Tag: NetGalley

About the Book

AD 652. After surviving dark intrigues at the Merovingian court of Frankia, Beobrand is finally able to undertake the mission his queen set to escort a party of pilgrims to the holy city of Rome.

But Beobrand’s life is never easy. His party includes a scheming novice churchman whose ambition is boundless, and a mysterious envoy from Frankia.

Entering the lands of the Langobards, Beobrand discovers unexpected similarities to his native Northumbria in their speech and customs… and their willingness to spill blood.

The roads heading south are filled with danger. Meeting other pilgrims who have been attacked and robbed, Beobrand soon finds himself reluctantly responsible for their safety. Confronting brigands and robbers at every turn, they press on towards their goal.

But when Beobrand reaches the snakepit of ruins and relics that is Rome, his difficulties truly begin… and his homeland has never been further away.

Format: Hardcover (464 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 5th December 2024 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

Shadows of the Slain is the tenth book in The Bernicia Chronicles and if you’ve been following the adventures of Beobrand in previous books you’ll know he’s far from his home in Northumbria – and his family – and would return in a heartbeat were it not for the oath he has sworn to escort young novice, Wilfred, to Rome. Having said that, Beobrand has broken the odd oath in his time.

Beobrand finds himself in unfamiliar territory, unable to speak the language of some of the places he and his band of warriors pass through, and reliant on others to translate and negotiate on his behalf. And Beobrand hates having to rely on others; he’s been betrayed too many times before. As always, Beobrand is acutely aware of his responsibility for the lives of his gesithas, the warriors who have sworn allegiance to him. And things are made more complicated because Beobrand’s closest friend, Coenred, is accompanying Wilfred on the journey.

After quite a few adventures, including making some dangerous enemies, Beobrand arrives in Rome. What he finds is evidence of the fall of the once powerful Roman Empire, with great buildings lying abandoned and in ruins. What hasn’t changed is the presence of powerful individuals vying for wealth and influence, most of whom possess few scruples about how they achieve it. Add in conflict over religious doctrine and the increasingly reckless actions of the ambitious and wily Wilfred, and you’ve got a heady mix. No wonder Beobrand’s thoughts increasingly turn to home.

For those seeking action, there’s plenty of it as Beobrand and his gesithas find themselves in all sorts of sticky situations. Uttering his rallying cry, “Black Shields, with me!”, Beobrand is, of course, always at the centre of things. ‘The dark shapes of men around him seethed, grunting and screaming. The clang of metal on metal, and the thump of blades connecting with shields was loud in the night.’ Sadly, not everyone will emerge unscathed.

Opening in trademark breathless fashion, Shadows of the Slain is another thrilling story that will appeal to those who like their historical fiction full of authentic detail, and the cut and thrust of battle.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of Head of Zeus via NetGalley.

In three words: Action-packed, dramatic, exciting
Try something: A Time for Swords by Matthew Harffy

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About the Author

Matthew Harffy grew up in Northumberland where the rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline had a huge impact on him. He now lives in Wiltshire, England with his wife and their two daughters. Matthew is the author of the critically acclaimed Bernicia Chronicles and A Time for Swords series, and he also presents the popular podcast Rock, Paper, Swords! with fellow author Stephen A. McKay.

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About the Book

Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in the little town of Faha, but his responsibilities for the sick and his care for the dying mean he has always been set apart from his community. A visit from the doctor is always a sign of bad things to come.

His youngest daughter, Ronnie, has grown up in her father’s shadow, and remains there, having missed her chance at real love – and passed up an offer of marriage from an unsuitable man.

But in the advent season of 1962, as the town readies itself for Christmas, Ronnie and Doctor Troy’s lives are turned upside down when a baby is left in their care. As the winter passes, father and daughter’s lives, the understanding of their family, and their role in their community are changed forever.

Format: Hardcover (304 pages) Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: 24th October 2024 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

When I came across this book on NetGalley, it reminded me that I had Niall Williams’ previous book, This Is Happiness, on my bookshelf still unread. As soon as I realised Time of the Child was set in the same small village of Faha, I picked up This Is Happiness. I loved it and so it was a joy to return to Faha in Time of the Child. (I think Time of the Child could be enjoyed without having read the earlier book.)

Some individuals from This Is Happiness return but I’ll admit I did miss its large cast of colourful characters since the focus of this book is very much on Doctor Jack Troy and his daughter Veronica, known to everyone as Ronnie.

Although Jack Troy may appear distant and someone who rarely shows emotion, inside we see a man struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife and another woman he cared about, and guilt that he may have stood in the way of his daughter’s happiness. Time after time, I found myself inwardly urging Jack to express his thoughts out loud and not keep them to himself, particularly when it came to his daughter. Tell her how much you appreciate her, tell her you’re sorry…

As we learn, Jack Troy does not have a heart of stone, as outward appearances would suggest, he has a heart as big as anyone. We see his compassion in the way he cares for the ailing Doady and her husband Ganga who grasps at any sign she might be improving despite there being none. (Both Doady and Ganga had starring roles in the previous book.) And we see it again in his tender dealings with Father Tom who is exhibiting signs of confusion.

The discovery of an abandoned baby gives Jack the opportunity to demonstrate his compassion once again. His dilemma is how to explain the presence of a baby in his household, a baby whom his daughter has grown to love. He cannot disappoint her again by allowing the baby to be taken into the care of the authorities. The solution: keep it a secret. The problem: Faha is not a place where it’s easy to keep a secret. In fact, it’s almost impossible. And actions can have unintended consequences.

A warm, wry humour runs through the book, such as the scene in which the curate, Father Coffey, has his first encounter with Napoleon brandy. And the author’s flair for the colourful is in evidence when describing the travelling traders who set up at Faha’s Christmas Fair.

‘There was Noone the knife-sharpener who looked like Douglas Fairbanks in The Corsican Brothers; McGreal, the pots-and-pans man, wire wool extra; a Dodd from the north who sold old brushes, and his own version of Chimno, Soot-Go he called it; Mrs Peggy who sold men’s underpants three-in-the-pack, and socks, five-in-the-pack, all grey, Good enough to wear to your own funeral, neither of which were bought by men, whose socks and underpants never surrendered, but by wives and mammies who had seen the toenail and blast damage.’

At the same time there are intensely moving moments, especially towards the end of the book. So as not to give anything away I’ll just say ‘Father Tom’, ‘crying baby’ and ‘Christmas box’.

Religion plays a strong part in the lives of Faha’s inhabitants and there are moments where the prose is psalm-like. ‘[He] drew back the curtain for the universal remedy of daylight, but the dark was still on the land and in the bare trees and on the river beyond, and dawn’s mercy unavailable.’

At its heart, the book is about a man trying to do his best and ‘the always inconvenient actuality of love’. Time of the Child is the perfect Christmas story, showing the best of human nature: generosity of spirit, a sense of community and being true to your values. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I think these are things to which we can all aspire.

I received an advance review copy courtesy of Bloomsbury via NetGalley.

In three words: Tender, poignant, uplifting
Try something similar: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

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About the Author

Niall Williams was born in Dublin. He is the author of nine novels, including History of the Rain, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize and Four Letters of Love, which will soon be a major motion picture starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne. His most recent novel, This Is Happiness, was nominated for the Irish Books Award and the Walter Scott Prize, and was one of the Washington Post‘s Books of the Year. He lives in Kiltumper in County Clare, Ireland.

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