The Bleeding Land (Rivers Family, #1)

Apr 16, 2013 Jo at Jaffareadstoo rated it 5 of 5 stars

1642 – A family torn apart – A war that will change England forever.

In The Bleeding Land, Giles Kristian has brought to vivid life the bloody effects of a war against its own people. The English Civil war was a battle of men against men; brother fighting against brother, and father pitched against son. Both sides thought that God was with them, but when the canons roared and the muskets fired, the only side that mattered under God, was the winning side.

Sir Francis Rivers knows that the King, Cha...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Joanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

The story is set in the events leading up to the Civil War and the early part of the War itself. We see it through the eyes of two brothers, Edmund (Mun) and Tom Rivers. They are not aristocracy, but are well-to-do and their father is a Member of Parliament. It is during a visit to London with their father that the brothers realise how divided the country is, and how dangerously close to war.

'Everyone knew that as MP for Ormskirk Sir Francis Rivers felt it his duty to keep one ear to Westminster...more The story is set in the events leading up to the Civil War and the early part of the War itself. We see it through the eyes of two brothers, Edmund (Mun) and Tom Rivers. They are not aristocracy, but are well-to-do and their father is a Member of Parliament. It is during a visit to London with their father that the brothers realise how divided the country is, and how dangerously close to war.

'Everyone knew that as MP for Ormskirk Sir Francis Rivers felt it his duty to keep one ear to Westminster's ancient flagstone floor, but now Mun suspected their father was beginning to think they should have left the city that very morning. For angry crowds of apprentices swarmed around Westminster, converging on Whitehall, and the whisper was that many amongst the nobility had already retreated to their estates."Even the King has quit the city for Windsor," Sir Francis had said. A hot fever was taking a grip of London.'

Alongside the big picture of what is happening in the country we also see the more personal story of the Rivers family and how they are affected by everything that is happening. It has an impact on local politics, bullies are emboldened and see an opportunity to grab power. People are forced to take sides, and Mun and Tom take different sides.

I thought that this was a really good story, full of action and incident. It was interesting to see big events from the perspective of individual, not very important people. I got a sense of how terrifying the whole thing must've been for ordinary people, with no power, completely at the mercy of the opposing armies.

'They had come from all across the West Lancashire plain, whole families flocking to Shear House and other estates whose protection they sought against the armed rebels who rode across the country preaching their sedition, decrying their king, beating some who would not waver in their loyalty to His Majesty, and even, sometimes, stringing up those they suspected of papism.'

A quick warning to the squeamish (of whom I am one), there is an execution scene quite early in the book which stayed with me a long time after I read it. But that's the worst of it and there's nothing so bad in the rest of the story.(less)

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May 25, 2012 Tim Hodkinson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If war is Hell, then civil war must be Hell’s nastier, more vindictive sister*. This is the message I took from Giles Kristian’s historical novel “The Bleeding Land”.
I’ve been waiting a long time for some quality historical fiction set during the English Civil War. A few years back I posted a question on Bernard Cornwell’s forum asking if he would ever tackle the subject. He said he had no plans to but finally a writer of equal quality has come along to take up this banner.
Giles Kristian plunges...more If war is Hell, then civil war must be Hell’s nastier, more vindictive sister*. This is the message I took from Giles Kristian’s historical novel “The Bleeding Land”.
I’ve been waiting a long time for some quality historical fiction set during the English Civil War. A few years back I posted a question on Bernard Cornwell’s forum asking if he would ever tackle the subject. He said he had no plans to but finally a writer of equal quality has come along to take up this banner.
Giles Kristian plunges the reader straight into the opening volleys of the battle of Edgehill. Mun (Edmund) and Tom Rivers- the book’s protagonist brothers-are on opposite sides. The cavalry begin their charge and the reader is hooked immediately as the action withdraws back through time to relate how the characters got into that situation. I remained engrossed as the narrative made its way inexorably back to Edgehill and the carnage that followed.
The book primarily relates the story of the Rivers family, members of the English gentry, and the effect the war has on their relationships, both internally and with their associated circle of relations and neighbours. Don’t worry though: This is no turgid soap opera and there is an abundance of action and fast moving excitement. There are several levels of conflict: The war itself between King and Parliament, and then there is the internal strife within the Rivers family which leaves the brothers on opposing sides. The author does not shy away from the cliché of “a family torn apart by civil war”, but that is where convention ends. It is very human feelings of revenge and family loyalty that ultimately lead to Tom ending up a rebel while Mun and his father join the King’s army. In many respects this is what makes the book so engaging. It’s a human story rather than an exploration of 16th century politics. Men join the fight for very personal reasons that happen to align with the macrocosm conflict rather than blindly falling into line with arguments from a conflict now long past.
I may have read it wrong but it seems that the author deliberately does not “pick sides”. There are bastards in both armies, as there are men of integrity. Bravery and foolishness appear in equal measure, and that-along with the way the politics of the time play a background role-make it hard for the reader (well this one anyway) to discern any possible bias. If anything this brings across the true tragedy of a land ripped apart by a civil conflict.
The sights, sounds and especially the smells of 17th century England and London are vividly described and the reader is drawn into the time setting and kept there. Giles Kristian has obviously done his research well and there is plenty of technical detail to delight the history nerd and military buff, particularly in the area of weapons and armour. Something I personally applaud is his inclusion of historical facts that may make some readers uncomfortable, because (while true) they don’t fit with conventional portrayals of the past that are actually based on modern perceptions. For example, some folk may wonder why an Irishman is fighting for the King of England and I imagine that it will not just be the characters in the book who might be surprized by the King’s Scottish accent.
A host of memorable characters bring the story to life and their portrayal ensures the reader is gripped because he or she cares about them while being dreadfully aware that they are in the middle of a very dangerous situation and not all of them can survive it. As an added bonus, fans of Giles Kristian’s Raven novels will be delighted to spot a couple of familiar faces (presumably descendants) lurking in some scenes.
Tension is maintained throughout the narrative by the constant anticipation of the inevitable, relentlessly approaching battlefield meeting that must eventually occur between the two brothers. Blood proves thicker than water on a couple of occasions but the reader is always wondering just how long that can last, particularly as the bodies mount and the experience of war hardens the brothers’ hearts.
There is a plenty of violent, bloody action. This land is not so much bleeding as drenched in the gore, bone shards, splattered brains and entrails of the slaughtered.
I mentioned Bernard Cornwell at the start of this and it was not completely by accident. It’s probably Cornwell’s style of work that this book evokes for me most, but Giles Kristian adds several layers of depth to create a much richer experience. To give an example of what I mean, when all the boys-own adventures for the male characters are over, Kristian goes on to portray the consequences for the women who were left behind.
All in all, a cracking read. “The Bleeding Land” is an excellent, gripping book and I am looking forward very much to the next book in the series.
Book Details:
Title: The Bleeding Land
Author: Giles Kristian
Publisher: Bantam Press (26 April 2012)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0593066146
ISBN-13: 978-0593066140

*I’m referring to the Old Norse belief that Hell was a woman who ruled the underworld where the unworthy dead went, not being sexist
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May 04, 2012 Robin Carter rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Description:

England 1642: a nation divided. England is at war with itself. King Charles and Parliament each gather soldiers to their banners. Across the land men prepare to fight for their religious and political ideals. Civil war has begun. A family ripped asunder. The Rivers are landed gentry, and tradition dictates that their allegiance is to the King. Sir Francis' loyalty to the crown and his desire to protect his family will test them all. As the men march to war, so the women are left to d...more Description:

England 1642: a nation divided. England is at war with itself. King Charles and Parliament each gather soldiers to their banners. Across the land men prepare to fight for their religious and political ideals. Civil war has begun. A family ripped asunder. The Rivers are landed gentry, and tradition dictates that their allegiance is to the King. Sir Francis' loyalty to the crown and his desire to protect his family will test them all. As the men march to war, so the women are left to defend their home against a ruthless enemy. Just as Edmund, the eldest of Sir Francis' sons, will do his duty, so his brother Tom will turn his back on all he once believed in... A war that will change everything. From the raising of the King's Standard at Nottingham to the butchery and blood of Edgehill, Edmund and Tom Rivers will each learn of honour, sacrifice, hatred and betrayal as they follow their chosen paths through this most savage of wars.

Review

The Bleeding Land

The Bleeding Land by Giles Krisitan is very different from his previous series the Raven. This book may be set at the outset of a bloody and violent Civil War and have Raven fans slavering for blood, but the book is very much about family, familial bonds and how they become tested strained and broken by War (especially Civil War). ....dont worry there are battles.

There are some great insights into the relationships between the Brothers Tom and Mun and also the strain that exists in any time period between a father and his sons who are bordering adulthood, and asserting their opinions and thoughts over the opinions and thoughts of the man who has guided them to maturity.
Add in the devoted sister and the strength of the mother, who is the backbone of every family, especially in a time of War when she has to run and guide the family and this alone is a tale well worth reading.

But that is only a single facet of the Bleeding Land, because as the title suggests, religion and politics are tearing the land apart and so into this normal family mix you can throw 17th Century life, society/ hierarchy, politics and family dynamics, and a country tearing itself apart over Monarchist power v Parliament, religion and as some might see it a popular uprising (English Revolution).

In this tumultuous backdrop Giles introduces us to and weaves us into the lives of the Rivers in such a way that you feel part of the family, the hurts the trials the passions, the success and the failures they belong to you the reader as much as the characters.
I have read quite a few civil war titles and the only one before now not to bore me was Plague Child by Peter Ransley. Both that title and this one took the civil war to a new place for me, removed it from the boring drone of a History teacher who hated the subject, and who's voice had stuck with me for anything to do with that period, to something new exciting, something relevant to me my family and my history and something i want to learn about.

Any book and writer that can achieve the above for me has a huge success on the cards, i just wish that Giles was up to 2 books a year, the thought of an entire year before the next in the series is a hard pill to swallow.

I highly recommend this book, for writing skill, story telling and because its so different in style from the Brilliant Raven series, and yet also a Brilliant read, not many authors can pull off a change in period and style and do it so well. A rare talent.

(Parm) (less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Simon Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

great story telling. A bit slow for me in places, but it can't be a hundred miles an hour all the time. The priest killing had me wondering if we really did things like that to each other, but we certainly did. I can't wait for the next instalment!!

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Aug 11, 2012 Karyl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Ugh. You know what?? War sucks. It is terrible and awful and bloody. What makes it worse is when families are ripped apart, and brothers fight against brothers. That's exactly what happens in this novel, set during the English Civil War, which culminated in the execution of a king and the start of Parliamentary rule under Oliver Cromwell. Kristian does an excellent job of showing the personal side of war, the casualties of personal relationships when brothers take opposing sides. I also liked th...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Mieneke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2012

Heartbreaking, harrowing, visceral, inescapable, detailed, stunning, gorgeous and riveting. Those are some of the first words that sprang to mind after finishing Giles Kristian's The Bleeding Land. I'm having a good reading year historical fiction-wise and this book was another highlight. Kristian takes his reader along on an adventure and while you know, overall, how it's going to end – this is historical fiction after all – I found myself holding my breath at key scenes, hoping against hope th...more Heartbreaking, harrowing, visceral, inescapable, detailed, stunning, gorgeous and riveting. Those are some of the first words that sprang to mind after finishing Giles Kristian's The Bleeding Land. I'm having a good reading year historical fiction-wise and this book was another highlight. Kristian takes his reader along on an adventure and while you know, overall, how it's going to end – this is historical fiction after all – I found myself holding my breath at key scenes, hoping against hope that things would turn out differently. If that isn't a testament to the author's skill, I couldn't think of a better one.

The Bleeding Land opens on the fields at Edgehill, just before the first pitched battle of the English Civil War in October 1642. To me the Civil War was only some lines in my history books, something which led to the execution of King Charles I, the Commonwealth and to the Protectorate led by Oliver Cromwell, to an era in which Puritan morals led to the closing of theatres and a forced conforming of the Arts to their strict world view. With The Bleeding Land, Kristian made the era come alive for me, made it three-dimensional and took it beyond the political reasons behind the War to the motivations of the people not in power who fought its battles.

There are three components that make The Bleeding Land such a fantastic read: its characters, the battle descriptions and Kristian's carefully woven prose. Of course the plot is exciting enough in its own right, but it's these three things that lift it up to something extraordinary. To start off with the last element I named, the prose in this book. Kristian chooses his words carefully and – according to the Author's Note – strives to both reflect the language and tone of his chosen era, but at the same time keep the text accessible to modern-day readers. An example of this is his use of the verb gnar, which means to snarl or to growl; I'd never encountered this word before, but understood it immediately and it fit the narrative perfectly. Gnar was used relatively often, but other words weren't used as extensively, but were dropped in and added just that right touch to remind the reader that this is a different era and the language spoken quite different from ours. Kristian's writing is evocative and I found myself shivering on the couch at the freezing weather in the book even if we're currently having the hottest week so far this summer.

Kristian's evocative prose is at its most graphic in the battle scenes contained in the narrative. They are visceral and harrowing. Don't look for descriptions depicting battle as glorious and honour-filled, no, Kristian shows us the fear the men feel just before going into battle, the way their bowels turn runny and panic sours the gullet; the way that once the charge has started, it's either kill or be killed and you don't have time to have scruples about killing a man; the way that after the battle, after you've come down from the adrenaline rush it invokes, you're haunted by memories of what you've witnessed; and how there is nothing glorious about death in battle. He writes this so well you can almost smell the stink of the battlefield and hear the ear-deafening noise that accompanies a pitched fight. Kristian also seems to know what he's doing with regards to the weapons used and how they can be used and as regards the choreography of a fight, as you will, the natural ebb and flow of it and the strategies that were used, which makes it all the more convincing.

The last leg of Kristian's tripod is his characterisation. Not just or even mainly the Rivers family, but also those we catch glimpses of briefly and those that surround the different Rivers' children. The story is told from the points of view of Mun (Edmund), Bess (Elizabeth) and Tom (Thomas) Rivers, the three children of Sir Francis and his wife Mary. They each have their own tale to tell, Mun is a staunch Royalist and fights for the King in an elite horse troop, while Bess and their mother have to fight to protect their home, Shear House, from the rebels who want to take it. Tom chooses to fight on the Parliamentarians' side, not from a deep-seated conviction that they are right, but because they oppose everything that he hates and give him a chance at vengeance. They are each given believable motivations, sympathetic qualities, flaws and interesting conflicts to resolve; in short they're complete characters. Of the three, Tom is was my least favourite, not because he chose the 'wrong' side, but because he made his choices from a place I found it hard to connect to, that deep a rage and hatred is something not many people will experience. In contrast, Mun and Bess were easier to connect to, Mun because of his sense of duty and Bess, because of her loving nature and her circumstances during the siege of Shear House.

With The Bleeding Land Giles Kristian has opened up a whole new era of British history, which has been largely unexplored in historical fiction, and shown that it was more than a political schism that tore the land, it tore families, lovers and friends apart and divided them sometimes right down the middle. It was a painful time, but also a formative one. The Bleeding Land is a stunning opening to what promises to be a fascinating trilogy and I can't wait to see how the Rivers family will deal with the consequences of events from this book. This was my first experience with Kristian's writing, but hopefully it won't be my last, I'll be keeping my eyes out for his Raven books and for the next books in this new trilogy. The Bleeding Land comes highly recommended and was definitely one of the best reads of the year so far.

This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of the Transworld Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.(less)

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Jul 07, 2012 Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars

A definite 4.5 stars.
Before I started it it had lots going for it as this particular period in history is one which I know well and enjoy reading about.
This book did not disappoint, from the first I felt quickly engaged with the main characters the Rivers family and knew them well. A very brief introduction made me understand their characters and how they might react.
Then we were plunged headlong into a fast moving and exciting tale of loyalties stretched and broken of black hearted villains on...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Simon Turney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Some time ago, I launched into Giles Kristian’s Raven Saga. You may have seen my reviews knocking around, as they were so good I ran from one to the next seamlessly and enjoyed all three immensely. They were up there with some of the best adventure/historical fiction I’ve read. I never flinched from recommending them. But recently, Giles has turned his not-inconsiderable literary talents toward a new theatre: the English civil war

The civil war is not a period I know a great deal about and, while...more Some time ago, I launched into Giles Kristian’s Raven Saga. You may have seen my reviews knocking around, as they were so good I ran from one to the next seamlessly and enjoyed all three immensely. They were up there with some of the best adventure/historical fiction I’ve read. I never flinched from recommending them. But recently, Giles has turned his not-inconsiderable literary talents toward a new theatre: the English civil war

The civil war is not a period I know a great deal about and, while I have a passing interest in it, it’s never hooked me so much that I sought out things to read about it (I much prefer looking at historical sites relating to it than reading about it.) It may be that, for me, the civil war has always been just a little too recent.

Saying that, I knew Giles was a good writer from his earlier stuff, and the promo video produced for the book pushed me ever further towards it.

And so I settled into the book not really knowing what to expect but, perhaps, waiting for a Raven-esque adventure saga with lots of God’s Teeth and Damn Your Eyes and Have At Him, Sirrah -s. Ok, there are a few of those, but the novel is totally not what I expected. I suspect, furthermore, that a number of people who were real Raven fanatics will dislike this shift into a deep, thoughtful and saddening world, while other folk who would not consider Raven will flock to it.

The Bleeding Land, you see, is not a war story. It is a tale of a torn family, of the love of brothers and sisters pulled by the fickle strands of fate in different directions to such an extent that they are at war. It is a tale of love and loss and heartbreak and strength and perseverance and duty and honour. In fact, the tale actually ends just after the first major battle of the Civil War, which gives you an idea of where the meat of the story lies: not in battle, but in the story of those who fight it.

That’s enough of the plot. Don’t want to ruin it for you. I will say three things in particular that I consider strengths and which should draw you to want to read it.

Firstly, there is the sheer visual nature of the narrative. It is almost impossible not to completely visualise every scene he writes. In fact, there is such depth of feeling in the descriptive that you can even smell, hear or taste the scene. It was such a shock from almost the opening scene to be drawn so completely in that I felt I was there. This alone is phenomenal and a rare gift.

Secondly, there is the nature of the battle scenes. Battle scenes are very easy to write (from personal experience) for excitement, for horror, for gore, for valour and so on. What Giles manages is to write his civil war millitary engagements from the smallest skirmish to the great ckash at Edgehill with such care that they are all-encompassing. They are all of the above and more and, given the descriptive I mention previously, they are evocative of every clash you’ve seen in a classic movie: the cannon fire in Cromwell, the volley fire in Zulu. They are scenes that will stay in your memory.

Thirdly, the simple skill with words. A score of times or more in the text, I read a phrase, a line, a description, that made me wish I could write even half that well. It is a beautiful piece of narrative.

So go on… You need to follow the tale of Tom and Mun, their parents and sister, of Emmanuel and the folk of Lancashire good and bad. And cheer Prince Rupert (and the King, for I am and will always be a Royalist at heart). This emotional roller-coaster of a tale will tear out your heart and rebuild it only to batter it again. As a last word, I would compare Kristian’s treatment of a torn family to the standalone works of Guy Gavriel Kay (and I can think of no higher praise, Kay having been my favourite writer for decades.)

