satisfying, hard to put down, blood-soaked rampage through a post-Viking England. The old ways are about to be ridden rough-shod over, by the new, unfeeling, sophisticated and, for goodness' sake, French speaking invaders (themselves, old Viking stock, of course). For his first novel (as I understand it) James Aitcheson writes with great verve, passion and a sure style that puts him immediately in the same shield-wall as Bernard Cornwell, Robert Low, Giles Kristian and very few others. He Tweets me that there is a sequel out later in the year and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into that and having my English emotions twisted again very much indeed.
You really can't say fairer than that.
January 29, 2012
The author James Aitcheson has not only written something pretty remarkable and captivating for his young age and in a difficult genre to crack which is often filled with middle-aged to old men/women, he has awakened and created a whole other aspect and slant on history and historical figures.
Most of the popular historical fiction is centred around Anglo-Saxons or Vikings or Civil Wars (in America and England) or royal courts from the sixteenth century onwards but yet I do believe James is the first writer to pick a part of history and not write it from the key event, and not write it from the point of view of those who's history it is; BUT He writes it in the first initial years AFTER the fateful year of 1066 where William, Duke of Normandy defeats the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson; James writes it also from the point of view of the invading NORMAN KNIGHTS - NOT - the defeated Anglo-Saxon people/nobles.
What James has written is a new, refreshing and original stance on a very significant point of history - now some readers may think that what on earth could be interesting enough about the bullyish Normans conquering England? Well I won't say a lot apart from the secret that is riddled cunningly throughout the story is as original and as powerful as the entire story view point itself. Involving a little known part of the aftermath of 1066 which could indeed shake the foundations of the new Norman rulers.
The plot isn't just gripping but the characters too are powerful enough for any reader to come to care, admire and like them regardless of their Norman identity. As a reader you are put on a rollercoaster of a learning curve to come to terms and understand that the Norman knights and nobles who invaded England with Duke William had lives, loves and losses of their own too. They fight with as much courgae, skill, honour and loyalty to friends and Lords as much as the Anglo-Saxons do to their Thegns and the Vikings (distant ancestors of the Normans) to their Jarls.
So if you are perhaps getting bored of reading of the Vikings killing Anglo-Saxons or The Red Coats fighting the Blue Coats or of courtly affairs in royal bed chambers but still want a great tale with strong and influential characters, packed with historical action then Sworn Sword is definitely a great book to revive anyone's love in history, beit fictional or not.
Most of the popular historical fiction is centred around Anglo-Saxons or Vikings or Civil Wars (in America and England) or royal courts from the sixteenth century onwards but yet I do believe James is the first writer to pick a part of history and not write it from the key event, and not write it from the point of view of those who's history it is; BUT He writes it in the first initial years AFTER the fateful year of 1066 where William, Duke of Normandy defeats the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson; James writes it also from the point of view of the invading NORMAN KNIGHTS - NOT - the defeated Anglo-Saxon people/nobles.
What James has written is a new, refreshing and original stance on a very significant point of history - now some readers may think that what on earth could be interesting enough about the bullyish Normans conquering England? Well I won't say a lot apart from the secret that is riddled cunningly throughout the story is as original and as powerful as the entire story view point itself. Involving a little known part of the aftermath of 1066 which could indeed shake the foundations of the new Norman rulers.
The plot isn't just gripping but the characters too are powerful enough for any reader to come to care, admire and like them regardless of their Norman identity. As a reader you are put on a rollercoaster of a learning curve to come to terms and understand that the Norman knights and nobles who invaded England with Duke William had lives, loves and losses of their own too. They fight with as much courgae, skill, honour and loyalty to friends and Lords as much as the Anglo-Saxons do to their Thegns and the Vikings (distant ancestors of the Normans) to their Jarls.
So if you are perhaps getting bored of reading of the Vikings killing Anglo-Saxons or The Red Coats fighting the Blue Coats or of courtly affairs in royal bed chambers but still want a great tale with strong and influential characters, packed with historical action then Sworn Sword is definitely a great book to revive anyone's love in history, beit fictional or not.
October 1, 2013
The year is 1069, the location England, three years after the Battle of Hastings. The Normans won possession of the kingdom that day, but even three years later, not all the land is subdued. Tancred a Dinant, a sworn sword, or knight, pledged to a lord, fought at Hastings. He saw the carnage there and the slaughter of all the men that occurred that day as the English usurper, Harold Godwineson, was defeated and killed.
Tancred is sworn to Robert de Commines, and has been for more than fifteen years. Robert found him in Normandy where he had fled a monastery at age thirteen. He pledged his life and sword to Lord Robert that day, and has fought at his side ever since. He followed Robert to England and plans to stay with him forever. But fate has different plans.
The English are rising up in the North, desperate to throw off the Norman yoke. They are led by yet another English king. The two forces meet in Durham and Lord Robert is killed. Shocked and disillusioned, Tancred is not sure what to do with the rest of his life. When he is injured and sheltered by another Norman lord, Malet, he agrees to serve him. Malet gives him an assignment; to shepherd his wife and daughter to London to safety.
Along with his knight friends, Tancred sets out to escort the women. They barely make it out of town before the opposing forces take the city where Malet is in charge. Although Tancred wants to return and fight the English, he is sworn to his task. While fulfilling it, he learns a secret; a secret that reeks of betrayal and could change the course of history. How will Tancred reconcile his calling as a knight with his torn loyalties?
James Aitcheson has written a stirring historical novel. It is strong in its depiction of the life of a knight and how battles were fought in this early period. Life was finely balanced in those days, and the loyalties a man chose were often enough to either make his fortune or cause his death. The history is well researched, and the reader readily identifies with Tancred and his band of knights. This book is recommended for readers of historical fiction.
Tancred is sworn to Robert de Commines, and has been for more than fifteen years. Robert found him in Normandy where he had fled a monastery at age thirteen. He pledged his life and sword to Lord Robert that day, and has fought at his side ever since. He followed Robert to England and plans to stay with him forever. But fate has different plans.
The English are rising up in the North, desperate to throw off the Norman yoke. They are led by yet another English king. The two forces meet in Durham and Lord Robert is killed. Shocked and disillusioned, Tancred is not sure what to do with the rest of his life. When he is injured and sheltered by another Norman lord, Malet, he agrees to serve him. Malet gives him an assignment; to shepherd his wife and daughter to London to safety.
Along with his knight friends, Tancred sets out to escort the women. They barely make it out of town before the opposing forces take the city where Malet is in charge. Although Tancred wants to return and fight the English, he is sworn to his task. While fulfilling it, he learns a secret; a secret that reeks of betrayal and could change the course of history. How will Tancred reconcile his calling as a knight with his torn loyalties?
James Aitcheson has written a stirring historical novel. It is strong in its depiction of the life of a knight and how battles were fought in this early period. Life was finely balanced in those days, and the loyalties a man chose were often enough to either make his fortune or cause his death. The history is well researched, and the reader readily identifies with Tancred and his band of knights. This book is recommended for readers of historical fiction.
March 8, 2019
The Sworn Sword describes an interesting time in England- the years following the Conquest of 1066. There is a tendency to think that all of England had simply given up and dealt with the Conquest. But this is hardly accurate. In fact, in Northern England focused around Northumbria, many of the Norse-Saxon Lords hadn't really gotten over the "conquest". In fact, the years after 1066 were difficult ones for King William as he struggled to retain his overlordship over the Saxon Lords.
In 1069, three years after the Conquest, William sends his Earl Robert de Commines to the North to take control. In the town of Dunholm, Tancred a Dinant is a knight leading a conroi ( a group[ between 5-10 knights) and Earl Robert is his Lord. As the Normans go down in defeat, surprised by a large uprising of Northumbrians, Earl Robert and his band are killed. Only Tancred and a few of his conroi survive. They flee to Eoferwic to warn them of the coming Army.
Here Tancred pledges his service to Vicomte of Eoferwic, Guilliaume Malet. He agrees to escort Malet's wife and daughter to safety in Southern England and to help his personal chaplain, Father Aelfwold, to deliver a secret message. This is the meat of the book, all of it held against the backdrop of the events (all real history, for the most part) of the Northumbrian uprising and the battle for Eoferwic in late 1068-1069. Tancred must try to keep the vicomte's family alive, seek revenge for Earl Robert and try to uncover a mystery surrounding the "usurper" Harold, who was killed by William at Hastings.
A good story. The character of Tancred was a bit wooden and the overall story could have used some work. This was Aitcheson's first book, so I am willing to accept that he will improve. The historical time period is rather interesting as these are the events that would lead to later what the English would call "The Harrowing" when William would use the excuse of this civil war as a justification for unleashing his Normans on a slash and burn policy throughout the Northern Realms.
A good first start about an interesting time in English history.
In 1069, three years after the Conquest, William sends his Earl Robert de Commines to the North to take control. In the town of Dunholm, Tancred a Dinant is a knight leading a conroi ( a group[ between 5-10 knights) and Earl Robert is his Lord. As the Normans go down in defeat, surprised by a large uprising of Northumbrians, Earl Robert and his band are killed. Only Tancred and a few of his conroi survive. They flee to Eoferwic to warn them of the coming Army.
Here Tancred pledges his service to Vicomte of Eoferwic, Guilliaume Malet. He agrees to escort Malet's wife and daughter to safety in Southern England and to help his personal chaplain, Father Aelfwold, to deliver a secret message. This is the meat of the book, all of it held against the backdrop of the events (all real history, for the most part) of the Northumbrian uprising and the battle for Eoferwic in late 1068-1069. Tancred must try to keep the vicomte's family alive, seek revenge for Earl Robert and try to uncover a mystery surrounding the "usurper" Harold, who was killed by William at Hastings.
A good story. The character of Tancred was a bit wooden and the overall story could have used some work. This was Aitcheson's first book, so I am willing to accept that he will improve. The historical time period is rather interesting as these are the events that would lead to later what the English would call "The Harrowing" when William would use the excuse of this civil war as a justification for unleashing his Normans on a slash and burn policy throughout the Northern Realms.
A good first start about an interesting time in English history.
August 4, 2011
I loved this-a great and promising debut novel-and am looking forward to more from this talented young author.
It follows the years post the Battle of Hastings, as we join Tancred, a man at arms and several of his friends and colleagues, as they are entrusted with a delicate mission for their new master. Twists and turns abound in the well paced novel, and it has set an intriguing scene for the further books in the series.
I always enjoy historical novels "a la Bernard Cornwell"-but find at times they are more aimed at the male audience, with much emphasis on battle plans/formations, etc. This was a welcome departure:we had information about the relevant battles-but it wasn't excessive. In addition Aitcheson also described life at the time, the harshness (yet beauty) of the environment, the vast range of characters he met on his travels-all this contributed to making this a very readable and accessible novel. Look out for more page turners from this author-you won't be disappointed!
It follows the years post the Battle of Hastings, as we join Tancred, a man at arms and several of his friends and colleagues, as they are entrusted with a delicate mission for their new master. Twists and turns abound in the well paced novel, and it has set an intriguing scene for the further books in the series.
I always enjoy historical novels "a la Bernard Cornwell"-but find at times they are more aimed at the male audience, with much emphasis on battle plans/formations, etc. This was a welcome departure:we had information about the relevant battles-but it wasn't excessive. In addition Aitcheson also described life at the time, the harshness (yet beauty) of the environment, the vast range of characters he met on his travels-all this contributed to making this a very readable and accessible novel. Look out for more page turners from this author-you won't be disappointed!
November 10, 2014
I finished this book really fast (which tells something), but somehow I do not have all that much to say about it. I liked some scenes, and the main character is also quite likeable. It is interesting to read from Norman point of view, although I would expect more details about what makes Normans so specific, why they went to England, basically some more general setting for the story. Also, character development could use some improvements - I got to know the main character (somewhat), but the rest of the characters remained quite flat (even though they stayed around for the whole story). Overall, as author's first book it is quite good, and I will read the next instalment.
July 30, 2017
I have read so many books about this period and other equally bloody eras and they have generally been quite good if you have a fairly strong stomach and an ability to overlook the odd historical faux pas in the name of a good story and, to be honest, I was expecting much the same from this one. Boy was I wrong! This was, from start to end, an excellent story with a fast pace that never lets up, well written battle scenes that capture the brutality of the event without causing you to revisit your last meal and no noticeable historical problems. The characters are well drawn. I like Tancred though I do agree with his followers that he is a bit self-obsessed at times, like he's the only one who understands grief. I'm not completely sure about Beatrice yet: we'll wait and see on that one. What I love about this book is that just when you think it is all over and we can go into the long drawn out conclusion that you usually get as loose ends get tied up and consequences occur, there's another twist and you're back in the middle of another break-neck piece of action. That I have finished this whole 400 page novel in a little over two days tells you a lot about how compelling it is and I have also been out today and bought the next book in the series as I am completely caught up in the story now and want to know more. In short, fantastic book, very well written, can't wait for book three to come out later in the year. That will be gong straight to the top of my "books to read" pile I can assure you.
October 2, 2012
c2011. FWFTB: Northumbria, rebellion, oath-sworn, vengeance, slain. It is not often that I have read a book with such an exciting start. The reader is thrust into the action and already rooting for the hero. Really good writing. The rapid pace is maintained all the way through and the fight scenes are described very well. Bloody and gory but not overdone at all. This is a part of history that is very murky so the historical notes at the end of the book were most interesting. I also haven't come across a storyline where the POV belongs to an (extra) ordinary Norman knight. I was certainly drawn into the story hook line and sinker. I could almost hear the saddles creaking and smell the blood. Great stuff and highly recommended - and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one. Put in another way, I am now convinced I have Norman roots - not Anglo Saxon. I agree 100% with Mr Ben Kane who described Mr Aitcheson as "a terrific writer". The cover is apt and conveys the atmosphere nicely.FCN: Tancred a Dinant, Guillaume Malet, Eudo de Ryes, Wace de Douvres, Aelfwold. In any case they could spit and stare as much as they wanted. I knew they would not harm us. for we had horses and mail and swords and they did not.
Read
March 15, 2014I really enjoyed this book—and especially the main character, Tancred—even though books about men at war are not usually my cup of tea. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
For my free podcast interview with James Aitcheson, where we discuss the Norman Conquest, history vs. historical fiction, and his acclaimed series of novels, see http://newbooksinhistoricalfiction.co....
I received a free copy of this book in preparation for the interview.
For my free podcast interview with James Aitcheson, where we discuss the Norman Conquest, history vs. historical fiction, and his acclaimed series of novels, see http://newbooksinhistoricalfiction.co....
I received a free copy of this book in preparation for the interview.
October 14, 2014
Obviously my rating will give away the fact that I did not enjoy this story much. If I'm going to read a book this wordy and descriptive I need characters that I can enjoy. I really found only Tancred was sufficiently fleshed out as a character and he did not capture my imagination at all. Everyone else is just a name with no personality.
There is no doubt in my mind that this author did a phenomenal job of the research and history. I, personally, just needed something more.
There is no doubt in my mind that this author did a phenomenal job of the research and history. I, personally, just needed something more.
December 4, 2013
I'd say 3.5 stars maybe. Enjoyed it, but overall I can't help comparing it to Cornwell's Saxon series and because of that it just falls short.
August 21, 2017
What I really like about this book is the historical context. It's not just a story, it meshes in with the history of the time. That said, it's not 100% accurate on the details (as outlined by the author in an appendix), but good enough for me.
This book has good character development as we learn about Tancred (a Knight) and follow his life through a very brief span of a few months where his lord is killed and he deals with that. The book also provides a fair chunk of back story on how he got to that point.
Generally speaking, if you like fantasy books because of the characters and battles then you'll like this. If you like fantasy books because of the orcs, elves, and dwarves, then not so much.
This book has good character development as we learn about Tancred (a Knight) and follow his life through a very brief span of a few months where his lord is killed and he deals with that. The book also provides a fair chunk of back story on how he got to that point.
Generally speaking, if you like fantasy books because of the characters and battles then you'll like this. If you like fantasy books because of the orcs, elves, and dwarves, then not so much.
February 11, 2019
Very much in the vein of Bernard Cornwell. Really well written.
November 20, 2022
A neglected period of history and a problem of allegiance
On reading James Aitcheson's debut novel, covering as it does a rather neglected period of English history, I was torn throughout about who to actually root for? My Anglo-Saxon kinsmen, or the Norman invaders? By the end of this thoroughly enjoyable romp of battles, intrigue and arduous journeys across 11th Century England, I was still unsure.
1066 is probably the most important date in the history of the British Isles. As every schoolboy knows this was the year when William the Conqueror and his Norman army vanquished Harold's Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, but what happened next?
Well, in Sworn Swordwe find out, as Aitcheson's novel, based on real life events and characters, guides us through an England still coming to terms with having French-speaking masters. The first person narrator of our tale is a Norman knight, Tancred a Dinant, a warrior since childhood. Painted sometimes as a reflective, sensitive and compassionate figure, it doesn't take much for Tancred to revert to a bloodthirsty killing machine, whose only thought is which Englishman dies next?
Sworn Sword is a competent novel; well researched as you'd expect from a man who read History at Cambridge, and on the whole well written, shining a light as it does on a hitherto little known, but important, period in English history. I particularly liked the way Aitcheson touches on the little things you tend to overlook in this period like the language barrier that existed between the Normans and English (Aitcheson rarely uses the term 'Saxon') and how old English (itself an inflected language with a Germanic vocabulary apparently) was unrecognisable from what we speak today. Aitcheson often presents the reader with snatches of this language and whilst it's interesting, it also reinforces the linguistic divide that must have been quite significant at the time.
There was a wonderful little vignette too where William the Conqueror himself pays a visit to Tancred and his men prior to attacking Eoferwic (York) tall and intimidating with his stern, direct manner. Tancred "glimpsing the fire contained within", literally keeps his head down as the towering king vows to fill the streets of the city with English blood! Now that was a king!
However, characters such as the lord Gilbert de Gand, who had a long-standing dislike of Tancred due to him serving a rival lord, and Robert Malet, who rescues Tancred from arrest, both promised to be significant characters, but then dwindled away to minor parts. I also wanted to see Tancred's relationship with Beatrice, the daughter of his temporary lord (his first lord was slaughtered at Dunholm (Durham) in a particularly brutal conflict), develop beyond the infrequent but strangely charged encounters. Maybe future novels will remedy this?
The plot itself centres on a desire by the English to recover something very important to them, and the Norman's equally strong desire to make sure they don't get it! It was this central plank of the novel that created in me something of a crisis of allegiance. I found myself sympathetic to the Norman invaders (as Aitcheson intended no doubt) but then feeling guilty that I wasn't backing the injured party of the English. One encounter between Tancred and Harold's widow, Eadgyth, is a case in point where she humanises the dead Harold (the Normans refer to him variously as a "perjurer", "oathbreaker" and "usurper") by saying tearfully, "He was a good man... kind and honest and truthful in all matters...". This kind of brought me up short as this was the first time that I had read anything sympathetic about a man who was the last true English king in some ways. As they say, history is written by the victors.
Tancred's relationship with his lord's chaplain, Aelfwold, is probably the most important relationship in the book. Moving from one of closeness and mutual respect as Aelfwold nurses the injured knight back to health after he escapes a disastrous battle with the rebellious Northumbrians, to mistrust and enmity, as the English plot is uncovered. Their final tussle is quite dramatic where again, I was torn between who to support. I was kind of hoping for a draw but alas, that wasn't really an option.
Sworn Sword was a good read but not a great one, and while it was a promising start to Aitcheson's literary career, it hasn't quite made me want to rush out to buy the next in the series in the way that Simon Scarrow's Under the Eagle or George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman did. That said I'm sure I'll get round to them in the years to come and will enjoy them when I do.
On reading James Aitcheson's debut novel, covering as it does a rather neglected period of English history, I was torn throughout about who to actually root for? My Anglo-Saxon kinsmen, or the Norman invaders? By the end of this thoroughly enjoyable romp of battles, intrigue and arduous journeys across 11th Century England, I was still unsure.
1066 is probably the most important date in the history of the British Isles. As every schoolboy knows this was the year when William the Conqueror and his Norman army vanquished Harold's Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, but what happened next?
Well, in Sworn Swordwe find out, as Aitcheson's novel, based on real life events and characters, guides us through an England still coming to terms with having French-speaking masters. The first person narrator of our tale is a Norman knight, Tancred a Dinant, a warrior since childhood. Painted sometimes as a reflective, sensitive and compassionate figure, it doesn't take much for Tancred to revert to a bloodthirsty killing machine, whose only thought is which Englishman dies next?
Sworn Sword is a competent novel; well researched as you'd expect from a man who read History at Cambridge, and on the whole well written, shining a light as it does on a hitherto little known, but important, period in English history. I particularly liked the way Aitcheson touches on the little things you tend to overlook in this period like the language barrier that existed between the Normans and English (Aitcheson rarely uses the term 'Saxon') and how old English (itself an inflected language with a Germanic vocabulary apparently) was unrecognisable from what we speak today. Aitcheson often presents the reader with snatches of this language and whilst it's interesting, it also reinforces the linguistic divide that must have been quite significant at the time.
There was a wonderful little vignette too where William the Conqueror himself pays a visit to Tancred and his men prior to attacking Eoferwic (York) tall and intimidating with his stern, direct manner. Tancred "glimpsing the fire contained within", literally keeps his head down as the towering king vows to fill the streets of the city with English blood! Now that was a king!
However, characters such as the lord Gilbert de Gand, who had a long-standing dislike of Tancred due to him serving a rival lord, and Robert Malet, who rescues Tancred from arrest, both promised to be significant characters, but then dwindled away to minor parts. I also wanted to see Tancred's relationship with Beatrice, the daughter of his temporary lord (his first lord was slaughtered at Dunholm (Durham) in a particularly brutal conflict), develop beyond the infrequent but strangely charged encounters. Maybe future novels will remedy this?
The plot itself centres on a desire by the English to recover something very important to them, and the Norman's equally strong desire to make sure they don't get it! It was this central plank of the novel that created in me something of a crisis of allegiance. I found myself sympathetic to the Norman invaders (as Aitcheson intended no doubt) but then feeling guilty that I wasn't backing the injured party of the English. One encounter between Tancred and Harold's widow, Eadgyth, is a case in point where she humanises the dead Harold (the Normans refer to him variously as a "perjurer", "oathbreaker" and "usurper") by saying tearfully, "He was a good man... kind and honest and truthful in all matters...". This kind of brought me up short as this was the first time that I had read anything sympathetic about a man who was the last true English king in some ways. As they say, history is written by the victors.
Tancred's relationship with his lord's chaplain, Aelfwold, is probably the most important relationship in the book. Moving from one of closeness and mutual respect as Aelfwold nurses the injured knight back to health after he escapes a disastrous battle with the rebellious Northumbrians, to mistrust and enmity, as the English plot is uncovered. Their final tussle is quite dramatic where again, I was torn between who to support. I was kind of hoping for a draw but alas, that wasn't really an option.
Sworn Sword was a good read but not a great one, and while it was a promising start to Aitcheson's literary career, it hasn't quite made me want to rush out to buy the next in the series in the way that Simon Scarrow's Under the Eagle or George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman did. That said I'm sure I'll get round to them in the years to come and will enjoy them when I do.
October 29, 2013
When I was a boy, my father was the pastor for a series of small churches in North Texas. At one of these churches, so the story went, the head deacon was a man with a certain peculiarity. Specifically, he could not handle cold weather. He wore long underwear at all times, even in the broiling Texas summers, and he would not allow anyone to turn on the air conditioning in the church. I was told that he had served in the Second World War, and that he had contracted malaria in the Philippines, which explained his sensitivity. I remember someone saying that he had been on the Bataan Death March, which of course I very easily may have misheard or misunderstood. It is possible that he was there, and suffered not only disease but horrible privation and fatigue. It is also possible that I am remembering the details wrong, of course, but let's say that I am right and that he was there and came home from the Philippines with an incredible story of survival to tell.
The point that I am trying to make here is that this was an individual who had--at least arguably--lived through very interesting times, and had a harrowing story to tell, and who may very well have been a hero in some way, but who, at the same time, was a very ordinary sort of person living in a small town out on the Lone Star prairie. That is to say, he was someone who had done interesting things, and gone interesting places, but who was himself a very uninteresting sort of fellow.
The hero of SWORN SWORD, a novel by James Aitcheson, is one Tancred a Dinant, a Breton knight who sails to England as a part of the invading army of William the Conqueror, fights nobly in the Battle of Hastings, and stays on in England with the Norman occupation force. As the novel begins, Tancred is in the north of England, scouting for rebels who don't accept the Conqueror's accession to the English throne. It's an interesting period of history, complete with a cultural clash, language barriers, and a lot of swords clashing against a lot of shield walls. There are many entertaining aspects to the era, such as longboats and mead-halls and remote monasteries with long-hidden secrets. It is, in short, a very promising era for historical fiction, all the more so because it has not been the subject of quite as many tales.
Aitcheson clearly knows and understands the era, and does his best to bring it to life. Loyalty is a major theme in the book, and the author is a loyal guide to his readers, walking them through the intricacies of chain mail and roadside inns and what passed for medical treatment in the eleventh century. The author's command of the history, and his sense of the era, cannot be doubted. Aitcheson also does a stellar job explicating the details of close combat within the context of the larger battle, providing a knowledgeable, lucid account of how Tancred manages to survive the scrapes that he gets into.
If there is a flaw with SWORN SWORD, it is with Tancred himself. He is strong and skilled and valiant, with more than his fair share of chivalry and honor. In short, he is something of a humorless stick-in-the-mud. As the title indicates, Tancred is subject to the dictates of his superiors, which restricts his ability to act independently, even in choosing his own path. Tancred is only his own man in the heat of battle, where he can use his skills to slay his enemies and help his friends. But anywhere else, Tancred tends towards the passive and the unimaginative. Tancred also suffers a number of painful reverses early on, which seem to be designed to give him a proper brooding, romantic air, but mostly mark him as a sad sack.
While Tancred is a competent narrator, and is involved in all sorts of interesting situations, he himself isn't charming or engaging enough to hold the reader's interest on his own. The novel's scope provides almost no opportunities for romance or even humor. Worse, his traveling companions are cut from the same cloth; almost none of the supporting characters are original or even memorable.
SWORN SWORD is an immensely detailed book by a talented author, and has all the blood, guts, and combat that anyone who reads knightly tales could wish for. The story was clearly written by an author with a single-minded passion and a love of detail. But the novel suffers from an imbalance in favor of historical accuracy and integrity and away from sprightly characterization and compelling storytelling. There are more tales to be told in the series, and hopefully the author can tilt the balance in the other direction.
The point that I am trying to make here is that this was an individual who had--at least arguably--lived through very interesting times, and had a harrowing story to tell, and who may very well have been a hero in some way, but who, at the same time, was a very ordinary sort of person living in a small town out on the Lone Star prairie. That is to say, he was someone who had done interesting things, and gone interesting places, but who was himself a very uninteresting sort of fellow.
The hero of SWORN SWORD, a novel by James Aitcheson, is one Tancred a Dinant, a Breton knight who sails to England as a part of the invading army of William the Conqueror, fights nobly in the Battle of Hastings, and stays on in England with the Norman occupation force. As the novel begins, Tancred is in the north of England, scouting for rebels who don't accept the Conqueror's accession to the English throne. It's an interesting period of history, complete with a cultural clash, language barriers, and a lot of swords clashing against a lot of shield walls. There are many entertaining aspects to the era, such as longboats and mead-halls and remote monasteries with long-hidden secrets. It is, in short, a very promising era for historical fiction, all the more so because it has not been the subject of quite as many tales.
Aitcheson clearly knows and understands the era, and does his best to bring it to life. Loyalty is a major theme in the book, and the author is a loyal guide to his readers, walking them through the intricacies of chain mail and roadside inns and what passed for medical treatment in the eleventh century. The author's command of the history, and his sense of the era, cannot be doubted. Aitcheson also does a stellar job explicating the details of close combat within the context of the larger battle, providing a knowledgeable, lucid account of how Tancred manages to survive the scrapes that he gets into.
If there is a flaw with SWORN SWORD, it is with Tancred himself. He is strong and skilled and valiant, with more than his fair share of chivalry and honor. In short, he is something of a humorless stick-in-the-mud. As the title indicates, Tancred is subject to the dictates of his superiors, which restricts his ability to act independently, even in choosing his own path. Tancred is only his own man in the heat of battle, where he can use his skills to slay his enemies and help his friends. But anywhere else, Tancred tends towards the passive and the unimaginative. Tancred also suffers a number of painful reverses early on, which seem to be designed to give him a proper brooding, romantic air, but mostly mark him as a sad sack.
While Tancred is a competent narrator, and is involved in all sorts of interesting situations, he himself isn't charming or engaging enough to hold the reader's interest on his own. The novel's scope provides almost no opportunities for romance or even humor. Worse, his traveling companions are cut from the same cloth; almost none of the supporting characters are original or even memorable.
SWORN SWORD is an immensely detailed book by a talented author, and has all the blood, guts, and combat that anyone who reads knightly tales could wish for. The story was clearly written by an author with a single-minded passion and a love of detail. But the novel suffers from an imbalance in favor of historical accuracy and integrity and away from sprightly characterization and compelling storytelling. There are more tales to be told in the series, and hopefully the author can tilt the balance in the other direction.
September 12, 2012
Sworn Sword is the first book in James Aitcheson’s 1066: The Bloody Aftermath series. The novel is based two years after the Norman conquest of England and tells the tale of Tancred a Dinant, a Norman Knight serving under the Earl of Northumbria, Robert de Commines. Tancred’s story starts with the Norman capture of the city of Durham (or Dunholm as it’s called in the book). Tancred is on a scouting mission looking for any English fugitives that have escaped the attack on the city. But his mind is elsewhere. He would much rather be celebrating the victory with his comrades in the city and spending time with his woman Oswynn than riding through the dark, wet Northumbrian countryside. But his mission soon becomes less of a strenuous walk and more of a fight for survival.
Tancred and his men come across a regrouped horde of English warriors and a new Northumbrian army led by Eadgar Ætheling, an English pretender to King William’s throne. Tancred and his companions are trapped in a fierce fight, but it is a fight they cannot win, and are forced to flee as Durham is sacked and recaptured by the English. Tancred is wounded and left without a Lord as Robert de Commines is killed. But, with the help of his friends Wace and Eudo, he makes his way to York (Eoferwic). After passing out for a few days, Tancred awakes in the house of Guillaume Malet the vicomte of York. After he has recovered, Tancred is given a mission by Malet to take his family to the safety of London and to escort his priest Ælfwold to Wilton (Wiltune) with a message. After giving his oath to Malet, Tancred, Wace and Eudo set out on their journey South, and it is not a moment too soon as Eadgar’s army is about to lay siege to York!
On their journey Tancred, Wace and Eudo uncover a secret conspiracy that could unite the entire English race against the Normans and send them back over the Narrow Sea! Tancred must work out who the conspirators are and help recapture York to stop the secret becoming known! But will he and his two companions be able to do it in time? Or will King William and the Normans have a country-wide rebellion to put down?
For me this was a great book. For some time I have been looking for a novel that is based around 1066 and the Norman Conquest and Sworn Sword was just what I wanted. It is not directly based around the Battle of Hastings but does refer back to it as Tancred talks about what happened there. I really liked that Aitcheson decided to base his novel after the battle and more on the Northumbrian rebellions and the ‘Harrying of the North’ because I think that this point in history is as important as the Battle of Hastings. It was a time where the Normans effectively colonised England, interbreeding and intermarrying with the English, further gaining a hold on the Kingdom. Plus the ‘Harrying’ showed King William’s determination to keep hold of his Kingdom by killing thousands of Northerners and creating an elaborate castle system throughout the North to further police and control the English population, (many of these castles are still standing today!) further cementing in the English psyche that they were here to stay! It shows to people that Norman history is not just about 1066 and the Battle of Hastings but has other as exciting and important parts! Plus I enjoyed it because it is based in the North and I’m a Northern boy!
The book itself was well written and I thought Aitcheson paid a lot of attention to detail. For example giving place names their French/Saxon names instead of just their modern English ones. I also liked that some of his characters like Robert de Commines and Guillaume Malet are based on real historical people, further showing that he added more detail to his novel to make it seem that much more factual and enjoyable to read!
As I said I was looking for a good novel about 1066 and Sworn Sword really delivers! I would suggest this book to anyone who is a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories as it is based around similar themes; they both are about the conquest of England (Cornwell=Vikings, Aitcheson=Norman) and both are great reads! And I can't wait to read the sequel The Splintered Kingdom!
For more great reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
Tancred and his men come across a regrouped horde of English warriors and a new Northumbrian army led by Eadgar Ætheling, an English pretender to King William’s throne. Tancred and his companions are trapped in a fierce fight, but it is a fight they cannot win, and are forced to flee as Durham is sacked and recaptured by the English. Tancred is wounded and left without a Lord as Robert de Commines is killed. But, with the help of his friends Wace and Eudo, he makes his way to York (Eoferwic). After passing out for a few days, Tancred awakes in the house of Guillaume Malet the vicomte of York. After he has recovered, Tancred is given a mission by Malet to take his family to the safety of London and to escort his priest Ælfwold to Wilton (Wiltune) with a message. After giving his oath to Malet, Tancred, Wace and Eudo set out on their journey South, and it is not a moment too soon as Eadgar’s army is about to lay siege to York!
On their journey Tancred, Wace and Eudo uncover a secret conspiracy that could unite the entire English race against the Normans and send them back over the Narrow Sea! Tancred must work out who the conspirators are and help recapture York to stop the secret becoming known! But will he and his two companions be able to do it in time? Or will King William and the Normans have a country-wide rebellion to put down?
For me this was a great book. For some time I have been looking for a novel that is based around 1066 and the Norman Conquest and Sworn Sword was just what I wanted. It is not directly based around the Battle of Hastings but does refer back to it as Tancred talks about what happened there. I really liked that Aitcheson decided to base his novel after the battle and more on the Northumbrian rebellions and the ‘Harrying of the North’ because I think that this point in history is as important as the Battle of Hastings. It was a time where the Normans effectively colonised England, interbreeding and intermarrying with the English, further gaining a hold on the Kingdom. Plus the ‘Harrying’ showed King William’s determination to keep hold of his Kingdom by killing thousands of Northerners and creating an elaborate castle system throughout the North to further police and control the English population, (many of these castles are still standing today!) further cementing in the English psyche that they were here to stay! It shows to people that Norman history is not just about 1066 and the Battle of Hastings but has other as exciting and important parts! Plus I enjoyed it because it is based in the North and I’m a Northern boy!
The book itself was well written and I thought Aitcheson paid a lot of attention to detail. For example giving place names their French/Saxon names instead of just their modern English ones. I also liked that some of his characters like Robert de Commines and Guillaume Malet are based on real historical people, further showing that he added more detail to his novel to make it seem that much more factual and enjoyable to read!
As I said I was looking for a good novel about 1066 and Sworn Sword really delivers! I would suggest this book to anyone who is a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories as it is based around similar themes; they both are about the conquest of England (Cornwell=Vikings, Aitcheson=Norman) and both are great reads! And I can't wait to read the sequel The Splintered Kingdom!
For more great reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
November 21, 2017
As a keen reader of historical action fiction I REALLY wanted to like this book - it’s set in a pivotal time in British history & I’ve not really read anything set in this time period before.
However, as I started to read I found the prose to be slightly turgid and the storyline rather meandering with some sluggish and slightly odd character interactions. The main character, Tancred a Dinan - a knight in service of his Norman lord, seemed hard to like either way - not because he seemed flawed or a bad man but because the author seemed to give no reason to either admire or hate him. The characterisation of him , and the main characters, didn’t seem particularly strong. For a leader of a conroi of knights with 10+ years of hard fighting he seemed too sensitive about petty misunderstandings or disagreements with or amongst the other characters.
It was at this point (about a third of the way into the book) that I started to analyze my approach to this storyline to see why I was finding the book so unsatisfactory.
I am an avid reader of the historic fictions of Bernard Cornwell, Robert Fabbri, Conn Iggulden & Simon Scarrow. The central characters in these books are by and large ones of heroic infallibility. They are admired by the men they lead and by their peers. They’re towering, fearsome, presences on the battle field who ultimately know the "right thing to do" even when they are opposed by venal, smaller, meaner men who want to bring them down.
I’d approached this novel thinking that it was this type of heroic military genre that I would find in this book, but set in a post Norman conquest England.
Having realized that this was the baggage I’d brought to reading this new novel I then determined to set this aside and to see if this could possibly be a refreshingly new approach where we have our central character, Tancred a Dinan , who’s not so self assured; doesn’t (yet) particularly stand out from his contemporaries ; a more fallible and maybe more averagely human character of his time.
So I started again to try to see it through this new perspective. However the further I read into the book and the more background I got on Tancred’s military service and character the more I found myself returning to my initial conclusions and I felt again that there was some sort of contradiction between the obvious depth of his military experience and martial prowess and how he was behaving and interacting with the other characters.
A main character should inspire some feeling in the reader love/hate/admiration - anything - but not a sense of ambivalence- I returned again to my initial impression that he was too unsure of himself making too many bad judgements for someone who is supposed to be an experienced warrior. By the end of the book it was obvious that the author was trying to make Tancred into a hero in the Cornwell/Scarrow mold AND and some sort of new type of 'insecure hero'. Whilst this type of characteristion is no doubt technically possible I don’t think it is achieved in this book*. The result is that the reader doesn’t seem to get to know him at all and feels slightly cheated either way.
*a theme I will come back too in Book 2 (yes despite my criticisms I intended to, and have , read book 2 in this series)
So in summary I'd say its an averagely good book but if you are fans of the type of historical fiction in the Cornwell/Fabbri/Scarrow/Iggulden mold then you will feel slightly dissappointed.
However, as I started to read I found the prose to be slightly turgid and the storyline rather meandering with some sluggish and slightly odd character interactions. The main character, Tancred a Dinan - a knight in service of his Norman lord, seemed hard to like either way - not because he seemed flawed or a bad man but because the author seemed to give no reason to either admire or hate him. The characterisation of him , and the main characters, didn’t seem particularly strong. For a leader of a conroi of knights with 10+ years of hard fighting he seemed too sensitive about petty misunderstandings or disagreements with or amongst the other characters.
It was at this point (about a third of the way into the book) that I started to analyze my approach to this storyline to see why I was finding the book so unsatisfactory.
I am an avid reader of the historic fictions of Bernard Cornwell, Robert Fabbri, Conn Iggulden & Simon Scarrow. The central characters in these books are by and large ones of heroic infallibility. They are admired by the men they lead and by their peers. They’re towering, fearsome, presences on the battle field who ultimately know the "right thing to do" even when they are opposed by venal, smaller, meaner men who want to bring them down.
I’d approached this novel thinking that it was this type of heroic military genre that I would find in this book, but set in a post Norman conquest England.
Having realized that this was the baggage I’d brought to reading this new novel I then determined to set this aside and to see if this could possibly be a refreshingly new approach where we have our central character, Tancred a Dinan , who’s not so self assured; doesn’t (yet) particularly stand out from his contemporaries ; a more fallible and maybe more averagely human character of his time.
So I started again to try to see it through this new perspective. However the further I read into the book and the more background I got on Tancred’s military service and character the more I found myself returning to my initial conclusions and I felt again that there was some sort of contradiction between the obvious depth of his military experience and martial prowess and how he was behaving and interacting with the other characters.
A main character should inspire some feeling in the reader love/hate/admiration - anything - but not a sense of ambivalence- I returned again to my initial impression that he was too unsure of himself making too many bad judgements for someone who is supposed to be an experienced warrior. By the end of the book it was obvious that the author was trying to make Tancred into a hero in the Cornwell/Scarrow mold AND and some sort of new type of 'insecure hero'. Whilst this type of characteristion is no doubt technically possible I don’t think it is achieved in this book*. The result is that the reader doesn’t seem to get to know him at all and feels slightly cheated either way.
*a theme I will come back too in Book 2 (yes despite my criticisms I intended to, and have , read book 2 in this series)
So in summary I'd say its an averagely good book but if you are fans of the type of historical fiction in the Cornwell/Fabbri/Scarrow/Iggulden mold then you will feel slightly dissappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews