Sword of Justice

Chivalry #4

by Christian Cameron

'The master of historical fiction' SUNDAY TIMESSharpen your sword and prepare for battle...1367: Europe stands on the brink of total war.Political alliances are beginning to rupture, and no state is England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Milan Genoa, Venice, Constantinople . . . Every mercenary knight must sharpen his sword and prepare for battle.But Sir William Gold has other problems. Just to reach Europe, he must capture its most unassailable fortress. He must also protect his liege lord, the Green Count, from assassins hell-bent on his death.The balance of power in the West will change. William Gold must trust in hope, and his men, that he lands on the winning side...Praise for Christian 'A storyteller at the height of his powers' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY'Superb' THE TIMES'One of THE finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANE'A sword-slash above the rest' IRISH EXAMINERReaders love SWORD OF JUSTICE and the Chivalry 'I can't recommend this too highly to any fan of historical fiction' 5 STARS'You get to experience what it must have been like to be a knight' 5 STARS'Brilliantly authentic' 5 STARS'One of the finest historical series I have ever encountered.... Outstanding' 5 STARS'I have a big issue with Christian Cameron... I read his books faster than he can write them!!!' 5 STARS'Historical saga at its best!' 5 STARSIF YOU'VE READ AND LOVED SWORD OF JUSTICE, DON'T MISS THE BRAND NEW BOOK IN THE CHIVALRY SERIES, HAWKWOOD'S SWORD.

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

465 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2018

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]

It was my absolute 'can't wait' for 2018... And it did not disappoint :)

I am a massive fan of the series. I would (of course) attempt to assure you that this is THE best historical fiction around. But there is no point, hop on the journey with a book #1 The Ill-Made Knight and get your mind blown first-hand.

The best thing about these books is their hypnotic pacing that truly transports you into the late XIV. You feel like you know these people that you meet on the page, like you can relate to their plights and victories, like you share their experiences.

Absolutely fantastic. This is what historical fiction is supposed to be like (at least for me).

The strongest possible recommendation, BUT start from book #1. Book #4 is not the place to start :)

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because it’s a William Gold novel and I simply can’t get enough of his voice and the admittedly (slightly) biased remembrances of his adventurous life. I also appreciated the editing, which was a sour note in the previous installments.

Now the former routier is a titled knight, the survivor of a Crusade, a family man and a courtier much embroiled in the tumultuous politics of XIV century Italy; naturally his chronicles reflect his new circumstances and all his travels in Outremer and the Peninsula, where he rarely spends long periods in the same place. He’s also fighting for a Genoese pirate turned prince, following his feudal lord the Green Count, has an open contract with his friend Nerio and some understanding with his old mentor John Hawkwood, each with their own interests to pursue.

It is much easier to fight well than to be in command.

I absolutely delighted in the characters, the settings, the logistics, the feat of arms, the reflections on chivalry, the game of kings involving many eastern and western rulers, the dance of diplomacy and of course I had fun with William’s thoughts and personal stakes through it all.

The web of alliances was crystallising, forming like icicles on a mountain cottage: stronger with every thaw and refreeze.

Conversely, while keeping a good pace, this novel is not as engaging as the previous ones, probably due to all the locations, details and history, which are nonetheless vital to convey a realistic vibe to historical fiction.

Anyway, I’m nitpicking. The book ends spectacularly with the famous Italian Wedding between prince Lionel of England and Violante Visconti of Milan. I eagerly look forward to more.

I love Nerio. We are closer than friends. But, like me, he is a very bad man working hard to be good, and he doesn’t always see that the easy way is the wrong way.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent episode (covering about 2 years) from the life of William Gold - picks up where The Green Count ends and goes till the Milan wedding that's mentioned in previous volumes; like The Green Count (to which this volume is very similar) the novel is mellower than the first 2 volumes as William is now an established knight, with various fiefs, a rich wife and a few kids to boot (some actually his, some from his wife's previous marriage), while having adventures in the Outremer, Italy, Savoy and France as he is pulled more and more into the Green Count's orbit; the usual villains (Camus, the bishop of Geneva etc) are back and new ones appear; as usual a novel that one cannot put down when started and then wants more when finished

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot damn, I'm in love! Best part: that last sentence in the author's note stating this is book four of six!!!!!

[J.P. Ashman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely loving this series and have to honestly say it's my fave hisfic series of all time!

I hang on every word, every scene, whether action or dialogue, description or character's contemplation; I feel like I'm there, in Medieval Europe and, for an ex re-enactor, there's very few books I've read that I can say that about.

Colourful, real-feeling characters, mixed with vivid scenes and tense, flowing action sequences. If you're looking at this review, you may well have read the previous three books in this series. Let me tell you, I found this to be the best yet!

Read it, please. Read it!

[Shane Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What rhymes with Christian Cameron?
Five fucking stars!
What you can’t hear it?
Maybe you aren’t listening hard enough?

[Kennethkiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as I found myself racing through the pages, using up sleeping time and devouring the story and wanting to know what happens next, I really absolutely did not want this book to end. It's not a small book, but it absorbs you into its plot that you don't even realise that you're turning page after page. Despite not having as much available reading time as my youth, I found that every available hour not already dedicated to my love, my work or sleep will be spent between each paragraph of this novel.
As usual, masterfully written. I want to go into deep cryogenic sleep now and maybe wake up 8 years from now when all the rest of the William Gold books are out so that I can read them back to back; though I really don't want to come to the end of these tales.

[Stephen Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth installment of the Chivalry series. Europe wide wars has stopped, save for a few hot spots. William Gold finds himself being used as a courier and bodyguard. William finds himself having a few too many masters wanting to use him for various political and religious intrigues. Yet old friends are united, a bit of happiness with his wife and children, and a wedding, that has among the invited those who want to kill the Groom. If you are a fan of Patrick O'Brian and his historical fiction novels, then you most likely enjoy this series.

[C Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Cameron is one of, it not my favorite, author these days and I have been looking forward to this release for months. So much so that I have read it in a single sitting, over the course of one day. And I loved every second of it - and plan to read it again, more slowly, over the next few days.

Its a slower pace than the previous entrants in the series, but the the sense of building pressure is inescapable and makes the prospect of books 5 and 6 mouthwatering prospects.

[William E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Mr. Cameron has to be my favorite author. The magical blend of character and authenticity. Story and history. William Gold stand at the top.

[Mark Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. Love the author (wrote Red Knight under Miles Cameron). Love the time period.

Keep writing em Mr. Cameron, I'll keep reading em.

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another amazing part of the Chivalry series. WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE OUT? I miss William Gold and his company already.

[Sam Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic edition of William Gold saga. In this one you see the knight as a leader. He follows commands and issues them. I really enjoyed the interaction with other knights. The book mildly veers away from the others in that there is no afterword. You remember how the others have ended with Gold still at the inn in Calais? We don’t get that here. I really enjoyed the Green Count a lot more than previous books. He’s growing on Gold as knightly duties keep them together. The center-piece here is the Wedding of Prince Lionel to Violante Visconti! I was really impressed with this episode and look forward to the next.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as the early books in the series, with a somewhat different focus. William Gold takes on more of a leadership role in this one as he matures as a father and captain. Politics and action were fascinating, and the period detail was, as ever, top notch.

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous book is the 4th volume, out of 6 according to the author, of the incredible "Chivalry" (Sir William Gold) series.
The historical details concerning this book has been very well researched by the author, the evidence being a greatly defined glossary and a well-drawn map of Sir William's Travels at the beginning of the book.
While at the end of this book you'll notice a superbly explained Historical Note as well as an Author's Note.
Storytelling is once more of a top-notch quality, because the author keeps you spellbound from start to finish with his tremendous Chivalry story, and because all his characters, mostly real and some fictional, come all vividly to life within this tale.
Once again the book starts with a prologue which is set in Calais in the year AD 1381, and its from there that our main character, the real historical figure Sir William Gold, is narrating his tale of chivalrous adventures.
This book is set between AD 1367-1368, and it is divided into 3 parts, in which Sir William will take us along on his life-journey of chivalry from Outremer in part 1, throughout Italy in part 2, and that will end in and around Milan in part 3, while trying to become the perfect chivalric Knight.
What will follow is another marvellous book of chivalry, where we once more will enter a stage of international politics, where loyalty, betrayal, treason, intrigue and murder are common rules, and where Sir William Gold has to find a way to stay alive in this turmoil and remain true to his chivalric principles.
Very much recommended, for this is historical fiction at its very best, and that's why for me this book tells a tale with: "Words of Steel in a Story of Gold"!

[William Fow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical novel. This is what the genre should be

I loved this book because of the attention to detail and the ability to connect with and enjoy the characters. Also the book flows quickly and is edited very well. I very much enjoy Cameron's books and will continue to read them. I especially love Emile and Williams relationship

[Clay Kallam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian Cameron doesn't miss a beat in volume four of Chivalry, which traces the semi-historical career of William Gold, an English commoner who battles his way (literally) up the ladder of feudal Europe.

The battle scenes are realistic, the wounds are not ignored, and the chivalry is, like any aspirational code of conduct, honored as much in the breach as in the observance.

Cameron is a superb writer, and insofar as the demands of modern publishing will allow, "Sword of Justice" tries to portray what life was like in 14th century Europe. This book spends most of its time in vibrant Renaissance Italy, and Gold's adventures are spiced with political intrigue, treachery, incest and all one would expect from the less-than-Christian rulers of the time.

I can't wait to read volume five ...

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just fuckin' marvelous. The thing about Cameron is that not only does his novels have such great verisimilitude, but as the series run on the worlds within them get very well populated, and characters seeded into the story several installments ago seamlessly reenter the narrative in a way that gives the story a living quality I can't really put words to.
In addition, the plot is just nail-bitingly exciting. The build-up the climactic event of this one starts in the prologue of book #3 and just goes on and on, leading to me consuming the last thirty pages with a near unbearable sense of dread. Jesus Maria how long until the next part?

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

There can only be one sane explanation of Christian Cameron's ability to write of the mid 14th century or the time of Alexander in a way that makes you feel he has lived there and that is a time machine in his backyard.

Of all his series the stories of William Gold are fast becoming my favourite. Finishing this book leaves you feeling like you have been on a tour of medieval Venice and Italy, experiencing the sounds and smells with your journey punctuated by acts if extreme violence.

Highly recommended.

[Geoff Boxell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we are, back in the inn at Calais listening to the next part of Sir William Gold's story.
The book works around two major points: the taking of Corinth and the wedding of Prince Lionel of England to Violante Visconti. In between are various events involving war, injuries, dead trusted men of his company, politics and assassination attempts. Italian politics eh: not much different in the 21st Century I guess. Gold has too many commitments and too many masters with the masters often on conflicting sides. The master he, in this book, is closest to is "The Green Count": the relationship slowly changes and improves from how it was in the previous book in the series, as does his friendship with Sir Richard Musard. Gold is growing in maturity and stature as well as wealth and status, which he freely acknowledges in his asides.
Now one often gets asked if a book in a series (this is #4 of 6 with the final book due out in August 2023) can be read as a stand-alone. Well, yes it can but, in all honesty, you really need to start with book one, "The Ill Made Knight" to understand just who is what and why and how they all fit together. This is a brilliant series and should be read as a series to gain the utmost pleasure.

[Michael Lore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent entry, Sword of Justice is everything historical fiction should be: well-researched, believable, and grounded, while not letting concrete dates and events get in the way of a good story.

Sword of Justice is a bit less gritty than the previous novels - there are fewer battles, less brutal violence and more politics and scheming as William Gold becomes more established as a knight and comes into the Count of Savoy's orbit. It makes for a slower-paced novel, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Gold gets to spend some time with his family, and having Gold be more directly involved in the political intrigue was a nice change of pace.

It can feel at times like Gold is a bit of a Mary Sue, and he is. He always wins, and if he loses he doesn't that badly, and sometimes it can stretch the limits of believability. But remember the frame story: this is Gold telling his own story, and is meant to be taken with a little salt.

Good stuff.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent series , great detail and characters . The author knows his subject and shares a LOT of historical detail with the reader, his characters are vivid and alive ( there are a couple of villains so well written I found that I really despise them) . If you like historical fiction I highly recommend these books....Mr. Cameron is as adept at this form of writing a Bernard Cornwall and I mean that with the utmost respect, and if you have not read his fantasy series about the Red Knight please check them out , they are very well written also , think the Chivalry series...with Dragons !

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest in the series following William Gold through 14th century Europe delves into some pretty complex political/military squabbles between a whole range of factions - so many that it got difficult to keep up with which ones were on the same side.

Having said that, the parts that worked best were the ones that focused on the human side - Gold pondering his personal evolution so far, teaching his followers to behave properly etc. We see the humanity and emotions behind the knights in armour, which has always been one of the strengths in Cameron's novels.

A decent read - although perhaps one to be read with a reference book of the era at hand to help navigate the politics.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

c2018 (4) FWFTB: rupture, Milan, Genoa, Venice, Constantinople. William Gold a hero of note! Certainly, the novels you want to read if you are studying this period of history. And, the art of chivalry - who knew it was so complicated? 'I could see the recognition in his eyes; I was wearing the surcoat of the Order. I had red hair, and I'm four fingers taller than most tall men - I tend to stick out."

[Nicholas Berndt · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing the books that are completed thus far in this series, reading the Long War Series, and also Traitor Son Cycle by Christian Cameron I have decided that he is, without a doubt, my favorite author. This series and book are fantastic. If I could give it 10 stars I would. This book and series are so much deeper and texturized than many others in the genre. I highly recommend this author.

[Micheal Boudreaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Fiction At Its Finest

Cameron once again delivers a thrilling tale, filled with everything one could hope or fear: chivalric prowess and love, murder and betrayal, the creak of harness on the road and the wonder of ancient cities crumbling. William Gold remains one of the most engaging and complex characters in any series I've ever picked up, buoyed by grand historical events, an amazing and almost-but-not-dizzying supporting cast, and the perfect prose.

[Dennis (nee) Hearon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a more uneven entry in the series. The first 80% of the book is part travelogue and part political history of the period. As such, it focuses more on details of the era and the places and cultures visited and does not have much in the way of action. The last 20% of the book redeems it with a stirring finale. Overall, it was still a treat for fans of the genre like myself and I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Mark Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Sword of Justice stands as an excellent addition to the William Gold series, showcasing Christian Cameron's exceptional talent in crafting vivid fighting scenes and characters with profound depth. The narrative seamlessly intertwines Gold's captivating exploits with a touch of medieval history, enriching the reading experience. As a devoted fan of the series, each installment remains eagerly anticipated. Highly recommended, particularly for enthusiasts of historical fiction."

[Harry L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex and acurate

I have to say I am a huge fan of Christian's and all his novels though this series about will gold has now taken the lead narrowly as my favourite. I love the detail included about a period of history that is so romanticised in English folklaw. I simply can't wait for the next one.