The Green Count

Chivalry #3

by Christian Cameron

One of the finest historical fiction writers in the world - Ben Kane

After the bloody trials of Alexandria, Sir William Gold is readying for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to ease the burden on his soul. He hopes, too, that the Holy City might allow his relationship with Emile, cousin of the Green Count of Savoy, to develop.

But the Roman Emperor of Constantinople has been taken hostage by an unknown enemy, and the Green Count is vital to the rescue effort. It is up to Sir William to secure his support, but he soon finds that his past, and his relationship with Emile, might have repercussions he had not foreseen...

Suddenly thrust onto the stage of international politics, Sir William finds himself tangled in a web of plots, intrigue and murder. He must hold true to his chivalric principles, and to his knights, if he is to save the Emperor and survive to tell the tale.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Medieval, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Military Fiction, War

480 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2017

About the author

Aka Miles Cameron. Also publishes as Gordon Kent with his father Kenneth M. Cameron.

Christian Cameron was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1962. He grew up in Rockport, Massachusetts, Iowa City, Iowa,Christian Cameron and Rochester, New York, where he attended McQuaid Jesuit High School and later graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in history.

After the longest undergraduate degree on record (1980-87), he joined the United States Navy, where he served as an intelligence officer and as a backseater in S-3 Vikings in the First Gulf War, in Somalia, and elsewhere. After a dozen years of service, he became a full time writer in 2000. He lives in Toronto (that’s Ontario, in Canada) with his wife Sarah and their daughter Beatrice, currently age four. And a half.

Reviews

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore this series! Most addictive and captivating historical fiction since Three Musketeers.

Absolutely loved it. Massive fan of the series, great kudos to the author. There is literally nothing quite like it.

Very strongly recommended, but start with Book 1. Don't jump in mid-series

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the series! Mainly set against the backdrop of the (remaining) Crusader states, the story involves journeys, military action, and particularly William Gold's witty humor and amazing adventures along with his motley crew of friends, not to mention his personal views on chivalry and courtly love.
By now he’s an accomplished knight and consequently his tale is deeper and more enmeshed in politics, but at the same time he’s still prone to make mischief at the earliest opportunity. I just love this flawed and brilliant man, so enamored of the world and yet so quick to engage in self-criticism.

Once again, his captivating storytelling and life hooked me in not time, and I easily immersed in the joys and perils of his craft (the author knows both his business and his deeds of arms, or bluffs convincingly, but the result is simply thrilling).

The book is aptly named because, even if the titular character appears only later in the novel, he marks a turning point in William’s life and it is always nice when there is a successful mix of historical figures and fiction.

The editing is thankfully improved and I hope Orion is going to keep up the good work, this series totally deserves it. The story wraps up on a perfect note, opening the way for the long-foreshadowed chronicle of the Italian Wedding.

Needless to say (but needs must) I'm eagerly waiting for more.


I shook my head. ‘Killing is never business,’ I said. ‘I imagine that perhaps, someday, maybe in the kingdom of Heaven, there will be no killing. Until then –if you must be a butcher, be a good butcher. Learn your trade, do an honest job, and never trouble to hate the cow.’


Bronze statue of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy (Amedeo VI di Savoia), known under his nickname the Green Count (Il Conte Verde), in Piazza Palazzo di Città, in front of Turin's Town Hall:

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I left ordering the next book too late. It should come in tomorrow... How will I ever survive?

[Cor Markhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few authors are as skilled as Cameron when it comes to historic novels and his William Gold series, of which this is the latest entry, may be his best work yet. Beside delivering phenomenal action and battle scenes, something Cameron does in my eyes better than almost anybody else, he once again succeeds in delivering in one of the best portrayals of the time period and its various characters that results in a world that simply feels alive.

After the battlefields of France and Italy we (and William) now get to experience the eastern Mediterranean regions of Anatolia and Greece (with the slowly crumpling Eastern Roman Empire) with its nearly uncountable factions and byzantine politics. While the plot may lack some of the urgency and tension of the earlier books I was never bored or disappointed and William certainly deserved some "respite" after all the tortures he had to endure in the first two books. And even the romance, which I found to be something of weakness in some of the Camerons other works, is well executed and feels real.

I can't wait to see what happens next and I can only recommend this book to anyone interested in this area of time...

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings)]

Won in the Goodreads Giveaways

[Laura Tenfingers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best historical fiction I have read in a long while.

Again we follow William Gold and see the minutia of day to day life as a professional man at arms of 14th century Europe. Chivalry, international plots and counter-plots, military prowess, well-honed swordsmanship, loyalty, politics, religion... it's all here and it is extremely well presented. Absorbing, informative and engaging.

Absolutely loved this and can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastic book is already the 3rd volume of the wonderful chivalrous series about Sir William Gold by the great author Christian Cameron.
Once more the book contains an explicit documented glossary and two well-drawn maps of Jerusalem and of Bulgaria / Constantinople in AD 1366-1367 at the beginning of the book, and these are the main featured areas within this superb story.
At the end of the book you'll find a very well explained Historical Note as well as an Author's Note concerning this fascinating tale.
Story-telling is once again of a top-notch quality, and this author is in my opinion one of the best concerning historical chivalry novels, all because the author keeps the reader spellbound from beginning till the end, and all the characters whether they are real historical figures or fictional ones come all superbly to life within these fantastic chivalry stories of his.
As in the first two books the prologue is set in Calais in the year AD 1381, and its from there that our main character Sir William Gold is producing his historical tale of chivalrous adventure to his audience, which includes a certain Geoffrey Chaucer.
The story itself sets off in November AD 1365 in Famagusta, Cyprus, after that it will take Sir William Gold to Jerusalem and Constantinople, before finally ending well into AD 1367 in Bulgaria by rescuing the Emperor, and in all these places Sir William will encounter some very interesting people and dangerous developments in his life and on the battlefields.
And so what will follow is another intriguing chivalry tale where the Green Count of Savoy will play a significant part, and where Sir William will enter a stage of international politics of betrayal and treason, and where he will encounter a certain web of plots and murder, and within these circumstances and developments he must find a way for himself and his family to remain true to his chivalric principles and to his fellow Knights.
Very much recommended, for this is truly chivalry at its very best, and so in my opinion this book is: "Another Fabulous Chivalry Tale"!

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I’d saved this book, i knew i would enjoy it, it was more about how much?

This isn’t a small book and yet i found myself having to slow my reading so i could really enjoy and savor every line of writing. The tale starts with William Gold settling down to recount his past, which as a plot device i think is excellent, it puts the reader immediately into the warm space of being told a story and that for me feels even more real and realistic, the recounting of a history by someone who was there, it brings the whole panorama of the adventure to life....CONT....

Full review: https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...

[Christy Lené · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five big fat highly entertaining 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. Review to follow.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent entrance in the series with lots happening with Sir William Gold (Richard, Emilie etc)

[Kennethkiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the very first page, as always. I enjoy returning to the world of Sir William Gold (and Tom Swan, whose full series i just finished binge re-reading before this). The best part about reading both books is that you can see the life of a straight-up fighting knight, and the life of one who's more than dips into espionage and politics.
I think there are even more fight-scenes and battle-scenes in this book than the ones before, and each one really are described so well you might well be watching a movie. There's also quite a bit of pay-off for those rooting for William Gold; he gets his rewards, and then some.
There's also the definition of terms at the beginning of the book: this must be the first time I'm as engaged reading that list of definitions as reading the story itself.
Looking forward to the next book - Mr Cameron promises that this series of stories will be a long one!

[William E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic stuff as always from Cameron. William Gold is easily one of my favorite characters. Getting extra hyped for the conclusion to his Traitor Son Cycle.

[J.P. Ashman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to on Audible (alas, the narrator has changed since the last book, which took me a while to get used to but, still, FIVE STARS FOR SURE!!!).

I love this series. It's my sort of era and armour and weapons and people and, well, I could gush all day about how fantastic Christian's writing is of people and events and settings and such, how immersive it is and gritty and violent (not gratuitously, thankfully); epic in scale, cinematic in action and glorious and romantic in chivalry. I'm blathering and I'd meant to write, "Review to follow" as I have studying and writing of my own to do, but, well, I love this series!

Fans of medieval Europe and the Middle East need - NEED! - to read and relish this. In-depth medieval life, from eating and fashion and transport, to combat in the street and on the field. Read it, please.

Highly, highly recommended (the series as a whole). I cannot wait to start the next.

[C Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have used up all my positive adjectives on Cameron's books already.

I loved this book from start to finish. It's a superb read.

[Stephen Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Chivalry Series about the fictional life of a real person, William Gold. Gold show up in a few historical records, at this battle and that. But the spaces inbetween are blank, so Cameron has deftly added other character, some real and some not, to fill out the story. One of Gold's friends is Fiore Furlano di Liberi , a sword master from the 14th century who wrote on the use of all sorts of weapons. The Getty has a manuscript. You can view it here:
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/...
Was Fiore a Friend Of William Gold? If the story is better with this friendship, why not?
On to the next in the series, Sword of Justice. By the way, Most of Cameron's Historical Fiction series are on sale, so if you like to learn a bit while you read, you can get his series without leaving a dent in your bank account.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I've used all the superlatives to describe these books. They cannot be beat, to me, for sheer immersion. Cameron knows the material culture, has served in the military, and researches the politics which all comes together to create a vision of the 14th century that comes to life. Loved it.

[Todd Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

The continued semi-fictional exploits of William Gold make for a good read. Unfortunately compared to the previous novels these adventures just don't carry the same weight. We get a quick pilgrimage to Jerusalem, some battles against the Turks, and a rescue mission for the kidnapped Eastern Roman Emperor. These sound a lot cooler than they are told though. Since they are told fairly matter of factly. The interesting bits for me were more about Gold's courtship and marriage to Emile and the fallout of marrying her without her Liege's permission.

After reading the afterword, it sounds like the next book in this series will have some much weightier events and should be a must read for fans of this series or time period.

[Mark Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Green Count by Christian Cameron

Christian Cameron’s The Green Count is the third book in his Chivalry series, continuing the adventures of Sir William Gold. Cameron is known for his meticulous research and immersive storytelling, he once again delivers a rich and historically detailed narrative set in the tumultuous 14th century.

In this novel, William Gold, now an experienced knight, embarks on a campaign in the east, fighting alongside Amadeus VI of Savoy (the “Green Count”) in his expedition against the Ottomans and Byzantines. Cameron writes about real historical events mixed with fast-paced action. He has this ability to make you feel the weight of medieval warfare, the complexities of diplomacy, and the personal struggles of a knight striving for honour and survival in a changing world.

For me, one of the book’s greatest strengths is its authenticity. Cameron, himself a historical reenactor, brings an unmatched level of realism to battles, armour, and daily life in the 14th century, although this level of detail may not be to everyone's taste. You certainly feel every duel and skirmish. The political intrigue adds depth beyond the battlefield. Additionally, William Gold remains a compelling protagonist—brave yet flawed, skilled yet constantly learning, making him one of the more relatable and human knights in historical fiction.

While The Green Count is packed with action, it also explores deeper themes of loyalty, leadership, and the evolving role of chivalry in a changing world. I appreciated how Gold’s journey came full circle.

Overall, The Green Count is a fantastic blend of history and fiction, cementing Christian Cameron’s reputation as one of the finest historical novelists writing today. If you enjoy meticulously researched medieval fiction with well-rounded characters and breathtaking battles, this book—and the entire Chivalry series—is a must-read.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir William Gold is at an Inn in Calais telling a further tale to Chaucer and other men. This one is about his travels to Jerusalem in the company of his friends and Emile to whom he wishes to be married although there are rumors that William had killed her husband at the sack of Alexandria. The tale goes back to the coast to Lebanon and the Greek Islands and into the service of the Prince of Lesvos and a campaign with the Green Count in the Holy Roman Empire and into Bulgaria. Along the way, there is great savagery, killing, and bloodshed. Quite a superhero is Sir William Gold.

Based on some factual characters this shows the area has rarely been stable as we continue to see today. 3 stars.

[Stewart Cotterill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction at its absolute finest.

If you enjoy it and have a passing interest in the fourteenth century then go to the first in the series, sit back and let these books wash over you, it’s well worth it.

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another epic story in the tale of William Gold. These books feel so authentic and real, the combat sequences are exceptional. I want William Gold to be my liege lord :)

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Troy Weiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series so far! Except for some reason my book was printed really small. Didn't change how good it was, just sort of funny.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exemplary historical novel. It continues the take of Sir William Gold and friends as they first go to Jerusalem.

[Venetia Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Green Count reads like an extended historical re-enactment. This is in no way a criticism. The author himself is a committed re-enactor of medieval martial arts. As he bases his own practice of sword-play upon the writings of one of his (historical) characters, Fiore, so Cameron grounds many of the structuring events in this novel upon 14th-century history. The central character, Sir William Gold, travels an utterly believable (because so well-researched) medieval Aegean, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and the Black Sea. The complex realities of politics and religion of the time inform each of the characters' words and actions. I was deeply impressed by the way Cameron integrates detailed historical research and his own understanding of the effects of war into fiction.

Of course, I have criticisms. This is a 4-, not a 5-star review. Many times, I nearly gave up reading. Why? Chiefly because the story has no evident destination, and Gold himself has no long-term goals. Thus the narrative is very episodic, and the pace frequently lags. The book title itself is indicative of the overall lack of story-coherence: the titular Green Count only makes an entrance two-thirds of the way through, and, once on stage, he is a relatively unimportant character. The tale begs an alternative title - but what? No obvious candidate springs to mind, other than "the continued adventures of William Gold".

Perhaps this is an unfair assessment. Maybe narrative coherence is unnecessary (not least because it would likely be historically inaccurate). As a historical re-enactment cast in fiction, I would award The Green Count a glowing 5-star rating.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly fine, fantastically fun, historical fiction

Cameron writes of “the warring life” of 14th Century with truly awe-worthy detail and the sort of synthesis of realism and historical detail and combined with fictional imaginings that make for the very best — the most real —of historical fiction.

He achieves in this book the seemingly impossible : characters who are “alive” in the way only the very best fictional creations have life, while being infused with and shaped by an absolutely convincing historical realism that should make them remote and inaccessible, but which — in gestalt — make them every bit as fun, and every bit as human as any modern protagonist.

Wonderfully written, brilliantly imagined and diligently researched. Historical fiction at its absolute best.

(And with a masterfully performed, synced audible narration).

Note: I reserve 5 stars for the very greatest and deepest reads of my life. 4 stars from me is perhaps unfair to the authors — such as Cameron — whom I mean to praise highly. It should be considered the equivalent of the 5 stars given by nearly all positive reviewers as far as I am correlate their intent with mine.

[Sam Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers here. Buy the book and read it yourself. I’d rather brag about how awesome this writer is than give you a synopsis. Wow, William Gold, my hero. If I can’t go to my bookshelf and find a book written by Christian (Miles) Cameron then I’m in trouble. I read constantly, but I find myself always re-reading a book written by this author. When I read a book written by him I get hungry for more. His battle scenes are ...superb. Christian actually practices the culture that he writes about. He has visited most of if not all these historical places and has even wore the armor, camped in their style ate their food while using the kit of the time period. These are the little details that make his books and writing believable. Please read any or all of his books. He is without a doubt the best historical fiction writer there is. The glossary he adds to his book is a wonderful addition to the books. I refer to them quite often. I was never a medievalist before I stated the CHIVALRY series. Quickly becoming one of my favorites, but The Long War series is so dear to me. He makes it feel like the protagonist is right beside you relaying every thought and movement of his life and I feel like a starry eyed child ever so silent soaking it all in. ENJOY.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and educational

This is the third book in the series and I have devoured them all in a matter of weeks. I recommend all the books in the series equally. Christian Cameron has quickly became me one of my favorite historical authors.

The series follows the career of Sir William Gold, an historical English knight who served in the Great Company of Sir John Harkwood in Italy and who later became a captain, maybe the Captain, of Venice. If you are a fan of the Middle Ages, particularly the later 14th century, and interested in the concept of chivalry and the military and martial tactics of the time period, you will find this series to be one of the most entertaining and educational on the topic. All of the books in the series are well researched following real historical events and characters, granted with a lot of poetic license regarding the characters. The details regarding the equipment, military structure and tactics of the knight and his basic chivalric unit, the lance, are superb. As a bonus, the storyline of Sir William takes you through historical events that are often overlooked in school, but are still relevant to today's geopolitics. I do recommend that you start with the first book in the series, and follow it through.

[Colin Darby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to maintain good quality, not least by pushing chivalric historical fiction into territory it doesn't usually explore. There are plenty of books on the Hundred Years' War, but the Italian Wars and the drama of the eastern Mediterranean are fairly new to an English-speaking audience. Exploring those areas both takes extra research, and places an author on a more comfortable footing for comparisons of historical accuracy against, say, Cornwell's "Grail" series (which, I should point out, I also loved). Additionally, I just like Sir William Gold as a character - he isn't perfect, his plans don't always work, and he freely admits to his failings while trying to grow past them. As long as the series stays this quality, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is one of a series, it works well enough on its own. Indeed, having enjoyed this one makes me determined to find the first book so I can start properly and work through the rest. Again, it uses Cameron's usual concept of the central character narrating their story some years later - which takes away some of the tension from scenes as you know he must survive to tell it. Equally, the novel is rich in detail, building a vivid picture of a turbulent era. It is engrossing - and thought-provoking as the central character tries to reconcile the peaceful ideals of his faith with the violence required by his career.