What do you think?
Lions & Devils #1
Hell Shall Stir
Prolific novelist Jason Born comes out swinging with the first tale in his new series, Lions & Devils. He brings a large cast of loved and loathed characters vividly to life as greed, deceit, loyalty, and betrayal take center stage against a backdrop of roiling action.
It is 711 A.D., Duke Eudo of Aquitaine needs an alliance to counteract the growing menace of the northern Franks. The only potential ally of consequence lies across the Pyrenees in Hispania. However, Hispania has a new king with his own troubles. Berber pirates from North Africa have renewed their savage raids on his coasts. From within his fragile kingdom, the king must placate militant Visigoth nobles who are intrigued by the tenacity of this new, violent faith, Islam, and see the pirates as a means to their own ends. It is into this pit of vipers that Eudo dispatches his sons, the battle-hardened Hunoald and the peevishly bitter Remistanius, to secure a beneficial accord.
Hell Shall Stir is a brilliant yarn that transports the reader to the very dawn of a struggle that still rages today. Born has begun a magnificent epic which lays bare the deadly plots and bitter violence that led to massive conflict in Hispania. Can the ferocious Muslim Caliphate ever be stopped?
It is 711 A.D., Duke Eudo of Aquitaine needs an alliance to counteract the growing menace of the northern Franks. The only potential ally of consequence lies across the Pyrenees in Hispania. However, Hispania has a new king with his own troubles. Berber pirates from North Africa have renewed their savage raids on his coasts. From within his fragile kingdom, the king must placate militant Visigoth nobles who are intrigued by the tenacity of this new, violent faith, Islam, and see the pirates as a means to their own ends. It is into this pit of vipers that Eudo dispatches his sons, the battle-hardened Hunoald and the peevishly bitter Remistanius, to secure a beneficial accord.
Hell Shall Stir is a brilliant yarn that transports the reader to the very dawn of a struggle that still rages today. Born has begun a magnificent epic which lays bare the deadly plots and bitter violence that led to massive conflict in Hispania. Can the ferocious Muslim Caliphate ever be stopped?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2015
About the author
Jason Born
21 books115 followersSee also: Emily Hawk
Jason Born is a popular historical novelist of many series as well as stand-alone titles. His latest work, None Will Die, is a vivid tale of sacrifice and inspiration that will have you ready to take on the world. The Long Fuse is an ongoing series that thrillingly captures the violent period of America’s rise from ragtag colonies to independence. He is the author three other gritty series of works spanning time and place. Lions & Devils vividly describes the heroes and villains of the monstrous Islamic assault of Western Europe during the Eighth Century. The Norseman Chronicles center on the faithful Viking, Halldorr, who desired peace, but found only war in the Old and New Worlds. The Wald Chronicles describe the rugged conflict and improbable outcome in Germania during the wars between Rome and her tribal adversaries over 2,000 years ago. On Love & War is a saga by itself, following a pair of lovers navigating the Napoleonic Wars. League of the Lost Fountain is his first work for kids of all ages. Jason lives in the Midwest with his wife and three children.
Jason Born is a popular historical novelist of many series as well as stand-alone titles. His latest work, None Will Die, is a vivid tale of sacrifice and inspiration that will have you ready to take on the world. The Long Fuse is an ongoing series that thrillingly captures the violent period of America’s rise from ragtag colonies to independence. He is the author three other gritty series of works spanning time and place. Lions & Devils vividly describes the heroes and villains of the monstrous Islamic assault of Western Europe during the Eighth Century. The Norseman Chronicles center on the faithful Viking, Halldorr, who desired peace, but found only war in the Old and New Worlds. The Wald Chronicles describe the rugged conflict and improbable outcome in Germania during the wars between Rome and her tribal adversaries over 2,000 years ago. On Love & War is a saga by itself, following a pair of lovers navigating the Napoleonic Wars. League of the Lost Fountain is his first work for kids of all ages. Jason lives in the Midwest with his wife and three children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2026
Time I’ll never get back
Very disappointing from one of my favorite authors. I had no interest in any of the characters, thought the plot was rambling, and felt like the author had a bad AI wrote the book.
Very disappointing from one of my favorite authors. I had no interest in any of the characters, thought the plot was rambling, and felt like the author had a bad AI wrote the book.
February 27, 2016
A few years back I read Jason Born’s Wald Afire series and loved it. The richness of historical detail coupled with good characters was a great combination. You can imagine my excitement when I saw the first book in a new series by Mr. Born on sale for only .99 cents. I quickly snatched up a copy and began reading. This time the story takes place in 8th Century Hispanola. The book starts off by introducing two very rich characters then one of them is killed off. The pain I felt at the loss of the character was the kind of pain I hope to evoke in my own writing when I kill off a character in one of my stories. What was really amazing about Mr. Born’s writing was the speed he was able to get me to invest in that character and have feelings for them. The conflict takes place between Berners and Arabs on one side and the people of Hispanola on the other (modern day Spain). The people of Hispanola also consisted of multiple races, Visigoths and Romanoi, i.e. Romans. Two overlords and two subservient races view for control of the Iberian Peninsula. One group new in their faith and fired with religious fervor, the other more mature in their faith and just trying to keep their homes. The story echoes many of the same themes we face in our own world today with the class of cultures between Western Civilization and the Islamic World. Looking forward to the 2nd book in the series.
July 20, 2015
A book that can hold my attention while teaching me something I was never really aware of...yes, winner! It was hard to find a 'favorite' character...to love or hate (I did have a few that could really get high scores in the "hate" category, though!). I enjoyed the characters...the banter and mostly THE HISTORY! Don't get me wrong, I like those 'time-travel-historical-settings-probably-in-Scotland-romance-awesome-heroes-and-castles" books, but I do really love an historical fiction book...that actually IS about history! Where I can learn in a fun, exciting place. This, as do his other books, does just that. I enjoyed myself but I learned something about history...something that could very well be important to us today!
September 7, 2015
A fast paced novel as to a little-known part of history.
When first started this book. I didn't think it was as good as Born's prior novels, but by the end my mind was changed. A fast paced novel about the Islamic conquest of Spain. Except for the main villain, the characters were well developed. After a primarily political first 2/3rd of the book, the last 1/3rd is filled with one battle sequence after another. You find yourself caring about the fate of the various characters. I would highly recommend this book along with all of Born's other books.
When first started this book. I didn't think it was as good as Born's prior novels, but by the end my mind was changed. A fast paced novel about the Islamic conquest of Spain. Except for the main villain, the characters were well developed. After a primarily political first 2/3rd of the book, the last 1/3rd is filled with one battle sequence after another. You find yourself caring about the fate of the various characters. I would highly recommend this book along with all of Born's other books.
December 31, 2016
This was a very good book. The author developed the characters very well, some I really liked and was rooting for and others I hated. The book takes place during the Moorish/Muslim invasion of Visigothic Spain in 711. This is a period that there is not much written about fictional or non fictional, it was the dark ages. I highly recommend the book and give it 5 stars. I am looking forward to reading the next 2 books in this series by this author.
August 17, 2015
Not really my type of book. Too much description and history.
February 20, 2016
Not My Favorite
Slow starting and hard to read with enthusiasm, I was disappointed in the whole book the descriptions were poor and the characters were boring.
Slow starting and hard to read with enthusiasm, I was disappointed in the whole book the descriptions were poor and the characters were boring.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews