Rebellion

Chronicles of the Black Lion #1

by Richard Cullen

The start of an epic new historical adventure series from Richard Cullen introducing The Black Lion As war approaches, the lion will roar…

1213AD.

King Richard the Lionheart is dead, and his brother, John Lackland, sits uneasily upon the throne of England.

Across the sea, Prince Louis, heir to the powerful King Philip Augustus of France, looks to King John’s crown with a covetous eye.

But King John must be wary of rebellion, as well as invasion, for even his own barons would see their king unseated, and the French pretender put in his place.

Thrust amid this tumult is young Estienne Wace, orphan squire to Earl William Marshal – the greatest knight to ever serve the kings of England, and one of the few men who still holds faith in King John’s rule.

Raised by Marshal as his ward, Estienne must prove himself worthy of his adopted father’s name, but acceptance may be the least of his troubles. War is looming, as usurpers emerge from every quarter, determined to steal England's crown from its most wretched king.

Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2024

About the author

Richard Cullen originally hails from Leeds in the heartland of Yorkshire. He is a writer of historical adventure fiction and fantasy (check out R S Ford on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)

You can find out more about what he's up to, and download free stuff, here:
http://wordhog.co.uk

And follow him on Twitter here: @rich4ord
And Instagram here: thewordhog

Reviews

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction is a genre that always ignites my imagination. The Rebellion is set in medieval England and introduces the reader to Estienne Wace.

Estienne is an orphan who has to spend his life proving his worth. We follow his fortunes throughout the story. He is sent to Earl William, the marshall of England, and the best knight of christendom. He stays under the Earls tutelage until his death. Estienne's life is about to change. Why? Even Estienne himself has no idea.

It's definitely a novel you need to have an interest in history for. Vivid and at times brutal telling of a young boys life. I am a reader who thinks history is so intriguing, and Richard Cullen succeeded in keeping me hooked. He hasn't held back with the details, and it makes a realistic read. The unstable times this is about is clearly described.

The Rebellion is a great new series about a time in history that was ruled by violence and power. I am definitely looking forward to the next book!

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my review.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those that enjoy reading medieval historical fiction with a lot of battlefield scenes than this is the book for you. Unfortunately I prefer a more balanced story between narrative and dialogue. This story was too heavy with narrative for me. Solid writing and decent characters but I found myself skimming through some of the battles because it's just not my thing. Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebellion by Richard Cullen, Richard the lion heart is dead and everyone is scrambling to benefit from it, his brother is now king but Louis of France wants to change that. To make matters worse he doesn’t even listen to his advisers what he does to prevent war only causes it and in the middle of all the chaos we meet Estienne. He is being raised by the night William. For now Estienne is a Squire, but dreams of being a knight and a warrior. Eventually he finds the battles he seeks but it will not be as hard as the personal battles he’s going to face. With great political intrigue battles and also a heartbreaking ending this book only left me wanting to read the next one. Even now having finish the book a few days ago I still find myself thinking of poor Estienne and wondering what is going to happen now. I did want to say I couldn’t believe Isabell did that but then again I didn’t live in those days and times but OMG so heartbreaking. Having said that this is still a great book of battles with it and everything you look for in a book about rival Kingdoms and mid evil warriors.#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #RichardCullen, #Rebellion,

[Ander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres of books. However, i’m very selective of what type of historical fiction books I read. Richard Cullen’s Rebellion is exactly the type of historical fiction novel I love, a medieval epic set in the 13th century during the reign of King John. This is the first book in his new “Black Lion” series where the reader is introduced to Estienne Wace, an orphan who is sent to Earl William Marshal, the greatest knight in England’s history. Under his tutelage, Estienne sees firsthand how close England is to breaking apart under King John’s tyrannical rule as well as a growing threat from his French rival, Prince Philip.

Rebellion is a fascinating, character-driven adventure novel that lets us explore this intriguing time period in English history. Estienne learns what it means to be a knight, and we get to see him grow from a frightened orphan, to a respected, loyal soldier under the command of William Marshal. Cullen does an incredible job of painting a realistic, brutal picture of 13th century England where alliances are fracturing and friends face one another on the battlefield as the barons of England rise up against John.

If you love a character-driven historical epic filled with plenty of political intrigue, battles, and a fascinating time period, Rebellion is a book worth checking out. I'm absolutely going to be continuing this series when I get the chance. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell. Check it out!

[Harry Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow a young character from boy to man with little story of his previous life. He soon grows on you as a reader, the classic ‘good guy’. Honest, brave, strong willed and loyal as a dog. I really enjoyed this book with plenty of battle scenes to keep you wanting more!
A great opening instalment and I look forward for the next!

[CHRISTINE H FLAVELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for William Marshall fans

Thank goodness I have found this author. This book like 'Estienne' is unstoppable, I just couldn't put it down. A real page turner. An orphan given to Earl Marshal, the greatest knight who ever lived, to become his Squire. Then near the end of this book, we find out his lineage. Starting the second book now.

[Unseen Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Rebellion from Netgalley to review.

Rating of 4.5.

Prepare for an exciting and compelling historical adventure from excellent author Richard Cullen with the amazing read Rebellion.

Back in 2024 I was lucky to receive a copy of the awesome historical fiction novel Rebellion by Richard Cullen. Cullen, who entered the historical fiction genre a couple of years ago with his Wolf of Kings series, may be better known to some readers as fantasy author Richard S. Ford, who has written several compelling series over the year, including The Age of Uprising series (check out my review for the first book in that series, Engines of Empire). His latest release, Rebellion, is the first book in his Chronicles of the Black Lion series, that takes readers back to the early 13th century and deadly rebellions against the crown.

Rebellion was an outstanding novel that successfully wrapped around a character-driven tale of adventure and honour with a compelling historical background to form a fantastic and exciting read. Told primarily from the perspective of Estienne Wace, new squire to legendary knight, lord, and royal regent Wiliam Marshal, you see the chaotic events that defined the last few years of King John’s reign, including the First Barons’ War, in compelling detail. For the most part Cullen tells a classic historical coming of age/adventure tale around Estienne, as the young man first learns the ropes of being a squire, and then the reader follows him through several major battles and historical events, either as a fighting participant or a curious observer. This allows for quite a bit of action and excitement, and the young protagonist soon learns the true horrors of war as he grows closer to the Marshal family.

This proves to be a fascinating and very intense historical narrative, and the author enthrals the reader with a great combination of fascinating historical detail, a ton of cool action, and some compelling character work as he features an intriguing mixture of new characters and many established historical figures. I found this combination to work extremely well, and it proved interesting to follow the protagonist as he witnessed the turbulent history of the period and the dark conflicts it birthed. The action flies thick and fast as the story continues, and I loved the awesome array of detailed sequences that emerged, including a lengthy and desperate siege. The author also makes excellent use of some great alternate points of view as the story continues, including a jealous rival to the protagonist, and you are gifted with a compelling and highly intense look at the battles and politics unfolding. While for the most part the main storyline around Estienne is typical historical fiction fare, Cullen throws in some interesting, if not entirely unsurprising, reveals at the end which should lead to some interesting developments in the future. All this helped to produce a very cool story, and its one that I had a hard time putting down at times.

While I love all the above inclusions, my favourite part of Rebellion was the excellent historical details that Cullen worked his cool narrative around, especially as the author has clearly done his research on the subject. It helped that Cullen chose to set his story around a truly fascinating period of English history that hasn’t been too over-utilised in other pieces of historical fiction. As such, readers are gifted with deeply compelling look at the later years of King John’s reign as he lost land and refused to abide by the Magna Carter, and the resulting war that emerged as his various lords rebelled and tried to crown Prince Louise of France as King. Cullen expertly places Estienne in the middle of many of the key events of this period, and through his eyes you get the full picture of the events that led up the war, as well as how it unfolded. I honestly found this to be extremely fascinating, mainly because this war is often overshadowed by other events in English history, and you don’t see it utilised too often in modern fiction. It was pretty damn interesting to see just how close England came to being ruled by a French king, and I honestly didn’t know that the French landed an army in England during this period, nor that Dover was besieged, and it was extremely cool to see it all unfold throughout the plot of Rebellion.

I personally also enjoyed how much Cullen focused on the awesome historical figure of William Marshal in this book, including examining the role that he played in stopping the war and saving England. Marshal, a legendary knight who served several kings, is shown as an older man torn between duty and family, as he tries to save the cruel King John while his son chooses to support the rebelling barons. I have always loved the history surrounding William Marshal and Cullen does a beautiful job bringing this aging example of knightly duty and honour to life and showcasing the complex roles he tried to balance for the sake of England. This portrayal of Willaim Marshal, and indeed all the historical detail in the book, helps to make Rebellion a particularly captivating historical read, and I really appreciated how Cullen worked it all into the story.

Overall Rebellion was an awesome, fascinating and deeply addictive historical fiction novel that I could not get enough of. Richard Cullen did a brilliant job of bringing this historical adventure together, and I had a wonderful time with the cool action and compelling history contained within it. This is a very fun and exciting read that this very easy to get hooked on, and I ended up having an outstanding time with Rebellion. Indeed, I enjoyed it so much that I have already grabbed an early copy of the sequel, Crusade, and I am hoping to read it soon.

For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebellion starts with a gruesome scene, which sets the tone of this fast-paced medieval adventure. The boy whose bolt was the cause of King Richard II – the Lionheart – was being punished, and it wasn't a pretty sight. But at the event, we meet the mercenary Sandre, whose discomfort at the brutality of the punishment is in stark contrast to the unfolding scene. Even with his background, all he wanted to do was return home. But another, more important, task awaits.

Fast forward 14 years, and the story unfolds in Ireland, where young Estienne Wace travels on the death of the man who'd raised him – Sandre. With him, he carries a mysterious letter – sealed – which he shows the lord of the manor. None other than Earl William Marshal, currently banished to his Irish estate by King John.

Marshal is a fascinating character, loyal to the crown even in the face of John's murderous actions, and he makes for an interesting main character. Under his guidance, Estienne learns to become a squire. Not an easy feat for a boy of obscure background, only skin and bones. But his perseverance – especially when having to face bullies – pays off, and soon, with France plotting against the king, they are recalled to England to ward off the French attacks.

Estienne is curious, brave, headstrong, and of course, he makes the mistakes you expect a teenager to make, which makes him realistic to us readers. Some of these lead him into serious trouble – and you wouldn't want to be on King John's wrong side! As he forges a close friendship with William's son, Richard, he is thrown into a tough world of battles and sieges.

The author has packed a lot of action into Rebellion, and Estienne's journey is not an easy one. But with his skill and quick thinking, he manages to make a name for himself.

The challenges to King John's throne and kingdom are well known, and they provide an thrilling backdrop for a squire's coming-of-age. It was a time of much upheaval and uncertainty, yet Estienne learns fast to deal with everything he must face.

Very well researched, Rebellion keeps a fast, relentless pace. It is a gritty read, with very few light moments. Rather, the descriptions of battles and events are detailed, accurate, and not for the faint-of-heart.

An interesting new character on the historical fiction circuit, Estienne's journey will continue in a series of novels, and I'd be curious to see how it continues. Especially with the intriguing ending...

Rebellion is fascinating tale of a boy looking for his place in a world of warfare and danger.

[David Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow.. what an opening. Brutal and gory from the off..

King Richard is dead and John is now on the throne but it’s not going to be easy sailing.. he doesn’t make any friends with his approach to ruling.

We see events play out from the eyes of Estienne, he’s just a young boy but little does he know how his life is about to change. Estienne is sent to Earl William, Marshal of England to foster and to be trained as a squire, to earn his footing in life.

It’s not an easy start.. not every one is as welcoming as Earl William.. in fact at times he sees pure hatred directed towards him but he knows given time he can prove his worth!

There’s a lot of action.. and the pace is fast.. but never rushed..as we see the downfall of King John.. rebellion and war with France.. the whole brutality of war quickly changes Estienne. He’s young and rash but William starts to tame the energy.. gives Estienne the focus he needs.

These early scenes really set the tone and give the depth to Estienne.. you actually see his growth and his nervous energy seeps from the pages.

The book is not for the faint of heart.. its brutal and grisly but never gratuitous.. it’s about Estienne becoming a man in the time he lived

What I really enjoyed was how easily the tale was woven.. John’s reign is a pivotal part of the tale but there’s more..and when the Earl dies a letter is found which changes Estienne’s life once again..

For me this was one of the best balanced books I’ve ever read with the setting and development perfectly mashed together.. there’s so much going on but at the same time so much under the surface and the author teases the reader.. oh my it’s a gloriously wonderful story and sets up the promise of what could be the best series I’ve ever read.. I’ve high hopes for this one.

[M.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebellion by Richard Cullen is the first in a new series featuring young Estienne, an orphan sent to be raised in the household of the fabulous William Marshall in the final troubled years of King John's reign. (You may have noticed that I'm a huge William Marshall fan—I wasn't expecting to find him in this book, so I was very pleased.)

Estienne quickly makes an enemy for himself in the form of one of the other squires while showing his loyalty and fierce desire to succeed. In the process, he wins the high regard of William Marshall and two of his older sons.

The story is very busy. A lot is happening as rebellion against King John builds, and there's the threat of invasion from France, and Estienne finds himself at the heart of much of it. This leads to some good battle scenes and harsh depictions of life in a siege. I did feel a bit sorry for his poor horse and the miles he had to journey. Although I knew the period's history, I still found it very enjoyable to follow Estienne's role in it all. He does witness many of the major elements and, of course, gets to face off against his enemy, although he never discovers his identity.

This is a thrilling start to a new series, and I'm excited to see what happens to Estienne in the future. It is sure to appeal to fans of the genre and those interested in the events of King John's reign. And, we can't forget, it features the fabulous William Marshall in all his wonderful glory.

[Rich Ware · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I was given an advanced readers copy of this. This was a good story plagued with redundancies and false starts. Honestly, I liked the story enough to want to read the next one, and when the action kicked in, it was well conceived and exciting. But there are a lot of threats to conflict that seem like they will lead you into conflict, but then the subject is changed and it's months/weeks later and the same build up is happening (sometimes it seems like verbatim). The characters are strong and believable (one seems to disappear for a third of the book, and I wondered whether he was just forgotten, but he comes back).

In short, some of the false-start/build-ups could be traded for the events that the character who went AWOL faced during the mentioned battles, and it would have made the book stronger.

[Storied Conversation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estienne Wace’s journey as a young squire unfolds amid the political upheavals of medieval England in this raw and immersive historical novel. As he hones his skills in combat and loyalty, the story captures his coming-of-age against harsh realities, though the pacing slows during his teenage years. However, the plot gains momentum after the deaths of King John and William Marshal, when a mysterious letter disrupts Estienne’s life, leading him to join the Knights Templar on a crusade.

Intense and unflinching, this novel isn’t for the fainthearted but is perfect for fans of gritty historical fiction. Cullen's impressive storytelling leaves readers eager for Estienne’s next adventure.

Thank you Boldwood Books, NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and the author for providing with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Cody Marie Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author for me, but it couldn't have been a better book to be introduced by! The storyline follows the coming of age story of a fictional character among historical people and events. Most of those actual historical people just happen to be my ancestors. I love Medieval history to begin with, but when a story is written with such vivid description that you find yourself transported to stand side by side with the characters, well to me, there is no better form of entertainment.

I would highly recommend "Rebellion" to not only history enthusiasts, but readers who enjoy well fleshed out characters who give you adventure, suspense and even intrigue. I can't wait to read Estienne Wace's next adventure!

[Christine Harman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new series of books about The Black Lion. We follow the story of an orphan boy who goes to be a squire to a well respected Knight. The book is very evocative of the period when King John was on the throne. It was a little slow to start with as it established the characters but once it got going the tension was palpable. Very hard to put down as I wanted to know how it ended. I would recommend this book particularly if you are interested in history. Even if you don't know much about the history of King's of England this is a very entertaining read. Exciting, informative and gripping story. With thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this publication.

[Peter Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tale, the characters, the setting.

The writing style was easy to absorb for bed time reading. I liked the absence of unnecessary adjectives and the wonton detail that osme authors feel necessary to embellish thier pages with. I liked the gaps in time, that was welcome. I don't need to know every detail of the protagonist's journey.

I found the jumping around from start to finish and back again, in time, to round out the tale to be a distraction. Probably counts for a 3.8 star review, not a full 4.0.

Good, interesting, well paced. The chronology failed in a 'reveal' and made the ending seem an afterthought.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a captivating book. Reminds me of Phillipa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick in the style of writing and perspective. Huge fan of this style of writing of having another view point other than nobleman's view of this period in history.

Some creative liberties have been taken to help the modern audience understand the time and thinking of that period but it made it better. I hope there is more about this story in the future as the ending is set up for sequels.

[Ms P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely marvelous

Absolutely marvelous. From the first page I was in the book, just right in another time and place.
I love historical fiction and I am disappointed the book is ended although I know it has to.
I am seldom at a loss for words, Mr Cullen has done what few can, made me search for appropriate words.
Fantastic 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Brian Murgatroyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A top read.

Really enjoyed this book.Top action plenty of blood and gore and a top storyline.Superbly written making it thrilling and not highbrow or boring.I recommend the reading of this historic tail with more novels in this series to come.😎😎

[geoffrey rimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical adventure

Good historical novel of the middle ages. It describes a period of history in great detail that I did not know a great deal about. The story was a good read and I look forward to seeing what happens next to Estienne.

[MR NRJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable tale set in the turbulent times after the death of Richard the Lionheart.

[09/01 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the first,in what one hopes will be a great series. A well told tale of a period not often covered.

[Michael Wonnacott · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a read

Absolutely fantastic, can’t wait to read the next instalment, just great not a lot more to say really just read it

[Terry Whale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a bit long winded

I haven't heard a lot of the articles , clothes etc . had to keep looking up what they were or meant.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story centred around Estienne Wace in England starting in 1213 after King Richard the Lionheart passes away and his life and battles leading up to being knighted

[Adam Lofthouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

An authorative, blood-soaked journey through the Middle Ages. Gripping from the first page, Richard Cullen transports you back through time and gives you a front-row seat to one of the most fascinating events England's shores have ever seen.

This book charts the rise (was it even really a rise?) and fall of the infamous King Richard of England. Impeccably researched and well paced, the story centres around a boy named Estianne Wace and the history serves as a background as we follow his journey to manhood.

In many ways it is the classic 'boy to man' story, Estianne very much the good guy, seemingly taking the right turn at every junction. The plotting is good, the setting well set and the sights and smells of the period brought to life.

There's a fantastic little twist at the end regarding Estianne and the person he is, which sets us up nicely for the next book where we get to see the person he will become. And he'll be doing it on a crusade! Everyone loves a crusade, right?!

Highly recommend for lovers of mediaeval history. If you've read recent books by Ben Kane or Ian Ross then this is right up your street!

(And thanks to the author for giving me an early read of the book!)

[The Bookish Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in medieval England during the period 1399-1219 AD, Richard Cullen's novel is not for the fainthearted.

From 1399, the novel leaps into the middle of King John's reign, following the fortunes of an ordinary, nobody: a country-bred orphan lad - Estienne Wace. Estienne is sent to Earl William, Marshal of England and the best knight of Christendom as a foster - a common medieval practice - and to train as a squire until he eventually gains his spurs.

The novel plods through Estienne's teenage years, training and fighting as a squire all through the tumultuous upheavals of John Lackland's reign, before slightly picking up pace after King John's death in 1216 A.D.

With the Earl's death soon after in 1219, and the discovery of a vital letter, twenty-year old Estienne's whole life is once again summarily upended, but he has no clue why.
The book ends with his embarking on a crusade with the Knights Templar.

The author does a fantastic job of hiding until the very end, vital information that drastically changes the reader's views on this entire novel and the main lead, Estienne Wace.

The novel is not a girly read nor for the squeamish. There are no soft, feminine touches. It is about the coming of age of a young lad in mediaeval England and the rites of passage of the times.

It plods, but it's a well written historical novel without major errors of language or history. You end up mildly curious about where Estienne Wace's next adventures will lead him.

I love mediaeval history, especially that of mediaeval England and Richard Lionheart is a favourite. I wish the author had included a historical note. At the end, I fleetingly wondered if there really was an Estienne Wace and if there was, I think his life until this point, must've been like the fictional Estienne Wace's.

However, here's hoping the next book will not plod along, but will proceed along briskly and deftly.

A little less gore, little less heavy handed, a few more deft touches would help me appreciate it even more.

I received an E-ARC from @NetGalley and @Boldwood Books. Thanks. I enjoyed it. The opinions are all mine.

#NetGalley #Rebellion #RichardCullen #BoldwoodBooks