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Weaponsmith Chronicles #1
Weaponsmith
Central Europe, 1625. Seven years of the worst war in history – so far – have turned the region into a wasteland where only the sword rules, and only the rats and the bankers grow fat. Roger Hawken, seventeen-year-old Englishman, black sheep of a family of minor landed gentry, leaves his Wiltshire home to take service with a free company of mercenary soldiers based in the Netherlands. Roger’s indiscretions have resulted in his being apprenticed as blacksmith in place of a more gentlemanly occupation, and as a smith he joins the company. Pitchforked into the bloody conflict of the siege of Breda, he finds there is more to his job than shoeing horses and forging short-swords, and starts to make his name as a fighting soldier…
- GenresHistorical Fiction
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2013
45 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 24, 2017
An Outstanding Read!
Well told in a comfortable voice about a period and events I've never known much about. I've seldom written reviews but this book deserves high praise. My thanks to the author.
Well told in a comfortable voice about a period and events I've never known much about. I've seldom written reviews but this book deserves high praise. My thanks to the author.
March 28, 2023
A well planned story
Historical fiction should be placing the imagination of the writer and their story on top of solid recorded events. Mike Cranshaw does that with an excellence that picks the reader up and Carrie’s them along an adventure.
Well done
Historical fiction should be placing the imagination of the writer and their story on top of solid recorded events. Mike Cranshaw does that with an excellence that picks the reader up and Carrie’s them along an adventure.
Well done
March 2, 2015
I chose this book because of its setting - a period of history of which I knew little. I am glad I did because I thought it was very good indeed. The character of Roger Hawken was well developed, and the structure of the independent company was thoroughly believable. The action varied with the story, moving swifltly during the battle scenes, but they were always well described, so I had a pretty good idea of what was happening, even in the most chaotic of situations. The minor characters were very well drawn, so I had a feeling of really understanding the community of the company as well as its structure.
The author does not shy away from the grim reality of warfare, and some of the scenes might be too brutal for some readers, but they are not excessive. This book is up there with some of the best of Bernard Cornwell.
The author does not shy away from the grim reality of warfare, and some of the scenes might be too brutal for some readers, but they are not excessive. This book is up there with some of the best of Bernard Cornwell.
December 14, 2014
The book is interesting in that it follows a good plot and is well written.
It has good energy and pace and is easy to read (despite a number of typo's). I did enjoy it but to get to 4 or 5 stars it needed more detailed battle lines, a deeper view of characters and a broader view of the war in which it is set. You learn things from Abeile and others rather than as a part of the wider storyline, which (I suppose) makes it more realistic but creates a slower story. I would have liked a bit more explannation of the period and what was happening in the higher circles as the war progressed.
Having said all of that it was a good book and at 99p on kindle I cannot complain much - excellent value
It has good energy and pace and is easy to read (despite a number of typo's). I did enjoy it but to get to 4 or 5 stars it needed more detailed battle lines, a deeper view of characters and a broader view of the war in which it is set. You learn things from Abeile and others rather than as a part of the wider storyline, which (I suppose) makes it more realistic but creates a slower story. I would have liked a bit more explannation of the period and what was happening in the higher circles as the war progressed.
Having said all of that it was a good book and at 99p on kindle I cannot complain much - excellent value
July 27, 2015
Boring
To many characters......to many armies.....to many places....the story becomes intertwining with minutia and insignificant bits and any attempt at gaining some knowledge of history through the genre of historical novels, as I like to do, was lost in the author's over emphasis on ramblings and lack of historical insight into battle tactics, actual battles, or even anything about the actual art of blacksmithing at this time in history.
To many characters......to many armies.....to many places....the story becomes intertwining with minutia and insignificant bits and any attempt at gaining some knowledge of history through the genre of historical novels, as I like to do, was lost in the author's over emphasis on ramblings and lack of historical insight into battle tactics, actual battles, or even anything about the actual art of blacksmithing at this time in history.
April 24, 2015
Fascinating historical novel. On the one hand a coming of age story in that 17 year old Roger Hawken in apprenticed out from his "gentleman" farmer life to a mercenary company as a blacksmith. On the other hand the book is a primer on the 30 years war and the politics of the war and of England as well.
July 13, 2015
Excellent Read
The author has done well for a first book. He has an interesting writing style that makes first person an easy to read POV. Historically, I have to assume he's done his research, but this period in Europe is very complicated... at least to me! Blood and guts battle scenes are realistic. Very few mechanical errors.
The author has done well for a first book. He has an interesting writing style that makes first person an easy to read POV. Historically, I have to assume he's done his research, but this period in Europe is very complicated... at least to me! Blood and guts battle scenes are realistic. Very few mechanical errors.
November 28, 2015
Really good read
I liked it a lot. Enough to start the second . Reason I'm lacking stars is it can be hard follow at times. The sentences seem to be a bunch of quick statements through battle. I miss certain things and wonder where some characters come from. But when I get used to it , it is a well told tale, just needs something more
I liked it a lot. Enough to start the second . Reason I'm lacking stars is it can be hard follow at times. The sentences seem to be a bunch of quick statements through battle. I miss certain things and wonder where some characters come from. But when I get used to it , it is a well told tale, just needs something more
October 14, 2015
Good read
A excellent example of well researched author combining a very interesting period of history with a brilliant treaties of fiction.
Well written and very entertaining.
A excellent example of well researched author combining a very interesting period of history with a brilliant treaties of fiction.
Well written and very entertaining.
April 16, 2016
Wonderful yarn!
Great reserve woven into an action filled, captivating good read! Well rounded character bases with accurate historical & cultural descriptions. Very good book!
Great reserve woven into an action filled, captivating good read! Well rounded character bases with accurate historical & cultural descriptions. Very good book!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews