The Forum

Honour and the Sword (Hardcover)
by A L Berridge (Author)


just finished this...

Interesting book, the story is told from the different perpectives of the people involved in the story, as though its being pulled together by someone chronicling the life of the main star of the book (andre). Im still unsure if i liked it or hated the style...but the plot and the characters really do grow on you. this isnt a period of history im into, but after reading this book im intrigued to find out more, and i will be reading more in this series.

Product Description
It is 1636 - the height of the Thirty Years War, one of the bloodiest and most destructive conflicts Europe has ever seen. As the campaigning season begins, the Spanish armies swell out of the Artois region of the Netherlands – flooding into King Louis XIII’s France. The sleepy border village of Dax-en-roi stands in their way. Facing the overwhelming might of the Spanish forces, the Chevalier de Roland rallies a valiant defence, but in vain – his household guard no match for the invaders. There is only one survivor as the Roland estate is razed to the ground, one soul who escapes the Spanish brutality: the lone heir to the Roland name, the son, a young boy by the name of André de Roland, the new Sieur of Dax . . . Upon this young nobleman’s shoulders all hope lies. He alone must bear the honour of the Roland name and, with it, the fate of his people.
About the Author
A L Berridge read English at Oxford, and taught for ten years before moving into television, where her production credits range from period drama and thrillers to long-running soaps. Having told stories for other people all her life, she now lives in St Albans and writes full-time. Honour and the Sword is her first novel, reflecting a lifelong passion for history, especially when it has swords in it.

Looks good Parm cheers for the heads up.

Quick question.... Looking to get in to Cornwell and wondering where's the best place to start. Saw his Arthurian trilogy today and was tempted. What would you recommend?

Cheers in advance

Renius

Not the best he has done, but they are OK. If you haven't read them, go for his books about longbowmen first, they were (IMHO) much better. He can be a bit formulaic and predictable, as he has written so much - thank goodness that doesn't impact Conn's work!

Cheers Abraxas i'll go have a look for them.

Have to say i disagree, his arthurian books are one of the best takes on the arthurian legend i have read in quite some time, and i highly reccomend them.

I didn't say I didn't like them, and both of our comments could be true

In any case, my bad - I am confused. I was actually thinking of the Saxon stories (Arthur got stupidly translated to Alfred in my head). It is a long time since I read the Arthur series

The Arthurian books it s then! Cheers lads :)

Just finished The Left Hand of God, "brilliant"
I am so glad that it was recommended on here. I hope that there is a follow-up.

As for Simon Listers Shadowlands Trilogy,
I gave a negative review, but I had a lot going on in my life at the time. I think I needed the books to flow with continious action, and was being unrealistic.
I have since reread them and I am about to reread Haven, and I recined my previous opinion.

THEY ARE GREAT.

Sorry if I upset anyone.

thought you would like Left hand of God...its the first fantasy book i have been able to read in ages...its nice to see something different in the market.

Did you not read Turneys fantasy book????

I have recently read the 12th Robert Jordan wheel of time and really enjoyed it, Brandon Sanderson has done an excellent job of it, I believe another two books to come before the conclusion.

'One Day' by David Nicholls.

Very interesting book. It needed some time to get into, but it's a brilliant idea and well written. It's about two people, Emma and Dexter, and about one day of their lives - every year. In 1988 they met for the first time (And Dexter *is* Lawrence!!!), at the night of their graduation. Then their lives separate, and the book tells the story of where they are on this one day next year, and the year after, and so forth. Very cool.

Just finished "The Hockey Stick Illusion; Climategate and the Corruption of Science" by AW Montford

Fantastic read, and really important expose of the nonsense that produced the infamous 'hockey stick' presentation of man-made global warming.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Illusion-Climategate-Corruption-Science-Independent/dp/1906768358/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269768914&sr=8-1

yes but a long time ago

Im currently reading blood oath by Chris farnsworth described as vampies meet jack bauer.....could be interesting.

Reading Vlad the last confession, can't put it down,
Wife becoming irate.

for me best book of 2009 mate so i can understand why you cannot put it down.

Loved it, could've turned it into series imo

Just as I finished the Drenai books, (not sure that Dros's list of order of reading was right; Druss got killed but appeared in the next two I read, never mind - great books), good old Amazon just popped Vlad; Shantaram and The Left Hand of God through the door - the next couple of weeks are taken care of.

Dros has 2 lists there is order of publication and chronological order, you must have publication order. Legend was the forst book and most other Druss books are prequels.

I just finished the best Non Gemmell / Iggulden book i've read in ages...

The Magicians Guild by Trudi Canavan.

Synopsis...

Each year the magicians of Imardin gather together to purge the city streets of vagrants, urchins and miscreants. Masters of the disciplines of magic, they know that no one can oppose them. But their protective shield is not as impenetrable as they believe. Sonea, angry, frustrated and outraged by the treatment of her family and friends, hurls a stone at the shield, putting all her rage behind it. To the amazement of all who bear witness, the stone passes unhindered through the barrier and renders a magician unconscious. The guild's worst fear has been realised ...There is an untrained magician loose on the streets. She must be found before her uncontrolled powers unleash forces that will destroy both her, and the city that is her home.


It has a very interesting sub plot concerning the guilds High Lord which becomes the theme for the Triology.

I'm starting book 2 tonight!