What do you think?
Rate this book
Babylon's Downfall: An Uncivil War Adventure
Yorkshire, 1644
Colonel Hollie Babbitt’s never been conventional. Never had to be. But it's time he grew up and went a coming man with a wife and family, enjoying the favour of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Parliament, his future seems assured – if he keeps his head down.
But the rebel rabble won't let him. Worse; they seem determined to bring every disapproving eye in the Army their way.
Following a humiliating defeat at the siege of Lathom House, Hollie comes to recognise a new enemy. As the forces of King and Parliament mass for the last great battle for the North of England, he discovers a new enemy - within his own troops.
One officer dead, and another broken - perhaps beyond mending.
Secrets and shadows in the heart of the Army.
Is his family’s future worth the price of Hollie’s silence?
Colonel Hollie Babbitt’s never been conventional. Never had to be. But it's time he grew up and went a coming man with a wife and family, enjoying the favour of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Parliament, his future seems assured – if he keeps his head down.
But the rebel rabble won't let him. Worse; they seem determined to bring every disapproving eye in the Army their way.
Following a humiliating defeat at the siege of Lathom House, Hollie comes to recognise a new enemy. As the forces of King and Parliament mass for the last great battle for the North of England, he discovers a new enemy - within his own troops.
One officer dead, and another broken - perhaps beyond mending.
Secrets and shadows in the heart of the Army.
Is his family’s future worth the price of Hollie’s silence?
- Genres17th Century
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2017
About the author
M.J. Logue
26 books37 followersWriter, mad cake lady, re-enactor, historian.
Been slightly potty about the clankier side of Ironside for around 20 years, and lists amongst my heroes in this unworthy world Sir Thomas Fairfax, Elizabeth Cromwell and John Webster (for his sense of humour.)
When not purveying historically-accurate cake to various re-enactment groups across the country, M.J. Logue can usually be discovered practising in her garden with a cavalry backsword.
Been slightly potty about the clankier side of Ironside for around 20 years, and lists amongst my heroes in this unworthy world Sir Thomas Fairfax, Elizabeth Cromwell and John Webster (for his sense of humour.)
When not purveying historically-accurate cake to various re-enactment groups across the country, M.J. Logue can usually be discovered practising in her garden with a cavalry backsword.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 28, 2017
I have read all so far of M.J.Logue's excellent English Civil War series and enjoyed them all. Babylon's Downfall is the probably the darkest account yet of Hollie Babbitt and his lad's adventures. I the won't spoil the plot, but the novel covers both the siege of Lathom House and the Battle of Marston Moor, probably one of the bloodiest battles of the First English Civil War. This novel is not for the faint hearted, as the battle scenes are some of the most realistic I have ever read. The novel also contains a very strong & realistic account of the abuse & bullying, that sadly still goes on today in the armed forces, institutions & other walks of life & I commend M.J.Logue for having the courage to write the novel. Not an easy task I'm sure. I finished the novel feeling I had been there, sharing Hollie Babbitt, Luce & Hapless Russell's trials and tribulations. I highly recommend this novel to anyone wanting a novel that does not glorify war, but gives as true an account of it, as a writer can do.
August 16, 2017
Babylon's Downfall gripped me from page one and kept me reading for hours after I should have stopped. It is in turn heart breaking and uplifting. Emotions are shown raw and ragged and such is the skill of the author, that the reader is left feeling raw and ragged at times also. I actually cried at the aftermath of the battle of Hessay (Marston) Moor, such was the power of Ms Logue's descriptions.
The depth of historical research that must have been put in shows in all aspects of the narrative, from siege conditions to missing teeth, harness to battles and horsemanship to 17th century surgery.
Most of the characters are familiar to the reader from other books in the series, but this time I really felt that the reader gets to know the personages in a far deeper and more intimate way.
A brilliant book, with a wonderfully designed cover that says so much without words and is easily recognisable as the author's brand.
I cannot fault it!
The depth of historical research that must have been put in shows in all aspects of the narrative, from siege conditions to missing teeth, harness to battles and horsemanship to 17th century surgery.
Most of the characters are familiar to the reader from other books in the series, but this time I really felt that the reader gets to know the personages in a far deeper and more intimate way.
A brilliant book, with a wonderfully designed cover that says so much without words and is easily recognisable as the author's brand.
I cannot fault it!
May 30, 2017
It's like this.
We're running up to the last battle for the North of England in the war of the Three Kingdoms.
As of the prequel - The Smoke Of Her Burning, from which this book follows directly on - some fool has made Rosie Babbitt a full colonel, and he's not quire sure he likes it.
I cannot say I enjoyed writing this book, in all its grim glory - although Marston Moor was not a happy place.
But I'm so glad I did. Russell has to be broken before he can be mended; there have to be some cracks to let the humanity in. Hollie has got to grow up. It's been a bit of a lark until now, but...when a man's given authority, he's got to stop messing about and do his job.
And Luce... well. There is darkness in the world. I think it will be the making of him. He just doesn't know it yet.
We're running up to the last battle for the North of England in the war of the Three Kingdoms.
As of the prequel - The Smoke Of Her Burning, from which this book follows directly on - some fool has made Rosie Babbitt a full colonel, and he's not quire sure he likes it.
I cannot say I enjoyed writing this book, in all its grim glory - although Marston Moor was not a happy place.
But I'm so glad I did. Russell has to be broken before he can be mended; there have to be some cracks to let the humanity in. Hollie has got to grow up. It's been a bit of a lark until now, but...when a man's given authority, he's got to stop messing about and do his job.
And Luce... well. There is darkness in the world. I think it will be the making of him. He just doesn't know it yet.
October 1, 2019
Another great read
Thoroughly enjoyed reading the further adventures of Hollie,s troop. They wander round the north with Fair fax ,skirmishes with maligmants and fellow troops.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading the further adventures of Hollie,s troop. They wander round the north with Fair fax ,skirmishes with maligmants and fellow troops.
June 1, 2019
This is a sort of flashback, in that it sits out of order with the previous books in the series. It helps them make more sense, but it probably wouldn't make much sense of you read it in the correct chronological order!
Babylon's Downfall sits between Command the Raven and A Wilderness of Sin. It begins in 1644 with the siege of Lathom House and ends with the battle of Naseby. There's a general malaise with Hollie Babbitt's troop of Horse, in part because Horse don't like sieges and because his captains are bullies.
There's a darker side covered by Babylon's Downfall. It makes for slightly grimmer reading than the other books, but it's all the more engaging for it. The story explores period views of homosexuality and suicide. It's really well handled given the sensitivity of the subject.
The story opens with Trooper Gray causing a scene at a whorehouse. There's a fight over a woman, and Gray beats up another trooper. Pettit is involved and has troubled feelings about being attracted to Gray. He spends the story wondering if he's a sodomite. Especially when he gets transferred from Babbitt's HQ to a troop lead by a Captain who clearly is.
Babylon's Downfall sits between Command the Raven and A Wilderness of Sin. It begins in 1644 with the siege of Lathom House and ends with the battle of Naseby. There's a general malaise with Hollie Babbitt's troop of Horse, in part because Horse don't like sieges and because his captains are bullies.
There's a darker side covered by Babylon's Downfall. It makes for slightly grimmer reading than the other books, but it's all the more engaging for it. The story explores period views of homosexuality and suicide. It's really well handled given the sensitivity of the subject.
The story opens with Trooper Gray causing a scene at a whorehouse. There's a fight over a woman, and Gray beats up another trooper. Pettit is involved and has troubled feelings about being attracted to Gray. He spends the story wondering if he's a sodomite. Especially when he gets transferred from Babbitt's HQ to a troop lead by a Captain who clearly is.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews