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Hengist- People of the Horse #2
Rory: Modern-day, Medieval-alternate-world
Stick his neck out to save the so-called friends who betrayed him? Would you? Archer’s reward for being the most worthy student in his graduating class is to lose his home and all his friends. Sent from his tranquil, medieval life to aggressive, modern-day England, Archer’s mission is to report back about cars, computers and even chocolate. The other foster boys try to break his spirit by threatening him with his own bow – they have no idea they are dealing with a trained warrior. He teaches them honour, integrity and archery; they teach him how to get in trouble with the authorities. Forced to move foster homes, things go downhill as pink-haired Mandy takes a fancy to his athletic body - his warrior defences are useless against her obnoxious wiles. She seems determined to drag Archer into the shady world of Stiff and his gang of teenage shoplifters. This swashbuckling time-travel adventure will appeal to fans of archery, heroic underdogs who win out, and plenty of (British) humour. Interview with the Author: Q. What’s this about a prequel series? A. I’m so excited about this. Called Nature’s tribe, these stories go right back to 14th Century England, when plagues and witch-hunts meant it was not a great time to be a midwife. Especially one using the magic of herbs and earth energy in her healing. But Senna is no ordinary woman, and when she befriends cousins Jarl and Lyran, something magical is set in place which has far-reaching ramifications. The books so far #1 - Three Handfastings and a Burial #2 - Twelve Days of Yule #3 - Eight Sabbats of the Sun New for February 2019! But there are at least 3 more in the pipeline. Guess I know what 2019 is all about. Q. How do the Hengist stories fit together? A. It's a little different than many series, because each book features a different hero, allowing a glimpse into each of the main clans in this world. Archer, the Warrior, introduces us to a world where teens experience jousting, sword-fighting and Beltane rituals instead of mobile phones, social media and reality TV. Rory, the Anglecynn, is the only person who understands the way Archer thinks when he's sent to a different world on an information-gathering mission. Reagan, the Magi, has to solve a DaVinci-style puzzle to figure out what is causing the increasingly dangerous accidents threatening his village. Slater, the Outil, has more links to the magic rituals held at the henges than the stone-craft required to maintain them. Until he's torn back in time to watch them being built. Geraint, the Renegate, hates his father's patriarchal ideals about trials and suffering, and is grateful when Siany finally brings some female energy into his life. But their pre-ordained meeting has far-reaching ramifications when everything they know and love is threatened by darkest Evil. Q. So it's set in medieval times, then? A. Not exactly, although you may think so as the people ride in horse-drawn carriages, have no electricity, and are governed by the seasons. Like in Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. Q. Do you need to have read all the previous stories to enjoy each one? A. No. Each story stands alone, however there are a couple of references back to characters/action from previous books, with sufficient explanation to get the sense of what's going on.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2010
10 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Jacky Gray
38 books27 followersAs so often happens with these things, Archer was born while I was in the middle of writing another book. Events were conspiring to ensure I wrote this story, beginning with a trip to Warwick Castle where I stood enthralled with my friend and our kids while the Warwick Bowman talked us through the history of the long bow. He treated us to the ultimate demonstration, firing 100 arrows in rapid succession through a loop of rope, approximately the size of a human head. The warrior within me awoke - I was hooked.
I had recently read the first two books in Bernard Cornwell’s excellent Grail Quest series – these obviously made a big impact. I started writing it in march 2009; 18 days and 56,000 words later, Archer’s tale was told. After a year spent mostly in Wessex, the next four books were drafted and I was ready to go back and start editing the first two books.
I am currently writing the 6th book in the series and wondering if this will be the last.
I had recently read the first two books in Bernard Cornwell’s excellent Grail Quest series – these obviously made a big impact. I started writing it in march 2009; 18 days and 56,000 words later, Archer’s tale was told. After a year spent mostly in Wessex, the next four books were drafted and I was ready to go back and start editing the first two books.
I am currently writing the 6th book in the series and wondering if this will be the last.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 13, 2020
Archer, a young teenager from an alternate medieval England, travels to modern England to learn from and blend in with the current culture. He’s placed with several foster families with other kids his age. The first is a house with a group of teenage boys who all gang up on him, and he has to weather their abuse and figure out how to stand up to them without using his strength against them, and make friends if he can. The second family has several punk girls who gang up on him, and one decides she wants him, whether he likes her or not, presenting Archer with the problem of how to stand up and deal with girls when he has been taught to always act the part of a gentleman.
I thought the first book was a fascinating look at a medieval culture from the point of view of a young teenager and his group of friends, and all the activities they took part in. It was a bit slow at times, since I wasn’t really certain what the overall plot objective was. This one as well seemed to ramble as it followed his daily life and dealings with the other kids as he tried to fit in as being from a different culture, and I fought to find exactly what the objective was besides just trying to fit in. I’m a fantasy fan, and where I liked the other book, this one hewed too close to being just a teenage drama without really any actual fantasy for my personal tastes. (And I’m really not a fan of finding bullying in books). It was an interesting look at teenage life and trying to fit in and how to deal with various bullies. I loved how out of his depth Archer was with the second family and trying to deal with all of the girls in the family. He didn’t have much contact with Kellie, but Mandy was certainly a handful, and there was also Rory. I loved that he grew from the experience. One thing I don’t get is why the book is named for Rory. I mean, she doesn’t appear until halfway and then stays pretty much a side or background character without being a main player like Mandy. I expected something more to happen with her character with the book being named after her, so I was surprised when the book came to the end without her character popping to center stage. And I never really figured out why the council felt it important for Archer to learn about the modern world in the first place and went to all the trouble to send him to another world and place him there, especially when they apparently already had liaisons there to begin with.
I thought the first book was a fascinating look at a medieval culture from the point of view of a young teenager and his group of friends, and all the activities they took part in. It was a bit slow at times, since I wasn’t really certain what the overall plot objective was. This one as well seemed to ramble as it followed his daily life and dealings with the other kids as he tried to fit in as being from a different culture, and I fought to find exactly what the objective was besides just trying to fit in. I’m a fantasy fan, and where I liked the other book, this one hewed too close to being just a teenage drama without really any actual fantasy for my personal tastes. (And I’m really not a fan of finding bullying in books). It was an interesting look at teenage life and trying to fit in and how to deal with various bullies. I loved how out of his depth Archer was with the second family and trying to deal with all of the girls in the family. He didn’t have much contact with Kellie, but Mandy was certainly a handful, and there was also Rory. I loved that he grew from the experience. One thing I don’t get is why the book is named for Rory. I mean, she doesn’t appear until halfway and then stays pretty much a side or background character without being a main player like Mandy. I expected something more to happen with her character with the book being named after her, so I was surprised when the book came to the end without her character popping to center stage. And I never really figured out why the council felt it important for Archer to learn about the modern world in the first place and went to all the trouble to send him to another world and place him there, especially when they apparently already had liaisons there to begin with.
November 5, 2015
Always a Warrior – A review of the novel ‘Rory’
“Obey the principles without being bound by them.” – Bruce Lee
Author Jacky Gray’s novel ‘Rory’ is the follow up story of Archer, a brave teenage warrior from an alternate medieval England. His council back home sends him to present-day England to observe and report about the inhabitants and their lifestyle. And as this ‘alien’ mingles with the common folk, he learns a whole new way of speaking & living and in return imparts important life lessons to those around, values that seemed to have been lost in the race to become modern and civilized.
The basic idea of a person from a different age interacting with the elements and people of the present lends itself to create many wonderful plot lines. And the author has utilized this beautifully to create a story about a young man coming to grips with changes happening both internally and externally. The book does a great job in making you question your life choices through subtle hints & questions the lead character asks. Rory also has plenty of laugh out loud moments as the author uses her keen observation to wriggle out laughs from even the unlikeliest of sources. It also delivers a strong statement against bullying, without preaching and the timing couldn’t have been more apt.
Archer is the kind of hero who inspires you to awaken the hero in you and should be a hit with readers everywhere.
“Obey the principles without being bound by them.” – Bruce Lee
Author Jacky Gray’s novel ‘Rory’ is the follow up story of Archer, a brave teenage warrior from an alternate medieval England. His council back home sends him to present-day England to observe and report about the inhabitants and their lifestyle. And as this ‘alien’ mingles with the common folk, he learns a whole new way of speaking & living and in return imparts important life lessons to those around, values that seemed to have been lost in the race to become modern and civilized.
The basic idea of a person from a different age interacting with the elements and people of the present lends itself to create many wonderful plot lines. And the author has utilized this beautifully to create a story about a young man coming to grips with changes happening both internally and externally. The book does a great job in making you question your life choices through subtle hints & questions the lead character asks. Rory also has plenty of laugh out loud moments as the author uses her keen observation to wriggle out laughs from even the unlikeliest of sources. It also delivers a strong statement against bullying, without preaching and the timing couldn’t have been more apt.
Archer is the kind of hero who inspires you to awaken the hero in you and should be a hit with readers everywhere.
June 16, 2014
I really enjoyed Archer, the first book in this series. But I have to say: I enjoyed Rory more. I loved the new environment Archer was thrown into, and the author did a great job showing his character development, but still keeping him true to the character we fell in love with in book one.
Archer faces a tough road in this story, and there are times when he seems utterly and unbearably alone. It's hard to read about a 16 year old facing such difficulties as bullying and an unhelpful foster care system. But the author catches the world brilliantly, and while this is a fascinating and enjoyable story, it also teaches a lot of lesson. Why people bully, how the victim feels, and how the bully feels. While it is something older readers will really enjoy, it is a great story for younger readers as well. If any one's child is facing a bully at school, this would be a great book to read and then discuss.
Archer grows up a bit in this book, and maybe he losses a bit of his naivete. But in the end, he is the honorable boy we all love, and even if the world throws some yuck bits at him, he stays true to his pure self.
Love this book! And can't wait to start the next.
Archer faces a tough road in this story, and there are times when he seems utterly and unbearably alone. It's hard to read about a 16 year old facing such difficulties as bullying and an unhelpful foster care system. But the author catches the world brilliantly, and while this is a fascinating and enjoyable story, it also teaches a lot of lesson. Why people bully, how the victim feels, and how the bully feels. While it is something older readers will really enjoy, it is a great story for younger readers as well. If any one's child is facing a bully at school, this would be a great book to read and then discuss.
Archer grows up a bit in this book, and maybe he losses a bit of his naivete. But in the end, he is the honorable boy we all love, and even if the world throws some yuck bits at him, he stays true to his pure self.
Love this book! And can't wait to start the next.
April 18, 2016
This is a very good series which I am catching up on. The second book it makes a jump in time which not only adds an interesting dimension to the story it adds a nice touch of humour. It's listed as a YA fantasy and I think readers in this age group will find it enjoyable but I think older readers will enjoy it as well. I like the medieval concept behind these books and I think they would appeal to readers who are interested in this period because there is a lot of research behind them.
April 29, 2018
This book, the second in the Hengist, People of the Horse series, continues the adventures of Archer but in the modern day world, not the alternate medieval world as before. As the first boy in his junior class he has been sent to the modern day world for a top-secret mission to collect information about this crazy hectic world for the people at home. And even though Archer has donned appropriate clothing for this new world, there is still the difference of his language, his desire to study and learn as much as he can, his sense of honor and his lack of knowledge about all the modern technology that has made him stand out from the people in the modern world and is giving Archer trouble, again and again. He has been placed in a foster home with several other children, mostly boys, and they immediately brand him with labels like “freak” and “pussy” and say he is “too girly to fight like a man” as he lets
them rough him up. If they only knew about his extensive warrior training on his home world they would be quaking every time he came near instead of calling him names and trying to tackle him.
Archer goes thru the first home pretty quickly as the meanest boy in the home successfully embroils him in trouble at school and he is moved out just as he starts to influence the behavior of the other boys in the home to strive for success at school and to contribute to the workload at home. He has some of the same problems at the next house he is put in except here he is faced with the wicked cattiness of a pair of sisters who are two of the most selfish people he has ever met. Still, he meets Rory, the youngest girl that his stepmother watches. She is only there on certain days because her mother works and she is not an orphan. But though she is young, Rory has knowledge far beyond her years and uses the time she has with Archer to help him with his language and with the school subjects that he is having problems with. Archer enjoys her company as well and the bond that forms between them is like nothing he has ever experienced before. But, of course, their friendship is ruined by the other housemates and though Archer tries to influence them like he did the boys in the last house there are serious consequences to the trouble that they start, especially for Archer and both of his foster moms. Can Archer survive our modern penal system? Will he ever get home again? You will only find out by reading the book.
This book was gifted to me by the author but this review is all mine and I am enthralled by this book and the entire series. In this book I loved looking at our world thru Archer's eyes and I find the series, as a whole, to be unique and very enjoyable. I think that whether you read this as a stand alone story or you read the entire series in order, you will come away more peaceful and definitely more respectful of nature and our earth. Happy Reading!
them rough him up. If they only knew about his extensive warrior training on his home world they would be quaking every time he came near instead of calling him names and trying to tackle him.
Archer goes thru the first home pretty quickly as the meanest boy in the home successfully embroils him in trouble at school and he is moved out just as he starts to influence the behavior of the other boys in the home to strive for success at school and to contribute to the workload at home. He has some of the same problems at the next house he is put in except here he is faced with the wicked cattiness of a pair of sisters who are two of the most selfish people he has ever met. Still, he meets Rory, the youngest girl that his stepmother watches. She is only there on certain days because her mother works and she is not an orphan. But though she is young, Rory has knowledge far beyond her years and uses the time she has with Archer to help him with his language and with the school subjects that he is having problems with. Archer enjoys her company as well and the bond that forms between them is like nothing he has ever experienced before. But, of course, their friendship is ruined by the other housemates and though Archer tries to influence them like he did the boys in the last house there are serious consequences to the trouble that they start, especially for Archer and both of his foster moms. Can Archer survive our modern penal system? Will he ever get home again? You will only find out by reading the book.
This book was gifted to me by the author but this review is all mine and I am enthralled by this book and the entire series. In this book I loved looking at our world thru Archer's eyes and I find the series, as a whole, to be unique and very enjoyable. I think that whether you read this as a stand alone story or you read the entire series in order, you will come away more peaceful and definitely more respectful of nature and our earth. Happy Reading!
July 31, 2017
I downloaded this one a while ago and didn't read it right away because I wasn't sure if I would like it. If I knew it was this good I would have started reading right away! This was an excellent story. I LOVED the main character immediately. Good plot. Great resolution.
May 1, 2014
I read the first book in this series in a day and a half, and I read this one even quicker. In this installment, Archer is sent to modern day England and has the same kind of problems with bullies that he had at home. I love the way he handles himself in some pretty horrible situations and the way he finds justice for those involved.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews