My first formal review of BloodLine
Dear all
I am delighted to say that the first formal review of my latest book BloodLine has been published by The Ileach, the independent newspaper for Islay and Jura. Those that have read my books will know that Islay features heavily – and especially in the latest book - so for the local paper to give it a positive review means a lot.
Many thanks to Brian Palmer and The Ileach!
BLOODLINE
Nick Bastin.
Chiselbury Publishing paperback. 382pp £8.99
BloodLine is the third and final part of Nick Bastin’s ‘Book of the Black Tower' trilogy, three compulsive novels that follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Clan MacNachtan and in particular, Gillespie MacNachtan. In the first book, ‘BloodBond', Gillespie was abducted from his home in Antrim and brought to Dunderave to participate in the election of a new clan chief of the MacNachtans.
But if the above implies that Bastin's trilogy is set in mediaeval times, nothing could be further from the truth.
The author’s premise that lies behind his trilogy, is that Bonnie Prince Charlie was victorious at Culloden, subsequently forming the 'Free Republic of the Gaels' that occupies all of west and northwest Scotland, as far south as Campbeltown, now under the jurisdiction of President Lamont. The remaining part of Scotland, the Kingdom, is governed by First Minister Balfour, and is a region of the country with close ties to Westminster.
In the Republic, the clan system still exists, with clan chiefs who still do battle with each other, but employ modern technology to do so. At the end of part two, 'BloodFeud', Catriona MacLean has taken Islay from the Campbells in a move engineered by President Lamont to keep the clans at each others' throats, leaving the way clear for him to pursue his own, less than acceptable purposes.
“Finally, but most critically, I want to make English the official language. It is ludicrous that we still rely on such a minority language, it is a barrier to trade and globalisation.”
Gillespie had, at the end of Book Two, found himself the hero of the day, having despatched Lamont's henchman, Allan Stewart. Not unnaturally, this affront to the President's hegemony could not be allowed to go unpunished, despite the knowledge that Stewart was little more than a thug employed by Lamont.
Bastin has all but perfected the art of carrying several narrative threads simultaneously, gently increasing the need to read ‘just one more chapter' by grasping the reader’s attention over a series of commendably short chapters.
The Republic has an Alcatraz-type prison on the island of St. Kilda, one from which it's not an easy task to escape, if not actually impossible.
Who is the mysterious woman who lives on the island, unable to leave but apparently unrestricted by the prison guards?
Clan chief of the Campbells, MacCailean Mòr, attempts to rescue the love of his life from an Islay under the illegal military jurisdiction of Catriona MacLean.
And will David Brown, President Lamont's lackey, carry out his employer’s every last wish, or will he see the writing on the wall before it's too late?
It would be imprudent of me to answer any of the above queries, for so doing would take the form of an undesired 'spoiler alert'. Far better that you acquire a copy and find out for yourself. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
And for those who have not read the first two books in the trilogy, though I would highly recommend getting hold of them first, it is possible to enjoy every last twist and turn of BloodLine as a novel in its own right.
BP
BloodLine
Bloodline is available from C&E Roy, Shore Street, Bowmore and Amazon
I am delighted to say that the first formal review of my latest book BloodLine has been published by The Ileach, the independent newspaper for Islay and Jura. Those that have read my books will know that Islay features heavily – and especially in the latest book - so for the local paper to give it a positive review means a lot.
Many thanks to Brian Palmer and The Ileach!
BLOODLINE
Nick Bastin.
Chiselbury Publishing paperback. 382pp £8.99
BloodLine is the third and final part of Nick Bastin’s ‘Book of the Black Tower' trilogy, three compulsive novels that follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Clan MacNachtan and in particular, Gillespie MacNachtan. In the first book, ‘BloodBond', Gillespie was abducted from his home in Antrim and brought to Dunderave to participate in the election of a new clan chief of the MacNachtans.
But if the above implies that Bastin's trilogy is set in mediaeval times, nothing could be further from the truth.
The author’s premise that lies behind his trilogy, is that Bonnie Prince Charlie was victorious at Culloden, subsequently forming the 'Free Republic of the Gaels' that occupies all of west and northwest Scotland, as far south as Campbeltown, now under the jurisdiction of President Lamont. The remaining part of Scotland, the Kingdom, is governed by First Minister Balfour, and is a region of the country with close ties to Westminster.
In the Republic, the clan system still exists, with clan chiefs who still do battle with each other, but employ modern technology to do so. At the end of part two, 'BloodFeud', Catriona MacLean has taken Islay from the Campbells in a move engineered by President Lamont to keep the clans at each others' throats, leaving the way clear for him to pursue his own, less than acceptable purposes.
“Finally, but most critically, I want to make English the official language. It is ludicrous that we still rely on such a minority language, it is a barrier to trade and globalisation.”
Gillespie had, at the end of Book Two, found himself the hero of the day, having despatched Lamont's henchman, Allan Stewart. Not unnaturally, this affront to the President's hegemony could not be allowed to go unpunished, despite the knowledge that Stewart was little more than a thug employed by Lamont.
Bastin has all but perfected the art of carrying several narrative threads simultaneously, gently increasing the need to read ‘just one more chapter' by grasping the reader’s attention over a series of commendably short chapters.
The Republic has an Alcatraz-type prison on the island of St. Kilda, one from which it's not an easy task to escape, if not actually impossible.
Who is the mysterious woman who lives on the island, unable to leave but apparently unrestricted by the prison guards?
Clan chief of the Campbells, MacCailean Mòr, attempts to rescue the love of his life from an Islay under the illegal military jurisdiction of Catriona MacLean.
And will David Brown, President Lamont's lackey, carry out his employer’s every last wish, or will he see the writing on the wall before it's too late?
It would be imprudent of me to answer any of the above queries, for so doing would take the form of an undesired 'spoiler alert'. Far better that you acquire a copy and find out for yourself. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
And for those who have not read the first two books in the trilogy, though I would highly recommend getting hold of them first, it is possible to enjoy every last twist and turn of BloodLine as a novel in its own right.
BP
BloodLine
Bloodline is available from C&E Roy, Shore Street, Bowmore and Amazon
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