Blood Oath

by Malcolm Archibald

After surviving the Battle of Culloden in 1746, young Hughie MacKim swears a blood oath to avenge the murder of his brother.

Trained as an infantryman in Fraser's Highlanders, Hugh joins the Army himself and follows the trail across the horror of war in North America, through to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in September 1759.

But how can he trace the men in the anonymous ranks of the British Army?Winner, SAHR Prize for Military Fiction, 2020-2021

Genres: Historical Fiction

466 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2020

About the author

My primary interest is historical, either fiction or non fiction, but I can enjoy most anything from Jane Austin to Kipling to J K Rowling. I have been very quiet on this site, but I think I might be a bit more active now.
I also enjoy the stimulation of meeting people and finding out about them.

Reviews

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh MacKim is ten years old when he is forced to watch four British soldiers brutally murder his sixteen year-old brother. His mother makes him swear a blood oath to avenge his brother. When he is of age, he joins the British army to fulfill his oath and becomes part of the Highlanders regiment. They, of course, wear kilts. Their Sergeant is brutal as they all were, but he becomes proficient as one of the soldiers. His friend Chisholm is so facial scarred that some are afraid of him or avoid him. He also becomes friends with one named Cummings. They are sent to Canada to capture Quebec. From the other troopers, he learns Bland, the one brutalizing his brother has been killed by plague, two are part of the British troops in Canada and one has deserted to the French. They are joined by the Canadian Rangers and it becomes one breath taking battle or skirmish. He manages to kill one of his brother’s murderers.. While engaged in battle he fights another and the Canadian Indians let them fight, then they snatch the other as the British troops move in. That man is tortured and scalped by the Indians. Meantime MacKim has fallen in love with the wife of one of the Canadian Rangers, but cannot court her and still has another to kill. The weary skirmishes and battles grind on until they finally make it to Quebec and set up a siege. They’ve rescued one of the Indian captives; another Candian Indian from another tribe. Her name is Tayanita. MacKim frees her to return to her people. She seems to follow the regiment and pops up at odd times. MacKim manages to sneak into Quebec before the final battle and locates the killer. Then he learns that Bland didn’t die, is scarred, but has joined the Highlanders under a different name. MacKim fears it his best friend, the scar-faced, ugly Highlander. They are sent on patrol, should he shoot now and question later when a musket shot fells his friend. He searches for the attacker and the fight begins between him and the real last murderer. If he wins will he remain in the army or escape into the Canadian wilderness with Tayanita as Priscilla is lost to him forever.

[Brian Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb action from start to finish, from a real expert in historical fiction.

Malcolm Archibald is without doubt a past master at taking actual historical fact and weaving superb fiction into and around it. Blood Oath is yet another example of his fine work.
As a boy, Hugh MacKim witnesses the murder of his brother, wounded during the Battle of Culloden, by four English Grenadiers. Hugh makes a Blood Oath, swearing to find and kill his brother's murderers. Skip forward a few years and a grown Hugh is now a member of the new British army, following his clan chief's orders that all men follow the new king. We next see Hugh in New France (Canada) where the British are intent on ending French rule and claiming Canada for the king. The action that follows is gritty, brutal and bloody as Hugh learns the art of soldiering, never forgetting his oath.
The author really brings the battle scenes to life in way that convinces the reader that this is an accurate, true account. Along the way, Hugh finds love of a kind, how that turns out you must read for yourself.
I'm so pleased to have realised that this is Book one, and that we will be hearing more of Hugh MacKim in the near future. I can't wait to read the next instalment in his story. 5 big stars from me, for a superb piece of historical fiction, laced with slices of true historical fact. Brilliantly done. Bravo Mr Archibald!

[Berk Rourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugh MacKim is only ten years old when his brother, wounded in a battle with Brits is brutally killed by four men. Hugh is forced to watch this event, then escapes. His mother swears him to the blood oath, the promise to kill all those four, that he gave as he ran away. He joins the Army when his Clan Chief calls for volunteers, at age sixteen. In time he is sent to Canada to take part in the struggle between the French and the British. As luck would have it he comes upon the four murderers. Does he kill them? Well you'll have to read the book to find out. And read it you should. It is beautifully written, gives the perspective of a soldier versus the officers in the times, shows you the brutality of war and what can be the bestiality of man. Another tour de force by Malcolm Archibald. Very enjoyable read, with a bit of a surprise ending. Read on.

[Patrick MacGuire · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story but essentially formulaic

The story hinges on the ability of a boy to remember the faces of four men he sees for a short, traumatic moment and then recognise those men ten years later. I don't believe it possible. My mother died when I was much the same age and twelve years later, I could barely remember HER face. The mother in this story, though essential was roughly sketched in and then mostly forgotten. Its an ok story but really lacks the kind of period details which brings books by Andrew Wareham and Patrick O'Brien to vivid life.

[Martin Buckle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Class Tale

Excellent read from start to finish , attention to detail is particularly good. The characters had depth and credibility. Well worth reading

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

We meet the main character at age 10, witnessing his brother's death in the aftermath of a great battle--a trauma that shapes him. We leave him at 23, after an intense struggle to deal with all this, he is still emotionally frozen at that age: a grown man with the emotional intelligence of a traumatized child. After such a long, detailed journey, it seems he has not grown and learned nothing--leaving me wondering if we are meant to see him as arrested in development, or is he just a simpleton.

The "B" character functions like a sage or externalized conscience, offering wise advice. The text hints at hidden secrets, but these are never revealed, leaving him completely undeveloped as as a figure.

Perhaps the book's real aim is historical, immersion in 18th-century North America. The natives are fierce fighters who know their land, who scalp and torture; war is brutal and lots of people die. There, that's all we learn. Beyond that, the novel offers no insight. Is that truly all there is to learn of 18th-century Scotland or America? The narrowness of perspective feels unsatisfying.

And that's all there is to say about this book: disappointing.

[R Sticklee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tightly written adventure with multiple layers

From the bloody fields of Culloden in 1745 to the Fall of Quebec in 1759, Hugh MacKee grows from childhood to a veteran warrior wrestling with loyalty, honor, and the demands of fulfilling a blood oath so he can live a free life.

Tightly written with plenty of unexpected plot twists, this novel can be read on different levels. One as a straight well-researched adventure story of a turbulent and violent time. On another level there is an interesting exploration of the maze of loyalties. The Highlanders were allied with the Catholic Stuarts until they were finally defeated at Culloden. Then the Highlanders have to go to extraordinary lengths to prove their loyalty to the new Protestant Hanovers. The common soldier does not care who they fight for. They are pawns who fight and die for someone else’s cause. Which leads to yet another level, represented by the game of Chess.

I’m interested in following the series to see where it goes.

[A.J. Griffiths-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of Archibald’s books, this is a well researched novel with vibrant characters & a great sense of the period. In the opening chapter, Hugh MacKim witnesses the murder of his brother Ewan & vows to avenge his death, which leads to training with the Highland Regiment & an adventurous taste of war in North America. Set in the eighteenth century, the story is descriptive & true to life, detailing the conditions under which the soldiers served, with rationing, hard living & falling temperatures. This is the first in a series & I very much look forward to reading the next, a solid five stars.

[Chris simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read at all, Having read nothing about this campaign and only familiar with it through visits to General Wolfe's house in Westerham I was intrigued by the seige of Quibec and the involvement of the highland regiments. This was a good telling of the story that moved at a steady pace but I wished that the main character had been driven less by a revenge as it did not sit to well within the plot for me. But it was still enjoyable

[Jon Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Oath M Archibald

Just finished Blood Oath, a simple but page turning historic walk through French/ British battles for the new world. I knew i liked it and already ordered the 2nd in the series. With battles big and small , personal or national MA is gifted at keeping his reader hanging on for more and a fantastic twist at the last. With many more novels and series to get through im so glad to look forward to more.

[Leroy B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one sick puppy

While the setting of the story in the Seven Years War is different, Hugh McKim is one disturbing individual. I suppose any tale of revenge is. It is amazing the fool stayed alive. Detracts from the story. A flawed hero can earn redemption but one sick as McKim deserves contempt.

[John Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge

Well written as are all of the author’s books. Hard to put down. A good picture of military life for the period. Hurry up and wait has never changed. I liked the character development and the plot twist was intriguing.

[Michelle D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read!

Fast paced historical novel with interesting charactors and nicely described background. I especially liked the way he placed a few twists and turns into the plot.

[Paul S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historically accurate action.

Very well written with action, suspense and surprises amidst a great historical fiction story. Recommended for all who are interested in 18th century warfare.

[Stuart]

I cannot recommend this book. The characters are flat, the dialogue is wooden, and the revenge mission is cliche. It is good to read about the nature of war at this time, and about the British assaults in Canada, but I’d be better off just reading a history book.

[Ron Matsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical accuracy

Although the author stretches out the story with needless repetition of his oath Hugh Mackim moves forward in both his vengeance and the British attack on the French in Canada.

[Steve Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked it

McKim was not overly smart, not a fantastic soldier, not too moralistic, or wise. This book had a believable ending.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So-So

It was a somewhat book to get through, it needed a lot of editing, quite often confusing ratings a n names. Although a decent storyline it seemed forever to conclude it.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

No idea why this is rated so high. Barely kept my attention.

[Richard Larmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the second book in the series first and liked it so much that I almost got the first to read. A good read.

[Mrs J · Rating 1 out of 5]

.

Fairly dull, only finished it to see if it got any better, well it didn't. So let's try something else.

[Dana Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge

Good tale of revenge and a different side of the French and Indian war. Exciting twist in the last chapter.

[Dave Hammett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise

Good read with a combination of history and adventure. A little romance doesn't hurt either. I hope there are more stories with Hugh.

[Carol Morgan]

Interesting book on the Scottish war.

[Holly Yeatman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of Information

Excellent read has a lot of interesting information. Highly recommend this book, can hardly wait to read the next installment