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The Tiger and the Dove #1
The Grip of God
The Grip of God is the first novel in an epic historical trilogy, The Tiger and the Dove. Set in the thirteenth century, its heroine, Sofia, is a young princess of Kievan Rus. She begins her story by recounting her capture in battle and life of slavery to a young army captain in the Mongol armies that are flooding Europe. Not only is her life shattered, it is threatened by the bitter rivalries in her new master's powerful family, and shadowed by the leader of the Mongol invasion, Batu Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson. How will she learn to survive in a world of total war, much less rediscover the love she once took for granted? Always seeking to escape and menaced by outer enemies and inner turmoil, where can she find safe haven even if she can break free? Clear eyed and intelligent, Sofia could be a character from The Game of Thrones, but she refuses to believe that life is solely about the strong dominating the weak or about taking endless revenge. Her story is based on actual historical events, which haunt her destiny. Like an intelligent Forrest Gump, she reflects her times. But as she matures, she learns to reflect on them as well, and to transcend their fetters. In doing so, she recreates a lost era for us, her readers.
380 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2013
1 person is currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Hazell
14 books21 followersI have loved reading, writing and making art from age two, my first canvases for both being the hall walls. I've been writing for decades, both nonfiction and fiction. My nonfiction included educational materials for public schools, coloring books, and most recently collections of biographies of heroic people, but I have recently made the transition to writing historical fiction. I love bringing the past to life and connecting our present with our past. I have moved across the North American continent twice, among the almost 70 moves I have made. I have also visited Europe, Mexico, and the Antipodes.
My inspiration for how to write comes from Nobel Prizewinner Isaac Bashevis Singer, whose quote I found in a collection of short stories: The purpose of writing is to entertain and inform. I liked that because it reminds me that people want to broaden their world more than they want to shrink into themselves.
My inspiration for how to write comes from Nobel Prizewinner Isaac Bashevis Singer, whose quote I found in a collection of short stories: The purpose of writing is to entertain and inform. I liked that because it reminds me that people want to broaden their world more than they want to shrink into themselves.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 20, 2014
Historical fiction is a wonderful genre. The reader learns so much about historical times, people, and places that they might not have otherwise learned, especially if the book is well-researched. This book is exactly that. I honestly cannot remember learning of Kievan Rus, even in my many college history classes. In The Grip of God, we are introduced to Sofia, a princess of Kievan Rus. And so the education begins.
The book is set smack dab in the midst of the Mongolian invasion. The Mongols are poised to invade and conquer Kievan Rus and Sofia's father, fearing for her safety, sends her ahead to Constantinople with an army of guards and many peasants in tow. The guards are vigilant in their protection of Sofia, but they prove no match for the mite of the Mongols and their raiding parties. Sofia is captured and taken to a Mongolian ordu where she is made to serve an up and coming Mongolian warrior, Argamon, and become his slave...in more ways than one.
Sofia is very naive and, I must say, uppity in the beginning, but as the book progresses, she grows as a person, both in intelligence and compassion. I really liked Sofia and enjoyed reading of her trials and triumphs, although the latter were few and far between. At the heart of Sofia's transformation is a struggle with her spirituality. Raised as an Orthodox Christian, she finds it difficult to embrace the religious tolerance of the Mongols. Her friendship with Dorje, a translator and Buddhist monk, helps her to somewhat reconcile her conflict. Dorje's words of wisdom and conversations with Sofia really guided her transformation. Sofia also becomes close with Q'ing-ling, Argamon's mother, and receives spiritual guidance from her as well. Below are two passages, the first from Sofia that evidences her spiritual conflict and the second from Q'ing-ling which shows her guidance and compassion.
"The heart must find ways to shield itself, if it is not to turn to rock or be crushed by the woes of this world, but I did not know that yet, and mine found none. I was crushed in another way, by shame that my petty dramas and the pleasures of the flesh had chased away the grief I should be feeling. I must be damned!" (Sofia)
"As to your fear of damnation, I leave it to someone more learned than I am to decide about reward and punishment. But this I know for certain: we cannot act in hope for heaven or fear of hell. Some people choose to live in love and some do not, and some who call themselves Christian do not choose to love." (Q'ing-ling)
The Grip of God is a masterful historical novel. The author has created characters who are real and who invite us to live along with them. The story is engaging, touching and exciting, backed up by rich historical detail. Sofia's story carries on and I can't wait to join her again in Solomon's Bride.
The book is set smack dab in the midst of the Mongolian invasion. The Mongols are poised to invade and conquer Kievan Rus and Sofia's father, fearing for her safety, sends her ahead to Constantinople with an army of guards and many peasants in tow. The guards are vigilant in their protection of Sofia, but they prove no match for the mite of the Mongols and their raiding parties. Sofia is captured and taken to a Mongolian ordu where she is made to serve an up and coming Mongolian warrior, Argamon, and become his slave...in more ways than one.
Sofia is very naive and, I must say, uppity in the beginning, but as the book progresses, she grows as a person, both in intelligence and compassion. I really liked Sofia and enjoyed reading of her trials and triumphs, although the latter were few and far between. At the heart of Sofia's transformation is a struggle with her spirituality. Raised as an Orthodox Christian, she finds it difficult to embrace the religious tolerance of the Mongols. Her friendship with Dorje, a translator and Buddhist monk, helps her to somewhat reconcile her conflict. Dorje's words of wisdom and conversations with Sofia really guided her transformation. Sofia also becomes close with Q'ing-ling, Argamon's mother, and receives spiritual guidance from her as well. Below are two passages, the first from Sofia that evidences her spiritual conflict and the second from Q'ing-ling which shows her guidance and compassion.
"The heart must find ways to shield itself, if it is not to turn to rock or be crushed by the woes of this world, but I did not know that yet, and mine found none. I was crushed in another way, by shame that my petty dramas and the pleasures of the flesh had chased away the grief I should be feeling. I must be damned!" (Sofia)
"As to your fear of damnation, I leave it to someone more learned than I am to decide about reward and punishment. But this I know for certain: we cannot act in hope for heaven or fear of hell. Some people choose to live in love and some do not, and some who call themselves Christian do not choose to love." (Q'ing-ling)
The Grip of God is a masterful historical novel. The author has created characters who are real and who invite us to live along with them. The story is engaging, touching and exciting, backed up by rich historical detail. Sofia's story carries on and I can't wait to join her again in Solomon's Bride.
September 22, 2014
I found the setting of this book appealing, partly because of its unfamiliarity. There is a lot of depth and detail here, and it appears to have been researched thoroughly. It was worth reading for the descriptions of Mongol lifestyle alone, which I found fascinating, despite (or perhaps because of) all the pillaging and brutality.
It took a while to engage me, mostly due to a slow start. However, the central characters were well-established by the time it did pick up, and this served the book well, particularly in the closing chapters.
The main character develops a certain amount of ambivalence towards her captors - a travelling camp of Mongols - throughout the book. I found this quite refreshing; although she is horrified by the brutality of their actions, she also displays a certain amount of compassion towards them, and develops an appreciation for the finer aspects of their culture. Although she does try to edify her captors, the book never descends into binary distinctions between 'bad' and 'good.'
The book is ambitious, expansive and detailed. It could easily have become overly dense and heavy for my tastes, but the author manages to avoid this, for the most part. Although I found it a little straight-faced at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It took a while to engage me, mostly due to a slow start. However, the central characters were well-established by the time it did pick up, and this served the book well, particularly in the closing chapters.
The main character develops a certain amount of ambivalence towards her captors - a travelling camp of Mongols - throughout the book. I found this quite refreshing; although she is horrified by the brutality of their actions, she also displays a certain amount of compassion towards them, and develops an appreciation for the finer aspects of their culture. Although she does try to edify her captors, the book never descends into binary distinctions between 'bad' and 'good.'
The book is ambitious, expansive and detailed. It could easily have become overly dense and heavy for my tastes, but the author manages to avoid this, for the most part. Although I found it a little straight-faced at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 24, 2013
The Grip of God is an incredibly gripping trilogy with “The Tiger and the Dove” being the first of the three. It’s a factual account of history written as a story in flawless English. Great pains have been taken to get the facts right by pouring over old historical records and even using the help of distinguished historians and linguists. The editing is world class.
A sprightly teenage princess from Europe gets caught in the terrifying grip of the Mongols who under the leadership of Genghis Khan almost ran over the world. Few people from a faraway land were able to topple established kingdoms in Europe who had ten times the number of soldiers and arsenal.
Just their name struck terror into the enemies’ hearts. Why? What was the reason for this? Europe was saved by the skin of its teeth due to a strange twist of fate. Will it happen again? Will they learn from it or are they condemned to repeat their follies?
Deep tactical, philosophical and spiritual wealth is embedded into the story. The story moves fast, the description of rural and royal life, their respective thoughts, beliefs, ambitions and delusions are all recounted very beautifully.
Will the brave princess ever be able to escape her dreadful captors or is she destined to live the rest of her life as a concubine satisfying the lust of the brutes like those caught before her?