Buy the Bleeding Land and experience it.(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 CuteBadger rated it 2 of 5 stars

In 1642 the two Rivers brothers, born of the landed gentry, find themselves on opposing sides in the English Civil War. The elder, Edmund, follows his class and tradition by supporting the King, while the younger, Tom, is led (through a sequence of tragic events) to support Parliament. As the war goes on the strength of family ties comes into question during a series of brutal battles and the siege of their family home.

I need to say right away that The Bleeding Land is an extremely violent book...more In 1642 the two Rivers brothers, born of the landed gentry, find themselves on opposing sides in the English Civil War. The elder, Edmund, follows his class and tradition by supporting the King, while the younger, Tom, is led (through a sequence of tragic events) to support Parliament. As the war goes on the strength of family ties comes into question during a series of brutal battles and the siege of their family home.

I need to say right away that The Bleeding Land is an extremely violent book with many scenes that I found hard to stomach. If this had been a film or TV series I would have had to cover my eyes or switch the TV off during many of the explicitly violent scenes. I am obviously aware that battles taking place during the historical era in question were largely undertaken on a hand-to-hand basis and were therefore bloody and brutal in the extreme – this novel portrays this in precise detail, which I found a little too much. Definitely not for the weak of stomach or the easily upset.

I was also unhappy to find that there was a scene explicitly describing bear baiting in the book. Again I’m aware that this happened and that the scene was probably used to indicate the character of the people involved, but it was too much. This is the second historical novel I’ve read in recent weeks that contains a bear-baiting scene – it seems to be becoming some kind of historical novelist’s shorthand used to emphasise the nastiness of particular characters. Time to stop this I think or at least not portray it in such upsetting detail.

The Bleeding Land seemed to me to be aimed more that male readers than female ones. There’s lots of action, mainly male characters, bucket loads of gore and lots of emotion flying about such as hate, anger and revenge. There are female characters, but I didn’t think that these were portrayed as well as the men and I found them a bit one-dimensional – either a saint or a whore. The male characters aren’t themselves hugely three-dimensional, but are more real than the women. As a female reader I’m generally more interested in the characters and the plot of a book, rather than wanting to read it for the action alone – though I realise this is probably a massive generalisation. I didn’t find enough in this book to really engage me and skipped a lot of the battle scenes and military strategising.

What I did like, however, was that the book doesn’t take sides in the Civil War – it presents both sides as equally flawed and out for their own ends. Neither side appears as the obviously correct one. I also liked the scenes set in London, with all the hubbub of Cheapside and the inns lining the river.

Without giving away too much, I must also say that I didn’t find the ending of the novel hugely satisfying. This is down to the current (and in my view irritating trend) for routinely producing novels as trilogies. In my experience this tends to mean that each novel cannot stand alone and you have to read all of them. It causes me a great deal of frustration when I think I’m going to get closure to a book and then it suddenly veers off in order to set up enough loose ends to be tied together for the start of a potential sequel. The Bleeding Land stands alone better than some other first novels in a trilogy, but there was still enough left unresolved to leave me with a sense of anticlimax when finishing the book.

My summary of The Bleeding Land would therefore be that it’s probably aimed at men, but provides an interesting read so long as you’re not bothered by extreme violence or abuse of animals.

I received this book as part of the Transworld Historical Fiction Challenge.
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May 04, 2012 Nick_britten rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’m always a bit wary when one of my favourite authors decides to start a new project, especially when that author is Mr Viking himself, Giles Kristian. His Raven series of books have been some of my favourite books of the last few years, so when I heard he was starting a new series set during the English civil war my heart sank. The English Civil war is my least favourite period in history, as a secret Royalist I hate the fact that the dour and miserable Parliamentarians won and the religious i...more I’m always a bit wary when one of my favourite authors decides to start a new project, especially when that author is Mr Viking himself, Giles Kristian. His Raven series of books have been some of my favourite books of the last few years, so when I heard he was starting a new series set during the English civil war my heart sank. The English Civil war is my least favourite period in history, as a secret Royalist I hate the fact that the dour and miserable Parliamentarians won and the religious intensity of the time puts me off as well. With this in mind I approached this book with not a little trepidation.

The story is set in 1642 and covers the build up to the first major battle of the war, Edgehill. We follow the fortunes of three siblings of the Rivers Family, Mun the eldest brother whose loyalty to his family and the cause of his king is unshakeable. Tom, a man driven by revenge who forsakes the protection of his family to stand alongside Parliament and finally Bess, their sister, who must watch the war rip her family apart while at the same time worrying about the future of her unborn baby.

With the country convulsed by religious conflict and arguments between the king and parliament it’s time for men to pick sides. As war creeps ever closer the Rivers men ride off to war, leaving the women to protect Shear House, little realizing that the women would have to fight just as hard as the men.

have to say right off that I loved this book, the one thing you can say about Mr Kristian is that he is a storyteller and in The Bleeding Land he tells a cracking story. He weaves the different strands of the Rivers story together and while in a book about war it would be very easy to concentrate on the men, he has created two great women characters in Lady Rivers and Bess. The great thing is that I never took sides, I liked Tom and Mun equally and even though I will always be a Royalist, I enjoyed reading about the Parliament’s point of view. A great supporting cast gives the story its depth, with Prince Rupert and his devil dog a brilliant double act.

The battle scenes are suitable gory with plenty of blood and flying limbs and split open heads which is a bit of a Giles trademark. There are not many better writers of the joy and despair of battle and also he is brilliant at bringing the noise and sounds of battle alive.

A Stuttering volley of Pistol and carbine fire spat at them and Mun felt the thrum of lead ripping though the air but nothing hit him and he raced on, Hector matching the Prince’s mare for speed, his hooves adding to the rolling thunder, flinging mud.

I’m very much looking forward to the next two books and it will be interesting to see how Giles handles a character who inspires equal amounts of love and loathing in Oliver Cromwell.

With Bleeding Land Giles has proved that he isn’t just a great writer of Historical fiction he is a great writer full stop.(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Speesh rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-civil-war

This is a compelling story, thrilling and captivating, and taking place amid the 17th Century frenzy of blood-letting and tumultuous chaos that was the unthinkable; the English Civil War.

However, I think it is actually a love story.

A story about love of family and love of country. And how they came to be incompatible. How love can become so strong - maybe too strong - and turned to hatred for those you know you should love, but seem not to understand your love. Then how the conflict it unleashes...more This is a compelling story, thrilling and captivating, and taking place amid the 17th Century frenzy of blood-letting and tumultuous chaos that was the unthinkable; the English Civil War.

However, I think it is actually a love story.

A story about love of family and love of country. And how they came to be incompatible. How love can become so strong - maybe too strong - and turned to hatred for those you know you should love, but seem not to understand your love. Then how the conflict it unleashes, in the country and within the family, despite everyone's best intentions turns that love on its head until it leads to hate.

Phew! Weighty themes maybe, but by homing in on one family, the Rivers, and thus mirroring the conflict in the country at large, Giles Kristian weaves a thoroughly satisfying and exciting tale. One that will surely shock and delight in equal measures. But only 'shock' if you read this with your 21st Century moral glasses on. This is how life was back then. We can't be shocked over something people in the 17th Century thought was just how life - and death - was. Certainly, if it was a film, there are passages where you'd look away, but then, someone was actually employed, for goodness-sake, to hang, draw and quarter people. To rip open their chest and remove their heart (check Wikipedia). We can't judge the 17th Century by our 21st Century standards (they at least had the good grace to kill each other face to face, not while sat in a control room two continents away). So don't go getting all squeamish and pretend to be shocked. Go get your 'history' from Barbara Cartland and Mills and Boon instead, if that's the case. This how it was, no way around it. This is almost touchably real. There are some graphically harsh passages, yes ('barsk' as we say here where I live in Denmark. Possibly also in Norway where Giles is partly from), but this is a vigorous book, about an apocalyptic period for society, for Church, for the State and most of all, for ordinary people and their families. And one with themes that I feel still resonate today.

Each side is of course certain they are right, the other is wrong (sound familiar?) and while the Rivers begin as a tight-knit family of reasonably well-to-do Lancashire land-owners - and supporters of the Crown, we soon see how, from small and seeming innocuous beginnings, their family - and society - implodes as the country explodes with tension and mistrust. And then it spirals out of control.

Giles gives us an excellent insight into how ordinary people were turned into combatants, and got swept away by currents beyond their experience. How they saw the situation at close quarters and merely tried to stay alive. I particularly enjoyed the way he shows how differing viewpoints could spring from the same well of passion and how King-supporting brother could be set against a brother forced away by hate to the Parliamentarian side. How love can turn to passionate, heart-breaking hatred. Then how the period's deep-seated fears of hidden religious agendas, agent provocateurs, witchcraft and devil-worship, burst through and fear and retribution was given full reign. In a land where a suitable punishment for having the wrong religious beliefs, was to be hung drawn and quartered; anything went.

Yeah, obviously I haven't a full understanding of how life really was back then. I mean; I'm old, but not THAT old. But 'The Bleeding Land' - from what I remember of my studies of this period in English History at school - is surely how life really was (we studied this period through analysing period documents. The period before the Civil War, the Interregnum, then the 'climb-down' as we called it, and the re-instatement of the (changed) monarchy to England). It's a hard-edged book about a hard time. Death easier than life, it seems.

'The Bleeding Land' is jam-packed full of the sights and sounds - and smells - of 17th Century English life at its roughest and its rawest, bristling with noisy passions on the edge of reason. Or the abyss - depending on your point of view at the time. A period - as Giles himself notes - people have heard of, but few know much about. Let's face it, even for people of my generation, most when hearing 'Cavalier' will think of a car.

And this is just the mouth-watering start of the Rivers family story. There is surely much more excitement to come.

One more thing: I found the 'Afterward' a thought-provoking read. What I came to think of after reading it - and taking it on much further than is probably wise - is that with 'The Bleeding Land' and the divisive English Civil War, maybe one can see the start of the polar opposite, two-party system that we had/have in England/Britain and which the Puritans took with them too the USA. Where, if it isn't white, it must be black. If you aren't with us, you must be against us. No surprise then, that the US had their own Civil War, I say. As opposed to, as I see it, the much more sensible, cross-party, coalition system of consensus I now enjoy living here in Europe, here in Denmark. It took a bit of getting used to, I can tell you, when I heard that the Government would invite the Opposition to come in and discuss policy the Government was responsible for. But then, they never had their society torn asunder by civil war as England and the (early) US did. They never had to take sides against family and friends. And it shows.

So, as the traditional "We're 100% right. You're 100% wrong" US Presidential battle moves on to its depressingly divisive final conclusion in a day's time, Giles Kristian has written a book about the past, still relevant today. An apocalyptic period for England, for Church, for society; a gift for a writer of Giles Kristian's tremendous narrative abilities. A period that could possibly have shaped how we are now.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Kevin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This novel took me a little longer to read than most of this length for two reasons. Firstly, I was not as absorbed into the story as I often am and secondly, the author uses extremely graphic descriptions of mutilation, death, and battle that while completely appropriate are somewhat unpleasant to read.

That said, there is a lot to like in The Bleeding Land. The author evokes a believable English Civil War setting and I particularly enjoyed his descriptions of London, Parliament and it’s members...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, favorites

For a girl with a viking heart I had to be brave and open minded when I decided to follow my favourite author into a period of history I have no clues about. At first I did feel uncomfortable as I adjusted my mind to the turmoil bubbling up in London with all the mention of papists and apprentices and riots flying around. However it is here that the beauty and strength of his writing really comes through. For this is not a story about Kings, princes, and soldiers but of the turmoil of one family...more For a girl with a viking heart I had to be brave and open minded when I decided to follow my favourite author into a period of history I have no clues about. At first I did feel uncomfortable as I adjusted my mind to the turmoil bubbling up in London with all the mention of papists and apprentices and riots flying around. However it is here that the beauty and strength of his writing really comes through. For this is not a story about Kings, princes, and soldiers but of the turmoil of one family. Of the bonds of blood, the loyalty of family, the unity of a family and the unfortunate divide between brothers. It is a story we can all relate to without having to know anything about where the story is set. I also was impressed by how much of a character and symbol the brother's individual mounts became, like animal-twins, used artisticly to display and match the mood and atmosphere throughout the story. I also loved the descriptions Giles used whenever there was a host of craws and rooks in the scenery. He uses them cleverly and differently each time to make each one uniquely powerful. Yet I noticed some nordic elements albeit behind the scenes so to speak in that each brother in their battles and wars discovers their own unique companions of war, sword-brothers, who prove as loyal as any band of viking warriors do to their chosen Jarl. That is the honourable side of vikings and indeed such partnerships are formed in any war/battle throughout history but there is also present the unhonourable aspects. In the form of the many mercenaries who join for gold not glory and make a strong and intimidating presence throughout the plot whether in person or in conversations.
As Giles himself points out in the afterword of the book he can name very few good fictional accounts of this period despite the vast number of authoratitive non-fiction and he couldn't understand why not until he himself started writing The Bleeding Land. Yet, as every good writer knows, if you get the majority of facts right, with a little artistic license, ultimately you should produce a good story at the least. And I can say that the human epic of family and loyalty set in this war torn environment is successfuly pulled off. If a viking-wanna-be like me can like it, I see no reason why others shouldn't.(less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Lois rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, review-for-what-the-dickens

Musketry and Mayhem:
Giles Kristian’s The Bleeding Land

The Bleeding Land is the first in a new trilogy from the author of the popular Viking saga Raven (Blood Eye; Sons of Thunder; Odin’s Wolves). The setting this time is 1642 England - a country on the brink of disaster. Growing parliamentarian forces are threatening to overthrow the King, and the novel’s two protagonists - brothers Edmund and Tom Rivers - find themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield, each with his own reasons for fighti...more Musketry and Mayhem:
Giles Kristian’s The Bleeding Land

The Bleeding Land is the first in a new trilogy from the author of the popular Viking saga Raven (Blood Eye; Sons of Thunder; Odin’s Wolves). The setting this time is 1642 England - a country on the brink of disaster. Growing parliamentarian forces are threatening to overthrow the King, and the novel’s two protagonists - brothers Edmund and Tom Rivers - find themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield, each with his own reasons for fighting and each willing to lay down his life for what he believes in. But can blood ties ever truly be severed? Which allegiance will prove the strongest?

