The Soldier's Cross

by Abigail J. Hartman

Fiona's world is a carefully built castle in the air, made up of the fancies, wishes, and memories of her childhood. It begins to crumble as she watches her brother march away to join in the English invasion of France. It falls to pieces when he is brought home dead.

Robbed of the one dearest to her and alone in the world, Fiona turns to her brother's silver cross in search of the peace he said it would bring. But when she finds it missing, she swears she will have it and sets out on a journey across the Channel and war-ravaged France to regain it and find the peace it carries.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Childrens

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Abigail writes historical fiction and the occasional fantasy. She holds a PhD in medieval history and has additional research interests in the early modern era, but she has a tedious habit of not writing novels set in the historical moments she officially studies.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Those who like older historical fiction will love the style of this book. Full Review coming soon.

[Joy Chalaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

After stumbling across an intriguing review and falling in love with her blog, I traveled with bated-breath through my reading of 'The Soldier's Cross' by Abigail J. Hartman, a book which I thoroughly enjoyed for so many reasons! Abigail's book is a brilliant and touching piece of literature with a well-written story-line and writing style and gripping characters that kept me riveted to the novel till the end, leaving me with a feeling of quiet peace as I drank in the last few words. It was a beautifully crafted story, one that really affected me in more ways than one. Besides evoking in me through her writing a love for the tale itself and the beautiful theme that there's no salvation or peace outside of Christ, Abigail's writing influenced something else in me as well; she made me realize that one can never be too young to write, and write well, and write from the heart the things of our soul and the deep convictions of our hearts. Here are some of my thoughts which I wrote soon after I read the book:

I just finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago during the holidays, and I really enjoyed it. It is a beautifully penned novel in every way, inspirational, with captivating, rounded characters, an adventurous and at times sad quest, and a simple, sweet ending that will leave you loving this delightful story, and the characters in it. Leah, Pierre, Fiona, and Fiona's brother were such heart-warming characters, and personally my favourites. One of the things I truly enjoyed about this book, beside the captivating story and the historical times it was set in, was the Christian theme prevailing in the story, being one truly relevant not only to Fiona's life but our own as well, that there can be no 'peace' in life without Christ. When I first read the synopsis of this historical novel on Amazon, I was immediately intrigued and knew I wanted to read it. I think one of the things that caught my interest in this book as well was in the author, Abigail J. Hartman, herself. She is a sweet home-educated Christian young lady living in America, with a love for writing historical and fantasy fiction (my personal favourite genres), who got her first novel, The Soldier's Cross, published when she was only 14 years old. That was enough to get me really interested =D, and I ordered the book, even though I had misgivings on how well-developed her writing would be, preparing myself for glitches common with beginning writers (like me!). But as soon as I started reading, I was well and truly captivated, and forgot all my earlier misgivings. This book is amazingly well-written, and I was quite soon swallowed up into Fiona's world of grief, loneliness and danger, and her desperate (and sometimes foolish) quest to find her brother's cross, and 'the peace it carries'. At times, I got upset at Fiona's foolish choices, but as I read more, I felt compassion for this girl, as she journeyed and struggled for that peace and faith that eluded her. There were places with some tense scenes, but they were matched by more peaceful scenes as well. So, I'd really recommend you read this book, especially if you have a love for historical fiction. I have a feeling you'll love it!

Pros: The whole book was great. I loved the way Abigail depicted grief and the internal struggles of her characters powerfully and with emotion without making it cliche. Though I haven't done much research into this historical time period, I felt that the dialogue and scenes were really in time with the historical context of the 1400s England and France. Another thing that I truly enjoyed was the kind of romance in the book. I had earlier been worried when I ordered the Soldier's Cross that the whole story would, despite the genre, end up being the typical romance novels you see in bookstores (both Christian and secular), displaying romance as being 'butterflies in your stomach' 'fall in love at first sight' kind of thing, leaving you feeling quite uncomfortable by the end of the story. Well, with The Soldier's Cross, happily it turned to be quite different. The romance in it was refreshing and felt like real-life situations, beautiful, heart-warming and funny at times, and in accord with the cultural times the story is set in. Abigail did a great job at this I think.