At 400 pages you might think that the book is too long but once you finish it, you’ll be longing for more, much more. You’re in luck, for there are two more books in the series. It thoroughly deserves 5 stars and more. A must read. You will learn a lot and be much wiser when you finish.
A sprightly teenage princess from Europe gets caught in the terrifying grip of the Mongols who under the leadership of Genghis Khan almost ran over the world. Few people from a faraway land were able to topple established kingdoms in Europe who had ten times the number of soldiers and arsenal.
Just their name struck terror into the enemies’ hearts. Why? What was the reason for this? Europe was saved by the skin of its teeth due to a strange twist of fate. Will it happen again? Will they learn from it or are they condemned to repeat their follies?
Deep tactical, philosophical and spiritual wealth is embedded into the story. The story moves fast, the description of rural and royal life, their respective thoughts, beliefs, ambitions and delusions are all recounted very beautifully.
Will the brave princess ever be able to escape her dreadful captors or is she destined to live the rest of her life as a concubine satisfying the lust of the brutes like those caught before her?
At 400 pages you might think that the book is too long but once you finish it, you’ll be longing for more, much more. You’re in luck, for there are two more books in the series. It thoroughly deserves 5 stars and more. A must read. You will learn a lot and be much wiser when you finish.
June 26, 2015
This book takes place in an era and area you don’t often see represented in books; the time of the Rus in the era of the Mongol (13th century/Ukraine, Belarus, Russia). It is narrated by a young princess of the Rus, Sofia and she is a vibrant and very likable character. Her life is all a young woman of privilege could ask. But there is danger on the horizon as her father is facing the advancement of the Mongols into his kingdom.
He sends Sofia away to be safe but she is capture by the men he fears the most and her life is turned upside down. Suddenly she is a slave to the Mongol leader – her innocence taken and finding herself living in a camp where she doesn’t understand the language or the way of life. But instead of letting her circumstances get the best of her Sofia instead sets out to make the best of her situation. She learns all she can about her captor and the others in the camp and she tries to instill a bit of humanity into a very inhumane group of raiders.
This novel is based in history and I found it to be rather fascinating. It took me a bit to become engaged but once I did I found it hard to put down. Ms. Hazell has a way of bringing the 13th century to life and I did feel immersed in that world. The historical detail is well woven into the story and it really brings the Mongol camp alive. Where it falls a little bit short is in the interactions between people – dialog is not the strong suit here but don’t let it deter you from a really wonderful novel. It’s the first in a trilogy and I’m going to enjoy following Sofia on her adventures.
He sends Sofia away to be safe but she is capture by the men he fears the most and her life is turned upside down. Suddenly she is a slave to the Mongol leader – her innocence taken and finding herself living in a camp where she doesn’t understand the language or the way of life. But instead of letting her circumstances get the best of her Sofia instead sets out to make the best of her situation. She learns all she can about her captor and the others in the camp and she tries to instill a bit of humanity into a very inhumane group of raiders.
This novel is based in history and I found it to be rather fascinating. It took me a bit to become engaged but once I did I found it hard to put down. Ms. Hazell has a way of bringing the 13th century to life and I did feel immersed in that world. The historical detail is well woven into the story and it really brings the Mongol camp alive. Where it falls a little bit short is in the interactions between people – dialog is not the strong suit here but don’t let it deter you from a really wonderful novel. It’s the first in a trilogy and I’m going to enjoy following Sofia on her adventures.
December 2, 2013
The Grip of God is the narrative of a well-off young Princess who is wise beyond her years. The story is told in first-person and in nearly 500 pages, but if you can muster up the courage to read such a long story, you'll find that it is intricate and lovely all the way through.
By the title I had expected a literary tale taking place in a small town and on a small scale, but The Grip of God is an epic that spans many lands and has intertwining stories of power and struggle. And as with many epics, the main character is quickly removed from her comfortable lifestyle and thrust into the dangerous and unknown.
The language is an enjoyable element of the book. The author puts her wide vocabulary to use, but not in an annoying way: the words seem carefully chosen and the sentences carefully structured to be precise and charming and are an important world-building component of the story.
Though readers of the genre may be used to it, I found the rape and sexual harassment scenes (non explicit) to be extremely off-putting. I feel that unless these topics are absolutely crucial to the plot and covered in a very thoughtful and careful way, they should not be included in a story… but unfortunately I don't make the rules. So this is just something to be aware of, although from the beginning it's clear that this story will include these topics.
By the title I had expected a literary tale taking place in a small town and on a small scale, but The Grip of God is an epic that spans many lands and has intertwining stories of power and struggle. And as with many epics, the main character is quickly removed from her comfortable lifestyle and thrust into the dangerous and unknown.
The language is an enjoyable element of the book. The author puts her wide vocabulary to use, but not in an annoying way: the words seem carefully chosen and the sentences carefully structured to be precise and charming and are an important world-building component of the story.
Though readers of the genre may be used to it, I found the rape and sexual harassment scenes (non explicit) to be extremely off-putting. I feel that unless these topics are absolutely crucial to the plot and covered in a very thoughtful and careful way, they should not be included in a story… but unfortunately I don't make the rules. So this is just something to be aware of, although from the beginning it's clear that this story will include these topics.
November 6, 2013
A beautiful story of a girl's life, through all the hardships she had endured. Princess Sofia had been kidnapped by Mongol warriors. Even though she'd been a princess in her country, she had to learn how to act as a servant. At first she hated the Mongols, but soon learned that despite their harsh and often violent ways, they had feelings for each other. They also believed in god and followed their own customs.
She found comfort in the arms of another servant, Kamileh. And with her master's mother, Q'ing-ling, she found a kindred spirit. She had been Christian like Sofia when she'd been kidnapped. Too bad Sofia had to lose these two woman, who had become to mean so much to her.
The first 100 pages were a little hard to read without dialogue. Then the Monk Dorje began to teach her the Mongol language. Thankfully, she found someone to speak to. They had many interesting conversations about religion and philosophy.
The story is part love story and part a coming of age story. Sofia grew up during this tale. She learned about love, compassion for others, and lenience for people of other beliefs. Without these experiences, she most probably would have grown up to be a different person. In the end, she matured into a compassionate human being, who was loyal to her friends.
She found comfort in the arms of another servant, Kamileh. And with her master's mother, Q'ing-ling, she found a kindred spirit. She had been Christian like Sofia when she'd been kidnapped. Too bad Sofia had to lose these two woman, who had become to mean so much to her.
The first 100 pages were a little hard to read without dialogue. Then the Monk Dorje began to teach her the Mongol language. Thankfully, she found someone to speak to. They had many interesting conversations about religion and philosophy.
The story is part love story and part a coming of age story. Sofia grew up during this tale. She learned about love, compassion for others, and lenience for people of other beliefs. Without these experiences, she most probably would have grown up to be a different person. In the end, she matured into a compassionate human being, who was loyal to her friends.
October 29, 2013
Very good book. The story takes place in the 13th century during the Mongol invasion.
Very well written, the characters are very interesting, I can not wait to read more of this series
Very well written, the characters are very interesting, I can not wait to read more of this series
January 5, 2014
Very well written. Even though it was a lot of pages, I never lost interest in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to book two
February 24, 2014
The Grip of God, by Rebecca Hazell, is a full-length novel featuring the story of Princess Sofia, a young teen of privilege who was close with her father, the monarch of the ancient 9th-12th century Kievan Rus (the 'land of Rus'). Since you may not have come across much fiction surrounding this area during the time period, Kievan Rus was the precursor to the areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia with the center being Kiev. Their Slavic dynasty fell to the Mongols in the 1240s, which is primarily where The Grip of God begins.
Princess Sofia, who is independent and strong even at a young age from her many travels with her father (her mother had died), and though still a child by our standards at an age then in which most noble women were beginning to be sought after for political marriages, her father had yet to choose a suitor for his prized daughter. Once a threat was appearing in Kiev, he sent her away for protection, but she was quickly captured by the barbaric Mongols. She is appalled at their actions, their brutality, she is raped (losing her innocence), and doesn't understand a word anyone is saying. Through her strange ordeal, she battles her emotions over this strange band of people, learns to understand who the servants are, the other women, and pieces together her situation. As she learns that she has been taken by one of the premiere young men who adores her long red hair, and is pranced (or thrown) around in front of the Khan as they figure out she is a Princess, she is kept by the man who initially found and raped her.
The novel had at first started slow for me, written in first person and without much dialogue until almost 100 pages in when she begins to try to communicate with people of her new surroundings, a traveling camp of Mongols who are moving and conquering those all around them by massacring, murdering, pillaging, and dominating with force. In this situation, she begins communicating with some of the other women and servants, who try to care and protect her and teach her to view the ways of the others and what motivates them. She meets people who are thrown together and surround each other, but who have various thoughts, opinions, religions. She learns that all people are generally motivated by many of the same things and that most have faith, even if not always in the same way. She "comes of age" by learning compassion for all those around her--the sick, the poverty stricken, the mourners, the captive, those serving, and those being served.
Halfway in, I started to appreciate the social message within the book and became invested in Sofia's emotional process as she grows into a woman and learns about herself as she learns about others. Though she grew up with slaves at her side in Kiev, she always had a heart for the peasants that served her father. Her compassionate and open heart serves her well as being at first abhorred by the brutality of the Mongols, she learns to understand how they operate and she finds compassion for those around her as well as for her captor who becomes her Master. Though, of course, never for some of the acts that they do, which Hazell sometimes portrays in overly graphic detail. I found it curious in fact that she shared the disgusting details of their murders and customs, yet didn't go farther during any rape other than to say it happened and leaving Sofia sad and confused. I would have liked the rape scenes to be portrayed as awful acts as well, though maybe it's a given.
Sofia knows she is lucky that he actually tries to please her and he does love her, even if outside the tent he is still a Mongol and a murderer. She does begin to gradually teach him that some of his acts are inhumane and he begins to show some mercy, even if Khan dictates that they should not show mercy. He begins to care a little more for captives and to show compassion for villagers in areas they overtake. Though sometimes he can't and it shocks Sophia as she grapples with the question, "have a I changed his heart or not?"
Sofia struggles also with understanding Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Paganism, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism and how they all operate separately and together in the world. She begins to sense that all these people believe in something bigger than themselves, like God, but in different ways. She compares them all in her head throughout the novel, which shows us as a reader how all are connected. Most all people want to believe in something. Yes, we are connected by our heart and love. Having something to believe in gets people through the horrors of life that was so harsh during those medieval time periods when so much war and illness dictated life. People either clung to the faith of their ancestors, or chose to believe personally in something due to a method I like to think of as "trial and error," you know....they used an amulet or prayed to an idol and something happened, therefore, they keep doing it and calling on it in times of need. This book really sought to speak to how all these religions were connected to each other by a common factor (when practiced correctly and not used for politics) and that people of different religions could get along in peace and harmony by exhibiting one some thing--compassion. She showed this through all of Sofia's relationships with captives and servants in the camps. Her notions of other religions. Sophia is Orthodox Christian, but most people in her home area had been pagans prior to Christianity spreading through her region during the reign of her family and many were still pagan, or held on to some of the old traditions, mixing paganism with Christianity. She learns as she is captive that people of another religion can also have true, honest, compassionate hearts. They can depend and trust each other. There is room in the world for various religions and cultures and Sofia realizes that people should not be treated poorly for believing in different things. She learns that there are good and bad people within all cultures and religions, but this doesn't equate with entire races or people of a certain faith being the same. Some people have no compassion and others have much, no matter what you believe in. Sofia struggles to know what she believes about her Christian faith, about God, about how to practice religion. She calls upon her teachings of "love your enemy" and tries to grow and survive by understanding her captors and her Master, who essentially she then allows herself to understand and grows to love as he loves her and devotes to her. His actions aren't always just, but she grows to understand his culture and how much he is dictated by it.
Of course, being a reader myself who also loves Norse myths and legends, I could see from the start Sofia's underlying struggle to also understand if any of her visions or occurrences were coincidence, from trauma or illness, or actual magic. I don't think by the end of the book we ever really are given an answer, but that is probably because in actual history there isn't an answer either. Her ancestors would have been Norse and with that comes the Norse Gods legends (you know the big one, Thor). Possibly her red hair and beauty and tall stature led her Mongol Master, at the time of her capture and then throughout their relationship) to believe she may have had supernatural powers that would bring him luck and fortune and she became his goddess in this way. For instance, in her making him a silk shirt, he felt the shirt saved his life on the battlefield. The ending of the book really brought the sentiment of her being otherworldly to life by Sofia's act and with the ending we are plunged into Solomon's parable and left hanging and ready for the second book.
I can't say that the writing was lyrical or poetic, it didn't sing to me or have enough dialogue and the dialogue it did have was sometimes childish or stilted for me, BUT Hazell's historical research, her elaborate details, and her social message far outweighed all this and I'm glad that I continued to finish the book rather than give up on the start. It was well-written, but it read as more of a journal, a personal struggle, rather than being pure fantastical storytelling. Her details of the environment, the dress, the food, even the horrific details were graphic and visual and I delighted in learning about all their customs and culture. I could envision all her description, from the scents to the colors.
I don't want to give the ending away, but I can tell book two will begin with Sofia on to her next adventure and more interaction with those of varying faiths and cultures. I'm excited to read book two and see where it leads her. I'm thrilled that an author chose to write a book about this time period and also feel very justified in my own thoughts, as I can tell the author's own beliefs in the struggles that religion brings inside one's own head and heart are the same as my own. I can see that she believes as I do that all varying religions and cultures could live in harmony if only we'd take the time understand and treat each other with dignity and respect. I applaud her for taking on this issue through her character of Sofia and using the time period in which, in reality, it all really began to come to a head and is still shaping our societal struggles today.
I also was really excited to see a book of fiction that showed historical detail of the Mongol life as they paraded throughout central Asia trying to take over the world. A view into a people, through the narrator Rus Princess Sofia, teaches us more about their culture beyond our normal stereotypes of the war-monger male soldiers. The book also gives us a glimpse of their women, those of their culture or captive, and how they lived among them.
If you like historical novels filled with compassion, culture, and rich details, this book will allow you to read as if you are in the journal of a Princess of captivity. Seeped in legend, religion, and how cultures intersect, The Grip of God is a journey that will have you looking into your own soul.
Princess Sofia, who is independent and strong even at a young age from her many travels with her father (her mother had died), and though still a child by our standards at an age then in which most noble women were beginning to be sought after for political marriages, her father had yet to choose a suitor for his prized daughter. Once a threat was appearing in Kiev, he sent her away for protection, but she was quickly captured by the barbaric Mongols. She is appalled at their actions, their brutality, she is raped (losing her innocence), and doesn't understand a word anyone is saying. Through her strange ordeal, she battles her emotions over this strange band of people, learns to understand who the servants are, the other women, and pieces together her situation. As she learns that she has been taken by one of the premiere young men who adores her long red hair, and is pranced (or thrown) around in front of the Khan as they figure out she is a Princess, she is kept by the man who initially found and raped her.
The novel had at first started slow for me, written in first person and without much dialogue until almost 100 pages in when she begins to try to communicate with people of her new surroundings, a traveling camp of Mongols who are moving and conquering those all around them by massacring, murdering, pillaging, and dominating with force. In this situation, she begins communicating with some of the other women and servants, who try to care and protect her and teach her to view the ways of the others and what motivates them. She meets people who are thrown together and surround each other, but who have various thoughts, opinions, religions. She learns that all people are generally motivated by many of the same things and that most have faith, even if not always in the same way. She "comes of age" by learning compassion for all those around her--the sick, the poverty stricken, the mourners, the captive, those serving, and those being served.
Halfway in, I started to appreciate the social message within the book and became invested in Sofia's emotional process as she grows into a woman and learns about herself as she learns about others. Though she grew up with slaves at her side in Kiev, she always had a heart for the peasants that served her father. Her compassionate and open heart serves her well as being at first abhorred by the brutality of the Mongols, she learns to understand how they operate and she finds compassion for those around her as well as for her captor who becomes her Master. Though, of course, never for some of the acts that they do, which Hazell sometimes portrays in overly graphic detail. I found it curious in fact that she shared the disgusting details of their murders and customs, yet didn't go farther during any rape other than to say it happened and leaving Sofia sad and confused. I would have liked the rape scenes to be portrayed as awful acts as well, though maybe it's a given.
Sofia knows she is lucky that he actually tries to please her and he does love her, even if outside the tent he is still a Mongol and a murderer. She does begin to gradually teach him that some of his acts are inhumane and he begins to show some mercy, even if Khan dictates that they should not show mercy. He begins to care a little more for captives and to show compassion for villagers in areas they overtake. Though sometimes he can't and it shocks Sophia as she grapples with the question, "have a I changed his heart or not?"
Sofia struggles also with understanding Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Paganism, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism and how they all operate separately and together in the world. She begins to sense that all these people believe in something bigger than themselves, like God, but in different ways. She compares them all in her head throughout the novel, which shows us as a reader how all are connected. Most all people want to believe in something. Yes, we are connected by our heart and love. Having something to believe in gets people through the horrors of life that was so harsh during those medieval time periods when so much war and illness dictated life. People either clung to the faith of their ancestors, or chose to believe personally in something due to a method I like to think of as "trial and error," you know....they used an amulet or prayed to an idol and something happened, therefore, they keep doing it and calling on it in times of need. This book really sought to speak to how all these religions were connected to each other by a common factor (when practiced correctly and not used for politics) and that people of different religions could get along in peace and harmony by exhibiting one some thing--compassion. She showed this through all of Sofia's relationships with captives and servants in the camps. Her notions of other religions. Sophia is Orthodox Christian, but most people in her home area had been pagans prior to Christianity spreading through her region during the reign of her family and many were still pagan, or held on to some of the old traditions, mixing paganism with Christianity. She learns as she is captive that people of another religion can also have true, honest, compassionate hearts. They can depend and trust each other. There is room in the world for various religions and cultures and Sofia realizes that people should not be treated poorly for believing in different things. She learns that there are good and bad people within all cultures and religions, but this doesn't equate with entire races or people of a certain faith being the same. Some people have no compassion and others have much, no matter what you believe in. Sofia struggles to know what she believes about her Christian faith, about God, about how to practice religion. She calls upon her teachings of "love your enemy" and tries to grow and survive by understanding her captors and her Master, who essentially she then allows herself to understand and grows to love as he loves her and devotes to her. His actions aren't always just, but she grows to understand his culture and how much he is dictated by it.
Of course, being a reader myself who also loves Norse myths and legends, I could see from the start Sofia's underlying struggle to also understand if any of her visions or occurrences were coincidence, from trauma or illness, or actual magic. I don't think by the end of the book we ever really are given an answer, but that is probably because in actual history there isn't an answer either. Her ancestors would have been Norse and with that comes the Norse Gods legends (you know the big one, Thor). Possibly her red hair and beauty and tall stature led her Mongol Master, at the time of her capture and then throughout their relationship) to believe she may have had supernatural powers that would bring him luck and fortune and she became his goddess in this way. For instance, in her making him a silk shirt, he felt the shirt saved his life on the battlefield. The ending of the book really brought the sentiment of her being otherworldly to life by Sofia's act and with the ending we are plunged into Solomon's parable and left hanging and ready for the second book.
I can't say that the writing was lyrical or poetic, it didn't sing to me or have enough dialogue and the dialogue it did have was sometimes childish or stilted for me, BUT Hazell's historical research, her elaborate details, and her social message far outweighed all this and I'm glad that I continued to finish the book rather than give up on the start. It was well-written, but it read as more of a journal, a personal struggle, rather than being pure fantastical storytelling. Her details of the environment, the dress, the food, even the horrific details were graphic and visual and I delighted in learning about all their customs and culture. I could envision all her description, from the scents to the colors.
I don't want to give the ending away, but I can tell book two will begin with Sofia on to her next adventure and more interaction with those of varying faiths and cultures. I'm excited to read book two and see where it leads her. I'm thrilled that an author chose to write a book about this time period and also feel very justified in my own thoughts, as I can tell the author's own beliefs in the struggles that religion brings inside one's own head and heart are the same as my own. I can see that she believes as I do that all varying religions and cultures could live in harmony if only we'd take the time understand and treat each other with dignity and respect. I applaud her for taking on this issue through her character of Sofia and using the time period in which, in reality, it all really began to come to a head and is still shaping our societal struggles today.
I also was really excited to see a book of fiction that showed historical detail of the Mongol life as they paraded throughout central Asia trying to take over the world. A view into a people, through the narrator Rus Princess Sofia, teaches us more about their culture beyond our normal stereotypes of the war-monger male soldiers. The book also gives us a glimpse of their women, those of their culture or captive, and how they lived among them.
If you like historical novels filled with compassion, culture, and rich details, this book will allow you to read as if you are in the journal of a Princess of captivity. Seeped in legend, religion, and how cultures intersect, The Grip of God is a journey that will have you looking into your own soul.
May 22, 2015
Source: Free copy from Rebecca Hazell in exchange for a review.
Rating: 5 stars for excellent.
Summary:
The Grip of God is the first novel in an epic historical trilogy, The Tiger and the Dove. Set in the thirteenth century, its heroine, Sofia, is a young princess of Kievan Rus. She begins her story by recounting her capture in battle and life of slavery to a young army captain in the Mongol armies that are flooding Europe. Not only is her life shattered, it is threatened by the bitter rivalries in her new master's powerful family, and shadowed by the leader of the Mongol invasion, Batu Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson. How will she learn to survive in a world of total war, much less rediscover the love she once took for granted? Always seeking to escape and menaced by outer enemies and inner turmoil, where can she find safe haven even if she can break free? Clear eyed and intelligent, Sofia could be a character from The Game of Thrones, but she refuses to believe that life is solely about the strong dominating the weak or about taking endless revenge. Her story is based on actual historical events, which haunt her destiny. Like an intelligent Forrest Gump, she reflects her times. But as she matures, she learns to reflect on them as well, and to transcend their fetters. In doing so, she recreates a lost era for us, her readers.
My Thoughts:
The Grip of God is one of the most fascinating historical fiction books I've read. The main reason is I was unacquainted with Chinese, Mongol, and Genghis/Chinggis Khan history. Reading The Grip of God has led me to read several articles online about the Genghis Khan, his family, and the Mongol Empire. The Grip of God is a historical history that has rarely been written about. Further, I know of no other historical fiction books on this history. Most people are loosely aware of Genghis Khan, but they do not know about the military campaigns, nor the people groups and countries destroyed and eliminated. Becoming aware through a fiction story of this period in history is the first reason I've given The Grip of God 5 stars for excellent.
Further reasons are:
The main character and voice in the story is Sofia. When the story begins she is age 12. She is an only child, the precious jewel of her father. She is precocious, intelligent, strong-willed, determined, observant, and intuitive. The other characters in the story felt drawn to Sofia and this was infectious to me. I felt an investment in the story from the first page, because I felt Sofia was a unique character and was destined for a unique life journey.
Sofia is a character that has internal struggles with her belief system. Her belief system is the religion and culture and society of her people group. She also struggles with finding a balanced attitude with the Mongol people group. In the beginning her attitude is hate and mistrust. But as the story progresses she wrestles with positive feelings for these "dog speech" people.
The Mongol society and culture was absorbing. I've read many stories of people living in western society during the Middle Ages, but reading about eastern Asian people during the Middle Ages felt foreign and exotic.
The ending of The Grip of God left me wondering what Sofia's next life journey will bring.
I've read other reviewer's remark they did not like the abuse of women in the story. I don't either. I cannot imagine any reader liking it. But, this is a strong point in accurately depicting the Mongol Empire and how the Khan warriors treated women. I don't consider 12 years of age to be a woman. However, Henry VII's mother, Margaret Beaufort, was barely 14 when he was born. I also thought about the women and girls who were raped when the Russians moved into Germany at the end of World War II. My point is throughout the centuries of history invading armies have abused the female population. It is horrid and frightening.
I struggled with whether to give The Grip of God 4 or 5 stars. What pushed up the rank to 5 stars is I cannot stop thinking about nor wondering what is in store for Sofia in book two.
Rating: 5 stars for excellent.
Summary:
The Grip of God is the first novel in an epic historical trilogy, The Tiger and the Dove. Set in the thirteenth century, its heroine, Sofia, is a young princess of Kievan Rus. She begins her story by recounting her capture in battle and life of slavery to a young army captain in the Mongol armies that are flooding Europe. Not only is her life shattered, it is threatened by the bitter rivalries in her new master's powerful family, and shadowed by the leader of the Mongol invasion, Batu Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson. How will she learn to survive in a world of total war, much less rediscover the love she once took for granted? Always seeking to escape and menaced by outer enemies and inner turmoil, where can she find safe haven even if she can break free? Clear eyed and intelligent, Sofia could be a character from The Game of Thrones, but she refuses to believe that life is solely about the strong dominating the weak or about taking endless revenge. Her story is based on actual historical events, which haunt her destiny. Like an intelligent Forrest Gump, she reflects her times. But as she matures, she learns to reflect on them as well, and to transcend their fetters. In doing so, she recreates a lost era for us, her readers.
My Thoughts:
The Grip of God is one of the most fascinating historical fiction books I've read. The main reason is I was unacquainted with Chinese, Mongol, and Genghis/Chinggis Khan history. Reading The Grip of God has led me to read several articles online about the Genghis Khan, his family, and the Mongol Empire. The Grip of God is a historical history that has rarely been written about. Further, I know of no other historical fiction books on this history. Most people are loosely aware of Genghis Khan, but they do not know about the military campaigns, nor the people groups and countries destroyed and eliminated. Becoming aware through a fiction story of this period in history is the first reason I've given The Grip of God 5 stars for excellent.
Further reasons are:
The main character and voice in the story is Sofia. When the story begins she is age 12. She is an only child, the precious jewel of her father. She is precocious, intelligent, strong-willed, determined, observant, and intuitive. The other characters in the story felt drawn to Sofia and this was infectious to me. I felt an investment in the story from the first page, because I felt Sofia was a unique character and was destined for a unique life journey.
Sofia is a character that has internal struggles with her belief system. Her belief system is the religion and culture and society of her people group. She also struggles with finding a balanced attitude with the Mongol people group. In the beginning her attitude is hate and mistrust. But as the story progresses she wrestles with positive feelings for these "dog speech" people.
The Mongol society and culture was absorbing. I've read many stories of people living in western society during the Middle Ages, but reading about eastern Asian people during the Middle Ages felt foreign and exotic.
The ending of The Grip of God left me wondering what Sofia's next life journey will bring.
I've read other reviewer's remark they did not like the abuse of women in the story. I don't either. I cannot imagine any reader liking it. But, this is a strong point in accurately depicting the Mongol Empire and how the Khan warriors treated women. I don't consider 12 years of age to be a woman. However, Henry VII's mother, Margaret Beaufort, was barely 14 when he was born. I also thought about the women and girls who were raped when the Russians moved into Germany at the end of World War II. My point is throughout the centuries of history invading armies have abused the female population. It is horrid and frightening.
I struggled with whether to give The Grip of God 4 or 5 stars. What pushed up the rank to 5 stars is I cannot stop thinking about nor wondering what is in store for Sofia in book two.
June 10, 2014
This book takes place in the 13th century and is about a princess named Sofia a wonderful soul from Kievan Rus a stunning and well educated girl she was. Her father sent her away to Constantinople to her uncle, Sofia was excited at first but her father said he wouldn’t be traveling with her disposition turned dark. The Tatars were on the move toward Rus and her father had to stay.
So her voyage began, and it went well for a while and she was adding pheasants all throughout her travels. Then she was woken up one morning and she heard a peculiar noise, she looked for her servant and couldn’t find her, she peeked out of her tent and saw the sound was arrows whistling through the air, she couldn’t find Oleg her protector, or Alexander her educator. Bodies were everywhere and there were men with torches, then she found her maid Kateryna, with a slash across her breast. Just then someone grabbed her they finished Kateryna off with a knife across her throat. And then she fainted. She was alone except for some pheasants. These men who were attacking were so smelly, brutal, and talked in weird tongue, she knew some languages but she didn’t recognize this one. This one guy he seemed he was in control started to brutalize Sofia, he did some unimaginable things to her. She figured these people were the Tatars, they rape the woman, the men forced to watch then they kill them. But little did she know these were the Mongols an equally brutal clan. She found the man who made her a woman was Argamon and he was working his way up to be a great warrior.
Argamon treated Sofia ok when she started understanding what she was supposed to do and do it right she was his concubine, a slave she had to do what he demanded of her. As time went on they got to be like they were in a regular relationship, However she didn’t want her servants to have all the household responsibilities so she would help and when Argamon would find out he would get truly angry.
Sofia had made friends with Q’ing-ling Argomons mother they were best of friends they sewed together rode together and just spent so much quality time with her. Unfortunately Q’ing-ling died and Argomon was never the same because his brother and fathers other wife had a hand in her death the other wife poisoned Q’ing-ling and Argamon’s father had her put to death.
Sofia no matter what happened to her she was a gentle person willing to help anyone and her religion played a big part in her life, being with the Mongols they let her practice her faith, she learned the language of the Mongols pretty fast and Batu Khan wanted her to be his translator for newly captured individuals to find out about their armies, soon she was writing up the plans of attacks for Batu Khan. While this all was happening she was becoming a young woman and was falling for Argamon and he brought home an additional concubine. She was reminded of herself at the beginning the girl Anna was so young and afraid Sofia knew the brutality her man had in him and she was hurt.
At the conclusion of a celebration Batu Khan gave Argamon wealth and sent him to Rus, Sofia’s homeland to supervise tax collectors and Batu Khan was sending word to Argamon’s wife and son to start off where they left off before he went to war. And Batu asked for Sofia and of course Argamon couldn’t decline. Sofia was crushed. Find out what Sofia does when she is to go to Batu Khans ger to make a home for herself.
This story is AMAZING I loved Sofia, I went through the emotions with her. Sofia grows up in front of us and she has a beautiful disposition to anyone in her life. Rebecca Hazell has left my mind blown with this story, some of it is Historical facts, and in my interview with Rebecca she tells us she is related to Sofia. For a 1 through 5 scale I give this a 9. I don’t know what else I can say without repeating myself. Thank you Rebecca!
So her voyage began, and it went well for a while and she was adding pheasants all throughout her travels. Then she was woken up one morning and she heard a peculiar noise, she looked for her servant and couldn’t find her, she peeked out of her tent and saw the sound was arrows whistling through the air, she couldn’t find Oleg her protector, or Alexander her educator. Bodies were everywhere and there were men with torches, then she found her maid Kateryna, with a slash across her breast. Just then someone grabbed her they finished Kateryna off with a knife across her throat. And then she fainted. She was alone except for some pheasants. These men who were attacking were so smelly, brutal, and talked in weird tongue, she knew some languages but she didn’t recognize this one. This one guy he seemed he was in control started to brutalize Sofia, he did some unimaginable things to her. She figured these people were the Tatars, they rape the woman, the men forced to watch then they kill them. But little did she know these were the Mongols an equally brutal clan. She found the man who made her a woman was Argamon and he was working his way up to be a great warrior.
Argamon treated Sofia ok when she started understanding what she was supposed to do and do it right she was his concubine, a slave she had to do what he demanded of her. As time went on they got to be like they were in a regular relationship, However she didn’t want her servants to have all the household responsibilities so she would help and when Argamon would find out he would get truly angry.
Sofia had made friends with Q’ing-ling Argomons mother they were best of friends they sewed together rode together and just spent so much quality time with her. Unfortunately Q’ing-ling died and Argomon was never the same because his brother and fathers other wife had a hand in her death the other wife poisoned Q’ing-ling and Argamon’s father had her put to death.
Sofia no matter what happened to her she was a gentle person willing to help anyone and her religion played a big part in her life, being with the Mongols they let her practice her faith, she learned the language of the Mongols pretty fast and Batu Khan wanted her to be his translator for newly captured individuals to find out about their armies, soon she was writing up the plans of attacks for Batu Khan. While this all was happening she was becoming a young woman and was falling for Argamon and he brought home an additional concubine. She was reminded of herself at the beginning the girl Anna was so young and afraid Sofia knew the brutality her man had in him and she was hurt.
At the conclusion of a celebration Batu Khan gave Argamon wealth and sent him to Rus, Sofia’s homeland to supervise tax collectors and Batu Khan was sending word to Argamon’s wife and son to start off where they left off before he went to war. And Batu asked for Sofia and of course Argamon couldn’t decline. Sofia was crushed. Find out what Sofia does when she is to go to Batu Khans ger to make a home for herself.
This story is AMAZING I loved Sofia, I went through the emotions with her. Sofia grows up in front of us and she has a beautiful disposition to anyone in her life. Rebecca Hazell has left my mind blown with this story, some of it is Historical facts, and in my interview with Rebecca she tells us she is related to Sofia. For a 1 through 5 scale I give this a 9. I don’t know what else I can say without repeating myself. Thank you Rebecca!
January 12, 2014
“Princess Sofia, try not to harden your mind toward these people. When you start to understand them, I
think you will discover wells of kindness in unlikely places. Then perhaps we can explore what it means to do good unto your enemies.”
Rebecca Hazell takes readers on an epic tale of war, hardship, political intrigue, and supernatural events.
When Sofia, Princess of Rus, is captured by the Mongols, she must learn how to become a woman, seemingly overnight, and adapt to her new responsibilities as Argamon’s concubine. But things are not as simple as even this. When a prophecy concerning her begins to unfold, her role in Argamon’s world takes on even greater importance. Political and familial treacheries begin to unfold, revealing Sofia’s power to shape the fate of the Mongolian empire, but will she ever have the power to shape her own?
Part history lesson and part coming-of-age tale, this book makes an art-form out of riding the line between genres. The author has undertaken quite a task as she sets about to interweave Sofia’s journey from child of privilege to her debasement as a barbarian’s slave/rape victim/lover with the more lofty and challenging themes of life purpose, faith and apostasy, diverging sources of supernatural power which all display equal validity, as well as balancing her relationships with Argamon, his rival brother Qabul, and the Great Khan who all seek to possess her.
In the midst of all this, Sofia also experiences a pervasive struggle of faith within young Sofia, as she learns about her captors and their ways, as well as other religions and worldviews. She learns that perspective, as well as accepting truth, rather than simply dogma, will help her survive in the Mongolian camp.
Character development is also quite advanced and rewards the reader with warm insights into varying cultures and religions. The loving Q’ing-ling and brotherly Asetai created genuine care and love in this reader. Beware, tissues are needed in several places.
I give the book high marks for historical depth and intelligence; it is meticulous and even-handed it its desire to give a complete human snapshot from varying and, truly incompatible, viewpoints. Where it falls short, to my view, is largely in theme and in scope: it is truly difficult to encompass so many themes as this book attempts to do without losing poignancy. Confusion is added when so much time is given to Qabul’s violent sexual pursuits against Sofia. All the while, her slave/victim/lover relationship with master Argamon is complex and mercurial: sometimes the author refers to his advances as “nightly rapes,” other times, they are referred to as “love-making,” and described fondly, with affection and desire. If these vast differences are meant to denote constant role-shifting within the relationship, I fear this alone does not do the job.
Despite this, the tale is engrossing and worth the read. Recommended for history buffs and those looking for a little perspective on their modern lives
think you will discover wells of kindness in unlikely places. Then perhaps we can explore what it means to do good unto your enemies.”
Rebecca Hazell takes readers on an epic tale of war, hardship, political intrigue, and supernatural events.
When Sofia, Princess of Rus, is captured by the Mongols, she must learn how to become a woman, seemingly overnight, and adapt to her new responsibilities as Argamon’s concubine. But things are not as simple as even this. When a prophecy concerning her begins to unfold, her role in Argamon’s world takes on even greater importance. Political and familial treacheries begin to unfold, revealing Sofia’s power to shape the fate of the Mongolian empire, but will she ever have the power to shape her own?
Part history lesson and part coming-of-age tale, this book makes an art-form out of riding the line between genres. The author has undertaken quite a task as she sets about to interweave Sofia’s journey from child of privilege to her debasement as a barbarian’s slave/rape victim/lover with the more lofty and challenging themes of life purpose, faith and apostasy, diverging sources of supernatural power which all display equal validity, as well as balancing her relationships with Argamon, his rival brother Qabul, and the Great Khan who all seek to possess her.
In the midst of all this, Sofia also experiences a pervasive struggle of faith within young Sofia, as she learns about her captors and their ways, as well as other religions and worldviews. She learns that perspective, as well as accepting truth, rather than simply dogma, will help her survive in the Mongolian camp.
Character development is also quite advanced and rewards the reader with warm insights into varying cultures and religions. The loving Q’ing-ling and brotherly Asetai created genuine care and love in this reader. Beware, tissues are needed in several places.
I give the book high marks for historical depth and intelligence; it is meticulous and even-handed it its desire to give a complete human snapshot from varying and, truly incompatible, viewpoints. Where it falls short, to my view, is largely in theme and in scope: it is truly difficult to encompass so many themes as this book attempts to do without losing poignancy. Confusion is added when so much time is given to Qabul’s violent sexual pursuits against Sofia. All the while, her slave/victim/lover relationship with master Argamon is complex and mercurial: sometimes the author refers to his advances as “nightly rapes,” other times, they are referred to as “love-making,” and described fondly, with affection and desire. If these vast differences are meant to denote constant role-shifting within the relationship, I fear this alone does not do the job.
Despite this, the tale is engrossing and worth the read. Recommended for history buffs and those looking for a little perspective on their modern lives
June 23, 2015
The Grip of God A few years ago I tried to read The Grip of God and was unsuccessful. Not sure why, I think it may have been the era that the book was written in. I had not read a lot of the Mongols, I love historical fiction but mostly 15th-17th century Britain and Ireland. So this was a bit of a stretch for me to read or even want to read about the Mongols. When I was offered the book again for review I figured that I had better give it another chance. I am really glad I did though, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
A young girl, Sofia, a princess from Kievan Rus, now called Russia, is captured and enslaved by Mongols. This story is written from Sofia's point of view and she tells of life as a captive of a young man. She is raped and abused by Armagon repeatedly until slowly their relationship changes and I believe that he truly comes to love Sofia, but the Mongol culture is a savage one, where the Mongols take over Asia and Europe. They live a nomadic life, never in one place for very long, which I imagine was very difficult for Sofia, who had lived a privileged life in Kyiv.
Sofia's goal is to escape however she can but along the way she becomes a part of the lives of these Mongols, becoming close to Armagon's mother, Q'ing-ling and Dorje, a man who teaches Sofia the customs and language of the Mongols. Sofia is a very well educated young girl and eventually becomes a translator for the leader of the Mongol tribe, Batu Khan grandson of the famed Genghis Khan. Life for Sofia is difficult at best, having to learn the ways of this violent and nomadic people, she struggles with her faith, while trying to understand the Mongols religion and beliefs.
I did enjoy this novel, it is well researched and I did learn a lot from this book, I liked Sofia, it is amazing to me how young she is in the story, 12 years old, snatched from a life of privilege to live with these barbaric people but she perseveres and makes good from a bad situation, making friends and even coming to understand and maybe even love her captor, but always with thoughts of escape and finding her family.
There are two more books to the Tiger and the Dove series, Solomon's Bride and Consolamentum, which I look forward to reading. When reading historical fiction, I don't always read or stray very far from British or Irish history, and reading The Grip of God, I became more aware of the other cultures during this time period. This is a story of a strong young princess who comes of age in a violent world, who makes her situation work for her. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading the rest of Sofia's story.
A young girl, Sofia, a princess from Kievan Rus, now called Russia, is captured and enslaved by Mongols. This story is written from Sofia's point of view and she tells of life as a captive of a young man. She is raped and abused by Armagon repeatedly until slowly their relationship changes and I believe that he truly comes to love Sofia, but the Mongol culture is a savage one, where the Mongols take over Asia and Europe. They live a nomadic life, never in one place for very long, which I imagine was very difficult for Sofia, who had lived a privileged life in Kyiv.
Sofia's goal is to escape however she can but along the way she becomes a part of the lives of these Mongols, becoming close to Armagon's mother, Q'ing-ling and Dorje, a man who teaches Sofia the customs and language of the Mongols. Sofia is a very well educated young girl and eventually becomes a translator for the leader of the Mongol tribe, Batu Khan grandson of the famed Genghis Khan. Life for Sofia is difficult at best, having to learn the ways of this violent and nomadic people, she struggles with her faith, while trying to understand the Mongols religion and beliefs.
I did enjoy this novel, it is well researched and I did learn a lot from this book, I liked Sofia, it is amazing to me how young she is in the story, 12 years old, snatched from a life of privilege to live with these barbaric people but she perseveres and makes good from a bad situation, making friends and even coming to understand and maybe even love her captor, but always with thoughts of escape and finding her family.
There are two more books to the Tiger and the Dove series, Solomon's Bride and Consolamentum, which I look forward to reading. When reading historical fiction, I don't always read or stray very far from British or Irish history, and reading The Grip of God, I became more aware of the other cultures during this time period. This is a story of a strong young princess who comes of age in a violent world, who makes her situation work for her. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading the rest of Sofia's story.
February 16, 2014
As I read this exciting historical novel set in Medieval Asia and Europe, I realized that Rebecca Hazell has established herself as the Jane Auel of the Middle Ages. Just as Jane Auel created The Clan of the Cave Bear and five other much loved, historically accurate novels that have involved millions of readers in exploring ancient prehistoric times, The Grip of God is a truly gripping recounting of life – and death – during the violently destructive Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century. And, just as Jane Auel examined prehistoric times through the eyes and experiences of the believable and brilliant heroine Ayla, readers around the world now have the opportunity to come know and love another courageous and compelling female protagonist Sofia. From the first chapter, Sofia sweeps us along with her through her turbulent travels as she abruptly falls from life as a princess into life as a slave concubine and eventually becomes an interpreter in the multi-cultural, multi-faith camps of conquered people from throughout Europe and Asia. Along the way the reader is invited to become as observant and insightful as Sofia and the other richly developed characters who must learn all they can about Mongolian ways in order to advise, protect and plot against each other in their struggles to survive. Through Hazell's in-depth research, the largest genocide in human history becomes the backdrop for a highly textured thirteenth century tapestry showing how people managed to live in the midst of Mongol brutality. While falling in love with Sofia and her secret journals, I was repelled by the ferocity of the invasions, and, much like Sofia, eventually came to appreciate the housing, foods, animals, medicines, languages, customs, children, kinships, friendships, class systems, geography, politics and religions of the times through Rebecca Hazell's detailed descriptions. The first book ends in precarious suspense. As Sofia stood at the edge of the Caspian Sea I knew that she is on the verge of a new life and I wanted to set the demands of my own daily life aside in order to pick up the next volume and read on. However, the next volume is not published yet, and so just like those first of what became millions of Jane Auel fans in the 1980s, Rebecca Hazell's first fans must return to the twenty-first century and wait for the second and third novels to be published. In the meantime, there is much to savour about Sofia's story while contemplating the parallel lines, points of intersection and diverging paths between the era we live in and Sofia's era, almost a thousand years ago.
September 7, 2014
Sofia is a young princess of Kyiv. When her kingdom is threatened of being attacked, her father devises a plan for Sofia to escape the palace unharmed. While fleeing to safety Sofia is captured by the Mongol slave camp. She becomes a concubine to the son of a noble family. Sofia finds herself not only in an entirely different culture and customs but also that she is involved in a great prophecy. All the while, Sofia plots to escape from the Mongols and hopefully find love and happiness when she breaks free.
Sofia is a brave, young princess. She is very headstrong and stubborn. She at first comes across as arrogant. When she is captured, she hates her enemies and their culture. She is judgemental. But through her tutor Dorje, she comes to respect the Mongols customs. She slowly has a change of heart.
I found this novel to be very emotionally driven. This novel mostly focuses on character development. We feel for Sofia and all her troubles and suffering. This novel has some very graphic scenes that were very painful to read, but it is vital to Sofia as a character. This novel is about Sofia’s trials and tribulations. However, throughout her trials, she is still determined and finds hope.
The author portrays the Mongol way of life and beliefs very beautifully. I didn’t know much about the Mongol way of life, but the author makes it comprehensible to the reader to understand. I liked reading about the Mongol philosophy. Even though Sofia and the Mongols had a different religion, they also had something in common. Learning about a different person’s beliefs and customs made Sofia change for the better. Her mind broadens and so does her heart.
Overall, this book is about tragedy, suffering, loss, friendship, survival and hope. The novel is slow moving, but it is worth it because the characters will keep you invested. It is about one girl’s journey to find happiness in a cruel world. Even though Sofia goes through many sufferings, she still is determined and never gives up her dream of escape. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, Mongols, and survival stories. This is a great book that will keep you interested in finding out what happens to Sofia in the next two novels in the series.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
Sofia is a brave, young princess. She is very headstrong and stubborn. She at first comes across as arrogant. When she is captured, she hates her enemies and their culture. She is judgemental. But through her tutor Dorje, she comes to respect the Mongols customs. She slowly has a change of heart.
I found this novel to be very emotionally driven. This novel mostly focuses on character development. We feel for Sofia and all her troubles and suffering. This novel has some very graphic scenes that were very painful to read, but it is vital to Sofia as a character. This novel is about Sofia’s trials and tribulations. However, throughout her trials, she is still determined and finds hope.
The author portrays the Mongol way of life and beliefs very beautifully. I didn’t know much about the Mongol way of life, but the author makes it comprehensible to the reader to understand. I liked reading about the Mongol philosophy. Even though Sofia and the Mongols had a different religion, they also had something in common. Learning about a different person’s beliefs and customs made Sofia change for the better. Her mind broadens and so does her heart.
Overall, this book is about tragedy, suffering, loss, friendship, survival and hope. The novel is slow moving, but it is worth it because the characters will keep you invested. It is about one girl’s journey to find happiness in a cruel world. Even though Sofia goes through many sufferings, she still is determined and never gives up her dream of escape. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, Mongols, and survival stories. This is a great book that will keep you interested in finding out what happens to Sofia in the next two novels in the series.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
August 1, 2015
In thirteen century Kievan Rus, which is now made up of parts of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, Princess Sofia is being sent away to Constantinople in fear of the upcoming Mongol attacks on her city. As her party travels away from the only home and family she has ever known, Sofia’s camp is attacked by the very people she was trying to avoid. Sofia is captured as a Mongol slave by the warrior Argamon, who raped her and kept Sofia as his own as believing she is part of a prophecy that will bring him good fortune. Sofia is crushed, but her spirit stays strong. As she navigates her new life in the Mongol camps she comes to terms with her relationship with Argamon, her religion, and the customs of the many different people who now surround her. As Sofia grows and begins to assimilate to life as a Mongol, she opens herself to friendship, love and acceptance of other people.
This was definitely one epic journey through a treacherous time period and setting. I went into the story not really knowing much of anything about the Mongol invasions, so everything described was a learning experience for me. Through Sofia’s point of view, the Mongal people, customs and her part within this very different society was masterfully detailed. I was very interested to learn about their intake and treatment of people that they had captured, their leadership hierarchy, mix of belief systems and even their food and lack of bathing. The beginning of the book when Sofia was leaving Kievan Rus actually felt a little slow to me and was difficult to get into, it was not until she was captured by Argamon that the pace livened for me. Sofia was an intriguing character, she was very young when she was captured, but was fortunate enough to be educated and have a stubborn streak, both which proved useful with the Mongols. Her and Argamon’s relationship was an absolute rollercoaster, and quite unexpected. I would never think that Argamon would be a character that I could relate to or respect, but as Sofia grew up, became more knowledgeable and opened herself to understanding, her attitudes about Argamon changed. Overall, an intense journey with unexpected outcomes. I will be reading the second book of the trilogy to see what happens to Sofia next.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
This was definitely one epic journey through a treacherous time period and setting. I went into the story not really knowing much of anything about the Mongol invasions, so everything described was a learning experience for me. Through Sofia’s point of view, the Mongal people, customs and her part within this very different society was masterfully detailed. I was very interested to learn about their intake and treatment of people that they had captured, their leadership hierarchy, mix of belief systems and even their food and lack of bathing. The beginning of the book when Sofia was leaving Kievan Rus actually felt a little slow to me and was difficult to get into, it was not until she was captured by Argamon that the pace livened for me. Sofia was an intriguing character, she was very young when she was captured, but was fortunate enough to be educated and have a stubborn streak, both which proved useful with the Mongols. Her and Argamon’s relationship was an absolute rollercoaster, and quite unexpected. I would never think that Argamon would be a character that I could relate to or respect, but as Sofia grew up, became more knowledgeable and opened herself to understanding, her attitudes about Argamon changed. Overall, an intense journey with unexpected outcomes. I will be reading the second book of the trilogy to see what happens to Sofia next.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
March 19, 2014
While reading The Grip of God I felt a nagging feeling in the back of my head, Sofia and her story reminds me of someone, but who? Last night it came to me, Cynthia Ann Parker.Strange I know but bear with me, (and yes I know Cynthia Ann was a real person) both were abducted at an early age and thrust into a world drastically outside their own and each from a tribe. Violence could have been a daily occurrence and yet, they survived.
Without the comparisons Sofia was well developed and was drawn into her story. She showed depth and liked that she realized how crazy it all was. Sofia grew as character the further I went with The Grip of God, as she mingled with a class unfamiliar with her. This may be a little irrelevant but the first time I read Memoirs of a Geisha I was thirteen and remember reading of a woman wearing a robe with a tie in the front. I thought nothing of it. Later, when I read it as an adult I realized it was for "easier access" I felt her growth was like that, looking back with a new perspective.
As for Sofia's captor, Argamon was a pig, there's really no way to go about, he'd go all Gladiator and come back expecting his romp in the hay. No matter how nicey nicey he may have played, just eww. That is all.
The plot was original and enjoyed that it was based on historical facts. I usually read stories that are on the darker side and felt Rebecca Hazell's novel fit the bill. This not to say that it was scary dark but more like Micheal Jackson's Thriller video right before his eyes glow green. So the best way to describe it would be a combination of Game of Thrones narrated by Vincent Price.
Honestly, my only complaint is there were a lot of characters whose names sounded similar, and it took me a while to keep them straight. Because of this, I found it a little distracting and did take away a bit of the storytelling.
Overall, The Grip of God was a very interesting and unique read.
Without the comparisons Sofia was well developed and was drawn into her story. She showed depth and liked that she realized how crazy it all was. Sofia grew as character the further I went with The Grip of God, as she mingled with a class unfamiliar with her. This may be a little irrelevant but the first time I read Memoirs of a Geisha I was thirteen and remember reading of a woman wearing a robe with a tie in the front. I thought nothing of it. Later, when I read it as an adult I realized it was for "easier access" I felt her growth was like that, looking back with a new perspective.
As for Sofia's captor, Argamon was a pig, there's really no way to go about, he'd go all Gladiator and come back expecting his romp in the hay. No matter how nicey nicey he may have played, just eww. That is all.
The plot was original and enjoyed that it was based on historical facts. I usually read stories that are on the darker side and felt Rebecca Hazell's novel fit the bill. This not to say that it was scary dark but more like Micheal Jackson's Thriller video right before his eyes glow green. So the best way to describe it would be a combination of Game of Thrones narrated by Vincent Price.
Honestly, my only complaint is there were a lot of characters whose names sounded similar, and it took me a while to keep them straight. Because of this, I found it a little distracting and did take away a bit of the storytelling.
Overall, The Grip of God was a very interesting and unique read.
March 23, 2014
Attention, historical fiction fans. If you love sweeping sagas set in eras and lands that you don’t read about every day – if you love being the first in your literary circle to bring a new author to light – if you love stories so grand that a single book can’t contain them – then I have a story for you!
The Grip Of God by Rebecca Hazell – Book One in The Tiger And The Dove Trilogy – is an epic tale that takes place in the 13th century, during the time of the Mongolian invasions. This chilling quote from Genghis Khan sets the tone for the book:
If you had not committed great sins,
God would not have sent punishment like me upon you.
The central character in this book is Princess Sofia of the Kievan Rus – who we first meet as a rather high-spirited, spoiled 12 year old living a life of luxury in her father’s palace. Little does she know how drastically her life is about to change…
When Sofia is taken prisoner during an invasion and forced to become a slave girl and concubine to a brutal young captain in the enemy’s army, she is forced to muster every bit of cunning and resourcefulness she has in order to survive. She must also learn new ways of thinking in order to adapt to the new culture that surrounds her.
The Grip Of God isn’t a quaint bedside novel for the faint of heart. It’s gritty – seamy – often depicting the darker side of human nature, life, and spirituality.
If you don’t mind these things – Rebecca brings this rarely written about era to life with compelling characters and vivid prose. The Grip Of God is a fascinating book. Start reading it now, so that you’ll be ready for Books 2 and 3 when they release in the near future!
To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The Grip Of God by Rebecca Hazell – Book One in The Tiger And The Dove Trilogy – is an epic tale that takes place in the 13th century, during the time of the Mongolian invasions. This chilling quote from Genghis Khan sets the tone for the book:
If you had not committed great sins,
God would not have sent punishment like me upon you.
The central character in this book is Princess Sofia of the Kievan Rus – who we first meet as a rather high-spirited, spoiled 12 year old living a life of luxury in her father’s palace. Little does she know how drastically her life is about to change…
When Sofia is taken prisoner during an invasion and forced to become a slave girl and concubine to a brutal young captain in the enemy’s army, she is forced to muster every bit of cunning and resourcefulness she has in order to survive. She must also learn new ways of thinking in order to adapt to the new culture that surrounds her.
