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Weaponsmith Chronicles #2
Queen's Pawn
April 1635. Europe is seventeen years into the Thirty Years' war, the worst war in history - so far. What had started as a minor dust-up between Protestant and Catholic over the throne of Bohemia has escalated into multi-national conflict laying waste the whole of Central Europe. There's a whisper of peace in the wind, but no one's holding his breath. It's a bad time for the Protestant cause. In 1834 their main force has been smashed by the Spaniards and Imperialists, its leaders dead, prisoner, or on the run. Colonel Frido von Strelitz's mercenary regiment has managed to stay clear of the disaster. Peace may be in the air, but so is a project to grab advantage before peace can break out. An army is assembling on the Middle Rhine, North of Heidelberg. The regiment is on its way to join it, the Montecuoli company in the lead. There is a river in the way, the bridge is controlled by the town of Hollenstedt, and the burghers are being difficult. Roger Hawken, Englishman, ten years in the war, established as second-in-command of the Montecuoli but only too conscious that one day the luck will run out, leads the storm of the town The action will change his life. It sets him on the path to advancement, a place as a small piece on the European chessboard, and a life-altering relationship. It also sets in train a feud that will stretch back to England and in time come close to destroying both Roger and his family.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 3, 2016
A fun read much like Julian Stockwin, O'Brien, Cornwell or Owen Parry
I usually know where an author is going by first or third chapter. While not a mystery, it has interesting surprises and is not predictable. The characters are engaging. The perspective is unique. The authors mentioned earlier I have read most of their books. Crawshaw is on a parr with them. O'BRIEN is better but Crawshaw has that much potential. Two books do not a great writer make. He has done his research. The books should be read in order to be appreciated most. Crawshaw has a message that comes through but so does life. He is not like some who beat you up with it. It is just there. If you like a book that reads fast with plenty of action and with some thought behind it, this is it.
I usually know where an author is going by first or third chapter. While not a mystery, it has interesting surprises and is not predictable. The characters are engaging. The perspective is unique. The authors mentioned earlier I have read most of their books. Crawshaw is on a parr with them. O'BRIEN is better but Crawshaw has that much potential. Two books do not a great writer make. He has done his research. The books should be read in order to be appreciated most. Crawshaw has a message that comes through but so does life. He is not like some who beat you up with it. It is just there. If you like a book that reads fast with plenty of action and with some thought behind it, this is it.
October 2, 2021
Poor
Started off right, but promotion to officer and the supernatural rubbish spoiled it for me, gave it up, very rare for me not to finish a book. I would not recommend these books!
Started off right, but promotion to officer and the supernatural rubbish spoiled it for me, gave it up, very rare for me not to finish a book. I would not recommend these books!
June 10, 2019
Authoritative
A brilliant novel based on a little known episode in our history. Bound together with a a likable hero well done,looking g forward to the next episode aready
A brilliant novel based on a little known episode in our history. Bound together with a a likable hero well done,looking g forward to the next episode aready
June 13, 2020
Rivetting
Spellbinding and lyrical, despite the uncompromising reality. I would recommend this to anyone interested in European military history and politics.
Spellbinding and lyrical, despite the uncompromising reality. I would recommend this to anyone interested in European military history and politics.
March 29, 2023
well written and totally engaging
As historical fiction goes, this series grabs the reader, immerses them in the story, and makes the characters live .
Beyond well done.
As historical fiction goes, this series grabs the reader, immerses them in the story, and makes the characters live .
Beyond well done.
March 2, 2015
Not as good as Weaponsmith, the first book in this series. I was disappointed that it had jumped so far ahead of the first book in terms of time. I would have welcomed the involvement of the Company and Roger Hawken with Gustavus Adolphus, either fighting alongside him or against him, and felt cheated of a key phase in the development of the main character. However the story was good, and once you became used to the characters, they were very believable again. But in the first book you saw characters develop over time, here some of them were dropped in and it took some time to get used to them.
Anyone venturing into this series for the first time with this book might find it difficult to understand initially. Having read the first book in the series, it came reasonably easily to me. A bit of extra backstory would not go amiss. But this was still an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I hope the author does include some books covering the period of Gustavus Adolphus, as that could well start to portray Roger Hawken as the equivalent of Richard Sharpe, only for the Thirty Years War.
Anyone venturing into this series for the first time with this book might find it difficult to understand initially. Having read the first book in the series, it came reasonably easily to me. A bit of extra backstory would not go amiss. But this was still an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I hope the author does include some books covering the period of Gustavus Adolphus, as that could well start to portray Roger Hawken as the equivalent of Richard Sharpe, only for the Thirty Years War.
December 22, 2014
The start of the book was all that I had thought it would be - improved battle mechanics, a great deal faster pace than the last book and some new characters to get your teeth into (Crawshaw does kill people off quite quickly though!). I enjoy the short sentenced battle scenes as they bring the action to the fore and make the book an enjoyable read, easy to put down and pick up again an hour later when life gets in the way of reading.
I also thought there was a little more explannation built into the book this time, especially with relation to the various (and often complex) powers at work in the war in which the book is set. This was helpful. Whilst compex it is well written and only on a couple of occasions did I have to re-read it to understand what the author was tryng to tell me.
I did lose it slightly when the author introduced telepathy into the story. I just didn't think it fitted with the plot or the development of Schmeid as a character and I struggled to get past this as I continued with the story.
Overall another good read and well worth it at the price.
I also thought there was a little more explannation built into the book this time, especially with relation to the various (and often complex) powers at work in the war in which the book is set. This was helpful. Whilst compex it is well written and only on a couple of occasions did I have to re-read it to understand what the author was tryng to tell me.
I did lose it slightly when the author introduced telepathy into the story. I just didn't think it fitted with the plot or the development of Schmeid as a character and I struggled to get past this as I continued with the story.
Overall another good read and well worth it at the price.
November 29, 2015
Not a bad read
Not my usual style of book. I was surprised to find I liked it a lot. Although it can be hard to follow at times, just In the way of who's saying what . At times it was a little slow but I am glad I kept reading . Not bad check it out especially if you like books about war . The cold hard life of mercenary soldiers , a fighting family, dealing with death and destruction at very young ages growing up on the battle field of the thirty years war.
Not my usual style of book. I was surprised to find I liked it a lot. Although it can be hard to follow at times, just In the way of who's saying what . At times it was a little slow but I am glad I kept reading . Not bad check it out especially if you like books about war . The cold hard life of mercenary soldiers , a fighting family, dealing with death and destruction at very young ages growing up on the battle field of the thirty years war.
July 19, 2015
Another Well-done Book
Crenshaw has continued his adventures of the weapon smith with skill and an interesting cast of characters. While his descriptions of battle formations are sometimes confusing, the overall work is well-defined and fun to read.
Crenshaw has continued his adventures of the weapon smith with skill and an interesting cast of characters. While his descriptions of battle formations are sometimes confusing, the overall work is well-defined and fun to read.
June 5, 2015
Different from the first book, in that the Politics of the 30 years war is heavily played. Nevertheless excellent historical fiction and actual military fiction.
February 14, 2016
Fast read with good action
The writing style is abbreviated in its delivery which allows the book to flow quickly. It isn't literary genius but entertaining to read.
The writing style is abbreviated in its delivery which allows the book to flow quickly. It isn't literary genius but entertaining to read.
April 18, 2016
More fun!
Continuance of an excellent & action filled series chronicling the 30Years War. Interesting as well as factual in historical detail.
Continuance of an excellent & action filled series chronicling the 30Years War. Interesting as well as factual in historical detail.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews