English Knight

Anarchy #1

by Griff Hosker

The throne of England is slipping from King Henry’s grasp. His only son has drowned in the English Channel and the predators are gathering ready to devour both England and Normandy. When the last of King Harold’s Housecarls returns to England to die he brings with him a reluctant hero who will save the kingdom. Alfraed, son of Ridley, is the first of a new breed, he is an English Knight. The novel is set in a time when warlords fight for small parcels of land and treachery is the order of the day. English Knight is a fast moving novel set in that most turbulent of times, The Anarchy. Filled with action and battles this is the first in a series of chronicles painting a picture of a bloody time in English history when the only people you could rely on were your household warriors and you slept with a dagger beneath your bed.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Medieval, War, British Literature

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2015

About the author

I was born in 1950 in Lancashire and attended a boy’s grammar school. After qualifying as an English and Drama teacher in 1972, I worked in the North East of England for the next 35 years. During that time I did write, mainly plays, pantos and musicals for the students at the three schools in which I worked.

When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.

My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.

griff-signature-360x57

Reviews

[Hugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was given this to read... and review

I thought, as a first book, it was an ok start. The writing was weak, poor editing, no craft, but there was a story with historical detail and worthy of review, if only to give the author feedback and so hone his craft.... until, that is, I discovered the author had written and published over thirty books before this one.

The author being so prolific, he must have chosen to churn out quantity over quality, loving his subject more than the writer's art. The author obviously loves to delve into military history, and the self-publishing platform has given him a voice to form stories from it. Bravo for his passion, but as a writer, his voice is not really worth listening to, its squeaky and uninspired.

If thirty books is the size of the writer's journey, I fear where it's been and where it is going to.

The writing was blunt, without any build up of suspense, wordsmanship, or surprise... As such, the whole book felt stilted. The story offered no depth or reward in its telling. There were no interesting plot devices or plot development... and it felt like the author had not structured and developed the novel, but instead sat down and made it up as he went along, lending on his undoubted passion for military history to inform and shape his characters which read wooden and uninteresting.

It was two stars for me (ok) because it was readable... I have read worse by far better writers... and in a way it was honest in its simplicity... an easy read for an easy reader, wanting no complications... 'Janet and John' if you please. I, however, know how to read... and I read to better my understanding of the English language, not to tut-tut, every third line for the lack of syntax and abundance of poor grammar.

[Steve H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m being generous with 2 stars.
The story was okay but the stilted writing was grating to read. No writing craft from this author just a slap it on the page and get it published.

[Greg Hollingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simplistic plot and unrealistic story, augmented by horrific proofreading and lack of editing. Finished it but it was a real struggle.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve recently discovered Griff Hosker’s amazing historical series’ in a last couple of months. And I’m like a little girl in a candy store jumping from series to series! Hahaha! Anarchy, I believe is of the timeline where Empress Matilda and her cousin Stephen fight for the right to rule England. Guess I’ll stick to this one for now.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fact-based English historical fiction, particularly from the medieval period. Authors like Ken Follett, Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Angus Donald are among my favourites. I had never heard of this author despite reading this genre for a good number of years. Not only do I find he has written this 'Anarchy' series with 19 books so far, but he has written a host of other historical series as well. Where have you been hiding!!

This book is just as good, if not better than most of those I’ve read of the aforementioned illustrious authors. It is set in 1120 and follows the life of a young knight and his entourage as he starts a new life in the northeast of England, having spent all his early life with his father in the east Mediterranean area.

The author has kept it simple with no 'posh' words and his description of life during this turbulent period really makes you feel as though you’re in there with him. There are great descriptions of how he builds up his lands, along with his father, and the people who work for him, such as millers, blacksmiths, serfs, archers, masons, and so on. In order to do this, he has to deal with rivals who are determined to see him dead and the various battles and skirmishes are brutally and graphically described without it being a total bloodfest.

A definite 5* performance. I can’t wait to read more, and more ......

[Dave Yeo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the storyline but the spelling and grammatical errors spoilt this book for me, there were many throughout the book. Shame because like I said I liked it. I will not be purchasing the next book for the reasons stated, it seems churning out book after book is more important than quality plus as a trilogy these are very short books that could have been reduced to a two book series.

[Thomas A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure

A good novel steeped in true history. Hosker clearly does his research into the background of the period, which adds to the story. Hard to put down after starting.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historic fiction that takes place in the 12th. century. Riddley, a housecarl of King Harold is returning from Constantinople with his son and followers to Norman England. He is granted a manor in the north of England where he faces treachery and attacks. His son, Alfred, grows from a spoiled teen to an adult becoming an English knight. This is an exciting novel with lots of action and an accurate depiction of life in England at that time. I enjoyed this book so much, I bought the second and third books in the series.

[Starsailor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn't get on with this, the characters didn't seem well defined or likable in any way and there were too many convenient coincidences that weren't well managed.
Meet the King, get given the land, get the right horse, get the right stone mason etc.. etc.. bully and kill everyone in your path. I love historical fiction but it just wasn't credible and I couldn't take to the main character, or any of them really.
Read Bernard Cornwell if you want well written and exciting historical fiction.

[George Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Griff Hosker, written in such a way that it keeps you following the story, and the action sections really get your imagination going. Just starting his follow up to the one as I am hooked again. Thanks Griff, keep up the excellent work...... Highly reccomend this author and his books to everyone who likes good exciting reading...

[David Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not History

While the best of historical fiction writers, Cornwell, Penman, and Adrien, adapt their stories to fiction, Hosker adapts history to fit his story. There are enough remarkable events during the Anarchy that this shouldn't be necessary. The book is, hoever , entertaining

[John Slatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

A great read with an excellent story of betrayal, friendship, and loss. A coming of age story that shows a massive amount of character growth. Looking forward to book 2 in the series.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was interesting to see the perspective of an English knight, travelling and protecting his land.

I do feel a bit let down by the ending though. It felt very sudden and a bit anticlimactic after everything else that had just happened.

[ELzabeth Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks

Anew warrior with a different start and fascinating background. The gradual growth and characters ss their journey unfolds is great

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. It seemed promising at first but found the story too convenient for the main character

[Jason Landrum]

Engaging. love the medieval story line that aligns with history. Seems as a Lord of that time the character has more integrity than any other human at the time.

[Alexander W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hadn't heard of this series, but found this first book brilliant!

[Darek Zawisko · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Graeme Bourke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story opened up with some promise but I was soon puzzled by the authors reason for demeaning his key character. Alfraed is a young man who was raised in Costantinople. He is aboard a ship heading back to England where his father wishes to spend his declining years. While on the ship, Alfraed goes on drinking binge, which created some confusion for me about how the author wanted to present his character. This section has no impact on the story what so ever.
Further on in the book the author does the same thing when Alfraed has a ridiculous argument with a blacksmith, which didn’t fit the character he was trying to portray. Also. Other characters in the book were singing their master’s praises (Alfraed) to all and sundry. It isn’t needed and weakens the key character.
However, the plot is feasible and keeps you reading and the story and writing improved as I read on. If you compare this book with one of Bernard Cornwell’s Viking series you will understand what I have said here. Receiving criticism is a vital component of being a writer, for with out you cannot improve.

[Dennis M · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of mediaeval historical novels this is a good one. A good tale that moves along well with a coherent story line. Lots of detail about living conditions and the lives of ordinary people during the period. One of the reviews I read said it was "predictable," well sure - it's a novel, not a mystery. A bit on the violent side, but it was a violent era and it is the story of a knight after all.

So now I have the next two books in this series on my "to read" list and have discovered three previous series'! Just put the first of the series about our protagonist's father on my kindle. Want to read that series before I continue this one. AND I have added 15 more books from the other series' onto my "to read" list. This is getting out of hand!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit obvious.

Not a bad book but from page 1 it is pretty plain the way the story will go, not sure how so much good fortune could land on one knight in the middle ages but what the heck it is only a story.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Hosker Series

Here is the first of another enjoyable Griff Hosker series with his enjoyable characters, action filled plot. I can't wait to continue into book # 2.

[V. William Turkus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly edited, weak writing, common plot

Very average book with numerous editing issues. Plot was pedestrian and unimaginative. No build up of tension just short blunt descriptions.

[Jan Locher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Perfectly for a day on the beach. Loved it and almost got sunburnd because I didn't think of the Sun.

[Guadalupe Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome book I could not put down.

I love action and adventure, anything of old. It made me want to read the other books. Thank you for making them available..