From the very first page, I was immersed not only in 1642, but in the drama of the Rivers family. Though the novel is lush with factual descriptions and period detail, Kristian manages to distribute it in such a way that the characters and their situations are always the main focus. Readers are introduced to a range of weaponry, clothing and customs without any slowing of the action or resemblances to matter-of-fact, non-fiction history books.

Each sight and sound comes alive. Each grips you and pulls you into the action. At times, it's hard to remember that you are not on a horse yourself, riding swiftly into battle. There are moments of elation, and moments of despair. Kristian not only captures these moments well, but releases them to the readers, who cannot help but share in the excitements and disappointments the characters are feeling.

As a writer, I also love to look beyond the storyline and discover the author's style. I noticed whilst reading The Bleeding Land that Kristian uses a number of techniques to pack a solid punch at pivotal plot points - for one, a lot of alliteration. He also alters the rhythm and length of sentences depending on what's happening, using shorter, punchier sentences after a few longer ones when the action is heightened, or when a character is affected in some profound way. Which can be quite effective. Crows, rooks and ravens often appear as ominous foreshadowing devices, and a few other allusions to the Raven trilogy might just be spotted by those who look closely enough...

Giles Kristian plunges readers back to a time in our nation's history that is largely neglected in the world of historical fiction. After reading The Bleeding Land, I imagine that interest in the English Civil War will blossom from the literary seeds Kristian has planted.

Overall, The Bleeding Land’s first installment is a vivid, compelling tale with an epic span. Bring on book two!

-----

Review published in What The Dickens? magazine, Issue 4, June 2012; Page 70
[http://issuu.com/what-the-dickens-mag...](less)

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Aug 19, 2012 imngrer rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is not a great novel.

I haven't read any of his Raven books so I can't pass any comment on his skills in comparison.

However, in this book, he seems to have to failed to understand certain essentials of the society he depicts and therefore adds a ridiculous plot device which does not work for the period of the novel. This would not matter too much were it not an event that is fairly pivotal to the action of the characters. For the rest, he deploys stock situations and events that have all bee...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Julie Andrews rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and like other reviewers have said, I am looking forward to the next installment, the English civil war is normally not of great interest to me. However, from first being introduced to the rivers family, I was totally engaged with the characters. This book demonstrated how bloodthirsty the Englush civil war was and how different members of the same family could be pitted in battle against one another.

Highly recommended!!!!

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Sep 30, 2012 Ian rated it 3 of 5 stars

I rated every one of the Raven series 5* and was eagerly awaiting this new novel. I saw this as a novel of thirds: the first third was an over-complicated and over-long passage creating the gulf between the two brothers. The second third was more than a little predictable and the final third was well-written and enjoyable to read. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next in the series ...

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Jul 16, 2012 Margaret added it

I know Oliver Cromwell's Army overpowered the Royalist in the English Civil War;but, I wanted the Rivers family to win. I have never been a fan of Cromwell or his followers. I think of it as a black smudge in English history. This book just had me in it's grip from the first page. I loved it. Truly. Why did my family want food while I had such a book to read?

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Jun 08, 2012 Deborah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to read this one because it is set during English Civil War-same period as Ham House, where I volunteer. Also, I saw the author at Waterstones Book Shop in Richmond :)

The descriptive details made the story "come alive." I was fascinated with description of 17th century London, bear-baiting on The Green, and physical characteristics of Charles I. However, the extremely gory battle scenes and torture were really too much for me.

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Dec 21, 2012 Richard Damsell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: november-2012

Thank god I was not around at this time in history and I am grateful that my ancestors managed to survive. Which side they were on I'm not sure, I suspect they fought for Charles.

I'll continue with the trilogy as I find the history fascinating but struggled with the gruesome detail.

Some of the sequencing was too far fetched especially when Mun rode back home before the hall was destroyed. In reality the journey would have taken several days that were not available.

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Oct 05, 2012 Chris F rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 16-17th-century, historical-fiction

I finished this one yesterday and overall very much enjoyed it. some of the escapes of one of the main characters are a bit far fetched, but a lot of the history is accurate and the rest of the story is good enough for me to over look the books weaknesses. For me not quite up to his Raven Bloodeye series, but I have a feeling the books to come in the series will get even better as he gets fully to grips with the period

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May 21, 2013 T T rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good book,

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Aug 01, 2012 Will rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-giveaway

I really wanted to like this book. I kept waiting to care about the characters, but that time never came. The book seemed to be composed of long periods of boredom with short bursts of violence and gore. The book has no resolution and you definitely need to continue the series to get any satisfaction. I will not be one reading the second act.

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May 22, 2013 Graham is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, english-civil-war

May 23, 2013 Carolyn marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaways-no

May 16, 2013 Alina BARAC is currently reading it · review of another edition

May 14, 2013 Elizabeth added it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

May 11, 2013 Sharon Woodruff marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 11, 2013 Searag marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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The Bleeding Land (Rivers Family #1)

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