The Grip Of God isn’t a quaint bedside novel for the faint of heart. It’s gritty – seamy – often depicting the darker side of human nature, life, and spirituality.
If you don’t mind these things – Rebecca brings this rarely written about era to life with compelling characters and vivid prose. The Grip Of God is a fascinating book. Start reading it now, so that you’ll be ready for Books 2 and 3 when they release in the near future!
To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. However, the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
May 15, 2014
Part one of The Tiger And The Dove trilogy, The Grip Of God is an epic 13th century saga. The story of a young girl (Sofia) who, not yet thirteen when we first meet her, is spared certain death because of a prophecy.
A wonderfully descriptive book that has a great sense of time and place. The author does a magnificent job in capturing the harshness of the barren landscape in which Sofia finds herself, contrasting beautifully the cultures in which the young Princess grows up and the one in which she now finds herself, the concubine of a Mongol warrior's son.
A long story (at almost 400 pages perhaps a tad too long) and with dialogue that can on occasion be sightly stilted, whilst the events through which the reader finds themselves hurtling after what I thought was a rather slow start are a wonderful tale of invasion, of power struggles, of differing beliefs and bitter rivalries for me it was the engaging characters, main and secondary, likeable and not so likeable, that made this such a gripping read.
Quite different and yet not without similarities to the European historical fiction I generally read. The Grip Of God is well worth the read if you enjoy historical fiction in general and if like me you tend towards European history it makes a wonderful change.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed as part of a Book Tour on behalf of the author I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
A wonderfully descriptive book that has a great sense of time and place. The author does a magnificent job in capturing the harshness of the barren landscape in which Sofia finds herself, contrasting beautifully the cultures in which the young Princess grows up and the one in which she now finds herself, the concubine of a Mongol warrior's son.
A long story (at almost 400 pages perhaps a tad too long) and with dialogue that can on occasion be sightly stilted, whilst the events through which the reader finds themselves hurtling after what I thought was a rather slow start are a wonderful tale of invasion, of power struggles, of differing beliefs and bitter rivalries for me it was the engaging characters, main and secondary, likeable and not so likeable, that made this such a gripping read.
Quite different and yet not without similarities to the European historical fiction I generally read. The Grip Of God is well worth the read if you enjoy historical fiction in general and if like me you tend towards European history it makes a wonderful change.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed as part of a Book Tour on behalf of the author I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
December 15, 2015
The story takes place in the time of the Kievan Rus and tells us about a young girl Sofia, aged 12, almost a child for today’s beliefs and a young woman for the times described in the book. She basks in her father’s love, growing a spoiled girl used to having servants fulfilling all her needs. However, one day her life changes drastically. The one being served becomes the one who serves. The girl from a noble family of the Kievan Rus is captured by the Mongols, which causes her physical as well as emotional damage – she is constantly raped by her master Armagon. When you try to imagine yourself in such a situation and think how it would influence your soul, your character, you would probably think that such a cross is hard to bear and it can harden one’s heart. Sofia, on the opposite, feels compassion for the people around her, unfortunate enough to stand in the Mongols’ way and lose their heads. The author provided most detailed descriptions which allow us to feel the stench of the Mongols, to see their murders in all the details. The book is action-packed, and I read it in two days. My only struggle was the beginning, because it took some time to get to the part where other characters entered the stage, and dialogues began. But it was really worth waiting for!
I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a free copy for review, and I look forward to reading the second book of the series!
I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a free copy for review, and I look forward to reading the second book of the series!
May 20, 2014
THE GRIP OF GOD by Rebecca Hazell is an intriguing historical fiction set during the 13th century. Book 1 in "The Tiger and the Dove" trilogy. What a fascinating tale of the brutal Mongolian invasions, a young teen of privilege taken as a slave by invaders and made into a concubine to Captain Argamon of the Mongol army. A complex, compelling tale of a young Princess who learns to endure, and survive the brutality of war and all of its atrocity, not only to herself but to others across Asia and Europe. There are some very intense scenes, with nightly rapes, constant sexual harassment of Princess Sofia, you learn so much of the brutality of the Mongolian invaders. Not only toward women but toward men as well. There was some confusion at times to me, concerning the sexual implications, but I would consider "The Grip of God" an epic journey. Be aware, there are several rape scenes as well as constant sexual harassment,while, not explicit, they can be off putting. "The Grip of God" is a cross-cultural tale of the atrocities of war during the 13th century. Received for an honest review.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: HOT(due to the nature)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: HOT(due to the nature)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
December 3, 2013
I received a free copy through Goodreads.
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I really enjoyed this book. It took a little getting use to the different language but it was relatively easy to get into. The story might have started off slow but it certainly set its own pace in building the story. I was fascinated by the Mongolian invasion, but never got around to actually reading up on this. This story left me yearning to find out more about the Mongolians, who are certainly an interesting, albeit somewhat savage bunch. It certainly showed a different side of the Mongols during that time period and made me want to find out more about them and their culture.
Sofia is quite the character. I enjoyed reading the story through her perspective. She is such a feisty and headstrong girl. Hard to believe the story started off with her being so young and unfamiliar with the ways of the world. Sofia and many of the other characters were brought to life, beyond the literature world.
It was an amazing journey. I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
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I really enjoyed this book. It took a little getting use to the different language but it was relatively easy to get into. The story might have started off slow but it certainly set its own pace in building the story. I was fascinated by the Mongolian invasion, but never got around to actually reading up on this. This story left me yearning to find out more about the Mongolians, who are certainly an interesting, albeit somewhat savage bunch. It certainly showed a different side of the Mongols during that time period and made me want to find out more about them and their culture.
Sofia is quite the character. I enjoyed reading the story through her perspective. She is such a feisty and headstrong girl. Hard to believe the story started off with her being so young and unfamiliar with the ways of the world. Sofia and many of the other characters were brought to life, beyond the literature world.
It was an amazing journey. I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
August 12, 2013
I loved this book. The story is told through the voice of a young girl who, having been enslaved and having lost her home, friends and family and everything familiar to her, is searching for her place in the world in the midst of the 13th century Mongol invasions. Sofia finds herself in a world that is strange, cruel and savage but also finds friendship and affection.
The story is compelling and the historical context is beautifully detailed without ever being heavy. The story takes place in the heart of a Mongol war camp but is enriched by the many characters of diverse cultures and customs that are enslaved or trade with the Mongols. Rebecca Hazell does a wonderful job at making the reader feel that he/she is there discovering that world with Sofia. I could smell the gers and the fire and the unwashed bodies, I could see the ordus spread out on the steppes and I could feel Sofia's heartache, confusion and love.
Wonderful!
The story is compelling and the historical context is beautifully detailed without ever being heavy. The story takes place in the heart of a Mongol war camp but is enriched by the many characters of diverse cultures and customs that are enslaved or trade with the Mongols. Rebecca Hazell does a wonderful job at making the reader feel that he/she is there discovering that world with Sofia. I could smell the gers and the fire and the unwashed bodies, I could see the ordus spread out on the steppes and I could feel Sofia's heartache, confusion and love.
Wonderful!
January 16, 2014
Set in the 13th century the tale unfolds Princess Sofia of Kievan Rus is captured & must spend the life of concubine (slave) to a Captain Argamon in the Mongol army who is invading Europe. Batu Khan, Genghis Khan's grandson is about to turn that part of the continent upside down & in shambles. Princess Sofia must learn to endure/survive the brutal Mongol war. What other encounters will Princess Sofia have in her lifetime?
I liked the cover, the paper texture, the font & writing style. No misspelled words, no sentence story lines out of place. Most of the time easy to read & follow. Some of it tended to be repetitive. I am a history buff, to me this had that also. Lots/lots of unique characters, geography, & wars past/future (historical fiction?). A very well written book from start/finish. This was still very easy for me to rate/give the book 5 stars.
Thank you for the autographed free book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I liked the cover, the paper texture, the font & writing style. No misspelled words, no sentence story lines out of place. Most of the time easy to read & follow. Some of it tended to be repetitive. I am a history buff, to me this had that also. Lots/lots of unique characters, geography, & wars past/future (historical fiction?). A very well written book from start/finish. This was still very easy for me to rate/give the book 5 stars.
Thank you for the autographed free book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
July 1, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a great historical fiction work unlike anything else I'd ever read. I guess I never really thought about the 13th century before, and especially not anywhere near that part of the world, so it was a refreshing read from a good perspective - a strong, young woman. I'd recommend this book to anyone needing something a little different since I don't typically read anything set this late in time, or anyone who loves a good historical fiction. It was a page turner and I really enjoyed it.
December 15, 2013
This book tells the story of a well-of princess living in the time of the Mongol invasion. I found this book to be very good and engaging, if a little slow in places. I thought it was well-written, with good characters and plot lines. I think I can say that I am interested in seeing how this story plays out in future installments of this series.
*won on GoodReads First Reads*
*won on GoodReads First Reads*
November 2, 2013
I found this very boring and badly written, i lost the will to live very quickly. I cant believe anyone has given this more that 1 star.
June 12, 2015
3 1/2 stars
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews