Publication date 15/9/22 book 440 pages
I would like to thank the author, publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to pick this to read and review all my reviews are honest.
Synopsis
Globally bestselling historian Dan Jones makes his historical fiction debut with Essex Dogs, the explosive first installment in an epic new trilogy set during the Hundred Years War.
Essex Dogs is the first installment in the Hundred Years War trilogy.
The series sees the first great campaign of the medieval war between England and France through the eyes of its protagonists – chiefly a small company of men-at-arms and archers who call themselves the Essex Dogs, as well as a solitary mercenary and spy known as The Captain.
This first book covers the characters on their hair-raising adventures in the 1346 Crécy campaign, in which they join Edward III's armies as they cut a hellish swathe through France and the Low Countries on their way to a showdown with the French king's army at the battle of Crécy. Through the viewpoints of the characters, and inserted fragments of sermons, newsletters and chronicles, we see the stark reality of medieval war in the round – not only the experience of the fighters, but the interests of scheming merchants, renegade priests, calculating aristocrats and the ordinary people caught in the storm.
My Review
This was a very good book. I just loved how Dan banded together a group of misfits a man from each country in the uk. They took on a very interesting journey. This book had a great medium pace to it which felt fitting. I really enjoyed the characters and finding myself becoming emotionally involved in there progress they were very different and developed well throughout the novel. I was especially routing for the Welsh man. I loved the way Dan was taking us through the history of the 100 years war. Teaching us the history of it but using a unique bunch a characters to create an interesting story. Just remember when reading this book it is a historical fiction book and to not take it as fact as the author says it makes for boring story if we stick entirely to the facts. So the author has definitely used his imagination when writing this book that makes it all the more interesting.
Why not a 5 star book? Dan is a very talented history writer and is still new to writing fiction books. It is a great story with plenty of description but as fiction is a very style of writing. They story is still lacking in atmosphere and tension created by playing around by chapter size, sentence style and length. I would of expected the editors or publishers to help more with this. It's a skill that I believe will improve as this trilogy moves along.
I felt excitement at times as the pace of the book picks up especially during the fighting scenes. I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next of the series. I recommend this book is you are interested is historical fiction around the 100 years war.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating a great start to what will be an interesting trilogy.
Where you can buy this book
Amazon US K14.99, HC $28.00
Waterstones HC £14.99
Google Books ebook £7.99
B&N HC $28.0O EBOOK $14.99
Kobo audio £13.99, ebook £5.99
Amazon UK K £5.99, AUDIBLE, HC £11.99, PB £8.79
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HAPPY READING