The civil war that is tearing England asunder in the year 1643 has not yet touched Dorcas Slythe, a secretly rebellious young Puritan woman livi... read full description
reviews
Sep 19, 2010
Jay
rated it: 
I enjoy Bernard Cornwell, and I am a great fan of the civil war period of England, so I was hoping this would be good. I wasn't disappointed! At first I wondered why he was writing with someone else - Susannah Kells turns out to be his wife. Cornwell writes action packed historical dramas and I did wonder if he was trying to add in some feminine appeal, to broaden his market, and whether that was a bad idea. But here, it certainly worked.
As a historical re-enacter there were a few things th More...
As a historical re-enacter there were a few things th More...
Jul 30, 2011
Ruth
rated it: 
c1983. This was a present and although a fairly recent addition to my library, it did seem to hark back to a style of writing that was popular a couple of decades agao. Only then did I realise that this was actually first published in 1983. Synopsis courtesy of Amazon "In mid seventeenth-century England, the nation was in upheaval. In the Dorset countryside, one sunlit afternoon, a young girl -- illicitly bathing in a stream -- first fell in love with a passing stranger. Her parents called
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Nov 05, 2011
Colleen
rated it: 
My new favorite author was introduced to me by BBC History Magazine Podcast. While listening I downloaded one of Bernard Corwell's books to my iPod. I was totally impressed. My genre of choice is historical fiction but this book took it to an entirely new level. I have had other books grab me at the first chapter and hold me the entire way through; this one toyed with my mind and imagination. The end of the story is at the last page which I appreciated if you know what I mean.
The down More...
The down More...
Aug 03, 2010
Brian
rated it: 
I was a little disappointed by this book, especially with the fairly predictable stereotyping of the people on the Parliament side. I grant that the English Civil War is not an easy subject for the modern novelist not least because of the attitudes of the time that often seem extreme and bigoted to us. However extremism and bigotry was not confined to one side of the conflict.
I also found the plot a bit contrived and artificial, and the heroine, despite being abused and tortured by More...
I also found the plot a bit contrived and artificial, and the heroine, despite being abused and tortured by More...
May 31, 2010
Xonrad
rated it: 
This was a surprising read. A mix of extremes... from some pretty wishy washy medieval romance dialogue and then into some rather graphic and brutal medieval torture scenes at the opposite end of the spectrum.
There is a touch of "soldiery" in it thanks to Bernard's pen, but as a whole the adventure is the girl's, and it does remain first and foremost a medieval love story, NOT a militant piece of fiction.
The brutality is justifiable, even realistic considering More...
There is a touch of "soldiery" in it thanks to Bernard's pen, but as a whole the adventure is the girl's, and it does remain first and foremost a medieval love story, NOT a militant piece of fiction.
The brutality is justifiable, even realistic considering More...
Aug 03, 2011
Sho
rated it:
by Bernard Cornwell with Susannah Kells - but it turns out that this is an early Cornwell and it's a bit of a historical romance (set at the time of the English Civil War) written under the name of Susannah Kells (presumably as he assumed that historical romance is would be better received by a woman writer)
Can't say as I found it particularly brilliant although I'm sure the research was top notch and Cornwell really does have a knack for putting the reader beautifully in the period More...
Can't say as I found it particularly brilliant although I'm sure the research was top notch and Cornwell really does have a knack for putting the reader beautifully in the period More...
Oct 16, 2011
Ed
rated it:
I picked this up at a going out of business sale as soon as I saw Bernard Cornwell's name. Little did I know that the co-author was his wife and the book was actually published in 1983. I also had no idea that this story would be as much or more historical romance rather than straight historical fiction.
All of that notwithstanding, after I started it and got through the first hundred pages or so the plot picked up and not without some serious foot dragging, I was able to finish it. More...
All of that notwithstanding, after I started it and got through the first hundred pages or so the plot picked up and not without some serious foot dragging, I was able to finish it. More...
Feb 15, 2011
Marilyn
rated it:
I was a tad disappointed in this title. It seemed to use all of the tired plot conveniences we have read so many times before:
Pious men on the outside, rotten to the core on the inside
Beautiful woman that all men want and hate her for it
Claim she's a witch
Mysterious father who returns in the nick of time to save her.
All we really needed was the English Civil War. Bernard Cornwell shouldn't collaborate with his wife. Out came less historical fiction and more silly
Pious men on the outside, rotten to the core on the inside
Beautiful woman that all men want and hate her for it
Claim she's a witch
Mysterious father who returns in the nick of time to save her.
All we really needed was the English Civil War. Bernard Cornwell shouldn't collaborate with his wife. Out came less historical fiction and more silly
Jan 26, 2009
CLM
rated it:
I read this when it was relatively new, and had no idea that the author was Bernard Cornwell (it has since been revealed that he co-wrote this trilogy with his wife). I like books about the English Civil War but seem to recall several graphic torture scenes endured by the heroine, which I found distasteful (although perhaps inevitable once she became a spy).
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Mar 07, 2011
Emma
rated it:
perhaps i am an easy pleased simple soul,but I loved this, and put it amongst the best novels which I have read. Happily I am not an American so the violence and torture doesnt put me off, rather it enhances the story. Cornwell creates such wonderful characters and this one is full of them.
Nov 03, 2009
Annie
rated it:
Historical drama, set in 1600's Puritanical Britain. About a girl who doesn't conform to her father's Bible teachings and her rebellious nature leads to a covenant that people are prepared to kill for. Superbly written, draws you straight in and I just couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
Sep 03, 2009
A book supposedly by BC, king of the historical war novel... I think I just read a disguised torch story. Hah hah. It was alright. I liked the girl that was the main character, and hated the Puritanical villians. (Kind of a hobby of mine, hating Puritans.) A large departure from the norm for BC.
Oct 26, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
I expected a little more romance from this book based on a recommendation from a friend, and was therefore a little disappointed. However, the book is a fun little action/mystery story with a little romance built in. If the synopsis interests you, I would highly recommend it.
Jan 31, 2009
David
rated it:
Set during the English revolution of the mid-1600s, this book was much less centered on the military than other Cornwelll books. Like his other works of historical fiction, he does a good job of conveying the culture and atmosphere of the time.
Oct 31, 2011
Ambre
rated it:
These are fun books! They have the historical detail Bernard Cornwell is famous for with a touch of romance. These books, unlike his others, do not focus on historic battles and are mainly fictional, but based in accurate historical settings.
Apr 17, 2011
Stephanie
rated it:
I didn't like it much at first, but somewhere in the middle of twists and turns, it won me over. By the end I was stunned, surprised, and ready to start all over again. I'm going to seek out the second novel as soon as I can.
Jun 30, 2011
I love Bernard Cornwell, but I'd have to say this was not one of my favorites.I finished it, and parts of it were good, but I can't really recommend it. He has too many great books to bother with one that's just okay.
Feb 08, 2009
Ana Paula
rated it:
It has Cornwell's traditional catchy style. Maybe because I started reading thinking it would be boring, I thought the first chapters uninteresting and those I took really long to finish. There's also a part in the middle of the book that is a bit hard to go through, but the whole rest of the book is absolutely amazing. I couldn't do the important things I had to do, I couldn't even sleep because I needed to read this book. You get into the characters lives and feelings, you want to know what wi
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Apr 01, 2011
Catherine
rated it:
It takes some time to get into it, but keep reading! It reveals itself to be simply jawdropping and beautiful....
Nov 09, 2010
This just didn't grab me, I forget how many pages I gave to it before I gave it up. I just didn't find any of the charaters particulary likeable and my plan was to love this book and read the other novels in the trilogy. Oh well, that's three less on the pile by the bed...
Jul 26, 2011
Donna
rated it:
best one of the year so far.....impressed with story linked to historical events and strong characteurs
May 15, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
This book had more gore than necessary. The story drags on and on and on. Great ending though
Sep 07, 2009
Crystal
rated it:
This was a good historical romance, written by one of my favorite authors.
Aug 29, 2011
Gennielc
rated it:
Not an interesting story, and not well told. The narration was repetitive.
Mar 18, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
Surprisingly sweet and engaging. Not the best, but certainly kept my attention. And found myself disappointed that the sequel is 100+ years later ..
Nov 11, 2010
Linda
rated it:
Hinter Susannah Kells verbergen sich Bernard Cornwell und seine Frau. Ich LIEBE die historischen Romane von Bernard Cornwell, aber dieses Buch hier hab ich weglegen müssen, weil es so furchtbar ist. Ich hoffe, die einfallslose, absehbare Handlung und die flachen Charaktäre beruhen nur darauf, dass dieses Buch ein Übungsstück von 1983 ist und nicht, dass Bernard Cornwell plötzlich einfach nicht mehr schreiben kann, wenn er eine weibliche Hauptperson erschafft.
Oct 03, 2007
Sharyn
rated it:
I loved this book and could not put it down until I found out what happened. I read this book while on vacation with my brothers and they gave me a hard time about "always having my nose in this book".
Jul 21, 2008
Sloane
rated it:
This book started out only ho-hum but had a surprising ending. I was a little bored by the love between Campion and Toby (the main characters) But overall, I liked the book.
