The Border Reiver: An epic story of rebellion and the price of freedom...

by Nick Christofides

The Border is set amid the wild and rugged landscape of Northumberland, in a dystopian Britain of the near-future, where the government has been toppled by a totalitarian regime, and an independent Scotland has annexed itself from the rest of the UK.

Dealing with timely themes of capitalism, political and economic instability, the corrupting nature of power and shifting national identities, the action centres around the entwined fortunes of Ben Baines - the charismatic leader of the communist-style New Socialist Order (NSO) party that has swept to power in the UK - and Northumberland farmer Nat Bell, a man unwilling to hand over his land and his life to the new regime.

Baines and his party have been voted to power by a public grown weary of a capitalist society, one that has left the masses struggling to survive while the elite enjoy a life of luxury.

But Baines’s new power comes with enormous responsibility, and the leader finds his political and personal loyalties shaken as corruption and violence emerge from within his own ranks in the form of his nefarious deputy Lucas Dart, who sees an opportunity to manipulate one policy for his own gain.

The story begins in the immediate aftermath of the NSO’s landslide electoral victory, with the party taking forceful measures to enforce land reforms that demand that all profits from farming and landownership be shared equally among the population.

The public may be convinced, but Nat and Esme Bell sense that the socialist regime is rotten at its core, and they refuse to play according to the new rules. When the NSO forcibly take their farm from them, Nat Bell sets out on a one-man mission to reap revenge on Baines and his party’s thuggish law enforcers.

Embarking on a violent and dangerous rebellion, he wants to protect not just his old way of life and personal liberty but also the life of his family, whatever the cost.

As Baines loses his grip on power within his party, Bell also unravels, as his quest for revenge veers wildly out of control.

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2015

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Matador for the arc of The Border Reiver by Nick Christofides

Thank you Nick Christofides for this amazing book.

This is a remarkable story, Life and liberty are at stake and because of the courage of one man the entire country begins to question the authoritative regime that has taken over the government. This was so gripping and it was a really fast paced, scary, creepy, interesting and exciting book! i liked how it progressed the writing and structure of it which Nick did was so beautifully done!!

Recommend
4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Linda Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Border Reiver' is a fantastic story from a fantastic writer. And Nick Christofides is that writer. The alternate-world setting is both well-imagined and evoked in a non-intrusive telling way. Instead of beating up the reader with polemics about complex issues like the erosion of civil liberties or the geopolitical conflicts of the region, this book tells its story in a way that is accessible and relevant to people who don't have patience for politics. Told from the perspective of real people dealing with extraordinary circumstances you can't help but be entertained. The main character Nat, starts out a bit two-dimensional but grows to be three-dimensional over the course of the story. Atmospheric at times, this book was well worth the read.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Border reivers were actually historically the warring clans along the Scottish/English border many centuries ago. But then again the past repeats itself. Because no one ever learns from the mistakes of others and oftentimes not even from their own. And yes, those are all old maxims, but nevertheless oh so accurate. And they are the premises that drives on this tale of the near future Scottish rebellion, the near future where Brexit and subsequent collapse of EU has led to a succession of a collectivist socialist party in England led by a well intentioned charismatic lunatic with a diabolically evil second in command. Anyone with even a superficial knowledge of recent past is well aware that neither of those things, socialism of collectivism, work and there are terrifying displays throughout the last century especially of just how tragically and lethally they fail and yet…you know those who don’t learn are doomed to repeat and there they go. The farms are to be taken away from the people who own and work them idea doesn’t sit well with a stoic powerhouse of a farmer named Nathaniel Bell, so he decides to take a stand and, when his family pays a terrible toll for it, he goes on the offensive, a one man war against the new world order that becomes something like a call to arms or even…gasp…a revolution. Is that sounds familiar at all, it’s because it’s basically a plot of Braveheart updated for the modern age. You can just imagine Mel Gibson busting out his best Scottish brogue for this. No blue stripes this time or long locks, but still…it’s all there. Right down to the ending. The only thing is Braveheart for all its shortcomings was actually very entertaining. This book is considerably less so. I wasn’t a huge fan of the author’s writing, it seemed very…mechanical somehow, all descriptions, no inner life, all show no tell in a way, and entirely too much action. I mean, obviously, some was necessary to the story, but the entire thing didn’t really work for me, too militant, too testosterony. Objectively it was decent enough, the writing was perfectly serviceable, the plot had some intriguing ideas, the characters tried for dimensionality, albeit mostly were divided along the good and evil sides pretty strictly, except for the charismatic ne leader who did show some ambivalence. But in the end it just really didn’t work for me, the writing didn’t draw me in, all that action didn’t really excite and the parallels to Braveheart were just too blatant. The thing is the past does recycle itself and with all that’s going on in the world, nothing is no longer off the table politics wise, so the book may have been terrifyingly prescient had it gone for a more dramatic less action driven approach, but as is…William Wallace wants his life story back. Or a credit. Yeah, didn’t like this much, tried, but just wasn’t for me. Kind of had to speed read it just to get it over with. Then again, it has a bunch of good reviews, so it obviously stirred some minds and imaginations. Thanks Netgalley.

[Alethea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t say it’s a pleasant story, but it’s well written, and you should read this book.

Following the collapse of the EU, and by the sounds of it, also capitalist America, England is wedged between the remaining capitalist Scandinavian Arc and the post-capitalist Southern Bloc. The English back idealist Ben Baines and his New Socialist Order, with the hope of creating a collectivist utopia, with true equality. Unfortunately, humans are human, and some people just want power.

Like so many times in true history, the Northumbrian countryside becomes a war zone. Nat Bell, his wife and his daughter are farmers. They are hardly the rich, greedy folk that the NSO purportedly seeks to oust, but they also don’t want to give up the farmland that is in their blood. Sadly, they are not just left in peace to work the land, and without going into plot-spoiling detail, let’s just say that revenge is a truly destructive force.

I feel like this book is an important reminder of human nature, and that no large-scale collectivist government has yet succeeded to immanentise the eschaton. With our current social unrest, and calls for the abolition of capitalism in many Western countries, this is a very timely novel. I’m not saying that capitalism is perfect or even great (that’s a conversation for another day), but real life and idealism unfortunately don’t often intersect where we would like them to.

This book is brilliantly written, albeit very violent. It loses a star partly for the graphic violence, and partly for the fact that I still had so many questions at the end. I feel like it dropped off all too abruptly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been interested in a lot of books (both fact and fiction) about the historical Border Reivers in the late 13th-early 17th cnetury on the Anglo-Scottish border. Despite the title, this isn't directly related to this subject, although a lot of the themes are, and it's clearly inspired by the real Border Reiver ancestors from the earlier era. The conflict and violence is harrowing and well realized and worthy of a read. Dialogue between the characters was wasn't a strength in this novel, although the descriptions of the landscape and the action scenes are superbly conveyed - almost as if a different writer wrote those parts from the spoken dialogue. Seems to set up for a sequel.

[Mark Dare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author, though didn't speak, while he was dropping off copies of this book in Ross on Wye...and I'm so glad I did! This is a fantastic read, brilliantly written, engaging and with an underlying storyline that threads throughout of family values, and preserving ones identity at all costs. Having just recently stayed in Hexham, the scenery was perfectly described...just a great read. I've heard that this is lined up to be made into a film...if this happens, I will have front row seats...excellent!

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. Set against a ravaged European Union, dangerous factions crop up battling over land and resources. A gripping emotional journey that is haunting beautiful as are its words on the pages. Highly recommended.

[mrs a e jayham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Gripping story & scary but believable portrayal of Britain in the not too distant future........
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[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick deserves great praise for this book! A page turner that I will be recommending to friends. I look forward to more books from this author and hope there’s a sequel.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. The Border Reiver by Nick Christofides is a remarkable story of facing off against those who will and have threatened all that a person holds dear. Life and liberty are at stake and because of the courage of one man; an entire country begins to question the authoritative regime that has taken over the government. Nat begins his road to leading a resistance completely without intention, his is a quest for revenge that becomes something more than he imagined. Nick writes in a fluid and natural way that sets a pace of perfection as the story unfolds. The characters are rich, original and endowed with believable traits. The reader becomes drawn into an alternate reality that seems as real as the one in which we live. I have not read a story I was this involved with in a long time. There were times when, as I read the words silently, I found that I was whispering them in my thoughts. A must read for anyone who likes a deep and involved story that keeps you involved. I look forward to reading more from this wonderful new author. This story would make a great movie or TV series.

[Victoria Woolnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book, really fast paced, scary and exciting. the story is epic and believable although I hope this is not a window into the future! supporting all the action are descriptions of the northumbrian landscape which are beautiful and atmospheric. Read it before someone makes it into a film!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this British dystopian story! Well written, lightly amusing at times, well planned storyline with a good strong selection of characters! A really great idea, scary! Lots of action, good pacing & a great energy, what more can I say I did really enjoy it & I do recommend!