Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Group read thread for the June read of Insurrection by Robyn Young

1286 A.D. Scotland is in the grip of the worst winter in living memory. Some say the Day of Judgement has come. The King of Scotland rides out from Edinburgh into the stormy dark. On the road he is murdered by one of his own men, leaving the succession to the throne wide open. The king’s death is as a stone thrown into a pool, the ripples spreading far and wide. Civil war threatens as powerful Scottish families jostle for power, not knowing that Edward, King of England, has set his own plans in motion. For almost two decades, Edward has nurtured a fierce vision of conquest – a vision sprung from the words of an ancient prophecy – that will change the face of Britain forever. But all is not destined to go Edward’s way. Through the ashes of war, through blood feuds and divided loyalties, a young squire will rise to defy England’s greatest king. His name is Robert the Bruce. And his story begins in Insurrection

Insurrection is first in a trilogy called Insurrection. The Second book Renegade is a recent release and the third book, Kingdom, is due for release June 2014.



Some may know the author Robyn Young by her other series. Brethren.
Kingdom

Just an early heads up...more info to come soon...

The exciting news for any of our Robyn Young fans and for those reading this book in June. Robyn will be dropping by when she can steal a chance to catch up with us and meet us early June.

Not sure yet how often she'll be able to get back to the discussion to interact with us and answer any questions as she has a tight schedule next month.

Robyn Young will also be doing an interview with me on the A&M Blog. I am hoping to have this posted a few days before June 1....to get you all in the mood for the read...but May is even tighter for the author, so I may not have the interview posted until early June.

As mentioned...I will know more info as June draws closer.

So, hopefully as many of us as possible can source the book in libraries and bookstores and join in the discussion and group read of Insurrection come June. :)

My library has this one....hopefully no one will get it before I do.

I'm lucky. I think my library has a few copies.

I reserved my copy at the library yesterday. Three copies, one available.
I thought I had better jump on it early so I don't get caught with my pants down again.

Here's a great You Tube clip from Hodder & Stoughton with Robyn Young talking about how to write a battle scene. (Done in conjunction with the release of book two in this Insurrection trilogy).
Really worth watching if you are interested in the Wars of Scottish Independence, battle writing or the trilogy.
I was going to put this video up on the main page to go with the June group read, but then decided to go with the Insurrection Book Trailer instead.

Author Robyn Young Talks About Writing Action Scenes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=askli4...

Darcy (and anyone else)..which cover did you buy (or borrow for those who have borrowed)?

I have the one in the title. I should mention that it's also one of those large trade paperbacks. My rulers are still packed, but it's larger than our copy (I think we read the same one) of Mercenaries. It's the same size as my Kingdom series books if that helps any.

I just bought this cover. It is a 13.6cm wide and 19.8cm high


The one in the title is the large trade paperback (the ones I like..:(...) it was the most expensive for me and I had to pass it by. Sadly.

The cheapest was a version of the one in this thread title, but it was very small in dimensions:
It was only 11cm across and 17cm high.

And it was only $1 cheaper than the bookcover I got, so I went with the red shield cover to get a little bit bigger book to hang on to. :)

Now here's hoping it gets here by June 1. (unlikely though....more likely some time at the end of first week of June).

Marina wrote: "It is a brilliant book (thas suffers from only one thing, which I won't mention so not to dissapoint the would-be readers). I hope you all like it."

Oh. You vixen. Dangling that teasing morsel in front of us.
Never mind. I don't think I want to know yet what you thought it suffered from. Not yet. :-)

got it from the library :) Last copy.

I have a copy sitting at the library to pick up today, so if I don't get my bought copy delivered in time at least I can maybe start on the library copy. :-)

Oh. Mate. Thanks for the laugh! :D

When we start it....First one to compare to Insurrection to Braveheart is a rotten egg.

Stuart wrote: "Terri wrote: "Oh. Mate. Thanks for the laugh! :D

When we start it....First one to compare to Insurrection to Braveheart is a rotten egg."

You should write a review that compares the two. Think of..."

*giggles*

I would not write that review for all the tea in China....but then I am not much of a tea drinker....still. no way! Not a chance. :-)

Oh crap. Now I have Blue faced Mel Gibson stuck in my head. Blerr.
At least Insurrection is about the Bruce more so than Wallace. Less chance of having horrible Gibson flashbacks.

I haven't had the heart to tell you...but I'm not a drinker so send me that mead horn, but it will have to be filled with something no alcoholic. :-)

Gibson as Bruce! Perish the thought!

Got my copy from the library today. It is the exact edition I bought from The Book Depository yesterday that won't arrive for a couple weeks. :)



At least I get to see what I paid for.

I received my copy just now. It is the version, hardcover 500 pages. I hope I can finished it within one week during the group read.

I own a copy, so I'm all set for Junes group read.

That's good. That will make a few of us ready to kick off the month with this group read. :)

Can't find this in any of my local libraries, nor on Audible, nor as digital in the Ohio libraries I can still access. I did borrow a copy of The Iron King, so I'll be reading runner up this time.

An excellent second option Sherrie. Feel free to talk about The Iron King where losers reign

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Oh that's a shame, Sherrie. :(

Just ordered both by the ILL route. I will be VERY upset if I can't find "Insurrection."

Surely one of the libraries will have it for you via ILL. The author and the book being bestsellers around the world. It would certainly be weird for a well stocked library not to have Insurrection.

My library had 4 of her books but not the one I wanted. :(

Blast! Fingers crossed for you, Anne.

I have the Robyn Young interview in hand (or at least 'on my tablet') and will be putting that up on the blog today. Hoping it will get everyone inspired for the group read of Insurrection.

I have a copy on order but estimated to reach me in the U.S. on June 21st so I'll be playing catch up.

Oh no. Sorry to hear it is so far away Donna. :\

I just ordered both as well. I wonder why they aren't available for kindle?

Holly wrote: "I just ordered both as well. I wonder why they aren't available for kindle?"

hmm..I don't know. I am surprised they aren't.

ROBYN YOUNG BLOG INTERVIEW IS ONLINE and ready for viewing now at the A&M Blog. :)

http://ancientandmedievalmayhem.blogs...

Good interview Terri. She took your questions and really expanded them well.

I liked her best advice on writing. Very succinct!

Robyn was very gracious in her answers. Took some time to really speak to us :)
I was just saying to Darcy on the blog, I really like it when an author talks history with us.

We read history, many of us love history.
I know our members really appreciate it when an author expands on history in an interview and understands that we are an audience who gets it. That the author can talk history to us and we understand.

Great stuff on that blog interview. I'm gonna try and get this one in time for the group read.

Glad you got something out of it, Nate. :) I hope you can indeed get it in time. Kicking off the month with as many members as possible will be fun. Especially with Robyn dropping by to say hello to us in the first week of June.

Another great interview, Terri. I can't read 'Insurrection' at the moment but want to at some stage and will follow the Group Read with interest. I like the choice of Robert the Bruce as main character partly as I've played with a wooden shield and sword at Stirling Castle :)

Jean wrote: " I like the choice of Robert the Bruce as main character partly as I've played with a wooden shield and sword at Stirling Castle :)..."

Fun!

My relationship with Stirling Castle is tenuous at best, but I'd give it another go. The surrounding area was fabulous, though do not trust the Info Centre maps. They are approximations, and if the plan is to walk...I think I lost a stone that day.

I was so disappointed that The Book Depository only JUST shipped my copy of Insurrection.
I bought it on the 21st of May! It usually takes 10 working days to get here and so I should have gotten it in the first week of June in time to start.
Now it won't arrive until mid June and I have wasted my money as I will have to read the library copy in the meantime.

What a real kick in the pants. On my book buying budget (which is very small), I feel down that I spent money on a book that I won't get to read in the flesh because I will have to read the library copy instead.

I can't believe they just sent it now! What a bummer. I'd be angry too.

Stuart wrote: "Slightly off topic here - I've a friend who claims to be a direct descendant of Robert De Brucie (aka Mel Gibson - for Terri anyway). However, I've also met someone who claims her boyfriend is a di..."


Family history can turn anything up...although I am sceptical on the Jesus one...:\

Did you get a notification from TBD today too to say it had shipped?

Darcy wrote: "I can't believe they just sent it now! What a bummer. I'd be angry too."


I have to double check to make sure the edition I bought was already released, but I am 99% sure it was.

The good news is.....Darcy and I are swapping over on the group reads. :D

Darcy has agreed to swap with me and lead the Insurrection read at the start of June, and I'll go do the Ancient Group read, Prophecy. That way I haven't wasted my money.
I'll still be swinging by the Insurrection thread, but I won't be reading the book until it arrives later in June.

Stuart wrote: "I've also ordered Prophecy - though I'm not a big fan of the 'King Arthur' myth."

I'm not sure about the rest of the series, but the first book seems to be the self-determination story for Wales.

A documentary about Robert the Bruce. For those familiar with the show Coast the music might seem quite familiar - as is the narrator.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Guvq4...

Bruce starts featuring in part 2

Great clip, Darcy. I've seen that guy on other documentaries, Battlefield shows, but I have not seen that History of Scotland doco.

Seeing him standing next to that enormous Trebuchet, War Wolf. Wow. It puts the size of it into perspective. What a monster.

Stuart wrote: "I've also ordered Prophecy - though I'm not a big fan of the 'King Arthur' myth
..."

Me neither, so it will be with caution that I read that one.