Cons: There were a couple of irksome scenes when Fiona was being stalked and apprehended by an evil character with evil intentions because she was a woman, which while reading made me feel slightly uncomfortable and a little worried of any inappropriate scenes that might potentially come up, *MINOR SPOILER ALERT* but it was okay, and nothing bad actually happened *END OF MINOR SPOILER*; Abigail wrote those scenes with a great deal of discretion. But still, I wouldn't recommend this book for readers under the age of 12 or 13 for this cause. Perhaps the only other real con to the story was a slight 'stiffness' when it came to the manner in which the Reverend Mother shared the Gospel with Fiona. I felt it was slightly forced and a bit too typically Reformed/Protestant seeing that the Reverend Mother was a Catholic. But Fiona's own conversion was not forced; in that I appreciated how Abigail handled this whole scene. Besides that, I can't think of any major cons.

My overall rating, would be...
Rating: five out of five stars
Age: 13 yrs and up (for the stalking scenes!)
Here are some of my quotes from the book :D
"But He is where you will find the rest and peace you want, my dear. Those things you will only find in Perfection, and that is what He is."
~pg. 234 the Soldier's Cross

"God has arranged strange ways for some of us to find Him. Sometimes He brings us on long physical journeys; sometimes He leaves us at home and makes the journey internal. Yours has been both."
~pg. 286 the Soldier's Cross

P.S. Abigail J. Hartman blogs on "Scribbles and Ink Stains", a lovely writing blog I have enjoyed reading for more than a year now, where she shares thoughts on writing, faith and anything literary in general with an eloquent and poignant pen.

[Bekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my to-be-read list for a long time now and it was definitely worth my time.

What I Liked: This author is definitely a very talented writer. She told a very in-depth story and made it very interesting. I definitely was eager to find out how this story ended.

I will have to admit that I kept cringing and shaking my head at the main character, Fiona. She kept making mistake...after mistake...after mistake (and most of them pretty selfish mistakes.) And then I had the thought: "Well, how many times has God seen me make selfish and foolish decisions and He still loves me and cares for me?" Sure, I believe there are consequences for our mistakes and that is clearly portrayed in this book, but I also felt that this author did a good job showing how God can turn around our mistakes when we repent and seek to make our mistakes right. I really liked that message.

At the end, Fiona was a very likable character. I also liked Pierre's wife, how she so quietly sought to bring Fiona to the truth of the gospel.

What I Didn't Like: This whole book had a very Roman Catholic feel to it religious wise. While salvation through Jesus Christ was made clear, I wish the topic of grace had been better explained, but I believe that is my only complaint.

I give this book 3 stars for an enjoyable story.

[Elizabeth Mundie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the four start rating indicates, I was charmed by this book. Abigail Hartman, the author, weaves a quest story with spiritual meaning, historical background, and lyrical writing. The plot moves quickly; I read this book in the span of a few days.

I am impressed that the author was able to explore the meaning of Jesus' cross through the eyes of a girl who doesn't realize its significance. The book is spiritual without being preachy. There is one place where it might be heavy handed, but, mostly, the Christian theme is very well done.

If I had factored in the fact that the author was a teen at the time of publication (and still is), I would have given this five stars to say that it is amazing. Two aspects of her writing that I find mature beyond the author's years are as follows:

1) She creates a character who both grows steadily throughout the book and who also makes a leap of growth after a crisis.
2) Her main character is also a teen but must function in an adult world; she handles the adult characters with insight.

I enjoyed The Soldier's Cross as an adult, but it could also be read as young adult fiction by a young adult author. I'm pretty picky about what I expect from young adult fiction, as these are the books people read during their most formative times. While two YA books I've read lately have been disappointing on that front, The Soldier's Cross would pass my test.

Even taking out the author's young age, I still would give this a four star review. I'm interested to see what other works might be in Miss Hartman's future.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this before!

First of all, I like Abigail's older stories even better. (I can't wait for Wordcrafter to be published! Though I'm sure it's very different than the story I read :).

But, more importantly, I do love this story. My favorite part is that each of the characters, from Fiona to the ones that barely get a mention, are full people, who clearly have their own story and adventure.

My second favorite part is... David and Pierre and the Duke of Gloucester. All those random wonderful people that show up and behave oddly. :) And there's a baby. How special is that?

Oh! And the premise revolves around a brother sister relationship! Sure, it doesn't last very long, but that's still my favorite kind. :)

There are a couple romances. And I actually like them. (Abigail knows that means a lot :).

Not to mention the beautiful picture of trust in the love of Jesus during difficult times.

[English · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start with the positives: this was a beautifully written and well-told story, written when the author was surprisingly young. Very, very few 14- year- olds I know of could write this well. The story is a simple one, concerning a personal quest and spiritual journey told in a classical style. Simple put, its about a teenage girl looking for the cross her brother wore, which was lost when he fell at Agincourt.
There is also a meaningful message here, spelled out at the end, but obvious in the beginning, about seeking salvation apart from Christ, and a false security be dependence on religion and tradition. In that sense, its an excellent book to read and recommend.

However: I had several problems with this story. The first was that whilst the basic chronology and events mentioned in the story were correct, there were too many glaring historical inaccuracies. Fiona and other characters, for example, travel around in carriages or 'coaches' that sound like something from the 18th century.
There was nothing like stage coaches in the 15th century, contrary to what we see in movies: and the only carriages they had were glorified wagons. The average noble household certainly would not have had fleets of them: if they wanted a faster means of transport, they rode on horseback, or maybe got a boat if they were near a river or the sea.

Other details, especially about the manor house Fiona grew up in, don't ring true for the time period. A locket with a miniature portrait in it: those did not become popular until the sixteenth or seventeenth century.
Although, that said, this is one of only a few books which describes the indigenous flora and fauna of the British Isles with reasonable accuracy. Not pine trees or maple trees all over the place, but oak, elm and yew.

The second complaint I had can be applied more generally and not specifically to this book. Its the general tendency of many Western Protestants to write off anything that happened before the Reformation as 'dark' and 'gloomy'.
There was plenty of violence and gloom after the Reformation (French Wars of Religion, Thirty Years War, etc etc), but there is also, I believe much praiseworthy to be found in the Middle Ages. Too many modern Christians just have this tendency to think anything which is not Protestant is bad, or not worthy of attention.

For this reason, I think the depiction of people's religious life and understanding of religion was very typical. Its assumed that everyone was ignorant of scripture and the Gospel and caught up in incomprehensible religious tradition. At one point, its even suggested that even some priests did not understand the 'incomprehensible' Latin liturgy.
I'm beginning to question this assumption: because quite frankly, Latin is not so very 'incomprehensible'.
It's estimated at 60% of English words are of Latin origin, and the three 'romance' languages, Spanish, Italian and French are based on it.

Even my mother , who has dyslexia and has never had any tuition in the language can understand some Latin words. I think a good proportion of Medieval people with any basic level of education would have been able to understand some Latin: and most would at least have known some Bible stories from their parents or church, or art and plays and the like. So, I just found it totally implausible that Fiona did not even know the account of the Passion and Resurrection.

Finally, I fear there was a misundertanding of the Hundred Years War and its causes inherent throughout the story. Its sort of implied that Henry V and other English Kings went to war with France basically because they were greedy and coveted land and power. There may be an element of that in all wars, but many people don't realize that the Plantagenet Kings of England had a strong ancestral claim to entire regions of France, including Normandy, Anjou and Aquitaine/Gascony through William the Conqueror, Henry II and the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine, and even an arguable claim to the French throne through Edward III's French mother.

So, this was a decent adventure story, with elements of a spiritual journey that I would certainly read it again, its just a shame about the inaccuracies and misunderstandings which plague this, like so many other Christian novels set in the Middle Ages.

[Emmy de Reus · Rating 3 out of 5]

In het late najaar van 1415 overlijdt Fiona's oude, vergeetachtige en wereldvreemde vader; kort daarna ontvangt ze bericht dat haar enige broer Giovanni gedurende de Engels-Franse oorlog bij de Slag om Agincourt is gesneuveld. Zijn lichaam wordt gerepatrieerd maar de zilveren kruishanger die hij altijd droeg en die een familie-erfstuk was, bevindt zich niet langer om zijn hals.

Na de begrafenis besluit Fiona, vervuld van woede en haatgevoelens, naar Frankrijk af te reizen, op zoek naar de Fransman die het leven van haar broer heeft genomen en die - zo heeft ze in haar dromen gezien - de zilveren hanger heeft afgerukt. Ze hoopt dat ze door het hervinden van de kruishanger de dood van Giovanni kan accepteren en vrede in haar hart zal verwerven.

Na veel omzwervingen weet ze beslag te leggen op de hanger, maar heeft daarbij een lelijke steekwond in haar schouder opgelopen. Gewond, op de vlucht, tot op het bot verkild, verzwakt en hongerig belt ze in het holst van de nacht aan bij het nonnenklooster van Sainte Marthe, waar ze barmhartig wordt opgevangen. Gedurende de vijf jaar die ze daar verblijft, leert ze de ware betekenis van het kruis, het christelijk geloof, vergeving en verlossing kennen, maar beseft ook dat zij niet in de wieg is gelegd voor het kloosterleven en keert na een afwezigheid van tien jaar gelouterd terug naar Engeland.

In aanmerking genomen dat de schrijfster pas 16 jaar was toen ze het boek schreef, heeft ze Fiona's emoties en gevoelens knap verwoord.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering that the author apparently wrote this as a teenager for a NaNoWriMo, it is superbly well-written and structured!

That being said, I struggled to understand why the protagonist did a lot of the things she did. She came across as rather silly, when I think the author was intending her to be headstrong. I also found it very difficult to suspend my disbelief at an illiterate, inexperienced, sheltered teenage girl able to wander the countryside of Medieval England and recently war-torn France all on her own and come out as unscathed as she did.

The historical setting also felt a little generic in parts. While the author clearly knows historical events from the target period, there were some items and interactions that I felt could've done with a little more period-centric dressing.

The ending was an amusing surprise, and for me this book definitely had its high-points in relationships rather than action and plot.

On the whole this was a nice light, wholesome read.

[Gerda Jongsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boek zit knap in elkaar, helemaal wanneer je bedenkt dat dit door een 16-jarige is geschreven. De historische setting die Abigail J. Hartman schetst, klinkt erg geloofwaardig. Er was geen enkel moment waarop ik twijfelde aan de geloofwaardigheid van de tijd waarin dit afspeelde. De hoofdpersoon Fiona vertrekt, zo naïef als ze is, van huis wanneer haar broer is gestorven tijdens een veldslag. Ze gaat op zoek naar het kruisje dat haar broer altijd droeg. Tijdens haar reis reageert Fiona in mijn ogen soms wat té zorgeloos, alsof niets en niemand haar iets kan schaden. Dat stoorde me soms. Toch vind ik dat nauwelijks opwegen tegen al het goede in dit boek. De verhaallijn gaat rond en begint waar het eindigt, met veel vragen beantwoord. Een aanrader voor lezers die houden van niet al te zware historische verhalen.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: the author is a friend of mine. As I mentioned regarding her sister’s book, I’m not trying to explain myself for having written a good review. As in the former case, this engaging tale stands on its own merits, not the least of which is its solid commitment to the truth of the Cross.

This book is the story of a journey. The traveler is a young Englishwoman, sojourning in France in search of the totem, a small silver cross, carried by her brother when he fell at the battle of Agincourt. In time-honored fashion, her spiritual meanderings mirror her physical course, and as she claims the object of her quest, she will learn that its value lies not in the symbol itself, but in the person and work of the God-Man who was slain upon it.

There are no surprises here, no tense moments of anticipation or thrills of sudden revelation, but then there need not be any. The story’s efficacy stems from its quiet, gentle persistence, as despite her own intentions – or lack thereof – Fiona is led slowly yet implacably to that place, literally and metaphorically, which has been providentially ordained for her. This truth, that there exists a refuge from the darkness without and within, is perfectly embodied in the character of Leah, who mute though she is, nonetheless conveys so much, both to her young charge and to the reader, regarding the peace and hope that sustains her.

This deep and lasting message, bedrock of the story though it is, is not the only aspect of the book I found enjoyable. Sprinkled throughout the lucid prose are subtle touches of humor and deft turns of phrase that left me smiling. The relationship between Leah and Pierre is handled with such tenderness as to evoke my most sincere empathy. My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that many of the coincidences that occur are so improbable as to be completely predictable. These are necessary for the story, of course, but I found it slightly distracting when just the right character turns up, with no other provocation save that Fiona’s plight demands they be there. Overall, however, the story is very solidly constructed, and the skillful synthesis of superficial plot and deeper allegory lends it a timeless air.

So here’s to you, my friend, and this beautiful piece you have crafted; may it mark the beginning of a long and fruitful career, and may the Cross which you bear ever stand as your firm foundation.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is A.D. 1415, and fifteen year old Fiona lives on an English estate near Wales with her father, Sir Madoc who is in ill health both physically and mentally, and her older brother Giovanni. Fiona’s God-fearing mother, who had taught Giovanni to love the Lord, died when the girl was very young. Though the family is religious, and Fiona faithfully attends Mass, she often laughs at Giovanni’s concern for her soul. Once an acquaintance of her father’s had asked for her hand in marriage, but Madoc soon forgot it and Fiona never knew about it. For the most part, she is happy, but her world begins to crumble when Giovanni marches away to join in the English invasion of France by King Henry V. Then her father dies. Finally, her brother’s body is brought home as a casualty of the fighting at the Battle of Agincourt.

Finding that his silver cross which had been given to him by their mother is missing, she disobeys the king’s travel ban and journeys across the Channel to war-ravaged France in search of it. Along the way, she is caught trespassing on the estate a young French nobleman and promises to give three years’ service to escape punishment. Then upon finally running away, she spends several more years recovering and working in a convent. What will happen to her? Will she ever locate her brother’s cross? And will she be able to find the peace which she thinks that it represents? Author Abigail J. Hartman was taught at home for all her schooling years, so she has had ample opportunity to branch out into the subjects she enjoys most, which are history and literature. The Soldier's Cross, written when she was fourteen, is her first novel.

There are a few minor references to drinking things like mead, wine, and ale, but the story is generally wholesome. From a historical standpoint, it gives a good picture of what life was like in early fifteenth century England and France. However, there is also an important spiritual component. Abigail writes that in the novel “I was able to bring together some of the things I love best—the written word, history, and, above all, my God.” Why the 1400s? The false security in which the majority of Christendom lay is contrasted to the work of John Wycliffe in England, where Fiona grew up, and of Jan Huss in Bohemia, where her French master’s wife was from. And Abigail says, “The danger of ‘peace’ is as present now as it was in Fiona’s day.” Those who like historical fiction set in medieval Europe should enjoy the book.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only ever written book reviews on a site where the review format was very structured, so, please, bear with me if I start to ramble a bit.

It is probably shocking to some that I had not read this book yet, as I have known the authoress via else site since before she wrote it. And I am now both sorry I hadn't and glad I now have.

I really enjoyed it! Even knowing the authoress and knowing how well she can write, I was a bit surprised at how well she got her story out there, and the maturity within the writing and the story both.

The setting was very well done, and Fiona's quest kept me wondering what was going to happen next.
I did feel the start was a little slow, but not too bad.
My biggest disappointment was when the Gosple was presented to Fiona, as it failed to mention that it is God's LOVE for us while we were yet sinners that caused him to send Jesus down to die for us to take our sins away. This is the very heart of the Gosple, and I felt it should have been included.
It was during that part, and perhaps because of what I pointed out, that I felt, as necessary as that scene was, it was a bit heavyhanded and preachy- and rather slowed the story down. Not that I would have had that part taken out...just done differently, as it was indeed necessary.

Over all, I absolutely enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it.

And the ending was just what I was hoping for! :-D

[Taneil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Soldier's Cross tells the story of young Fiona, a girl who has seemingly lost everything, and sets out on what begins as a quest to reclaim her brother's cross and chain, and what ends up being a decade long journey that changes her life in every possible aspect.

When I first started reading the Soldier's Cross I admit to being afraid that I wasn't going to like it, despite having wanted to read it. Fiona seemed to be thoughtless, immature, and at times even vexing. Throughout the book I was following her journey and cringing at every foolish and wrong decision, although feeling compassion for this character who was searching for more than just a bauble. In the end, when she finally finds what she was looking for, and sets out to correct the wrongs she has committed in the past, she finally becomes a character that one can admire.

All in all, this book was a good read!

[Kaity-Jane Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon!