Conquistador

by Griff Hosker

When a young boy and his father, a master gunner, leave their home in Devon they cannot know that piracy will become their life, for a while, at least. Set in the early days of the Spanish conquest of the Americas and with a young King Henry on the throne of England, this is a novel of discovery and riches, slavery and death. It is a time of innovation when guns changed from being firing tubes to cannons that could bring death and destruction. Above all, it is the story of a youth who, against the odds, becomes a man, and more becomes a master gunner in his own right.

Genres: Historical Fiction

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 19, 2021

About the author

I was born in 1950 in Lancashire and attended a boy’s grammar school. After qualifying as an English and Drama teacher in 1972, I worked in the North East of England for the next 35 years. During that time I did write, mainly plays, pantos and musicals for the students at the three schools in which I worked.

When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.

My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.

griff-signature-360x57

Reviews

[Alex Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in the series of a 2 volume set written in the first person by this prolific and entertaining author. It concerns young Thomas from Devon who joins a group of English privateers, is subsequently captured and enslaved during a doomed raid on the Spanish Armada.

He then ends up sailing with a band of Conquistadors, initially as a slave, joins Cortez, invades Mexico, slaughters lots of natives in a number of skirmishes and battles in his role as a “Master of the Gun” (cannon), ultimately wins his freedom, along with fame and fortune.

This “Hero’s Journey” theme is the same that Hosker has used in his Viking Series of books, where initially a young protagonist must navigate a foreign culture and society that he eventually, with a combination of tenacity, cunning, bravery and luck, rises through, having exciting adventures and forging a new life in a foreign land on the way.

The reader suspects this author mixes an avocation with his vocation in these first person narratives, his writing serving as a vehicle to go for a joyride and do some exploring through history as a sort of intellectual time traveler.

Not this author’s best work, but certainly a good yarn and worth your time.

[Patrick MacGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying new book.

This new work is not of Mr Holder's best, perhaps, but there are some thrilling moments, and who can resist a pirate tale. We hear a lot about "genocide", and the like, when we read or hear about the conquest of the New World, but the simple sad truth is that nobody understood communicable disease vectors, and every European who came to the Americas had their own reasons, good and bad, and that none of them, Spanish Conquistadors or English Pilgrims would have succeeded, had Native tribes not lined up, looking for allies to fight old enemies.

[Jeff Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written historical action piece. Hosker gives us a look at the colonizing Spanish forces but maintains an outsider perspective. He doesn't shy away from the brutality visited upon the indigenous peoples of Mexico, but also doesn't allow his MC to simply be a holier than thou objector to this violence. It walks that fine line. A pretty good read though I much prefer less innocent targets of the hero's violent actions. If it weren't written in sole first person POV, it would have been nice to get the perspective of the Aztec people for some balance. I will certainly be reading more from this author if maybe not the follow up to this novel.

[Sue Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent hypothetical story of an English gunner

This new saga from Griffin Hosker tells.of a young English lad who sails with his father - a gun master in the early days of naval artillery. By a series of dvents, he finds himself on ships bound for the conquest of New Spain. In the process, he becomes a gun master himself and invaluable to those who need his talents. Wonderful story and dialogue making this a new series to anxiously await new installments!

[Steven Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This is a slight change in direction for Griff and it didn't disappoint. A wide ranging story from England to Mexico during the early days of Spanish dominance in the west indes.

Griffs no fluff writing cuts to the chase and keeps the reader absorbed in the story.

Worth a look.

[Jim Lydic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This looks to be another great series

I
Like this book another winner from mr.hosker.I have read every book he has written. I only wish he was releasing two books a month
Like he used to.

[Jay G III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conquistador was my first exposure to Griff Hosker and I like his writing style. He goes from one action scene to another but is descriptive enough to put you on the deck of a ship or in the jungles of South America. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Alan Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good, can’t wait for the next book

Really great, characters perfect, historic background not one where I have any knowledge. Hence educational as well. Great book really enjoyed it.

[Robert Anastasiades · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story of a young man’s journey, started off as a boy who’s father was a gunner on a ship , their fortunes change and after his fathers death was captured and enslaved , being saved and eventually becoming a master gunner just like his father, amazing story.

[Mike Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conquistador.

That was a fun read and quite absorbing and informative. The Spanish were obviously way ahead of us regarding crossing the Atlantic to the new worlds. I wasn’t aware we were so far behind in those far off days. I’m now looking forward to the follow up story.

[neillcowans · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting

Interesting griff different tack let’s see we’re it goes?
Good start anyway nice character can’t wait for next. Book! Go for it

[Dana Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early conquests

Great adventure in the early Spanish acquisition of Mexico and Central America. I look forward to the next installment. E

[Liviu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and flowing but not anything really memorable in the end

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another interesting book
A journey into history via Spain and the Aztec's in the 16th century

[Kevin Burnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Different From This Author. It Is About An englishman Who Helps Cortis Defeat The Aztecs.

[Candie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I thought it had a great start and kept me hooked the entire time. I did find some typos and about a fourth of the way through de Balboa starts getting called de Bilbao which could get a little confusing at times.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish that a book like this got picked up for a sequel to Mel Gibsons apocalypto. The author writes to a very specific audience, such as those who enjoy the Battle of Helms Deep. This story gives an interesting take on the dynamics of working a cannon on a 15-16th century ship and the first mover advantage of skimming cannon balls across the surface toward an opponent. It also takes an interesting perspective of Cortez and the conquest of the gold wearing Aztec warriors. The character traverses first as a novice British cannon worker to that of pirating to a slave on a Spanish ship to a free man employed on a Spanish ship to the front lines offensive on a foreign campaign for a foreign country. A very unusual trajectory with a character that at times is two dimensional, and yet the story carries. It's just a very unique point in history told in a fast-paced environment.