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The Fugitive's Sword

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'A compelling blend of historical detail and inspired storytelling.' Tony Riches, author of The Brandon Trilogy.

Autumn 1624


Europe is deeply embroiled in what will become the Thirty Years' War.

A young Philip Lord, once favoured at King James' court, has vanished without a trace, under the shadow of treason.

Outside the besieged city of Breda, Captain Matthew Rider faces the brutal reality of wintering his cavalry in the siege lines, until he crosses paths with Filippo Schiavono, a young man whose courage and skill could change everything.

Kate, Lady Catherine de Bouqulement, arrives in London prepared to navigate the dangerous politics of King James' court to ensure troops are sent to her mistress, the exiled Queen of Bohemia.

Within Breda’s walls, a foundling named Jorrit unwittingly stumbles into a lethal conspiracy when Schiavono hires him, supposedly to help sell smuggled tobacco. But Schiavono’s plans go awry and they are compelled to flee the city, only to be captured at sea.

If Schiavono is unable to prove his loyalty and ruthlessness to a savage Dunkirker privateer captain, both he and Jorrit will face certain death.

Meanwhile, in London, Kate is forced to fight her own battle against those seeking to coerce her into their schemes and finds herself trapped in a terrifying and deadly power struggle.

Driven by violence, treachery, and the sea's merciless tides, their fates collide.


Eleanor Swift-Hook fell in love with the early Stuart era at university. She is also the author of the Lord's Legacy series. She lives in County Durham.

Praise for Eleanor
'Brutal, dark, and brilliant; it kept me gripped from the gruesome opening to the thrilling conclusion.' Jemahl Evans, author of The Last Roundhead.

'Thrilling and powerful battle scenes, an intriguing conspiracy that runs through the books and a dash of romance – the Lord’s Legacy series has it all’ Fiona Forsyth, author of the Publius Ovidius mysteries.

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2024

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About the author

Eleanor Swift-Hook

17 books17 followers
Eleanor Swift-Hook enjoys the mysteries of history and fell in love with the early Stuart era at university when she re-enacted battles and living history events with the English Civil War Society. Since then, she has had an ongoing fascination with the social, military and political events that unfolded during the Thirty Years' War and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. She lives in County Durham and loves writing stories woven into the historical backdrop of those dramatic times.

You can find her on Twitter @emswifthook or learn more about the background of Lord's Legacy on her website www.eleanorswifthook.com.

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Jacquie Rogers.
Author 3 books18 followers
October 12, 2024

Few literary delights are more powerful than discovering how an admired hero was formed. (Assuming I may so describe the mysterious protagonist of Eleanor Swift-Hook’s English Civil War ‘Lord’s Legacy’ series, Philip Lord.)
So I was delighted by Lord’s initiation into a life of daring, rebellion, and leadership, as told in this first of her precursor series, ‘Lord’s Learning’.
Fleeing the court of ailing King James I, the fledgling Philip Lord has to navigate the perils of the Thirty Years’ War, during which he survives battle, siege, piracy and frequent peril. He is seen through the eyes of fellow combatants like mercenary leader Matt Rider, and foundling-cum-smuggler Jorrit Muyskins.

Lord’s story develops alongside that of Kate, (Lady Catherine de Bouqulement), close friend of the exiled Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.
Among minor characters we meet the future Charles 1, and watch and worry for Kate as she struggles to flee entrapment in the corrupt and dangerous Jacobean court.

Eleanor Swift-Hook clearly loves this historical period, and weaves a consummate tapestry of the complex alliances and enmities shaping the early 17th century. I really enjoyed this first part of her explosive new series, and am agog for the next episode.
Profile Image for Mercedes Rochelle.
Author 17 books149 followers
January 27, 2025
I only read one Philip Lord book in the past, so I was not as enamored as some of the reviewers to go back to his younger days. Our young Philip was an intriguing character, seemingly much too brilliant and world-wise for his age of fifteen—as every person who met him for the first time thought. By the end, I, the reader, also expected miracles from him. We immediately learn he is on the run from England (and King James) for some undisclosed offense, and changes his name to Filippo Schiavono as he tries to reinvent himself and find a new profession. I think. I wasn’t entirely sure what he was up to. When he encounters a young boy who inadvertently falls in with him, we get a good description that carries us throughout the book:

The Englishman stopped and looked down at him. Despite himself Jorrit shivered inside. The man’s eyes were as cold as the sea in winter and the turquoise colour of it on a clear day. He wore a sword with a basket hilt and looked as if he would be happy to use it given any excuse.

There is some good action with spies, renegades, and shady characters, then the book abruptly switches us over to someone named Kate, close servant to King James’s daughter, the exiled Queen of Bohemia. Kate has her own mission to accomplish and is continually thwarted by the Duke of Buckingham, who apparently nurses an antagonism toward her. I admit, I was much more interested in Schiavono’s tribulations than Kate’s somewhat less arduous problems, and I found it difficult to switch between the parallel stories. Of course, the two threads finally came together near the end, but even then I was left scratching my head. Perhaps the future stories which I hadn’t read might have shown me the purpose of this open-ended encounter between them. By the time I got to the end of the book, I had totally lost track of the beginning sequence that led to Schiavono’s adventures in the first place, and had to go back and review it. The author plunged us efficiently into the turbulent seventeenth century, and even in the elegant drawing rooms we don’t quite feel comfortable. The story is nicely spiced with preparations for a court masque written by the venerable Ben Johnson, as well as some pirate action guaranteed to set the blood moving. Bottom line, I think I would have enjoyed the book more had I been a follower of Philip Lord’s adventures. As a first-time reader, I had a difficult time keeping track of the characters and the war raging in the background. Nonetheless, the prose moved along nicely and it kept me interested.
Profile Image for Elizabeth John.
Author 13 books271 followers
January 30, 2025
Eleanor Swift-Hook’s The Fugitive’s Sword plunges readers into the tumultuous landscape of 17th-century England and Holland, a time of escalating tensions that would soon ignite the Thirty Years’ War. With a historian’s precision and a storyteller’s artistry, Swift-Hook brings this era to life, skillfully capturing its complexities and emotional depth.
The narrative unfolds through two interwoven threads that build towards an intense and rewarding conclusion. One follows Philip Lord, once a favoured figure in King James’ court, who disappears under the weight of treason accusations and resurfaces as Filippo Schiavono. Outside the embattled city of Breda, Captain Matthew Rider grapples with the harsh realities of wintering his cavalry amid the siege. When his path crosses with Schiavono, the young man’s bravery and ingenuity prove invaluable, setting events into motion that will alter their fates.
Simultaneously, Lady Catherine de Bouqulemont—Kate—arrives in London, tasked with the dangerous mission of securing support for the exiled Queen of Bohemia. As she navigates the treacherous corridors of King James’ court, she is drawn into a web of political machinations that test her intelligence and resilience. Kate’s struggle for survival in an environment rife with shifting loyalties and hidden dangers makes her an unforgettable protagonist.
Swift-Hook’s writing is immersive and vivid, conjuring striking imagery that heightens the story’s tension and depth. She paints a rich historical backdrop while maintaining a gripping pace, allowing the intricate plot and dynamic characters to shine. Authentic dialogue and meticulously researched details lend credibility to the setting, transporting readers effortlessly into the past.
Despite its deep historical roots, The Fugitive’s Sword remains accessible to newcomers, as Swift-Hook adeptly balances historical context with character-driven storytelling. The novel educates as much as it entertains, making the intricacies of 17th-century political and military conflicts both compelling and digestible.
Propelled by themes of betrayal, conflict, and survival on land and at sea, The Fugitive’s Sword is a standout in historical fiction. Swift-Hook seamlessly integrates action and intrigue with layered, well-developed characters, making this a must-read not only for fans of the genre but for anyone who appreciates a masterfully told tale of resilience and adventure.

Profile Image for Ben Bergonzi.
293 reviews4 followers
May 3, 2025
The first volume of a prequel series to this author’s successful set of books set in the English Civil War, this story carries us along with its vigorous account of action and court intrigue. We start at the Siege of Breda in 1625, the Catholic Spanish surrounding the city held by the Protestant Dutch. Into the Spanish lines comes a tall and blonde-haired, turquoise-eyed 15-year-old named Philip Lord, who already has immense competence as a swordsman and vast self-belief. He is entrusted with a spying mission to insert himself into the city, accompanied by an engaging young man called Jorrit. This mission turns into perilous adventures for the two, mostly at sea.

Another plotline concerns Lady Catherine de Bouquelemont (Kate), who is in the household of King James’ daughter, Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia – the court having been forced by the Thirty Years’ War into exile in The Hague. Early on Kate arrives in London with important messages, but after a brief meeting with the elderly King, she has to work hard to save her friends from the machinations of the evil Duke of Buckingham.

A reader unfamiliar with the later series may not be aware of the connection between Philip and Kate and thus find the story a little disjointed. But they should bear with it, because the pair will meet by the end of the book. Whether together or apart, this is an immensely charismatic and skilled pair of protagonists. She can drive a coach and horses, he can take command of a sailing ship; both are able to converse in English, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. His ruthless streak is already well to the fore. The writing shows great empathy with Kate, who has more scenes here than in the later series. An immensely enjoyable rollicking good read.
Profile Image for Terry Birdgenaw.
Author 4 books37 followers
December 27, 2024
Filled with spell-binding action, crisp dialogue, and characters with well-developed arcs and personalities that readers can care about, 'The Fugitive's Sword' by Eleanor Swift-Hook is a wonderfully written historical fiction novel. The book is broken up into two plot lines set in 17th century England and Holland in the lead up to Europe's Thirty Years' War. The first involves a young Philip Lord aka Filippo Schiavono, an Englishman who joins a mercenary troop outside the seized city of Breda. Schiavono becomes an apprentice to the troop's leader until a wayward mission puts him on a privateer ship, where he uses his intellect to become an understudy to the ship's navigation master. The second plot line follows Lady Catherine de Bouqulemont (Kate), the mistress to the exiled Queen of Bohemia, who is the daughter of England's King James. Kate spends most of her time in London drumming up support for troops defending her queen and assisting her friends in the court with various urgent matters. The story bounces back and forth between these two sub-plots until they converge near the end of the book. Filled with vivid imagery, like a character feeling the "fingers of fear creeping up his spine", this work was truly a masterclass in storytelling. This novel is highly recommended not only to lovers of this genre but also to all readers who appreciate a well-crafted story.
Profile Image for Seth Hobbs.
Author 10 books44 followers
December 4, 2024
Wow. You know it is going to be epic when the story opens with King James himself pondering the issues of the Stuart Monarchy. As usual, Swift-Hook paints a vivid picture of historical periods that most folks are not well-versed on. This is a shame, however, as the 1600s period and English Civil War Era present some of the most exciting and pivotal moments in history-- not only history that would affect England, but also the entire world, when considering their influence. I learned that much of this treasure trove of history remains untouched, years ago, when I picked up some books about the Sieges of Vienna and the power of the Ottoman Empire, which we rarely see depicted in fiction or on screen. Anyway, the story revolves around the life of Philip Lord and fills in some gaps and mysteries about his early years, among several other men and ladies with intriguing or suspenseful stories. There is a good bit of suspense and action-- a little something for everyone. Some folks get bogged down by too many characters, but I think the author balances it out nicely. If you like well-researched historical fiction with great dialogue and good pacing, you will enjoy any of the books from this author. Recommended.
Profile Image for Leo Anthony.
Author 4 books7 followers
October 26, 2024
A very compelling adventure and historical narrative, albeit fictionalised. I was much impressed by the depth of descriptive and historical detail accompanying the characters and the unfolding plots and subplots. It all meshes together in a pleasing way, keeps the reader in a state of anticipation and keen to turn the pages until the very last.

The author has also withheld the anticipated romantic finale, no doubt to encourage one to read the next instalment. The characters of Phillip Lord and Lady Catherine are neatly interwoven with intriguing descriptions of life at Whitehall amongst the various earls, dukes, barons and so forth. A palpable sense of intrigue and menace permeates the air, offset by charming descriptions of preparations for a Masque Ball, life aboard a Dutch frigate and King Charles' musings.

I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to anyone keen on this strand of historical fiction.
Profile Image for Nivedita M.K..
Author 1 book2 followers
November 25, 2024
The Fugitive’s Sword by Eleanor Swift-Hook is a must-read for history lovers, thanks to its rich and immersive portrayal of 17th-century European history. The story follows Philip Lord (young Schiavono), a soldier and pirate, and Lady Catherine de Bouqulement, who embarks on a perilous mission for the exiled Queen Elizabeth. Their paths ultimately collide in a thrilling, action-packed narrative.

Eleanor's attention to historical detail brings the era to life, with vivid settings and complex character arcs. While some parts of the narrative may feel confusing at times, it doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. The alternating storylines and historical depth keep the pace moving, offering a captivating mix of adventure and danger.

This book delivers an explosive combination of history, intrigue, and suspense, making it a fantastic choice for fans of historical fiction.
Profile Image for Ann Birdgenaw.
Author 9 books120 followers
October 18, 2024
Since I thoroughly enjoyed the authors' "The Mercenary's Blade", book one in the Lord's Legacy series, I was excited to read this installment. I was not disappointed! Eleanor Swift-Hook has the inside track on 17th century European history. Not just the perspective of the Kings, Earls and noblemen and their power struggles, but also the Queen's, Ladies, Duchesses and their limited freedoms of the times. This book is the backstory of Philip Lord (the young Schiavono) and his trials and tribulations as a soldier and pirate on the high seas. Told in alternating chapters with the story of Lady Catherine de Bouqulement, who is on a mission to discover information for (exiled) Queen Elizabeth. She has many of her own adventures and close calls until the two paths collide. Explosive historical fiction!
Profile Image for Balroop Singh.
Author 14 books82 followers
October 21, 2024
‘The Fugitive’s Sword’ begins with King James and switches between the past and present complications before him. Too many characters are introduced within the first few pages and a reader who is unfamiliar with the History of Europe finds it difficult to digest the bulk of information that is dumped about the characters.

Slow in the beginning, the story picks up pace and becomes engaging with the introduction of Lieutenant Schiavono, a Spanish soldier, who pretends to be a tobacco smuggler. The conflicts on the ship have been vividly drawn. As the parallel plots unfold, the mystery of the book and Kate’s kidnapping adds another dimension to the story. However, too many unwanted details are tiresome. The characters’ development has been ignored; only Jorrit grows with the challenges he has to face. I like historical fiction, but this one didn't enthrall me.
Profile Image for Ellie.
9 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2024
A thrilling adventure

Everything I look for in an adventure is here in this book, and I loved it. As a prequel to the Lord's Legacy series, it follows the young 'Schiavono', an enigmatic character who in this story is still a young man, and the fugitive of the title. His story is told through the eyes of a variety of brilliant and likeable characters.

As with all of this author's books, the story is full of suspense, with danger lurking around every corner. The beautifully evoked setting takes us to the court of James I and beyond England's shores to the Netherlands. And that is just the beginning. I personally love stories that take you to new places, making them seem vibrant and real, and The Fugitive's Sword delivers that.

Having already enjoyed Lord's Legacy, I was excited to find out more about the characters' earlier adventures. However, I'm certain this book will also be just as compelling for any readers who are new to the Schiavono's world.
Profile Image for Laura Koerber.
Author 18 books248 followers
November 21, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! The writing is smooth and well-edited, the settings are detailed enough to put the reader into the story, and the characters are fully developed--which is all great, but what really makes it to me, was the plot. I'm not that into plot-driven books. I have to care about characters to care how the plot comes out. In this book, I did care, so I was hooked and sucked into the fast-moving, intricate convulsions of the story.

It's a historical drama, and aspects of the setting and background are historically accurate. Dialog for this kind of book can be difficult: How to make the conversations sound appropriate to the time without being incomprehensible or ridiculous? I think the author did really well--the dialog feels natural.
A very entertaining read.
Profile Image for Moona.
986 reviews74 followers
May 3, 2025
The Fugitive’s Sword is a richly layered historical thriller set against the grim backdrop of the Thirty Years’ War. Eleanor Swift-Hook weaves multiple narratives—ranging from treacherous political games in King James’ court to gritty survival on the war-torn fields of Europe—with remarkable precision. Through the lives of Rider, Schiavono, Kate, and young Jorrit, the novel explores loyalty, betrayal, and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Vividly atmospheric and steeped in historical detail, the story keeps tension high while delivering deeply human moments amidst chaos. Swift-Hook’s command of character and plot makes this a gripping and immersive read. A compelling blend of espionage, action, and court intrigue for fans of intelligent, fast-paced historical fiction.
Profile Image for Jennifer Withers.
Author 2 books31 followers
October 27, 2024
A very enjoyable blend of adventure, action and historical fiction. The amount of research that must've been done around this era is really impressive, evoking a setting that is beautifully and vividly drawn, making me feel like I was there and a part of the action. The pace of the story is a bit slow at the start with the introduction of a lot of characters which was a bit difficult to keep track of in the beginning, but once the story got going, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Profile Image for W.C. Quick.
Author 21 books67 followers
January 31, 2025
A pleasure to read

The author is a wordsmith. If you have explored any of the worlds created by Eleanor Swift-Hook you will agree. This first installment of her latest Historical Fiction series is driven by a close third POV, using character dialog and action scenes.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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