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The King's Knight #1
Revolt
"Ironside writes with insight and wit... The King's Knight skilfully blends action with real historical events and personages... Medieval England is a time of both blood and humanity." Richard Foreman, author Band of Brothers.
1381.
England seethes with discontent over unfair and arbitrary taxation.
The country is on the cusp of an uprising - a peasant's revolt. All it will take is a spark.
Gregory Maudesley, second son of a minor noble and disillusioned knight for hire, returns home after nearly a decade abroad. Maudesley intends to claim his deceased father's lands but the knight is plagued by misfortune.
Gregory journeys to London to secure an audience with the boy king, Richard II. But the England he travels through is very different from that of his youth. The road is treacherous and the greatest dangers of all await him in the capital.
London is ablaze. Even the Tower of London has fallen to Wat Tyler's forces.
But Richard, enlisting the help of Gregory, will ride out to meet the rebellion head on.
A king and kingdom must stand, or fall.
Revolt is the first book is The King's Knight series of novellas, chronicling the life of Gregory Maudesley and the dramatic reign of Richard II.
Recommended for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Robyn Young and Michael Jecks.
Praise for J. A. Ironside
“Entertaining, well-researched and compelling.” Michael Jecks on An Argument of Blood.
“Ælfgifa…steals every scene and is a character who would fit in any George R. R. Martin novel.” Tony Riches author of The Tudor Trilogy (An Argument of Blood).
“Intense drama, creative working of the sparse historical record, and a detailed look into what made William and Harold tick… A rousing, page turning tale awaits you…” Paul Bennett, author of Clash of Empires (on 'A Black Matter for the King').
J. A. Ironside grew up in rural Dorset in a house full of books. She was exposed to history at an early age and happily never recovered – the presence of so many Roman ruins in the area inspired a lifelong interest in historical warfare. She has taught and studied martial arts and weaponry for 25 years. Her published works include An Argument of Blood and A Black Matter for the King, both co-written with Matthew Willis.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2019
46 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Ironside
59 books355 followersUrban fantasy and historical fiction author J.A. Ironside masquerades by day as member of the county library service, which strangely enough has less to do with books than you would think.
Jules grew up in Dorset in a house full of books, which probably explains a lot about how her mind works. You might think that folklore, fringe science, history, physics, magic and supernatural mystery wouldn’t go all that well together, but she’s hell bent on proving they do. Her urban fantasy series Harker & Blackthorn is now ten books long and counting. It features a sentient museum because someone needs to keep track of what’s going on. Unveiled – another UF series set in the same universe – is now complete.
Jules is also determined to show that historical fiction can be both factually correct and funny. The King’s Knight series is set during the tumultuous reign of Richard II, while the sweeping Oath and Crown Duology – co-authored with Matthew Willis – follows the events leading up to and around the Battle of Hastings.
When pried her away from her books, Jules enthusiastically engages in martial arts and playing the piano, although never at the same time. At least not yet. She lives on the edge of the Cotswold way with her boyfriend creature and two hell’s kittens. Find out more at www.jaironside.com
Jules grew up in Dorset in a house full of books, which probably explains a lot about how her mind works. You might think that folklore, fringe science, history, physics, magic and supernatural mystery wouldn’t go all that well together, but she’s hell bent on proving they do. Her urban fantasy series Harker & Blackthorn is now ten books long and counting. It features a sentient museum because someone needs to keep track of what’s going on. Unveiled – another UF series set in the same universe – is now complete.
Jules is also determined to show that historical fiction can be both factually correct and funny. The King’s Knight series is set during the tumultuous reign of Richard II, while the sweeping Oath and Crown Duology – co-authored with Matthew Willis – follows the events leading up to and around the Battle of Hastings.
When pried her away from her books, Jules enthusiastically engages in martial arts and playing the piano, although never at the same time. At least not yet. She lives on the edge of the Cotswold way with her boyfriend creature and two hell’s kittens. Find out more at www.jaironside.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 13, 2019
I'm always a bit wary of historical fiction - although I enjoy it, it sometimes feels as though the author is giving me more of a history lesson rather than taking me on a journey with characters of that specific time.
Not so here. From the moment we meet Gregory lying in a horse trough after being beaten up, we're plunged into a medieval world and carried along with him on his search for a wife to restore his fortune and in his reluctant political involvement.
Ironside has a knack for making history real - being factual and still giving you a damn good story with it.
Not so here. From the moment we meet Gregory lying in a horse trough after being beaten up, we're plunged into a medieval world and carried along with him on his search for a wife to restore his fortune and in his reluctant political involvement.
Ironside has a knack for making history real - being factual and still giving you a damn good story with it.
June 12, 2019
‘Revolt’ is the perfect nugget of historical fiction. Gregory Maudseley is a knight on his uppers, trying to negotiate the windings of 14th Century bureaucracy to obtain his inheritance, and in so doing stumbles into the midst of a national emergency. What follows takes in brawls and riots, thieves and nobles, knock-kneed nags and Geoffrey Chaucer, a most inconvenient marriage of convenience, and equal measures of action and humour.
I don’t want to start with the rich, authentic realisation of 14th Century England that leaps off its pages but I feel I must, only because the narrative and characters are so engaging that you almost don’t notice how well executed the history is. I was immersed in a world that was somehow unfamiliar but didn’t feel so, from the very beginning. The nitty-gritty of medieval life for a petty knight and common folk is laid out in all its grubby glory, with each almost incidental detail building the picture while driving the plot on. This is no small matter. And it has a lot to do with Chaucer.
Every so often, someone will try to take stories from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and place them in a modern setting. After all, they do it with Shakespeare all the time, and Chaucer is the second national poet. But this works with some of them. Sure, the universality of human experience cuts through in some cases. The Knight’s Tale generally sticks out like a sore thumb. The reason for this is that it is based around a conflict between two huge pillars of medieval life, at least in its upper echelons – courtly love on the one hand and knightly chivalry on the other – which have no modern analogue. The concepts are far more alien to our experience than Middle English is to our ears. This is all a roundabout way of saying that Ironside manages to negotiate the realities of 14th Century social codes in a way that’s actually meaningful to a modern audience while feeling totally authentic. On top of that, she gently satirises Chaucer’s portrayal of knightly conduct, while the appearance of Chaucer himself – in his lifetime far more of a polymath than his modern reputation admits – could have gone a bit ‘Quantum Leap’ but actually fits the tone and narrative perfectly.
Sir Gregory is one of those heroes you can’t help liking, despite his somewhat patchy background and willingness to break bones. Indeed, if hero is really the word, as the protagonist starts out simply trying to hold his life together and pick up the pieces of his sorry estate, unexpectedly passed to him after the death of various antecedents. The cynical ex-mercenary soon shows himself to be rather more complicated, however, and not so jaded that the idea of the ‘verray pafit gentil knighte’ is entirely unlikely. The adventures of Gregory, and the motley band he gathers along the way – wife Alienor, groom Cuthbert, the aforementioned poet (who turns out to be rather more than that) and others – will sweep you along to a date with destiny that pits a boy king against his rebellious subjects. There’s excitement and tension aplenty, but Revolt is fun and genuinely funny.
Highly recommended to fans of historical fiction and anyone who likes a good adventure with well-realised characters.
I don’t want to start with the rich, authentic realisation of 14th Century England that leaps off its pages but I feel I must, only because the narrative and characters are so engaging that you almost don’t notice how well executed the history is. I was immersed in a world that was somehow unfamiliar but didn’t feel so, from the very beginning. The nitty-gritty of medieval life for a petty knight and common folk is laid out in all its grubby glory, with each almost incidental detail building the picture while driving the plot on. This is no small matter. And it has a lot to do with Chaucer.
Every so often, someone will try to take stories from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and place them in a modern setting. After all, they do it with Shakespeare all the time, and Chaucer is the second national poet. But this works with some of them. Sure, the universality of human experience cuts through in some cases. The Knight’s Tale generally sticks out like a sore thumb. The reason for this is that it is based around a conflict between two huge pillars of medieval life, at least in its upper echelons – courtly love on the one hand and knightly chivalry on the other – which have no modern analogue. The concepts are far more alien to our experience than Middle English is to our ears. This is all a roundabout way of saying that Ironside manages to negotiate the realities of 14th Century social codes in a way that’s actually meaningful to a modern audience while feeling totally authentic. On top of that, she gently satirises Chaucer’s portrayal of knightly conduct, while the appearance of Chaucer himself – in his lifetime far more of a polymath than his modern reputation admits – could have gone a bit ‘Quantum Leap’ but actually fits the tone and narrative perfectly.
Sir Gregory is one of those heroes you can’t help liking, despite his somewhat patchy background and willingness to break bones. Indeed, if hero is really the word, as the protagonist starts out simply trying to hold his life together and pick up the pieces of his sorry estate, unexpectedly passed to him after the death of various antecedents. The cynical ex-mercenary soon shows himself to be rather more complicated, however, and not so jaded that the idea of the ‘verray pafit gentil knighte’ is entirely unlikely. The adventures of Gregory, and the motley band he gathers along the way – wife Alienor, groom Cuthbert, the aforementioned poet (who turns out to be rather more than that) and others – will sweep you along to a date with destiny that pits a boy king against his rebellious subjects. There’s excitement and tension aplenty, but Revolt is fun and genuinely funny.
Highly recommended to fans of historical fiction and anyone who likes a good adventure with well-realised characters.
June 6, 2019
I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of this book from the author.
It's been a long time since I've read any real historical fiction, and I have a hot & cold relationship with the genre. That being said, I absolutely fell in love with 'Revolt' and I am already impatient for the next installment.
Grumpy, gruff, but with a (somewhat jaded) heart of gold, the character of Gregory immediately appealed to me. He's perfect for those readers who love an unwilling hero, and particularly good if you want a character who feels of the era, whilst still being someone you might actually want to meet! The secondary characters were equally brilliant, including Alienor (Gregory's Scottish bride), Cuthbert (the optimistic servant), Richard (the boy king) and Chaucer (the legendary writer). The dynamic between these people and Gregory was unique, and made all the better by the witty, engaging dialogue which Ironside is so gifted with.
This is a period of history of which I do not know a great deal, but Ironside covers it in excellent detail, all without slowing the pace of the plot, or over-saturating the narrative. The story is a nice balance between action, suspense, humour and a splash of well written romance.
So whether Historical Fiction is usually your thing, or you prefer more modern work or Fantasy, I wholeheartedly recommend "Revolt" to you. It's a short, enjoyable read, and brilliant from start to finish!
To J.A. Ironside - I don't know how you do it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. Give me book 2.
It's been a long time since I've read any real historical fiction, and I have a hot & cold relationship with the genre. That being said, I absolutely fell in love with 'Revolt' and I am already impatient for the next installment.
Grumpy, gruff, but with a (somewhat jaded) heart of gold, the character of Gregory immediately appealed to me. He's perfect for those readers who love an unwilling hero, and particularly good if you want a character who feels of the era, whilst still being someone you might actually want to meet! The secondary characters were equally brilliant, including Alienor (Gregory's Scottish bride), Cuthbert (the optimistic servant), Richard (the boy king) and Chaucer (the legendary writer). The dynamic between these people and Gregory was unique, and made all the better by the witty, engaging dialogue which Ironside is so gifted with.
This is a period of history of which I do not know a great deal, but Ironside covers it in excellent detail, all without slowing the pace of the plot, or over-saturating the narrative. The story is a nice balance between action, suspense, humour and a splash of well written romance.
So whether Historical Fiction is usually your thing, or you prefer more modern work or Fantasy, I wholeheartedly recommend "Revolt" to you. It's a short, enjoyable read, and brilliant from start to finish!
To J.A. Ironside - I don't know how you do it. I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. Give me book 2.
March 22, 2021
Although a pretty short book, I found the writing style very efficiently packing every page with information but without becoming too perfunctory or coldly clinical. I was fascinated by this, as someone who often waxes overly lyrical, and I want to see more from Ironside so I can learn from it.
Regarding the story itself, it was fairly quick-moving, interesting, and full of relevant information which entertained and delighted me. Obviously a series-starter, the ending sets up the worldview for following chronicles about Sir Maudsley. The premise for what's to come was clearly laid out, and I look very much forward to seeing what comes next.
I found the character-building for Maudsley very revealing, and hope we learn more about the apparently abhorrent actions of his late brother, and, in particular, his new wife. I have a feeling her role will become something very different from that which Maudsley initially supposes!
There's only one reason I've given four stars instead of five, and that is because there are a few occasions where words have been missed out, and one incidence I noticed of the wrong person referred to. I must also note one continuity error, where discussions about what to do next were talking about the meeting of Mile End as being from the day before when actually we were still witnessing the narrative of the 14th of May, which was the same day, not the day after. For those who know the history, like me, it was easy to ignore, but those who don't might wonder why the Smithfields meet was dated as of the 15th when the planning of it seemed to have been done on the 15th, thus now should be the 16th. I'd suggest either moving the section from The King's Wardrobe to the 15th or changing the language to correctly show that these discussions were undertaken later on the 14th - the same day as the Mile End meet and the sacking of the Tower.
I thoroughly recommend this to lovers of historical fiction and look forward to the next instalment.
Regarding the story itself, it was fairly quick-moving, interesting, and full of relevant information which entertained and delighted me. Obviously a series-starter, the ending sets up the worldview for following chronicles about Sir Maudsley. The premise for what's to come was clearly laid out, and I look very much forward to seeing what comes next.
I found the character-building for Maudsley very revealing, and hope we learn more about the apparently abhorrent actions of his late brother, and, in particular, his new wife. I have a feeling her role will become something very different from that which Maudsley initially supposes!
There's only one reason I've given four stars instead of five, and that is because there are a few occasions where words have been missed out, and one incidence I noticed of the wrong person referred to. I must also note one continuity error, where discussions about what to do next were talking about the meeting of Mile End as being from the day before when actually we were still witnessing the narrative of the 14th of May, which was the same day, not the day after. For those who know the history, like me, it was easy to ignore, but those who don't might wonder why the Smithfields meet was dated as of the 15th when the planning of it seemed to have been done on the 15th, thus now should be the 16th. I'd suggest either moving the section from The King's Wardrobe to the 15th or changing the language to correctly show that these discussions were undertaken later on the 14th - the same day as the Mile End meet and the sacking of the Tower.
I thoroughly recommend this to lovers of historical fiction and look forward to the next instalment.
March 31, 2020
A dark and, sometimes, amusing tale!
I could not help but like the anti hero of this story. A gruff, uncouth medieval killer but, with a hidden likeable side. Many things went wrong in his life. Being born the second son of a minor noble being one of them. Fortunately, he overcame adversity and rose through the ranks to become a baron in his own right. Even his shrewish wife mellowed in the end. Set in the time of Wat Tyler and the "peasant 's revolt" this was a highly entertaining tale.
I could not help but like the anti hero of this story. A gruff, uncouth medieval killer but, with a hidden likeable side. Many things went wrong in his life. Being born the second son of a minor noble being one of them. Fortunately, he overcame adversity and rose through the ranks to become a baron in his own right. Even his shrewish wife mellowed in the end. Set in the time of Wat Tyler and the "peasant 's revolt" this was a highly entertaining tale.
October 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this well researched historical novel set around the time of the Peasant Revolt led by Wat Tyler in England in 1381. The story is told from the point of view of Gregory Maudesley, a former mercenary, who has returned to England to claim his unexpected inheritance of his father's lands.
Journeying to London to stake his claim, Gregory soon becomes involved in the uprising and unexpectedly finds himself recruited to the bodyguard of the boy King Richard.
Not just a story of what happened during the Peasant Revolt, the novel depicts what life would have been like at that time and interestingly brings Geoffrey Chaucer into the tale and also Gregory's wife
who is an exceptional woman and very modern for her time.
An excellent novel which is available on Kindle Unlimited which I read it on, I immediately got the second novel in the series to read.
Journeying to London to stake his claim, Gregory soon becomes involved in the uprising and unexpectedly finds himself recruited to the bodyguard of the boy King Richard.
Not just a story of what happened during the Peasant Revolt, the novel depicts what life would have been like at that time and interestingly brings Geoffrey Chaucer into the tale and also Gregory's wife
who is an exceptional woman and very modern for her time.
An excellent novel which is available on Kindle Unlimited which I read it on, I immediately got the second novel in the series to read.
June 2, 2020
Excellent.
A new author to add to my list. I really enjoyed this novella. I got annoyed at one stage with Gregory and Alienor, but it was worth the wait. Funny enough, Alienor is my favourite character and I hope she gets a bigger part in future. I don't talk about the plot, you can find that on the information about the book. I'm going to read the next in the series now, if it's out, as soon as I can if not. That's the highest recommendation I can give.
A new author to add to my list. I really enjoyed this novella. I got annoyed at one stage with Gregory and Alienor, but it was worth the wait. Funny enough, Alienor is my favourite character and I hope she gets a bigger part in future. I don't talk about the plot, you can find that on the information about the book. I'm going to read the next in the series now, if it's out, as soon as I can if not. That's the highest recommendation I can give.
November 9, 2020
Too short!
Heartily recommended, however, I regret the current practise of writing short books. I will read the next one that follows on, but I feel that the story has only just started. I’d have liked a good long read under one cover.
Heartily recommended, however, I regret the current practise of writing short books. I will read the next one that follows on, but I feel that the story has only just started. I’d have liked a good long read under one cover.
December 21, 2019
Great book
Great fast read. I enjoyed it a lot. Clear writing style, perfect for this kind of story, cannot wait for book 2.
Great fast read. I enjoyed it a lot. Clear writing style, perfect for this kind of story, cannot wait for book 2.
March 6, 2020
Enjoyable romp
An enjoyable romp through a turbulent time in England's history.Our hero stumble his way through revolting times and emerges . Well worth a read.
An enjoyable romp through a turbulent time in England's history.Our hero stumble his way through revolting times and emerges . Well worth a read.
November 30, 2020
Its a nice and simple read thats engaging and can be recommended to anyone primarily due to its size.
February 18, 2021
I am great fan of historical fiction!
This book covers a time well covered by other authors writing similar stories, including Geoffrey Chaucer was clever.
It didn't hold ones attention as some books do.
This book covers a time well covered by other authors writing similar stories, including Geoffrey Chaucer was clever.
It didn't hold ones attention as some books do.
February 20, 2021
Cracking little novella, this is, with a few historical figures crossing paths unexpectedly:)
September 20, 2021
Disappointing and badly written. Luckily there are plenty of other books to read.
October 24, 2021
Excellent
What a delightful change to have a main character who doesn't represent a knight of The Round Table. Look forward to reading the next 'adventure '
What a delightful change to have a main character who doesn't represent a knight of The Round Table. Look forward to reading the next 'adventure '
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews