On a Sword's Edge: A Historical Novel of Scotland

by J.R. Tomlin

Scotland. 1263. The scent of rain mingles with the smoke of campfires as word the Norse are coming…When the fearsome Norse fleet is espied approaching Scotland's shores, carrying the greatest invasion force ever seen, the dread of battle settles over the land. Summoned to Ayr Castle, sixteen-year-old squire William Douglas joins the Scottish forces in a desperate defense. Now tasked with serving his newly knighted brother, Hugh, William has little time to dwell on the thrill of his first real taste of war.

And once the Norse's menacing line of ships finally touches shore, Scotland's fate may rest on more than noble titles and knightly deeds— it'll take the mettle of every soul on the ground for them to triumph.

Set against the wind-swept coast of medieval Scotland, On a Sword's Edge takes you right into the center of The Battle of Largs alongside a mere – yet fearless – squire. Readers who enjoyed The Last Kingdom or Outlaw King will also love this fast-paced tale of gritty battles and a hero with much yet to learn.

Coming soon, the next in the series, Call of the Cross.

Genres: Historical Fiction

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2024

About the author

J. R. Tomlin is the author of nineteen historical novels.

She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of the Bruce and Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small, to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.

When JR isn't writing, she enjoys hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to spending time in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.

Reviews

[Paul Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can hear the Scottish brogue in this delightful glimpse of Scotland yet again on the brink of war. Standout characters and a stunning array of descriptive imagery fuel this page-turning tale, drawing the reader into the mindsets of the combatants and the sometimes harsh unforgiving landscapes. Come along with William, and learn what it takes to become a warrior. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Link to Coffee Pot Book Tour
https://hooverbookreviews.wordpress.c...

[Linnea Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a Sword’s Edge by JR Tomlin sweeps you into medieval Scotland where the Norse King Haakon threatens to invade. The coming-of-age historical fiction is told from the first-person perspective of William Douglas, the sixteen-year-old squire to Sir John Stewart. Like most young men his age, William seeks glory in battle. When Haakon’s ships reach the seacoast near Largs, many of his ships aground. William gets his first taste of battle as he watches his oldest brother fall in battle as the Scottish forces under the sovereignty of King Alexander III successfully force the Norseman into retreat. William only has a short time to grieve his brother’s death and to celebrate the victory when King Alexander summons his troops to assert Scottish control over the Isles of Man and Islay.

Author Tomlin has demonstrated meticulous research on this period of Scottish history that is less known. Not only are the battle scenes riveting, but the story vividly describes the customs and culture of Middle Ages Scotland. The colloquial language spoken at the time is woven into the dialogue to give the story a realistic depiction of the era. A glossary of words helps the reader navigate through the dialogue, which becomes more natural to read by the end of the novel. The epic battle scenes are riveting, but a respite in the book gives a flavor of everyday life and mores through the eyes of William. Funeral rites, Christmas traditions, and festive celebrations for the army are brought to life.

William is an engaging character who, in the beginning, has naïve ideals about knighthood, honor, and warfare. However, his experiences prepare him for the ultimate duties of a knight who must lead his men with courage and sound judgment. William’s experiences culminate in a satisfying ending in which he embraces the qualities of a courageous knight who leads by example. The book has added features such as a list of characters and the author’s note, providing additional insight into the historical events.

For anyone interested in learning more about medieval Scotland, I recommend On a Sword’s Edge for its gripping battle scenes, realistic depiction of the historical events, and the compelling, coming-of-age story of a squire taking on the legacy of an older brother whose life is tragically cut short.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Book one of the new series William the Bold, our protagonist is still a squire, trying to keep track of all his new duties—and still excited about the possibility of doing something heroic in the upcoming fighting. Who is this William? A younger Douglas son, intent on making a name for himself:

There would be a battle!

If I were allowed to follow him into battle, it would be my duty to have Sir John’s spare weapons and spare mount, and I would guard his back and any Norse who attacked him. My heart raced as I imagined saving him from some marauding Norseman who would try to attack him from behind. My sword would swing, and the Norseman would fall dead under my horse’s hooves. I would fight so magnificently that the king would decide to knight me!

Of course, he would soon be undeceived, and we have a coming-of-age story for William who learns pretty quickly how frightening battle can be. But overall the Scots do pretty well for themselves against the marauding Norse. Their king, Alexander III, is a young man and newly crowned, who has to prove his own mettle. King Alexander ignores advice from older and wiser heads, but so far, he’s holding his own. Predominately at issue is the Norse infringing on Scottish territory: first the islands of Orkney and Shetland (among others), which they intend to keep, then the mainland, which Alexander will defend at all costs. This novel ends pretty abruptly, making it an introduction to what promises to become an intricate series.

[AWheeler2023 · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a Swords Edge by J.R Tomlin is a very interesting book. I loved the historical aspects and appreciated that the author put in a lot of effort to make this book realistic for its time period. The only thing I would caution is there is a bit of swearing (though very minimal) and there is some descriptive sexual content. The content is in a scene leading up to a fade to black, so no actual sex scenes are described. Also, there is a lot of violence and death, so I would caution anyone who is sensitive to descriptive battle scenes, gore and death. All in all, this is a very interesting book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction, Scottish or Norse history, coming-of-age stories or medieval wars, battles and politics.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This not being a book I would usually choose for myself, I was interested to have been gifted it as a #goodreadsgiveaway. I really enjoyed the story line, building the characters through social and battle times. The landscape and life of 1200s Scotland shone through vividly, and we were brought on a ride-along in the fight to free Scotland from the Norse.

[M Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical fiction!
This story really stands out for me. It's a deep dive into the medieval period when the English and the Vikings were wrestling for control of England and the small islands surrounding her.
No spoilers from me. Take my word, this is a richly textured story and you won't be disappointed.
4.9 stars because I am picky about certain things.
You will love reading this!

[William J. Parr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the adventure J R wrote for her readers. Once again she brought Scotland and her inhabitants to life. While I look forward to the next adventure, I will now start researching this period of Scotland. Thank you J R.

[John M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy, simple read. So easy that I kept thinking, "YA". Even the fights weren't terribly bloody. My biggest complaint, however, is that, even though Tomlin included a glossary, he did not define a lot of the Scottish brogue that appeared on every page.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Goodreads Giveaway
not my usual type of book, but well written, was able to follow the storyline and intrigued me enough to look at more like this