What do you think?
Rate this book
The Broken Road
'There's going to be a crusade. A boy came to the cathederal and preached. He's going to lead a crusade of the children . . .'
Rufus is an apprentice in his father's goldsmith workshop in Cologne. He is one of many who fall under the spell of Nick, a charismatic preacher whose promise to lead a journey to the Holy Land is mesmerising. Mesmerising enough for hundreds to leave family and safety and follow him. But despite Nick's charisma, he is flawed, and the crusade that Rufus embarks upon with so many others turns, terribly, into a journey of failed dreams and broken promises.
Rufus is an apprentice in his father's goldsmith workshop in Cologne. He is one of many who fall under the spell of Nick, a charismatic preacher whose promise to lead a journey to the Holy Land is mesmerising. Mesmerising enough for hundreds to leave family and safety and follow him. But despite Nick's charisma, he is flawed, and the crusade that Rufus embarks upon with so many others turns, terribly, into a journey of failed dreams and broken promises.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
B.R. Collins
9 books80 followersB.R. Collins is a graduate of both university and drama school. Her first novel The Traitor Game was published to much acclaim and was both winner of the Branford Boase Award 2009 and longlisted for the 2009 Carnegie Medal. Bridget lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
A Trick of the Dark, published by Bloomsbury in September 2009 and in paperback in September 2010, is her extraordinary, electric and tautly thrilling second novel.
Tyme's End, published by Bloomsbury in January 2011, is a psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats.
Gamerunner, published by Bloomsbury in July 2011, is a stunning departure into a future world of computer gaming.
The Broken Road, published by Bloomsbury in February 2012, is a powerful new novel based around the Children’s Crusades.
Read B R Collins's blog here
Watch the book trailer for Gamerunner
A Trick of the Dark, published by Bloomsbury in September 2009 and in paperback in September 2010, is her extraordinary, electric and tautly thrilling second novel.
Tyme's End, published by Bloomsbury in January 2011, is a psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats.
Gamerunner, published by Bloomsbury in July 2011, is a stunning departure into a future world of computer gaming.
The Broken Road, published by Bloomsbury in February 2012, is a powerful new novel based around the Children’s Crusades.
Read B R Collins's blog here
Watch the book trailer for Gamerunner
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 4, 2012
'The Broken Road' is set in 1212 and is a fascinating take on the Children's Crusade which involved a band of children setting out on their own to try to rid the Holy Land of Muslims. There are various accounts of what actually happened but B.R. Collins has chosen to concentrate on the Crusade from Cologne to Genoa and then Rome.
The book reminded me slightly of 'Crusade' by Linda Press Wulf, which is also an interpretation of the journey but which focused on the more well known version of events with the children eventually being sold into slavery. It's incredible to imagine all these young children and teenagers setting out on such a long journey where death and hardship is waiting around every corner and so it was interesting to read such a captivating account of an event which robbed mothers and fathers of their offspring.
The story focuses on Rufus, who is a likable and appealing narrator. He tries to do what he believes in but he also always tries to do what is right. He's captivated from the start by the charismatic Nick, who leads the group on the road to Jerusalem. Nick believes in the Crusade but is often blind to much of what's happening around him and doesn't notice the horror of children dying along the way and many having to be left behind because they're too weak to walk any further. These are children who are starving, thirsty and exhausted at an age when they should be at home with their parents. I thought that Collins perfectly captured the excitement and exhilaration they experience when they initially get a taste of real freedom for the first time and then the reality that gradually begins to permeate their consciousness when their siblings and friends begin dying.
God is another major character in the book and I thought it was a unique idea to introduce him through Rufus's eyes and as a real and substantial character in his own right. There's a religious and spiritual theme present throughout the whole story and blind faith plays an enormous part in the actions of many of the children.
'The Broken Road' will appeal enormously to fans of historical fiction and is both an informative and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more by the British author B.R. Collins in the future.
The book reminded me slightly of 'Crusade' by Linda Press Wulf, which is also an interpretation of the journey but which focused on the more well known version of events with the children eventually being sold into slavery. It's incredible to imagine all these young children and teenagers setting out on such a long journey where death and hardship is waiting around every corner and so it was interesting to read such a captivating account of an event which robbed mothers and fathers of their offspring.
The story focuses on Rufus, who is a likable and appealing narrator. He tries to do what he believes in but he also always tries to do what is right. He's captivated from the start by the charismatic Nick, who leads the group on the road to Jerusalem. Nick believes in the Crusade but is often blind to much of what's happening around him and doesn't notice the horror of children dying along the way and many having to be left behind because they're too weak to walk any further. These are children who are starving, thirsty and exhausted at an age when they should be at home with their parents. I thought that Collins perfectly captured the excitement and exhilaration they experience when they initially get a taste of real freedom for the first time and then the reality that gradually begins to permeate their consciousness when their siblings and friends begin dying.
God is another major character in the book and I thought it was a unique idea to introduce him through Rufus's eyes and as a real and substantial character in his own right. There's a religious and spiritual theme present throughout the whole story and blind faith plays an enormous part in the actions of many of the children.
'The Broken Road' will appeal enormously to fans of historical fiction and is both an informative and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more by the British author B.R. Collins in the future.
March 31, 2014
Had enough story bits to make it an interesting read but I can't believe just how boring this is (did I read the same book given everybody else's ratings??). Gave up a third way in.
December 22, 2021
I wish this had been written as a story for adults. Faith, doubt, belief, God, love, passion, freedom are all here, as is a lot of mud and filth and blood. The story flags in the middle but is topped and tailed well.
July 5, 2022
Hard going even though the history of this ancient children’s crusade was fascinating. Quite a lot of violence, brutality and gore for a supposedly young people’s book. Flagged in the middle but the final three chapters were satisfying and especially the author’s afterword.
Read
March 17, 2015'There's going to be a crusade. A boy came to the cathederal...he's going to lead a crusade of the children . . .Rufus falls under the spell of Nick, but the crusade turns horribly wrong. Historical /Crusade
December 24, 2014
I found this difficult to read, as the writing did not make an interesting story. However I enjoyed the back story, which made the book more bearable, and the ending, which I enjoyed.
August 7, 2015
You know those books where you persevere and just keep reading, waiting for the climax... and then there isn't one? This was one of those books. I needn't say anymore.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews