Medieval History
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Conspiracies of Rome by Richard BlakeThis is one of those books that is not quite there and yet you instinctively know (as a reader of series') that it is the jumping off point for a potentially terrific series.Think author Michael Jecks and...
- Two From Two - The Coming Of The King - M.c. Scott
  The Coming of the King by M.C. ScottThis is Book Two in the fantastic historical fiction series Rome by M.C. Scott (aka Manda Scott). The first book in the series, Rome: The Emperor's Spy, went down as the...
Medieval History
Once More Into The Fray: KING'S GOLD by Michael Jecks
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| King's Gold by Michael Jecks |
Another one down and not too many more to go now. I read the first in this series, The Last Templar, then I jumped forward to the books at the end (because I could not source the earlier books too easily or at all in some cases) starting with The Oath.
Then I read the recently released prequel to the entire series, Templar's Acre. And now back to the end of the series with this one, King's Gold. One more to go and if I then wish to meet Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and Simon Puttock again, I will have to wind the clock back and find some of those that came before The Oath.
I discovered when I read The Oath, that these are virtually stand alone books. You are going to miss out on that special connection one has with characters by not starting the series at the beginning. And it would serve you better if you tried to read them all in some semblance of order (and at over thirty books, you have quite a hunt ahead of you). But overall, it isn't that you 'cannot' jump in anywhere, or you 'should not' jump in at the end like I did. I managed to understand what was going on just fine. I am sure you will too, if you cannot find the earlier books.
Here in this second last book, King's Gold, we are getting into more political intrigue and less medieval mystery. I found The Oath was the same. More about political espionage than whodunnit and I am told by fans of the series that the whodunnit style is relegated to the earlier portion of this thirty something book series. While political intrigue becomes the focus in the latter portion.
I think I enjoyed King's Gold more than The Oath. There has been too much time between them to explain why. That aside though, I have to comment on Michael Jecks' writing style. In a time where so many authors are doing an abysmal slash and burn of the English language, and wordsmiths are becoming an endangered beast, Michael Jecks is one of those elite few modern historical fiction authors who wields a pen with an easy and old fashioned moxie. It is a hand that compliments the settings of his books. He could almost be writing to us from the era he writes in.
Aspiring authors should slow down their writing. Stop looking for the quick turnover. Study the hands of authors like Michael Jecks. Aspire to harness that dying art of wordsmithing, before you even think about writing a novel yourself.
I will try to get to the last book in the series, City of Fiends, in the coming months. 'Try' and 'do' are two seperate matters however, so don't go laying your bets on me just yet.
- MM
- Getting Real At Acre: Templar's Acre By Michael Jecks
Templar's Acre by Michael JecksAnyone who writes reviews for a review site or their blog knows that feeling when you sit down to write and your fingers sit on the keys motionless. You write a few words. Erase them. Try again. Erase them. It is a...
- The Wind Thrums The Ropes Once More - Crowbone By Robert Low
Crowbone by Robert LowI won't pretend Robert Low did not throw me when I first found out #5 in the series was not going to be in the voice of his creation Orm Bearslayer. In fact thrown is an understatement. I had spent four previous books of...
- Author Interviews Coming To Ancient & Medieval Mayhem Blog In June
ROBYN YOUNGInterview with Author, Robyn Young. In early June to kick off the Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction Group's Medieval Group Read of Insurrection. ...
- I Swear By It - Conspiracies Of Rome By Richard Blake
Conspiracies of Rome by Richard BlakeThis is one of those books that is not quite there and yet you instinctively know (as a reader of series') that it is the jumping off point for a potentially terrific series.Think author Michael Jecks and...
- Two From Two - The Coming Of The King - M.c. Scott
  The Coming of the King by M.C. ScottThis is Book Two in the fantastic historical fiction series Rome by M.C. Scott (aka Manda Scott). The first book in the series, Rome: The Emperor's Spy, went down as the...