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The Sassana Stone Pentalogy #1
The Sheriff's Catch
"a stunning work from an equally stunning up-and-coming writer who has more than earned the right to a global readership" - The Scotsman
Winner of the 'best novel' and 'best historical fiction' categories at the international Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2019.
Abel de Santiago is a man on the run. Once a famous sniper, Abel finds himself a survivor of the Spanish Armada shipwrecks in 16th C Ireland. Following his capture by a brutal sheriff, Abel flees torture and death with a priceless emerald ring. Dozens of English troopers hunt the Spaniard across the Irish wilds, beating every last bush in a desperate attempt to find him.
Muireann is a revered Irish poetess enjoying the hospitality of a neighbouring tribe. Tragedy strikes when the sheriff’s men kill her husband during a violent night raid, with her life barely saved by the fugitive Abel. Newly widowed and shocked by her loss, Muireann must somehow reach the distant lands of her tribe, where she can be reunited with her only son.
Both runaways form an unlikely bond as they flee across a strange and stunning land, pushed to the edge of their wits and endurance. Yet unknown to Muireann, the ring Abel carries bears far-reaching consequences beyond Irish shores. Can the unlikely, desperate pair escape a ruthless sheriff who will never give up the chase?
Accolades for 'The Sheriff's Catch'
Winner in the 'Best Novel' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2019
Winner in the 'Best Historical Fiction' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2019
Winner in the 'Best Cover Design' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2019
Finalist in the 'Book Trailer' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2019
Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards, 2019
Finalist - The Eric Hoffer Awards, 2019
Finalist in the 'Outstanding Historical' category - The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards, 2019
Winner in the 'Best Cover Design' category - The e-book Cover Design Awards, November 2018
Nominee in the 'Best Trailer for a Book or Novel' category - Golden Trailer Awards, 2018
Winner of the 'best novel' and 'best historical fiction' categories at the international Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2019.
Abel de Santiago is a man on the run. Once a famous sniper, Abel finds himself a survivor of the Spanish Armada shipwrecks in 16th C Ireland. Following his capture by a brutal sheriff, Abel flees torture and death with a priceless emerald ring. Dozens of English troopers hunt the Spaniard across the Irish wilds, beating every last bush in a desperate attempt to find him.
Muireann is a revered Irish poetess enjoying the hospitality of a neighbouring tribe. Tragedy strikes when the sheriff’s men kill her husband during a violent night raid, with her life barely saved by the fugitive Abel. Newly widowed and shocked by her loss, Muireann must somehow reach the distant lands of her tribe, where she can be reunited with her only son.
Both runaways form an unlikely bond as they flee across a strange and stunning land, pushed to the edge of their wits and endurance. Yet unknown to Muireann, the ring Abel carries bears far-reaching consequences beyond Irish shores. Can the unlikely, desperate pair escape a ruthless sheriff who will never give up the chase?
Accolades for 'The Sheriff's Catch'
Winner in the 'Best Novel' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2019
Winner in the 'Best Historical Fiction' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2019
Winner in the 'Best Cover Design' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, 2019
Finalist in the 'Book Trailer' category - The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards 2019
Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards, 2019
Finalist - The Eric Hoffer Awards, 2019
Finalist in the 'Outstanding Historical' category - The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards, 2019
Winner in the 'Best Cover Design' category - The e-book Cover Design Awards, November 2018
Nominee in the 'Best Trailer for a Book or Novel' category - Golden Trailer Awards, 2018
436 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2021
20 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
James Vella-Bardon
7 books85 followersA Sydney-based, award-winning author born and raised in Malta.
After reading law at the Universities of both Malta and Sydney, James qualified as a lawyer and also completed a doctoral thesis on the rights and freedoms of peoples at international law. Upon emigrating to Sydney in 2007, he also studied creative writing.
His debut novel THE SHERIFF’S CATCH is a highly acclaimed thriller, which recounts the adventures of a Spanish Armada castaway in Tudor Ireland, who joins in the great struggle to liberate western Ireland from brutal suppression.
Following its UK release in 2018, the novel was recommended as a ‘must-read of the week’ by leading British newspaper The Scotsman, with Reader's Digest also describing it as 'a remarkably confident literary debut' and 'the spectacular start to an epic five-book story.'
www.jamesvellabardon.com
After reading law at the Universities of both Malta and Sydney, James qualified as a lawyer and also completed a doctoral thesis on the rights and freedoms of peoples at international law. Upon emigrating to Sydney in 2007, he also studied creative writing.
His debut novel THE SHERIFF’S CATCH is a highly acclaimed thriller, which recounts the adventures of a Spanish Armada castaway in Tudor Ireland, who joins in the great struggle to liberate western Ireland from brutal suppression.
Following its UK release in 2018, the novel was recommended as a ‘must-read of the week’ by leading British newspaper The Scotsman, with Reader's Digest also describing it as 'a remarkably confident literary debut' and 'the spectacular start to an epic five-book story.'
www.jamesvellabardon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 6, 2020
Historical fiction has seen such a rise in popularity over the past decades, that it's easy to forget that it is, in fact, a long-established and venerable genre. One could say that some of the earliest literature (including, say, the Iliad) is "historical", being based on actual facts which had happened in the past. The genre as we know it became particularly popular in Europe in the 19th Century, through the works of such authors as Scott, Balzac and Hugo. The historical novel was often the vehicle for Romantic ideals, and sometimes helped forge national identities in young newly-formed states (one thinks of Manzoni's I Promessi Sposi).
What contemporary writers have at their disposal, in contrast to their predecessors, is a freedom to mould the genre to their own ends. Thus, I recently enjoyed Amy Sackville's Painter to the King, a re- imagining of the life of Velazquez rendered in modernist, stream-of-consciousness narration. On the other hand, the "neo-Victorian" novels of Sarah Waters are not only set in the 19th century, but also borrow tropes from genres of the time (including the Gothic and the sensation novel).
With The Sheriff's Catch, the first volume of a projected pentalogy, Maltese-born and Australia based James Vella-Bardon, adds his name to historical novelists to look out for. His novel introduces us to our 16th century protagonist, sharpshooter Abel de Santiago who, after an orphan's upbringing in Malta, ends up joining the Spanish army and campaigning in the Netherlands. When his supposed friends kill his young, pregnant wife, Santi deserts the army and embarks on a mission of revenge which leads him through several ordeals, not least a stint as a galley slave with the Spanish Armada. It is no spoiler to reveal (since it is stated on the back cover blurb) that by the conclusion of the book Santi will arrive in Ireland, at a time when the country is being terrorised by the marauding English troops - or "Sassenachs", as the natives refer to them.
Vella-Bardon's book takes us back more than four hundred years, but like the historical novels of Perez Reverte,Arturo, its models are the epic, swashbuckling 19th Century classics of the likes of Dumas. As was often the case with its literary forebears, The Sheriff's Catch was adapted for serialization prior to being published in book-form, and one can feel it in the thrust of the plot. There are continuous twists and end-of-chapter cliffhangers, which ensure that the reader is hooked from one passage of the novel to the next. Indeed, the constant sense of danger and Santi's reckless, death-wish attitude sometimes make the narrative rather breathless - although there are passages when the reader is allowed to take a step back and delve deeper into the protagonist's character. This could be felt particularly in the final chapters, where the introduction of a female figure (possibly/hopefully an important character in forthcoming volumes?!) seems to give a different, yet no less enjoyable perspective to the book.
There is plenty to admire in this first instalment of the Pentalogy. It is clear that much research has gone into the novel, evident for instance, in the minute descriptions of the weapons and paraphernalia of war. Yet, this knowledge is lightly worn, and Vella-Bardon avoids the common mistake of suspending the flow to provide us with an encyclopaedic entry on the era portrayed.
The first-person narration, together with the graphic, and sometimes garish, evocation of the historical setting (smells and bodily fluids included), help provide a sense of total immersion into the period without making the reader feel spoon-fed. The sense of authenticity can also be felt in the dialogue - just to give an example, the style of the language changes to reflect the characters' switching from one language to another, with the use of a more archaic syntax and vocabulary when the characters are speaking Latin. It is not easy at all to mark a change in code without changing the language of the narration, but Vella-Bardon manages it nicely.
Until we meet again, Santi...
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
What contemporary writers have at their disposal, in contrast to their predecessors, is a freedom to mould the genre to their own ends. Thus, I recently enjoyed Amy Sackville's Painter to the King, a re- imagining of the life of Velazquez rendered in modernist, stream-of-consciousness narration. On the other hand, the "neo-Victorian" novels of Sarah Waters are not only set in the 19th century, but also borrow tropes from genres of the time (including the Gothic and the sensation novel).
With The Sheriff's Catch, the first volume of a projected pentalogy, Maltese-born and Australia based James Vella-Bardon, adds his name to historical novelists to look out for. His novel introduces us to our 16th century protagonist, sharpshooter Abel de Santiago who, after an orphan's upbringing in Malta, ends up joining the Spanish army and campaigning in the Netherlands. When his supposed friends kill his young, pregnant wife, Santi deserts the army and embarks on a mission of revenge which leads him through several ordeals, not least a stint as a galley slave with the Spanish Armada. It is no spoiler to reveal (since it is stated on the back cover blurb) that by the conclusion of the book Santi will arrive in Ireland, at a time when the country is being terrorised by the marauding English troops - or "Sassenachs", as the natives refer to them.
Vella-Bardon's book takes us back more than four hundred years, but like the historical novels of Perez Reverte,Arturo, its models are the epic, swashbuckling 19th Century classics of the likes of Dumas. As was often the case with its literary forebears, The Sheriff's Catch was adapted for serialization prior to being published in book-form, and one can feel it in the thrust of the plot. There are continuous twists and end-of-chapter cliffhangers, which ensure that the reader is hooked from one passage of the novel to the next. Indeed, the constant sense of danger and Santi's reckless, death-wish attitude sometimes make the narrative rather breathless - although there are passages when the reader is allowed to take a step back and delve deeper into the protagonist's character. This could be felt particularly in the final chapters, where the introduction of a female figure (possibly/hopefully an important character in forthcoming volumes?!) seems to give a different, yet no less enjoyable perspective to the book.
There is plenty to admire in this first instalment of the Pentalogy. It is clear that much research has gone into the novel, evident for instance, in the minute descriptions of the weapons and paraphernalia of war. Yet, this knowledge is lightly worn, and Vella-Bardon avoids the common mistake of suspending the flow to provide us with an encyclopaedic entry on the era portrayed.
The first-person narration, together with the graphic, and sometimes garish, evocation of the historical setting (smells and bodily fluids included), help provide a sense of total immersion into the period without making the reader feel spoon-fed. The sense of authenticity can also be felt in the dialogue - just to give an example, the style of the language changes to reflect the characters' switching from one language to another, with the use of a more archaic syntax and vocabulary when the characters are speaking Latin. It is not easy at all to mark a change in code without changing the language of the narration, but Vella-Bardon manages it nicely.
Until we meet again, Santi...
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
March 15, 2018
This is an excellent piece of historical fiction. I have not been this excited about a book series since Game of Thrones. But unlike GoT, the five books of this series have already been written and are awaiting publication.
In my mind, this book is a three-way cross between Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series, Game of Thrones, and the Bourne Series. It’s an exceedingly well researched historical drama (Ken Follett) with a brutally honest depiction of the realities of warfare (GoT) at a relentless pace of never-ending action (Bourne).
I found myself more than once wanting to shout advice at Santi, the seasoned Spanish sniper, whose ill fated quest for revenge is the backbone of the story. I also found myself wincing and trying to avert my eyes from the horrific situations he gets into. Suffice it to say, the story is gripping and the characters are almost painfully relatable.
I had the pleasure of reading a pre-release version of this book as a serialisation on a social reading platform called The Pigeonhole. The book lends itself perfectly to serialisation. It is very well written with each chapter reading like an episode of a TV series, often ending with a cliffhanger. If I hadn’t been forced to take a break after each chapter, I would have read this book cover-to-cover in one go. In fact, I would be surprised if this series is not picked up by HBO or Netflix at some point.
I recently read (and loved) Ken Follet’s A Column of Fire, and this book is placed in the same timeframe. But where ACoF takes place mainly in England and France, this book depicts the same events from the point of view of Spain and Ireland. I think it is a testament to the quality of research of both Ken Follett and James Vella-Bardon that I felt like I was returning to the same 16th century Europe when reading this book, but this time I got to hear the other side of the story.
If you’re looking for an action-packed historical novel guaranteed to both entertain and educate you, I can warmly recommend The Sheriff’s Catch. I loved it and I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment of The Sassana Stone series.
In my mind, this book is a three-way cross between Ken Follett’s Kingsbridge series, Game of Thrones, and the Bourne Series. It’s an exceedingly well researched historical drama (Ken Follett) with a brutally honest depiction of the realities of warfare (GoT) at a relentless pace of never-ending action (Bourne).
I found myself more than once wanting to shout advice at Santi, the seasoned Spanish sniper, whose ill fated quest for revenge is the backbone of the story. I also found myself wincing and trying to avert my eyes from the horrific situations he gets into. Suffice it to say, the story is gripping and the characters are almost painfully relatable.
I had the pleasure of reading a pre-release version of this book as a serialisation on a social reading platform called The Pigeonhole. The book lends itself perfectly to serialisation. It is very well written with each chapter reading like an episode of a TV series, often ending with a cliffhanger. If I hadn’t been forced to take a break after each chapter, I would have read this book cover-to-cover in one go. In fact, I would be surprised if this series is not picked up by HBO or Netflix at some point.
I recently read (and loved) Ken Follet’s A Column of Fire, and this book is placed in the same timeframe. But where ACoF takes place mainly in England and France, this book depicts the same events from the point of view of Spain and Ireland. I think it is a testament to the quality of research of both Ken Follett and James Vella-Bardon that I felt like I was returning to the same 16th century Europe when reading this book, but this time I got to hear the other side of the story.
If you’re looking for an action-packed historical novel guaranteed to both entertain and educate you, I can warmly recommend The Sheriff’s Catch. I loved it and I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment of The Sassana Stone series.
August 20, 2022
I have just finished reading the Sheriffs Catch a roller coaster ride from start to finish. From the first page Santi the main character became real and right through the book I wanted to ‘shout at him’ when he made mistakes or when I thought he was being irrational! It is a fast paced historical novel set in the time of the Spanish Armada I was one of the Follett 500 who read Ken Follet’s Column of Fire which told the story from the English side of the war, this book takes us on a journey following the trials and tribulations of a young Spanish man Santi and his life from his early days in the Spanish army, then as a déserter seeking revenge for the deaths of his family , as a slave in the galley on a ship in the Armada and his escape when his boat sunk ending up in A brutal Ireland at those times. I cannot wait for the sequel. James Vella-Bardon is a brilliant writer bringing to life the terrible reality of war; despair and revenge. Thank you for an incredible journey.
January 18, 2018
A very good book, well written and well researched. It is engaging from the very first page and leaves you wanting till the very last. It is an emotional journey, dynamic and adventerous. Written emphasizing all five senses, it helps you experience an era in the crude realistic way that the events occurred. A journey of hope, loss, strength and survival. Highly recommended and eagerly waiting for the next books to be pubblished.
January 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. it is a well told story and related the misadventures of Abel Santiago, a Spanish soldier. There's a fair but if violence but it it totally acceptable due to the nature of the tale.
I look forward to the sequel and thank James and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this
I look forward to the sequel and thank James and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this
September 18, 2023
I received a copy of this book for a review so here we go!
Was a good story, well written and action packed, but maybe a bit too much for me in the action department? The main character, Abel goes from one fight and tragedy to the next nonstop. The book starts with Abel in 1685 Netherland as part of the Spanish army and after a betrayal on the part of those he thought he could trust he sets out on a trail for revenge moving from there to Spain, Portugal and with part one of his story ending in 1588 Ireland where his troubles continue, his full revenge has still yet to be fully achieved.
Was a good story, well written and action packed, but maybe a bit too much for me in the action department? The main character, Abel goes from one fight and tragedy to the next nonstop. The book starts with Abel in 1685 Netherland as part of the Spanish army and after a betrayal on the part of those he thought he could trust he sets out on a trail for revenge moving from there to Spain, Portugal and with part one of his story ending in 1588 Ireland where his troubles continue, his full revenge has still yet to be fully achieved.
January 18, 2018
What an amazing read. Historical fiction at its best, with fast-paced action and a hero who is imperfect, but who we cheer on through his good and bad choices. Written in the first-person, it's a personal insight into 16th century Europe and the Spanish Armada, but with no rose-coloured glasses. This is death and destruction in all its gory detail, told with vivid imagery and engaging all the senses, so that you feel that you're in the midst of it all.
James Vella-Bardon's style is wonderful, his language is era-appropriate, meaning that you may have to look up the odd word or two - but that only adds to the learning experience of historical fiction, and the first-person narrative puts you in the thick of things. You'll only put the book down because you need to catch your breath as Santiago plummets from one dire situation to another.
I was lucky to one of the people reading the book through The Pigeonhole, and with James reading along and adding comments regarding his research, which is substantial, it was an amazing experience. If you enjoy historical fiction, The Sheriff's Catch is a definite Must Read book - you'll learn a lot, and enjoy an exciting adventure at the same time.
James Vella-Bardon's style is wonderful, his language is era-appropriate, meaning that you may have to look up the odd word or two - but that only adds to the learning experience of historical fiction, and the first-person narrative puts you in the thick of things. You'll only put the book down because you need to catch your breath as Santiago plummets from one dire situation to another.
I was lucky to one of the people reading the book through The Pigeonhole, and with James reading along and adding comments regarding his research, which is substantial, it was an amazing experience. If you enjoy historical fiction, The Sheriff's Catch is a definite Must Read book - you'll learn a lot, and enjoy an exciting adventure at the same time.
January 18, 2018
The book is obviously the result of immense research on the period. It is well-written and vividly recreates the time - something like The Vikings series on Netflix. In both cases, the realism at times was a bit too much for me to handle. I also couldn’t love the main protagonist whose hotheaded vow of revenge for the deaths of his wife, unborn child, and father-in-law saw him leaving a young brother-in-law behind and leading another recklessly into risky situations. This book relates the first part of the Sassana Stone Pentalogy or, to put it differently, the start of Santi’s Odyssey.
January 18, 2018
This novel is fast-paced, gripping and brutally honest. From the moment that Abel Santiago finds himself abandoned in the woods after a raid on a Dutch rebel force to his arrival in the kingdom of Dartry, there is not a moment of respite. Yes, there are the sequences in the galleys and the crows-nest, but even these provide a vivid glimpse into the horrors of 16th-century seaboard life. A very good read, despite its grimness.
January 18, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. It i
s an interesting historical novel set at the time of the Spanish Armada. I found it very well researched and nicely written. The pace is fast with lots of action, keeping you turning the pages. A must for anyone who enjoys adventure and historical novels. I look forward to reading the sequel.
s an interesting historical novel set at the time of the Spanish Armada. I found it very well researched and nicely written. The pace is fast with lots of action, keeping you turning the pages. A must for anyone who enjoys adventure and historical novels. I look forward to reading the sequel.
January 18, 2018
A great read! The pace was fast and furious, detail of the countryside and life in the 1500's enlightening. Would recommend unless you are someone who does not enjoy sequels as this is part 1. For myself, I can't wait for the sequel.
January 19, 2018
What a wonderful read and what an enjoyable experience reading it along with the author and "countless" other readers in Pigeonhole. (the "countless" is my inside joke with the author).
I cannot recommend this book highly enough for so many reasons. Let me list a few:
Unbelievably well researched detail of one of the greatest watershed events of history - the Spanish Armada (what would Europe look like today if they had have succeeded in invading England??)
As super story that never stops. The excitement just goes on and on.
The story keeps on changing from the Netherlands, to Spain, to the Armada, to Ireland.
So much is learned from reading history like this. It makes learning so enjoyable.
The knowledge that there are 4 more books, continuing the story, makes completing the book even more satisfying. The end is quite a good one, but like so many novels it leaves one wanting so much more.... and we know that much more is coming. Something to look forward to in 2018.
I could write much more, but it makes more sense to concur with what my fellow reviewers have said, and concur I do. This is a 5 star book and so far I see 100% of reviewers have given 5 stars. I think a new author of note has been born, and it won't be long before we sit down to watch the TV series. What a movie this will make.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough for so many reasons. Let me list a few:
Unbelievably well researched detail of one of the greatest watershed events of history - the Spanish Armada (what would Europe look like today if they had have succeeded in invading England??)
As super story that never stops. The excitement just goes on and on.
The story keeps on changing from the Netherlands, to Spain, to the Armada, to Ireland.
So much is learned from reading history like this. It makes learning so enjoyable.
The knowledge that there are 4 more books, continuing the story, makes completing the book even more satisfying. The end is quite a good one, but like so many novels it leaves one wanting so much more.... and we know that much more is coming. Something to look forward to in 2018.
I could write much more, but it makes more sense to concur with what my fellow reviewers have said, and concur I do. This is a 5 star book and so far I see 100% of reviewers have given 5 stars. I think a new author of note has been born, and it won't be long before we sit down to watch the TV series. What a movie this will make.
January 23, 2018
This is one of those books designed to get you in trouble! The kind that you just can't put down; at 2 am you tell yourself, that you'll sleep once you get to the end of the chapter and before you know it the sun is rising and you're still reading! Where you actually consider getting a few lines in when stopped in red lights....
Fantastic read, superbly interesting historical novel. Can't wait for the next book!!
Fantastic read, superbly interesting historical novel. Can't wait for the next book!!
July 23, 2023
Esta historia nos lleva al año 1585 en los Países Bajos cuando estaban bajo el dominio de España, aquí seguimos a Abel un francotirador que pierde a su esposa y se enfrasca en la misión de encontrar a sus asesinos pero pronto tendrá que escapar para salvar su vida y con un anillo que tomo y no tiene idea de lo importante que es, en el camino conocerá a Muireann quien también esta huyendo por su vida por lo que estos dos harán un extraño equipo para tratar de sobrevivir.
El autor hace un gran trabajo en esta obra pues sus personajes se sienten bastante humanos y reales, tienen imperfecciones, toman buenas y malas decisiones pero se les puede entender, sobre todo a Abel que es el personaje principal su desarrollo es muy real y consistente durante toda la historia y su carácter duro, astuto e ingenioso esta muy bien definido.
Otro punto excelente del libro es sin duda que se nota el gran trabajo de investigación del autor pues durante el viaje del protagonista vemos la situación en Holanda, la crueldad de los españoles, los sobrevivientes que llegaron a Irlanda y todo el movimiento alrededor de la Armada Invencible plasmados en la historia de una manera formidable, sobre todo el hecho de que lo hace dinámico y lleno de acción por lo que no se siente lento ni tedioso, al contrario se vuelve una lectura que te atrapa y no quieres soltar e libro para nada.
El único detalle fue que algunas escenas las sentí un poco exageradas pero entiendo que trato de mostrar de manera impactante los aspectos mas crueles y sangrientos de la historia por lo que es totalmente aceptable.
Agradezco muchísimo a Booktasters y al autor por el envío del libro digital para esta colaboración, fue un libro que disfrute mucho.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This story takes us to the year 1585 in the Netherlands when they were under the rule of Spain, here we follow Abel a sniper who loses his wife and embarks on the mission to find her murderers but soon he will have to escape to save his life and with a ring that he took and has no idea how important it is, on the way he will meet Muireann who is also running for his life so these two will make a strange team to try to survive.
The author does a great job in this work because his characters feel quite human and real, they have imperfections, they make good and bad decisions but they can be understood, especially Abel who is the main character, his development is very real and consistent throughout the story and his tough, cunning and ingenious character is very well defined.
Another excellent point of the book is undoubtedly that the great research work of the author is noticeable because during the protagonist's trip we see the situation in Holland, the cruelty of the Spanish, the survivors who arrived in Ireland and the whole movement around the Invincible Armada embodied in history in a formidable way, especially the fact that it makes it dynamic and full of action so it does not feel slow or tedious, on the contrary it becomes a reading that catches you and you do not want to put the book down at all.
The only detail was that some scenes I felt were a bit exaggerated but I understand that I try to show the cruelest and bloodiest aspects of the story in an impressive way, so it is totally acceptable.
I am very grateful to Booktasters and the author for sending the digital book for this collaboration, it was a book that I really enjoyed.
El autor hace un gran trabajo en esta obra pues sus personajes se sienten bastante humanos y reales, tienen imperfecciones, toman buenas y malas decisiones pero se les puede entender, sobre todo a Abel que es el personaje principal su desarrollo es muy real y consistente durante toda la historia y su carácter duro, astuto e ingenioso esta muy bien definido.
Otro punto excelente del libro es sin duda que se nota el gran trabajo de investigación del autor pues durante el viaje del protagonista vemos la situación en Holanda, la crueldad de los españoles, los sobrevivientes que llegaron a Irlanda y todo el movimiento alrededor de la Armada Invencible plasmados en la historia de una manera formidable, sobre todo el hecho de que lo hace dinámico y lleno de acción por lo que no se siente lento ni tedioso, al contrario se vuelve una lectura que te atrapa y no quieres soltar e libro para nada.
El único detalle fue que algunas escenas las sentí un poco exageradas pero entiendo que trato de mostrar de manera impactante los aspectos mas crueles y sangrientos de la historia por lo que es totalmente aceptable.
Agradezco muchísimo a Booktasters y al autor por el envío del libro digital para esta colaboración, fue un libro que disfrute mucho.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This story takes us to the year 1585 in the Netherlands when they were under the rule of Spain, here we follow Abel a sniper who loses his wife and embarks on the mission to find her murderers but soon he will have to escape to save his life and with a ring that he took and has no idea how important it is, on the way he will meet Muireann who is also running for his life so these two will make a strange team to try to survive.
The author does a great job in this work because his characters feel quite human and real, they have imperfections, they make good and bad decisions but they can be understood, especially Abel who is the main character, his development is very real and consistent throughout the story and his tough, cunning and ingenious character is very well defined.
Another excellent point of the book is undoubtedly that the great research work of the author is noticeable because during the protagonist's trip we see the situation in Holland, the cruelty of the Spanish, the survivors who arrived in Ireland and the whole movement around the Invincible Armada embodied in history in a formidable way, especially the fact that it makes it dynamic and full of action so it does not feel slow or tedious, on the contrary it becomes a reading that catches you and you do not want to put the book down at all.
The only detail was that some scenes I felt were a bit exaggerated but I understand that I try to show the cruelest and bloodiest aspects of the story in an impressive way, so it is totally acceptable.
I am very grateful to Booktasters and the author for sending the digital book for this collaboration, it was a book that I really enjoyed.
December 14, 2018
This book was very different to what I normally read and it still managed to captivate and entertain me.
I, an avid reader of young adult fantasy, needed a few pages to get used to the writing style. This is historical fiction and therefore not as filled with banter and sarcasm as the books I usually read. Still the voice of the main character, Santiago, was easy to like and relate to.
In this book we follow Santiago, a 30-ish Spanish solider, on a mission to revenge the murder of his wife and unborn child by his former comrades. For a long time he is accompanied by his brother-in-law, whom I liked a lot as he was rather funny and brought more lightness to the dire situations those two often ended up in.
Santiago is rather serious and (obviously) heartbroken. He is a professional sniper, does never shy away from a fight and holds honor in high regard.
Him and Marti (the brother-in-law) travel all over Europe chasing the four murderers who always manage to escape at the last second.
They encounter many fights and are taken captive very often, so it is all rather "manly" I'd say. There is always action and the guns and fights are often described in great detail, which isn't really my cup of tea. I'm a girly girl, so this was far out of my comfort zone, but I'm sure that male readers will have one hell of a time with this book :D
Another little "complaint" I have is that everything that happened was already mentioned in the synopsis on the back of the book. In my experience normally what happens in the synopsis has happened after around 50 pages and the rest of the book is a surprise. Here the synopsis was more of a summary, which took away a lot of the suspense.
Still I'm very impressed with the writing, especially as this is a debut novel, and would recommend this book to everyone who likes action-filled historical fiction.
I, an avid reader of young adult fantasy, needed a few pages to get used to the writing style. This is historical fiction and therefore not as filled with banter and sarcasm as the books I usually read. Still the voice of the main character, Santiago, was easy to like and relate to.
In this book we follow Santiago, a 30-ish Spanish solider, on a mission to revenge the murder of his wife and unborn child by his former comrades. For a long time he is accompanied by his brother-in-law, whom I liked a lot as he was rather funny and brought more lightness to the dire situations those two often ended up in.
Santiago is rather serious and (obviously) heartbroken. He is a professional sniper, does never shy away from a fight and holds honor in high regard.
Him and Marti (the brother-in-law) travel all over Europe chasing the four murderers who always manage to escape at the last second.
They encounter many fights and are taken captive very often, so it is all rather "manly" I'd say. There is always action and the guns and fights are often described in great detail, which isn't really my cup of tea. I'm a girly girl, so this was far out of my comfort zone, but I'm sure that male readers will have one hell of a time with this book :D
Another little "complaint" I have is that everything that happened was already mentioned in the synopsis on the back of the book. In my experience normally what happens in the synopsis has happened after around 50 pages and the rest of the book is a surprise. Here the synopsis was more of a summary, which took away a lot of the suspense.
Still I'm very impressed with the writing, especially as this is a debut novel, and would recommend this book to everyone who likes action-filled historical fiction.
April 17, 2024
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Sheriff's Catch
Author: James Vella-Bardon
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
13 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘I liked all the Spanish Armada chapters. The novel then had a twist as the slave finds land and must escape a nasty sheriff. Reminded me a little of Clive Cussler’s books: lots of adventure with a hefty historical setting. The author did a good job of thoroughly entertaining me.’ Female reader, aged 46
‘This is a very gritty look at life in the 16th century. If you don’t like ‘gritty’ this is not for you. I, however, loved it. The central character is strong, hot-headed and determined to get revenge for the death of his family. The author’s style of writing is very fast-paced but with a good balance of setting description to help the reader to become immersed in the historical period.’ Publisher, aged 54
‘If you enjoy an exciting adventure, this is for you. The pacing keeps the book rollercoasting until the end. Exciting opening, a little grim here and there – but grim is okay! The writing style is perfect for an historical novel. I particularly enjoyed the ship setting. The author, I think, did his research well. The 1500s was a long time ago!’ Female reader, aged 56
‘The historical setting is well-described but not overly which I liked. The pacing is superb; non-stop all the way until the end.’ Male reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A feverishly-paced historical adventure populated with memorable characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2023
Category 7 (Audiobooks)
FEEDBACK
This audiobook was entered in our book awards. This is what our listeners thought:
Title: The Sheriff's Catch
Author: James Vella-Bardon
Narrator: Jonathan Keeble
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Listeners: 8
Stats
Narrator Performance: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content/Plot: 8/10
Cover: 4/5
Sound Quality / Music / Sound Effects: 3/5
Of the 8 listeners:
6 would listen to another book by this author.
7 would listen to another book narrated by this performer.
7 thought the cover was good or excellent.
8 felt it was easy to follow.
7 would recommend this audiobook to another listener to try.
Of all the listeners, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 1 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
8 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
6 thought the author understood the listeners and what they wanted.
7 thought the narrator understood the listeners and what they wanted.
Listeners’ Comments
“This is a fast-paced adventure with plenty happening ALL OF THE TIME! I enjoyed the historical setting too. It gets bit brutal in parts, but that was okay by me – possibly not for others. The narrator did a good job, although he’s a bit over the top and almost exhausting to listen to. But he got the pacing right and he added a lot of vigor!” Male reader, aged 54
“I liked the characters and the battling/waring nature of the plot. It reminded me a little of Sharpe. In fact, like Sharpe, this would make a fantastic TV film! The narrator was also good; top notch I’d say, his enthusiasm for the story in every spoken word. Loved it!” Male reader, aged 62
“So fast-paced, rather grim, possibly needs a little downtime to allow the reader time to breath. But if you enjoy non-stop historical adventure, you can’t go too far wrong with this. The writing style is strong, but not overly descriptive. The author did a fab job of developing his protagonist.” Female reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, often grim, historical adventure with a strong cast of characters. Very enjoyable!’
Title: The Sheriff's Catch
Author: James Vella-Bardon
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
13 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘I liked all the Spanish Armada chapters. The novel then had a twist as the slave finds land and must escape a nasty sheriff. Reminded me a little of Clive Cussler’s books: lots of adventure with a hefty historical setting. The author did a good job of thoroughly entertaining me.’ Female reader, aged 46
‘This is a very gritty look at life in the 16th century. If you don’t like ‘gritty’ this is not for you. I, however, loved it. The central character is strong, hot-headed and determined to get revenge for the death of his family. The author’s style of writing is very fast-paced but with a good balance of setting description to help the reader to become immersed in the historical period.’ Publisher, aged 54
‘If you enjoy an exciting adventure, this is for you. The pacing keeps the book rollercoasting until the end. Exciting opening, a little grim here and there – but grim is okay! The writing style is perfect for an historical novel. I particularly enjoyed the ship setting. The author, I think, did his research well. The 1500s was a long time ago!’ Female reader, aged 56
‘The historical setting is well-described but not overly which I liked. The pacing is superb; non-stop all the way until the end.’ Male reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A feverishly-paced historical adventure populated with memorable characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2023
Category 7 (Audiobooks)
FEEDBACK
This audiobook was entered in our book awards. This is what our listeners thought:
Title: The Sheriff's Catch
Author: James Vella-Bardon
Narrator: Jonathan Keeble
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Listeners: 8
Stats
Narrator Performance: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content/Plot: 8/10
Cover: 4/5
Sound Quality / Music / Sound Effects: 3/5
Of the 8 listeners:
6 would listen to another book by this author.
7 would listen to another book narrated by this performer.
7 thought the cover was good or excellent.
8 felt it was easy to follow.
7 would recommend this audiobook to another listener to try.
Of all the listeners, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 1 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 2 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
8 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
6 thought the author understood the listeners and what they wanted.
7 thought the narrator understood the listeners and what they wanted.
Listeners’ Comments
“This is a fast-paced adventure with plenty happening ALL OF THE TIME! I enjoyed the historical setting too. It gets bit brutal in parts, but that was okay by me – possibly not for others. The narrator did a good job, although he’s a bit over the top and almost exhausting to listen to. But he got the pacing right and he added a lot of vigor!” Male reader, aged 54
“I liked the characters and the battling/waring nature of the plot. It reminded me a little of Sharpe. In fact, like Sharpe, this would make a fantastic TV film! The narrator was also good; top notch I’d say, his enthusiasm for the story in every spoken word. Loved it!” Male reader, aged 62
“So fast-paced, rather grim, possibly needs a little downtime to allow the reader time to breath. But if you enjoy non-stop historical adventure, you can’t go too far wrong with this. The writing style is strong, but not overly descriptive. The author did a fab job of developing his protagonist.” Female reader, aged 39
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, often grim, historical adventure with a strong cast of characters. Very enjoyable!’
January 25, 2018
This is an extraordinarily riveting fast paced historical genre story. A pleasure to read such a thrilling plot, taking us through post Reformation Europe to Ireland in the 17th century. I loved the book so much I read it twice within two weeks, my sensory perceptions tingled with each chapter.
I was lucky enough to read and comment with other readers on Pigeonhole app. James has created very visual and auditory imagery, with wonderful descriptions bringing the characters and surroundings to life. A truly wonderful read that I recommend to all who enjoy fact and fiction in past history, it’s reminiscent of a good Ken Follett historical novel. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
I was lucky enough to read and comment with other readers on Pigeonhole app. James has created very visual and auditory imagery, with wonderful descriptions bringing the characters and surroundings to life. A truly wonderful read that I recommend to all who enjoy fact and fiction in past history, it’s reminiscent of a good Ken Follett historical novel. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
January 19, 2018
The writing maintains an absolutely breathtaking pace in this well researched historical thriller. The action takes place around the failed attempt by the Spanish Armada to invade of England ruled by Elizabeth I. The story is told through the eyes of Spanish solder betrayed by his army comrades and sold as a galley slave to row aboard one of the Spanish galleons. It is a different story from the usual tale of Sir Francis Drake's great victory. Our hero, chained to his oar, survives countless broadsides from the English cannon, unimaginable storms endured while rounding the north of Scotland and is finally shipwrecked on the west coast of Ireland. Back on dry land, that's when his real troubles begin. An exciting yarn with a fascinating description of 16th century Ireland.
January 18, 2018
I loved this book! It was a real roller coaster of a read and left me quite breathless at times. Our hero is Abel Santiago, a Spanish soldier at the period in history round about the time of the Armada. All the characters in this book are very well written. You either really love them or absolutely hate them. There is a fair bit of violence but every action is in keeping with the story so totally acceptable.
I want to thank the author James Vella-Bardon for writing this book (and the others books to come in this series) and Pigeonhole for allowing me to read it.
I highly recommend this book and am waiting with baited breath for the next in the series.
I want to thank the author James Vella-Bardon for writing this book (and the others books to come in this series) and Pigeonhole for allowing me to read it.
I highly recommend this book and am waiting with baited breath for the next in the series.
January 24, 2018
This was so good I had to read it twice! I read a Stave a day through Pigeonhole and enjoyed camaraderie and banter with my fellow Pigeon posse and interesting and insightful comments from the Author - James Vella Bardon. Incredibly well researched and provided a fully immersive, rollercoaster ride through the troubled and turbulent times. So looking forward to the next one of this Pentalogy. Waiting impatiently James !!
January 25, 2018
If you liked Outlanders you'll love this book
March 15, 2018
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The pace is fast, descriptions are superb and the characters are so well rounded, you either love them or hate them. A brilliant storyline and I cannot wait to read the next book.
January 22, 2018
I read this via The Pigeonhole reading a Stave a day. The book is utterly enthralling. It was fast paced, full of historical fiction. Descriptive of the period. I can’t wait for a sequel.
August 23, 2025
I've just finished reading The Sheriff's Catch, a bit out of breath to be honest. It was a whirlwind of a story, follwing the journey, adventures and struggles of Abel de Santiago, a sniper of the Spanish army. After the tragic murder of his wife - a sort of a starcossed marriage, Elsien being a Dutch "heretic" in the eyes of the Spanish. Sadly we only got glimpses of their marriage, which adds to the deep feeling of loss and longing Abel feels - but the depth of his feelings is evident as we follow him on his journey to revenge her, and through parts of a Europe in uproar and war. He is easy to relate to, and I couldn't help but marvel at his gritted-teeth, muscles-clenched determination to avenge his love, never giving up, even when he becomes a galley-slave, then almost drowning with the Armada and being a fugitive in tumultous Ireland, being helped by a mysterious woman.
A well-written, fast-paced, action-packed rollercoaster of a book, with great characters, and the ominous landscape of a tormented Europe looming in the background, drawn so well - it really did give me a feel of just how difficult and dangerous it might have been living especially in Ireland those days.
I can't wait to start the second book.
A well-written, fast-paced, action-packed rollercoaster of a book, with great characters, and the ominous landscape of a tormented Europe looming in the background, drawn so well - it really did give me a feel of just how difficult and dangerous it might have been living especially in Ireland those days.
I can't wait to start the second book.
March 18, 2019
The graphics! I can not even begin to tell how graphic and vivid and brilliant the descriptions were throughout the book, whether they be of wild wolves quenching their thirsts through the slashed throats of Spaniards, dipping their snouts in, or of the gally slaves crapping and puking their guts out on the stinking floorboards of the Armada.
I never knew i would enjoy a book on history and war set in the 15th century as much as i did reading 'The Sherrif's Catch' by @vellabardonj .
It all starts when Abel di Santiago,a Spanish sniper, gets ridiculed and cheated by his own men and embarks on a road to avenge his beloved wife Elsien's murderers, taking Martien, his brother in law with him.
I am in a w e of the Mr Bardon writes. Despite this being his debut book, he never failed to mesmerise me with the way he strung his words, ruthlessly and with so much emotion, never repeating the phrases. This book actually helped me diet by constricting my heart in a vice like grip, too far gone in the feels to pay attention to carbs lying seductively in front of me.
Character building was excellent. I felt forlorn to see an innocent lad turning into a feeling-less, stone faced man, but i guess that's what war and lash beatings would do to anyone. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has even an ounce of interest in historical fiction, this is your next pick!
I never knew i would enjoy a book on history and war set in the 15th century as much as i did reading 'The Sherrif's Catch' by @vellabardonj .
It all starts when Abel di Santiago,a Spanish sniper, gets ridiculed and cheated by his own men and embarks on a road to avenge his beloved wife Elsien's murderers, taking Martien, his brother in law with him.
I am in a w e of the Mr Bardon writes. Despite this being his debut book, he never failed to mesmerise me with the way he strung his words, ruthlessly and with so much emotion, never repeating the phrases. This book actually helped me diet by constricting my heart in a vice like grip, too far gone in the feels to pay attention to carbs lying seductively in front of me.
Character building was excellent. I felt forlorn to see an innocent lad turning into a feeling-less, stone faced man, but i guess that's what war and lash beatings would do to anyone. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has even an ounce of interest in historical fiction, this is your next pick!
March 22, 2021
The Sheriff's Catch immerses the reader in a little known period of history, from a perspective rarely seen in fiction. If you love great battle scenes, gritty characters, and precise historical detail, this is an excellent book for you.
I really loved the detail in weaponry and battle. It was obvious the author had done a great deal of research, but he weaves it in with such ease that it doesn't feel like an information dump. The central character, Abel Santiago, is deeply flawed, like the best of all characters! He's also fiercely loyal and a great adventurer. Definitely a well drawn character whom I came to really care about. I won't give the plot away here as it is better uncovered as you go, but I don't mind saying the betrayal that serves as an inciting incident took me by surprise and kept me reading. The scenes at sea were fabulous.
The Spanish excursion into Ireland is something that has always fascinated me. I'm thrilled that Vella Bardon has covered it with such mastery. Will look forward to the next installment with great interest.
I really loved the detail in weaponry and battle. It was obvious the author had done a great deal of research, but he weaves it in with such ease that it doesn't feel like an information dump. The central character, Abel Santiago, is deeply flawed, like the best of all characters! He's also fiercely loyal and a great adventurer. Definitely a well drawn character whom I came to really care about. I won't give the plot away here as it is better uncovered as you go, but I don't mind saying the betrayal that serves as an inciting incident took me by surprise and kept me reading. The scenes at sea were fabulous.
The Spanish excursion into Ireland is something that has always fascinated me. I'm thrilled that Vella Bardon has covered it with such mastery. Will look forward to the next installment with great interest.
March 8, 2018
I read this book on The Pigeonhole. It was brilliant!
If you like historical drama, it is set in the Spanish Armada, but from the point of view of a Spaniard, it is extremely well researched.
If you like action, each chapter drives you forward at pace and is impossible to put down (we had to as we were only given a chapter a day).
If you like identifiable characters that you can connect with emotionally there is love, passion, anger, revenge, sorrow, bitterness, desperation in abundance.
This is James Vella-Bardon’s first novel and it is a fantastic debut. He read along with us and was as engaging, sparkling and dynamic as his protagonist, Santiago.
I tried reading several books after this (one being Poldark) and I couldn’t settle to anything as they lacked the colour and excitement.the only negative is that he hasn’t published the other 4 books in the series yet!
I suggest you give it a try!
If you like historical drama, it is set in the Spanish Armada, but from the point of view of a Spaniard, it is extremely well researched.
If you like action, each chapter drives you forward at pace and is impossible to put down (we had to as we were only given a chapter a day).
If you like identifiable characters that you can connect with emotionally there is love, passion, anger, revenge, sorrow, bitterness, desperation in abundance.
This is James Vella-Bardon’s first novel and it is a fantastic debut. He read along with us and was as engaging, sparkling and dynamic as his protagonist, Santiago.
I tried reading several books after this (one being Poldark) and I couldn’t settle to anything as they lacked the colour and excitement.the only negative is that he hasn’t published the other 4 books in the series yet!
I suggest you give it a try!
June 20, 2023
A man once a famous sniper now is on the run from the clutches of a sheriff.
A widow who's husband is killed and the killers are now after her.
Both meet and they form a bond.
Together they are on a adventure filled with danger.
This novel is set in old ages. The definition of different culture is very good.
This is part of a series.
Excited to read other books in series.
A widow who's husband is killed and the killers are now after her.
Both meet and they form a bond.
Together they are on a adventure filled with danger.
This novel is set in old ages. The definition of different culture is very good.
This is part of a series.
Excited to read other books in series.
July 14, 2023
“This would make a wonderful swashbuckler movie” was my first thought after reading this book!
This book has all the elements of a feature film! A daring action-packed historical adventure, romance, exotic lands, and cultures set in 1600s Ireland.
I felt James Vella-Bardon’s depth of knowledge of the times and his depth of character was unparalleled.
This book has won numerous awards, including the winner of the “best novel” and “best historical fiction” categories at the international Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in 2019.
Written as a pentalogy in the first person, this book put me in the middle of all the action! The good, the bad, and the evil! It is total death and destruction in gory detail.
Through his vivid descriptions, I felt I was there, living the life of a foreigner under siege by numerous marauding forces, including the feared “Sassenachs” or Saxons, as the Irish referred to them.
This book is a pentalogy, opening the door to many more of Abel’s adventures.
This is the story of Abelardo de Santiago, also known as the “Lynx of Haarlem,” and “Santiago the Sniper,” a Spanish sharpshooter raised as an orphan in Malta who joins the Spanish Armada and ends up in the Netherlands.
A vicious war raged in the Netherlands for nineteen years after Protestant rebels revolted against King Phillip II of Spain, who sent his best troops to crush them.
At that time, Spaniards were triumphant in battle and feared all over Europe. Spanish “tercios” were the world's best-trained, most highly feared soldiers. Some say they are the best troops the world has ever known.
Despite the unwelcomed presence of Spanish soldiers in the village of Willebroek, outside of Antwerp (at that time, Antwerp was part of the Spanish Netherlands) and the day-to-day suffering the war inflicted, Abel falls in love. He marries a wealthy local miller’s daughter.
Abel has a bright future planned with his now pregnant wife when one of his Spanish “friends” kills her and her father for non-payment of “protection money” (the fire tax) and burns their house down.
The very same soldiers who had been ordered to protect them killed them, and their deeds went unpunished.
In a blind rage with a death wish, Abel deserts the Spanish army. Along with his dead wife’s brother, they set off to find the soldiers that killed his wife and to get revenge at all costs.
Abel and his brother-in-law return to Spain, following their prey, but inadvertently are tricked by their pursuers and captured by a brutal sheriff. They were sold into slavery on the auction block as galley enslaved people or “forced rowers,” rowing one of the Spanish Armada hospital ships docked in Seville. They were scheduled to depart for Lisbon with two other warships.
While rowing as a galley enslaved person, Abel sees a young lord, the Prince of Ascoli, on board the hospital ship and becomes mesmerized by the sizeable emerald ring he is wearing. Abel had never seen anything quite so exquisite.
Being a veteran soldier, comfortable finding himself in impossible situations, Abel hatches an escape plan to enable him to reengage his revenge plan.
His plan works. He escapes the ship, only to be thwarted by his adversaries when he flees on horseback from a stable and again finds himself back on the hospital ship, scheduled to leave for England with the Spanish Armada.
This time, thanks to a former captain who recognizes him, Abel and his brother-in-law are sent up to the crow’s nest at the top of the galley instead of rowing at the bottom.
The ships sail, and Abel finds himself battling with the English. The Spanish Armada, in combat, was regularly boarded by grappling hooks and engaged in hand-to-hand combat until death.
The English fleet was different!
The English fleet never engaged with the Spanish Armada with grappling hooks. Their ships outmaneuvered and darted past the Armada with their guns and cannons blasting.
They were swifter and better equipped.
Abel sees the fleet bombarded by balls and canisters; his hospital ship is struck. Somehow, the galley continues sailing around the sea of Norway, trying to return to Spain by going around Scotland and Ireland, but gets caught in a squall two miles off the coast of Ireland.
Abel participates in a slave revolt, is swept overboard, and swims to shore before the ship sinks below the waves.
The beach is besieged by bandits. Abel, hiding in the bushes, watches the other Spaniards being beaten senseless by thieves.
English troopers arrive carrying white shields with a red cross of St. George, attacking the remaining Spaniards.
As Abel hides in fear, he watches the ship and his former life slip away.
He manages to find a native village where he temporarily takes refuge. He learns from a native leader that they refer to the English mercenaries as “Sassenachs,” or Saxons, who are “killing all the Spaniards and all those that help them. “
The leader warns Abel, “The enemy wants all Spaniards tortured and killed,”
Abel learned from the leader that the only place in Ireland where he could find refuge was in Northern Ireland. “They still resist the yoke of the Sassenachs and refuse to pay tribute to the crown.”
“Their alliance is to the King of Spain.”
Only moments later, the Sassenachs arrive, led by Sargent Treasach Burke, who serves under the Sheriff of Sligo and tells the leader he is under orders from the Viceroy in Dublin, and that the crown gives him the right to seize, torture, and execute all Spaniards and all those who would help them.
Burke quickly disposes of the leader, captures Abel, and takes him back to a castle in Sligo Town, where they’ve created make-shift gallows and a torture chamber.
Burke bows as Lieutenant John Gilson arrives on the scene. Twelve local Irishman are chosen from the prisoners and hung, all hostile to the English crown.
Lieutenant Gilson leads Abel to the dungeon, where other shipwrecked Spaniards are being held captive and tortured.
Sheriff George Bingham arrives, who once fought under King Phillip but changed sides. One day, the Sheriff boasted, “We put six hundred Spaniards to death.”
The Sheriff demands that the captured Spaniards tell them all they know and tortures Abel.
Burke continues Abel’s torture.
Abel knows he is about to be killed, so he lies about who he is, knowing officers are always ransomed and tells Burke he is the son of Don Gaspar de Hurtado's son, the hospital ship's head physician.
Burke shouts, “Where is the emerald?”
A few seconds later, Don Gaspar, the elder, arrives as a new prisoner. Abel pleads with the elder to keep up his cover as his son. Together, they kill Burke.
Burke manages to get the emerald from Don Gaspar, then Abel kills Don Gaspar and escapes the dungeon dressed as Burke with the emerald, which he swallows.
The castle was under siege by Irish natives, enabling Abel to escape in the ensuing chaos. He flees into the forest only to be pursued by English wolfhounds, who unfortunately catch up with him in a river, biting and ripping his skin open.
His only thoughts were that he had survived and had the emerald ring. “I could not help thinking that I had perhaps secured wealth and freedom and that my fortunes might have turned beyond expectation.”
Abel, wounded and unable to defend himself, drifts down the river. He comes across a native village where he steals some bread. He hears distant horsemen and warns the villagers, “Sassanas!”
In the middle of the Sassanas raid, Abel recognizes Lieutenant John Gilson as the leader of the massacre.
Abel sees one native, larger and more forceful than all the rest, shot down by Gilson.
Abel knows he must escape and sees a smaller native kneeling in despair over the larger one just killed.
Abel sees a horse, hits the horseboy on the head with a rock, steals the horse, then throws the small native on his horse, hoping to use him as a guide, and gallops into the forest, leaving the raid behind.
When a wall of trees confronts Abel and his guide, Abel realizes his native is not a lad but a lass!
She tries to escape and go back to the village. “I can’t leave him to the Sassenachs!” She takes the horse and leaves Abel bewildered, only to return in despair, realizing she can do nothing. Her husband was the one shot by Gilson.
They continue together to her village, where Abel learns from a clergyman that his guide, Lady Muireann is an “ollamh,” or “master of learning” and held in high regard.
Her husband, Aengus, was killed in the raid, escorting Lady Muireann to a gathering.
Abel joins forces with Lady Muireann and the natives using and teaching his sharpshooting skills. During his first mission, he finds only two of the four men alive he had been pursuing for revenge.
Even though Abel finds himself trapped in an unfamiliar world, he knows the emerald will provide him safe passage to the New World and a new life.
This book has all the elements of a feature film! A daring action-packed historical adventure, romance, exotic lands, and cultures set in 1600s Ireland.
I felt James Vella-Bardon’s depth of knowledge of the times and his depth of character was unparalleled.
This book has won numerous awards, including the winner of the “best novel” and “best historical fiction” categories at the international Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in 2019.
Written as a pentalogy in the first person, this book put me in the middle of all the action! The good, the bad, and the evil! It is total death and destruction in gory detail.
Through his vivid descriptions, I felt I was there, living the life of a foreigner under siege by numerous marauding forces, including the feared “Sassenachs” or Saxons, as the Irish referred to them.
This book is a pentalogy, opening the door to many more of Abel’s adventures.
This is the story of Abelardo de Santiago, also known as the “Lynx of Haarlem,” and “Santiago the Sniper,” a Spanish sharpshooter raised as an orphan in Malta who joins the Spanish Armada and ends up in the Netherlands.
A vicious war raged in the Netherlands for nineteen years after Protestant rebels revolted against King Phillip II of Spain, who sent his best troops to crush them.
At that time, Spaniards were triumphant in battle and feared all over Europe. Spanish “tercios” were the world's best-trained, most highly feared soldiers. Some say they are the best troops the world has ever known.
Despite the unwelcomed presence of Spanish soldiers in the village of Willebroek, outside of Antwerp (at that time, Antwerp was part of the Spanish Netherlands) and the day-to-day suffering the war inflicted, Abel falls in love. He marries a wealthy local miller’s daughter.
Abel has a bright future planned with his now pregnant wife when one of his Spanish “friends” kills her and her father for non-payment of “protection money” (the fire tax) and burns their house down.
The very same soldiers who had been ordered to protect them killed them, and their deeds went unpunished.
In a blind rage with a death wish, Abel deserts the Spanish army. Along with his dead wife’s brother, they set off to find the soldiers that killed his wife and to get revenge at all costs.
Abel and his brother-in-law return to Spain, following their prey, but inadvertently are tricked by their pursuers and captured by a brutal sheriff. They were sold into slavery on the auction block as galley enslaved people or “forced rowers,” rowing one of the Spanish Armada hospital ships docked in Seville. They were scheduled to depart for Lisbon with two other warships.
While rowing as a galley enslaved person, Abel sees a young lord, the Prince of Ascoli, on board the hospital ship and becomes mesmerized by the sizeable emerald ring he is wearing. Abel had never seen anything quite so exquisite.
Being a veteran soldier, comfortable finding himself in impossible situations, Abel hatches an escape plan to enable him to reengage his revenge plan.
His plan works. He escapes the ship, only to be thwarted by his adversaries when he flees on horseback from a stable and again finds himself back on the hospital ship, scheduled to leave for England with the Spanish Armada.
This time, thanks to a former captain who recognizes him, Abel and his brother-in-law are sent up to the crow’s nest at the top of the galley instead of rowing at the bottom.
The ships sail, and Abel finds himself battling with the English. The Spanish Armada, in combat, was regularly boarded by grappling hooks and engaged in hand-to-hand combat until death.
The English fleet was different!
The English fleet never engaged with the Spanish Armada with grappling hooks. Their ships outmaneuvered and darted past the Armada with their guns and cannons blasting.
They were swifter and better equipped.
Abel sees the fleet bombarded by balls and canisters; his hospital ship is struck. Somehow, the galley continues sailing around the sea of Norway, trying to return to Spain by going around Scotland and Ireland, but gets caught in a squall two miles off the coast of Ireland.
Abel participates in a slave revolt, is swept overboard, and swims to shore before the ship sinks below the waves.
The beach is besieged by bandits. Abel, hiding in the bushes, watches the other Spaniards being beaten senseless by thieves.
English troopers arrive carrying white shields with a red cross of St. George, attacking the remaining Spaniards.
As Abel hides in fear, he watches the ship and his former life slip away.
He manages to find a native village where he temporarily takes refuge. He learns from a native leader that they refer to the English mercenaries as “Sassenachs,” or Saxons, who are “killing all the Spaniards and all those that help them. “
The leader warns Abel, “The enemy wants all Spaniards tortured and killed,”
Abel learned from the leader that the only place in Ireland where he could find refuge was in Northern Ireland. “They still resist the yoke of the Sassenachs and refuse to pay tribute to the crown.”
“Their alliance is to the King of Spain.”
Only moments later, the Sassenachs arrive, led by Sargent Treasach Burke, who serves under the Sheriff of Sligo and tells the leader he is under orders from the Viceroy in Dublin, and that the crown gives him the right to seize, torture, and execute all Spaniards and all those who would help them.
Burke quickly disposes of the leader, captures Abel, and takes him back to a castle in Sligo Town, where they’ve created make-shift gallows and a torture chamber.
Burke bows as Lieutenant John Gilson arrives on the scene. Twelve local Irishman are chosen from the prisoners and hung, all hostile to the English crown.
Lieutenant Gilson leads Abel to the dungeon, where other shipwrecked Spaniards are being held captive and tortured.
Sheriff George Bingham arrives, who once fought under King Phillip but changed sides. One day, the Sheriff boasted, “We put six hundred Spaniards to death.”
The Sheriff demands that the captured Spaniards tell them all they know and tortures Abel.
Burke continues Abel’s torture.
Abel knows he is about to be killed, so he lies about who he is, knowing officers are always ransomed and tells Burke he is the son of Don Gaspar de Hurtado's son, the hospital ship's head physician.
Burke shouts, “Where is the emerald?”
A few seconds later, Don Gaspar, the elder, arrives as a new prisoner. Abel pleads with the elder to keep up his cover as his son. Together, they kill Burke.
Burke manages to get the emerald from Don Gaspar, then Abel kills Don Gaspar and escapes the dungeon dressed as Burke with the emerald, which he swallows.
The castle was under siege by Irish natives, enabling Abel to escape in the ensuing chaos. He flees into the forest only to be pursued by English wolfhounds, who unfortunately catch up with him in a river, biting and ripping his skin open.
His only thoughts were that he had survived and had the emerald ring. “I could not help thinking that I had perhaps secured wealth and freedom and that my fortunes might have turned beyond expectation.”
Abel, wounded and unable to defend himself, drifts down the river. He comes across a native village where he steals some bread. He hears distant horsemen and warns the villagers, “Sassanas!”
In the middle of the Sassanas raid, Abel recognizes Lieutenant John Gilson as the leader of the massacre.
Abel sees one native, larger and more forceful than all the rest, shot down by Gilson.
Abel knows he must escape and sees a smaller native kneeling in despair over the larger one just killed.
Abel sees a horse, hits the horseboy on the head with a rock, steals the horse, then throws the small native on his horse, hoping to use him as a guide, and gallops into the forest, leaving the raid behind.
When a wall of trees confronts Abel and his guide, Abel realizes his native is not a lad but a lass!
She tries to escape and go back to the village. “I can’t leave him to the Sassenachs!” She takes the horse and leaves Abel bewildered, only to return in despair, realizing she can do nothing. Her husband was the one shot by Gilson.
They continue together to her village, where Abel learns from a clergyman that his guide, Lady Muireann is an “ollamh,” or “master of learning” and held in high regard.
Her husband, Aengus, was killed in the raid, escorting Lady Muireann to a gathering.
Abel joins forces with Lady Muireann and the natives using and teaching his sharpshooting skills. During his first mission, he finds only two of the four men alive he had been pursuing for revenge.
Even though Abel finds himself trapped in an unfamiliar world, he knows the emerald will provide him safe passage to the New World and a new life.
February 16, 2018
I read this via The Pigeonhole. A visceral thriller, with no quarter given. A fusion of so many heady influences: just when you think the odds are too great, the dial is given another full turn. Its protagonist ‘Santi’ is a Dumasian Mad Max, crashing through catastrophic scenarios which are based on rock solid historical research. The dialogue was engaging and at times hilarious. The level of detail was just right, with much being revealed and even more being implied. The scenes are narrated at a breakneck pace: a bit like Papillon except faster with the stakes always getting higher. Come to think of it, it’s high time that the Armada got told from the Spanish POV, and it’s very interesting to read how England was perceived by the other side. It looks like we might have an Irish ‘Shogun’ in the making, can’t wait for the second instalment.
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