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Son of Scotland #2
Ravaged Lands
The year is 1308. Fighting once again for Scotland's freedom, it falls to Thomas Randolph, nephew of King Robert the Bruce, to outwit and outbattle the conquering English. There is no easy path to victory through lands and lives ravaged by years of war. But a man with a knight’s courage will find it. Thomas Randolph is such a man, and this will be his finest hour.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2020
68 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Tomlin
38 books215 followersJ. R. Tomlin is the author of nineteen historical novels.
She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of the Bruce and Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small, to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.
When JR isn't writing, she enjoys hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to spending time in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.
She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of the Bruce and Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small, to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.
When JR isn't writing, she enjoys hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to spending time in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 25, 2023
I love historical fiction and consider every book I find in the category a treasure. But this. OMGoodness.
I have never picked up a book so desperately in need of good proofing and editing as this and its predecessor, "Noble Traitor". I struggled to make sense of some of the sentences in Traitor, even with the poorly done attempt on the Gaelic and the supposed colloquial phrasing, but it's darn near impossible to concentrate on the text when you are trying to figure out what the words mean.
If you are a fan of a certain popular book and cable TV series by D. Gabaldon, then you know words like "ken and Sassenach". If not, WTHeck is this author trying to say?
So that's a primary detraction for me. The other part I take issue with is that the story proceeds at a snails pace, often only moving a day or so in "time" while the author takes us on a pointless tour of the culinary seasonings, the refilling of mugs and tankards, the changing of garb, like tunics, chausses (pants) and various armor devices like brigandines, hauberk, helms and like. Grinding of the sword edges took forever. All this and more is mundane and to be expected for the time period so why bother the reader with unnecessary blather about things that do not move the story forward? It wasn't setting or dressing a stage, it was a page filling avoidance of meaning.
As for the characters. Dull. Boring. One sided and shallow. Robert The Bruce was possibly Scotland's greatest king but all we read of him in this series focuses on his armor, his device, and his axes. I would have liked a little bit of his history, his rise to power and the struggle for Scottish freedom. William Wallace is mentioned more than The Bruce, and yet Wallace was dead for at least two years before this story began.
I kept trying to define what the story was about. The struggle for independence is well known, but who are the men who drove that desire and what were their lives really like? There's nothing here that will enlighten the reader about the actual causes and the politics the clans struggled to overcome so that Scotland could finally be united and free from British rule.
I finally gave up about halfway through book 2. It just wasn't interesting enough and the poor grammar, spelling, editing, and too frequent use of words that defy definition or common knowledge became so tedious I didn't want to finish the novel.
E-publishing is just as common as dirt these days. I long for the days of editors and galley proofers who understand the rules of good writing and know how to give a reader their money's worth.
I won't even bother to try the third book. I think this series is dead in the water. I can't recommend it to avid readers of good historical fiction. This is a hot mess.
I have never picked up a book so desperately in need of good proofing and editing as this and its predecessor, "Noble Traitor". I struggled to make sense of some of the sentences in Traitor, even with the poorly done attempt on the Gaelic and the supposed colloquial phrasing, but it's darn near impossible to concentrate on the text when you are trying to figure out what the words mean.
If you are a fan of a certain popular book and cable TV series by D. Gabaldon, then you know words like "ken and Sassenach". If not, WTHeck is this author trying to say?
So that's a primary detraction for me. The other part I take issue with is that the story proceeds at a snails pace, often only moving a day or so in "time" while the author takes us on a pointless tour of the culinary seasonings, the refilling of mugs and tankards, the changing of garb, like tunics, chausses (pants) and various armor devices like brigandines, hauberk, helms and like. Grinding of the sword edges took forever. All this and more is mundane and to be expected for the time period so why bother the reader with unnecessary blather about things that do not move the story forward? It wasn't setting or dressing a stage, it was a page filling avoidance of meaning.
As for the characters. Dull. Boring. One sided and shallow. Robert The Bruce was possibly Scotland's greatest king but all we read of him in this series focuses on his armor, his device, and his axes. I would have liked a little bit of his history, his rise to power and the struggle for Scottish freedom. William Wallace is mentioned more than The Bruce, and yet Wallace was dead for at least two years before this story began.
I kept trying to define what the story was about. The struggle for independence is well known, but who are the men who drove that desire and what were their lives really like? There's nothing here that will enlighten the reader about the actual causes and the politics the clans struggled to overcome so that Scotland could finally be united and free from British rule.
I finally gave up about halfway through book 2. It just wasn't interesting enough and the poor grammar, spelling, editing, and too frequent use of words that defy definition or common knowledge became so tedious I didn't want to finish the novel.
E-publishing is just as common as dirt these days. I long for the days of editors and galley proofers who understand the rules of good writing and know how to give a reader their money's worth.
I won't even bother to try the third book. I think this series is dead in the water. I can't recommend it to avid readers of good historical fiction. This is a hot mess.
October 4, 2021
This author continues to frustrate me in this second of the series set in early 14th century Scotland. I love the way he embeds Scots dialect and occasional Gaelic phrases to help grow my vocabulary and I also love the geography review as we follow the main character, Thomas Randolph, on his exciting life in the service of his uncle, Robert the Bruce, about Scotland and down into England. The battle scenes are exciting, the parliament procedure fascinating, and the struggle over Edinburgh exhilarating! So what's my quibble? Terribly sloppy proofreading. Sometimes one sees two verbs right in a row, suggestive that one was to replace the other but the first was never deleted. Other times sentences lose verbs entirely! It's disheartening, because the rest of this is so good. I will read the next in the series, and pray to St. Andrew someone stepped in and did a better job finalizing it for publication. And of course I will continue to root for Thomas. Go Scotland!
April 7, 2022
A great companion for the Black Douglas series
I had wondered if this series would repeat much of the history of the Black Douglas series and was glad it did not as I found a lot of the history in that series depressing. I found the life history of Thomas Randolph very enjoyable and a great insight into Scottish history of the 1300s. The author has done a great job in her research, knowledge and talent in weaving a great story based on historical facts. I look forward to the last of this series as well as the Black Douglas title coming out in a few days.
I had wondered if this series would repeat much of the history of the Black Douglas series and was glad it did not as I found a lot of the history in that series depressing. I found the life history of Thomas Randolph very enjoyable and a great insight into Scottish history of the 1300s. The author has done a great job in her research, knowledge and talent in weaving a great story based on historical facts. I look forward to the last of this series as well as the Black Douglas title coming out in a few days.
August 10, 2020
Simply history at its most interesting....
I’ve learned more history from historical fiction novels than I ever learned in school. This way of following history keeps the reader going rather than monotonous memorization of dates quickly forgotten. Scotland has such a rich history. Read and learn. Enjoy!
I’ve learned more history from historical fiction novels than I ever learned in school. This way of following history keeps the reader going rather than monotonous memorization of dates quickly forgotten. Scotland has such a rich history. Read and learn. Enjoy!
December 15, 2023
Fascinating and well-researched story, with authentic, if sometimes gory, details. However, as the other reviews point out, the proofreading is horrendous - dropped or multiple articles or verbs are a particular annoyance.
January 15, 2024
Many bloody battles across Scotland retaking castles.
Robert the Bruce enlists the men of his family to strengthen his kingdom! They lead the men of Scotland in retribution for England's ruling the Scottish homeland!
Robert the Bruce enlists the men of his family to strengthen his kingdom! They lead the men of Scotland in retribution for England's ruling the Scottish homeland!
September 21, 2024
Great
I love stories of Scotland. I'm 3rd Scottish as one was a ancestors was a Pinkerton. The other 2/3 is Irish and German. That means I'm mostly Celtic. This story of Robert the Bruce and his nephew, Thomas was excellent and plan on read more by Tomlin!
I love stories of Scotland. I'm 3rd Scottish as one was a ancestors was a Pinkerton. The other 2/3 is Irish and German. That means I'm mostly Celtic. This story of Robert the Bruce and his nephew, Thomas was excellent and plan on read more by Tomlin!
November 1, 2021
As good as if not better than book 1 of this series!
November 8, 2023
Great action!
I loved this book. Easy to read and the action was great. Just a simple brainless read that I need on days when work has been tough. Love it!
I loved this book. Easy to read and the action was great. Just a simple brainless read that I need on days when work has been tough. Love it!
October 16, 2025
Great Story
A quick and fun read! I knocked this book out in 2 days, it had great action and character development.
A quick and fun read! I knocked this book out in 2 days, it had great action and character development.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews