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The Medieval Saga #2
Traitor's Arrow
Three Royal brothers. One mysterious death. Who will take the crown?
England, 1110
When King William Rufus of England is killed mysteriously during a hunting accident in the New Forest in 1100, his younger brother Henry, who had been present, loses no time in riding hard to claim both the Treasury and the crown.
Rumours quickly being swirling that Henry was himself responsible for Rufus’s death. One of Henry’s main accusers is his older brother Robert, Duke of Normandy, who believes the throne of England is his by right and threatens to invade from across the Channel.
King Henry entrusts the task of proving his innocence to Sir Wilfrid Walsingham, a Saxon-born knight who was elevated by Henry’s father, only to be cast by the perverted and tyrannical Rufus into a jail cell from which, after almost two years, few men could have emerged alive, or with their sanity intact.
Can Walsingham unearth the truth about Rufus’s death and clear his name?
Or will England be torn apart by those in power…?
England, 1110
When King William Rufus of England is killed mysteriously during a hunting accident in the New Forest in 1100, his younger brother Henry, who had been present, loses no time in riding hard to claim both the Treasury and the crown.
Rumours quickly being swirling that Henry was himself responsible for Rufus’s death. One of Henry’s main accusers is his older brother Robert, Duke of Normandy, who believes the throne of England is his by right and threatens to invade from across the Channel.
King Henry entrusts the task of proving his innocence to Sir Wilfrid Walsingham, a Saxon-born knight who was elevated by Henry’s father, only to be cast by the perverted and tyrannical Rufus into a jail cell from which, after almost two years, few men could have emerged alive, or with their sanity intact.
Can Walsingham unearth the truth about Rufus’s death and clear his name?
Or will England be torn apart by those in power…?
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2022
265 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
David Field
59 books98 followersDavid was born in post-war Nottingham, and educated at Nottingham High School. After obtaining a Law degree he became a career-long criminal law practitioner and academic, emigrating in 1989 to Australia, where he still lives.
Combining his two great loves of History and the English language he began writing historical novels as an escape from the realities of life in the criminal law, but did not begin to publish them until close to fulltime retirement, when digital publishing offered a viable alternative to literary agencies, print publishers and rejection slips.
Now blessed with all the time in the world, his former hobby has become a fulltime occupation as he enjoys life in rural New South Wales with his wife, sons and grandchildren to keep him firmly grounded in the reality of the contemporary world.
David Field is published by Sapere Books.
Combining his two great loves of History and the English language he began writing historical novels as an escape from the realities of life in the criminal law, but did not begin to publish them until close to fulltime retirement, when digital publishing offered a viable alternative to literary agencies, print publishers and rejection slips.
Now blessed with all the time in the world, his former hobby has become a fulltime occupation as he enjoys life in rural New South Wales with his wife, sons and grandchildren to keep him firmly grounded in the reality of the contemporary world.
David Field is published by Sapere Books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 14, 2023
David Field continues his series exploring England’s 12th century, which is sure to be a challenge. Dazzling with its detail and narrative flow, Field has the reader feel as though they are right there amongst the common folk and members of the royal entourages. I have given Field much of my attention, in hopes that he will be able to convince me that this is a time period I ought to explore even more. So far, I am surely warming to it and his wonderful storytelling.
As England continue to settle under a new king, there is much taking place in the towns. Children are growing up and finding ways to get into trouble, allegiances are being sought and sometimes crumble, while new threats emerge, leaving the locals to wonder on which side they ought to align themselves. Still, there are chores to be done and the day to day living that must be accomplished.
While out on a hunt, King William Rufus of England is killed mysteriously when he takes an arrow to the chest. His younger brother, Henry, can see that this is the time to act and loses no time in proclaiming himself new new king. He seeks to secure the Crown and the coffers of the country before the void can be filled by another. Could he be part of the plot to rid the country of William?
Not everyone is happy with Henry’s ascension to the throne, namely Robert, Duke of Normandy. Not only is Robert the oldest surviving brother of the family, but he also feels that he has claim to the throne and is prepared to travel from France to take it for himself, thereby tossing England into another war for control.
Henry beings to panic and turns to Sir Wilfrid Walsingham to convince everyone that he is innocent of his brother’s murder. While Wilfrid has mixed feelings about the family, he knows that he must do what is right, or find himself in the middle of a bloodbath. Wilfrid will have to act swiftly and decisively to keep Henry as monarch. However, Richard does not seem ready to stand down without a crown on his head. It all comes down to this! Field dazzles once again in this masterful tale.
I have never been fond of the era of early English monarchies, though I am not sure I can speak definitively as to why. I have found a few authors who have been able to breathe some life into that time period, using their stories to cast light on what, for some, is surely a darker period. David Field does well by building up a strong narrative and propels it forward with action and a handful of great characters. Add to that, some great plot twists, using both historical fact and some literary freedoms, all while keeping the reader in the thick of things. There is much to discover in this series and Field leaves little time to breathe, as the action never stops, peppering some great development for the local townsfolk characters, admits the political and monarchical goings-on. I am eager to see where things are headed and how they will progress, as I am getting into the swing of things and eager to learn a little more.
Kudos, Mr. Field, for keeping me entertained as I keep working through the series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
As England continue to settle under a new king, there is much taking place in the towns. Children are growing up and finding ways to get into trouble, allegiances are being sought and sometimes crumble, while new threats emerge, leaving the locals to wonder on which side they ought to align themselves. Still, there are chores to be done and the day to day living that must be accomplished.
While out on a hunt, King William Rufus of England is killed mysteriously when he takes an arrow to the chest. His younger brother, Henry, can see that this is the time to act and loses no time in proclaiming himself new new king. He seeks to secure the Crown and the coffers of the country before the void can be filled by another. Could he be part of the plot to rid the country of William?
Not everyone is happy with Henry’s ascension to the throne, namely Robert, Duke of Normandy. Not only is Robert the oldest surviving brother of the family, but he also feels that he has claim to the throne and is prepared to travel from France to take it for himself, thereby tossing England into another war for control.
Henry beings to panic and turns to Sir Wilfrid Walsingham to convince everyone that he is innocent of his brother’s murder. While Wilfrid has mixed feelings about the family, he knows that he must do what is right, or find himself in the middle of a bloodbath. Wilfrid will have to act swiftly and decisively to keep Henry as monarch. However, Richard does not seem ready to stand down without a crown on his head. It all comes down to this! Field dazzles once again in this masterful tale.
I have never been fond of the era of early English monarchies, though I am not sure I can speak definitively as to why. I have found a few authors who have been able to breathe some life into that time period, using their stories to cast light on what, for some, is surely a darker period. David Field does well by building up a strong narrative and propels it forward with action and a handful of great characters. Add to that, some great plot twists, using both historical fact and some literary freedoms, all while keeping the reader in the thick of things. There is much to discover in this series and Field leaves little time to breathe, as the action never stops, peppering some great development for the local townsfolk characters, admits the political and monarchical goings-on. I am eager to see where things are headed and how they will progress, as I am getting into the swing of things and eager to learn a little more.
Kudos, Mr. Field, for keeping me entertained as I keep working through the series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 14, 2022
This was a highly enjoyable read! I loved some of the witty dialogues, I loved Wilfrid's relationship with Joan, his wife!
What I also greatly enjoyed is the way the author used what was known about these far gone times, and created a plausible story with unknown facts, such as King Harold' s widow and child, or more importantly for this novel, about what really happened to King William II when he was killed in the forest.
I intend to read the whole series! (This novel is the second of the series)
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What I also greatly enjoyed is the way the author used what was known about these far gone times, and created a plausible story with unknown facts, such as King Harold' s widow and child, or more importantly for this novel, about what really happened to King William II when he was killed in the forest.
I intend to read the whole series! (This novel is the second of the series)
I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2024
Just who did kill King William II (William Rufus)? That question has been asked since his "accidental" death whilst hunting in the New Forest in 1110. Many academic papers and a few novels have tried to give an answer to the question.
This was a Goodreads recommendation. An entertain read but one that gets only three stars as there are some questions on the historicals and I can't say that I got to like Wilfred of Walsingham as he is such a Quisling. Yes, I know, if you rebelled you died under William teh Bastard's conquest, but Wilfred is such a lickspittle.
Right, the historicals:
Saxons - we are English and only our enemies call us Saxons unless the period you are dealing with the early settlement of Germanic tribes in England.
Friars - Not till 1209 and, even then their arrival in England was later.
There is no reference I can find anywhere that Earl Waltheof was ever involved in supressing the revolt of Hereward the Wake.
Your Majesty - not a term used in England till Henry VIII. Prior to that the trem used was "Your Grace".
I am also not sure the author has the right of it with using a mark then a pound when talking values (A 'mark' was worth two-thirds of a pound, or 13s 4d. This was never a physical amount of money represented by a coin, but was a common amount used for accounting purposes.)
I would also question the number of lions on the King's heraldry as the first time England's King has three was Richard 1 and prior to that it seems the kings use one or two.
I will excuse the author for having arrows "fired" rather than "shot" or "loosed" as many use the musketry term though, as a a person who re-enacts as an archer, it grates.
The other thing that grated was not always knowing when those involved were using one of the French dialects (yes up until the 1920s France had many dialects being used as a First Language). In my novels ( https://www.amazon.com/stores/Geoff-B... ) I have always used italics to indicate when English was not being used.
So, a pleasant enough read but I won't be following the series.
You could read Paul Doherty's "Death of the Red King" for an alternative view
This was a Goodreads recommendation. An entertain read but one that gets only three stars as there are some questions on the historicals and I can't say that I got to like Wilfred of Walsingham as he is such a Quisling. Yes, I know, if you rebelled you died under William teh Bastard's conquest, but Wilfred is such a lickspittle.
Right, the historicals:
Saxons - we are English and only our enemies call us Saxons unless the period you are dealing with the early settlement of Germanic tribes in England.
Friars - Not till 1209 and, even then their arrival in England was later.
There is no reference I can find anywhere that Earl Waltheof was ever involved in supressing the revolt of Hereward the Wake.
Your Majesty - not a term used in England till Henry VIII. Prior to that the trem used was "Your Grace".
I am also not sure the author has the right of it with using a mark then a pound when talking values (A 'mark' was worth two-thirds of a pound, or 13s 4d. This was never a physical amount of money represented by a coin, but was a common amount used for accounting purposes.)
I would also question the number of lions on the King's heraldry as the first time England's King has three was Richard 1 and prior to that it seems the kings use one or two.
I will excuse the author for having arrows "fired" rather than "shot" or "loosed" as many use the musketry term though, as a a person who re-enacts as an archer, it grates.
The other thing that grated was not always knowing when those involved were using one of the French dialects (yes up until the 1920s France had many dialects being used as a First Language). In my novels ( https://www.amazon.com/stores/Geoff-B... ) I have always used italics to indicate when English was not being used.
So, a pleasant enough read but I won't be following the series.
You could read Paul Doherty's "Death of the Red King" for an alternative view
August 7, 2022
I’d read the first book of this series and loved it and this one is just as good. I’m now reading the third book of the series. I like the way that one book is set during the time of one king, starting with the Battle of Hastings and the reign of William I. This second one is during the reign of his son William II and his subsequent death n a hunting accident. Or was it murder? When his brother, Henry I comes to the throne he asks the main character (who was also in the first book) to investigate and comes up with a very plausible explanation, although of course we’ll never know what really happened.
The author is a natural story-teller, it’s so easy to become totally immersed in the stories and with the characters and learn some history at the same time. I didn’t know much about this era of English history beyond the well-known Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror and the sudden death of William Rufus. Highly recommended.
The author is a natural story-teller, it’s so easy to become totally immersed in the stories and with the characters and learn some history at the same time. I didn’t know much about this era of English history beyond the well-known Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror and the sudden death of William Rufus. Highly recommended.
November 5, 2024
As in the first book this had nothing to make your hair stand up, no action to speak of it was just an account of how the fictional Sir Wilfred Walsingham, after being imprisoned for nearly two years, was assigned by King Henry to unearth the truth behind the murder of King William Rufus, his older brother and one of the four sons of the Conqueror, and then helped to quell the meagre invasion of Richard of Normandy against his brother Henry while their other brother was off on the Crusades. A nice saga of Wilfred and his family but, as I said, nothing else to excite or spur my imagination. Likewise with the first book, a sorry 3/5, I probably won’t be reading No 3.
May 2, 2022
Another excellent book I enjoy the banter between wilfrid's with Joan, his wife!
What I all so greatly enjoyed is the way the author used what was known about these far gone times, and created a plausible story with unknown facts, such as King Harold' s widow and child, or more importantly for this novel, about what really happened to King William II when he was killed in the forest.And the storyline of his son Thomas with echo of wilfrid's life. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series
What I all so greatly enjoyed is the way the author used what was known about these far gone times, and created a plausible story with unknown facts, such as King Harold' s widow and child, or more importantly for this novel, about what really happened to King William II when he was killed in the forest.And the storyline of his son Thomas with echo of wilfrid's life. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series
April 25, 2022
The second book in what I understand will be a 7 book series. Again this story is so great that I read it in one day. I truly love the way this author writes. You become so engaged in the story that you feel that you are actually part of it. A great balance of dialogue and narrative, with just the perfect amount of details. This is how I wish all historical fiction books were written. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 14, 2022
David Field writes compelling and entertaining historical mysteries. This is another one that I thorouhgly enjoyed.
The mystery is solid, the characters fleshed out, the historical background vivid.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The mystery is solid, the characters fleshed out, the historical background vivid.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
November 4, 2022
Norman History entwined in great storytelling
I am loving everything about David Field's series set in Norman England, especially having just read 'The White Ship' by Charles Spencer. Historically they fit hand in glove.
I am loving everything about David Field's series set in Norman England, especially having just read 'The White Ship' by Charles Spencer. Historically they fit hand in glove.
June 13, 2023
Love the history lesson
I get so tired of starting books by authors supposedly on the level of Bernard Cornwell. This author has not disappointed me . I love to learn about different times in history in the form of a story helps keep my interest.
I get so tired of starting books by authors supposedly on the level of Bernard Cornwell. This author has not disappointed me . I love to learn about different times in history in the form of a story helps keep my interest.
October 27, 2023
Doing a lot of reading and research on the history of England and came across this series. Liked this book quite a lot. Felt almost real: the blending of historical fact with the fictional characters. I'm going to continue with the series.
March 18, 2023
Not a very good read
May 9, 2023
Riveting
I was grabbed from the start - real characters speaking words that held one’s attention and made one guffaw at times. I look forward to reading Book 3.
I was grabbed from the start - real characters speaking words that held one’s attention and made one guffaw at times. I look forward to reading Book 3.
July 21, 2024
I loved this one even better than the first. It's a very intriguing story that builds on the last book, giving the reader a front-row seat to the children of William the Conqueror.
July 5, 2025
Loving this series. Onto the next in this series.
December 10, 2022
lots of fluff - not much action
It sure seems that the ‘monk’ Armand is going to be the nasty little bastidge to stick his oar into the non-maiden ‘Melusine.’
Then I wish there was some decent swords-bows and shield work. Instead an all talk semi-mystery.
Not thrilling.
It sure seems that the ‘monk’ Armand is going to be the nasty little bastidge to stick his oar into the non-maiden ‘Melusine.’
Then I wish there was some decent swords-bows and shield work. Instead an all talk semi-mystery.
Not thrilling.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews