The Boy Who Wanted Wings (Europe Besieged by The Ottoman Empire) : Love in the Time of War

by James Conroyd Martin

Expert archer Aleksy has his heart set on joining the elite hussars at the Battle of Vienna.Countess Krystyna turns his heart in a different direction.As an outsider, Aleksy knows that both dreams are forbidden. And yet, one day he finds that he must choose between the two.~2017 GOLD MEDAL IPPI WINNER~ ~Romeo and Juliet with a Twist"A pitch-perfect follow-up to his Poland Trilogy"~Historical Novels ReviewAleksy, a Tatar raised by a Polish peasant family, wishes to become a Polish winged hussar, a Christian lancer who carries into battle a device attached to his back that holds dozens of eagle feathers. As a Tatar and as a peasant, this is an unlikely quest. When he meets Krystyna, the daughter of the noble who owns the land that his parents work, he falls hopelessly in love. But even though she returns his love, race and class differences make this quest as impossible as that of becoming a hussar. Under the most harrowing and unlikely circumstances, one day Aleksy must choose between his dreams. That day is September 11, 1683.For fans of Philippa Gregory, Jeffrey Archer, and Bernard Cornwell"History comes alive in this captivating saga of a desperate war to stave off conquest and extermination. A young man with dreams of greatness is swept up amid the deadly clash, but will he have to sacrifice love itself to become an elite defender of his homeland? The Boy Who Wanted Wings is a powerful, emotionally moving story, highly recommended." ~MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW"Characters are complex, well developed, and consistent. Their emotional lives are exposed even as the horrors of war loom. The Boy Who Wanted Wings is an excellent read whether one’s preferred genre is historical fiction or not." ~PORTLAND BOOK REVIEW"In the tradition of Eric Kelley’s The Trumpeter of Krakow, James Conroyd Martin’s novel The Boy Who Wanted Wings tells the story of a heroic young Polish boy. Aleksy Gazdecki, a native Tatar raised by a family of Polish peasants, is a skilled archer who dreams of someday joining the ranks of the famed Polish hussars and riding into battle against the forces of the Ottoman Empire that are rampaging all over Europe in the year 1683. Aleksy’s simple life is complicated when Countess Krystyna, the daughter of the local lord, returns from years away at convent school and quickly captivates Aleksy’s heart. This classic different-worlds love affair provides the human grounding for a larger story replete with well-researched period details about the struggle of 17th-century Europe against the forces of Islam, and Martin is a skilled enough storyteller to keep the whole narrative moving forward briskly to a very satisfying conclusion. The author has written a pitch-perfect follow-up to his Poland Trilogy. Recommended." ~Historical Novels Review"This is a very well researched and authentic-feeling novel set in 17th century Europe. A unique perspective comes via the hero, Aleksy, being of Tartar descent but having been raised with a Polish family. As the Turks lay siege to Vienna (culminating in the battle of September 11 1683) he finds his military and amorous wings. The author impressed me with the detailed depiction of warfare, military operations and equipment, class, culture and societal norms. While such details can be distracting in other novels, here they were spot on and served their purpose well. I learned a lot about the era, about Poland, the Tartars and the siege of Vienna.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2016

About the author

Ah, Fate~
The seed for "Fortune's Child" started some years ago when I was taking an Art Appreciation course at a community college in Los Angeles. One day we were studying the exquisite mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora from the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, and the professor pointed to Theodora and said, “I’m not a writer, but if I were, that is the woman I would write about.”
Little did he know what he had unloosed.

What a fascinating woman, frailties and all! She could have been the prototype for Eva Peron. I started the novel right then and there; however, life and other books got in the way.

But Fortune's Child has finally found her way.
Fate goes ever as it must.

I am also the author of THE POLAND TRILOGY, beginning with "Push Not the River," a novel based on the diary of Anna Berezowska, a Polish countess who lived through the rise and fall of the Third of May Constitution. After working on the project for some years without raising interest within the publishing community, I self-published in 2001. Just one year later, St. Martin’s Press purchased the book and released a hard cover edition in September 2003. Polish and German rights sold almost immediately.

The Polish edition, "Nie ponaglaj rzeki," was released in May of 2005, became a bestseller and sold out in a matter of months. Anna's story had come full circle: Polish to English to Polish! "Pod purpurowym niebem," the translation of "Against a Crimson Sky," also became a bestseller when published in December of 2007.

"The Warsaw Conspiracy" followed, as did "The Boy Who Wanted Wings."

Martin, who holds degrees from St. Ambrose and DePaul Universities, is a retired English and Creative Writing teacher now living and writing in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Anntonette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author knows how to tell a story - how to hook the reader in and elicit complex emotions. This novel grapples with religion, race, class, war, violence and the power of love to make all impossible things right. It is a hopeful book for our troubled times.

[Carole Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could hardly put this down. So good, so good. The beginning was a little slow, but after a few pages, I was utterly hooked. I finished this book in a couple of sittings. I needed to know how Aleksy was going to get what he desired and what he deserved.

I loved Aleksy! Even though some people treated him horribly, he had a big heart and he wanted to serve Poland.

Krystyna was okay. At first, I didn't really like her and I thought Aleksy deserved someone better, but she proved herself and her love for him. What she did made me like her. I can't say what, but any other noble gal wouldn't do what she did.

Krystyna's brothers were so annoying. Okay...I get why they hated Alek and they only wanted what was best for their family. However, I wanted to kick them! I'm glad the author humanized them. Yes, they were anti-Alex and whatnot, but they were not horrible people. It was the times! They wanted what they thought were best for them and their family.

Now, the main reason I picked this book up was because this is set in Poland. There are not a lot of books out there set here! I also loved the cover and the title. The summary sounded good, so why not try this out?? I'm SO glad I did. This was really good. The characters were dynamic. They time period and setting were well brought to life.

GAH! The ending, I wanted more. I wanted to more of their story.

In the end, this was an addicting book. I could hardly put it down. The characters were very dynamic and the author brought the world to life. The beginning was a little rough, but the rest is worth it. I highly recommend this to historical fiction lovers. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 5.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"The author impressed me with the detailed depiction of warfare, military operations and equipment, class, culture and societal norms. While such details can be distracting in other novels, here they were spot on and served their purpose well."

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this in the giveaways in exchange for an honest review. This novel set in 17th century Poland centres around peasant boy Aleksy, his forbidden love for a girl of a higher status and his adventures. I struggled with the author's writing style at times and found the story dragged a fair bit.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I won this book on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed Martin's "The Boy Who Wanted Wings." Martin is a great story teller. His story of a young, Polish boy (Alesky) who wanted to be in the military, along with the story of his love for a young girl (Krystyna) who was in a higher class than himself tugged me in at the very beginning. I could barely put the book down once I started.

The book takes place during a time period in history when Poland had one of the most feared military units in Europe. The King, Jan Sobieski, takes the army to Vienna to save the city and of course he and the Queen get involved in the love life of Aleksy and Krystyna. The historical details are very interesting and help to move the main story along.

Without adding any spoilers there was one event at the very end of the book that I'm still not sure about. Those who read the book will instantly know what I'm talking about. However, I will admit that that event gives me a great deal to think about.

I highly recommend this for those interested in historical fiction--we don't often get books written on Polish history, so a big plus there, and for those interested in a little bit of romance, and family dynamics.

[Kevin Folliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin's latest historical fiction tale is all at once an endearing love story and a spectacular war story, rich with complex underdog protagonists, fascinating slices of European history, vivid imagery, and timeless themes of tradition vs. passion, fate, and prejudice. The Boy Who Wanted Wings is a compelling story for fans of history, romance, action, and adventure. It is expertly plotted to keep readers deeply invested in the characters' hopes and dreams while masterfully pacing its many conflicts and surprises right up until the final pages. I highly recommend!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started a bit slow for me, but then I got pulled in and couldn’t put the book down. I enjoyed the story.

[Jack Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, until the end. (spoiler alert) When Roman changes his mind about Aleksy it's a bit abrupt and I didn't believe it. That's the reason for the poor review.

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that THE BOY WHO WANTED WINGS: Love in the Time of War by
James Conroyd Martin is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Stephanie Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin pens an engaging story full of intrigue with “The Boy
Who Wanted Wings.” Set in 1683, an Ottoman/Turkish
invasion force has surrounded Vienna, intent on bringing
Islam to a Christian Europe. If Vienna falls, so falls Europe.
Nations band together to repel the threat. King Jan Sobieski
III of Poland gathers his Hussars and Army to join the fight.
According to Martin’s historical note, this event was a pivotal
one in European history.

“The Boy Who Wanted Wings” is told through the fictional
lens of Aleksy Gazdecki, a polish peasant who longs to be a
Hussar. Though of Tatar origins, Aleksy was raised Polish
and Christian. He’s fashioned his own lance and is a good
archer. The local nobleman’s sons, Roman and Marek, are
Hussars, planning to join King Jan as he marches on Vienna.
When Aleksy meets Krystyna Halicki, Roman and Marek’s
sister, sparks fly much to the brothers’ disapproval. Aleksy
gets his wish to go to war as a retainer for Marek, however
he has to deal with Roman’s ire.

Will the Polish army help to defeat the Grand Vizar who
holds Vienna hostage? Can Krystyna and Aleksy find a
way to be together despite his lack of a title and the war
that threatens to tear them apart?

Martin’s writing is easy to read and understand. The plot
and pacing are well balanced. The characterization is spot
on. Aleksy is honorable and decent despite the hardships
he has to face. Krystyna is spirited and independent, which
will appeal to the modern reader. The immediate threat of
the Ottman invasion is one readers will connect to as even
in modern times, there are struggles with insurgent Islamic
forces.

One of the reader’s questions asks if Roman’s change of
heart in the end is genuine. This is a big change for Roman
and for me it doesn’t ring true, as he’s been duplicitous
throughout the novel. Roman is the character the readers
love to hate. He does have some redeeming qualities,
though he is awkward in how he presents them.

[Katrina Shawver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teenage love story lies at the core of this story, a somewhat timeless tale of conflict, does he get the girl, loses the girl, what will happen? But in this case, Martin has chosen the setting of Poland, 1683, and the seige of Vienna. Don't know about the siege of Vienna? Neither did I before I read The Boy Who Wanted Wings, but I learned a whole lot without the story being a history lesson. I like historical fiction that is both accurate, and that there is a takeaway. I've read Martin's Polish Trilogy and enjoyed those also, so they were a good prelude to this book. I'll be thinking about this book for some time to come.

[Rebecca King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book! The character development of this book and his previous books "The Poland Trilogy was in depth and articulate. I want to "feel" and "relate to the characters and love his writing style. I was sorry to finish it and there could be a sequel written for our dear Alexsy and his love.
It was also very refreshing to learn many things about Polish history and their fight for their country.
Such a proud, classy people to have had so many intrusions and invasions in their homeland.
I would suggest that this author should continue in this genre because he has a gift.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I had a hard time getting into this book from the beginning, once I got through the first few chapters I ended up really liking it. Set in Poland during the invasion of the Taters, I learned a lot about the time period while reading a poignant love story.

[Diane Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just taken s trip to Poland this book was seeped in History. Excellent!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good. I thought the characters were well realized and believable. I thought the story was well paced with no parts that seemed to drag. We are told the story from three points of view - Alecksi, Krystyna, and Roman. This was mostly a love story that centered around a war. It seemed to be well researched. The author knew the various levels of Polish society and the history of Poland and surrounding countries as well.
I guess my only quibble with the story was Roman's character. I really couldn't figure out why it took him so long to acknowledge that he would have been killed if it hadn't been for Alecksy's actions. I really didn't buy that he suddenly changed his character at the end of the story, because I never saw that there was much of anything to like about him throughout the story, so I didn't really believe that he would change so much by the end of the story.
Anyway, it was a really enjoyable romance in the time of war story. I would recommend it.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another excellent book by James Conroyd Martin. Vienna is being besieged by the Ottoman Turks determined to conquer all of Europe and the Polish king with the aid of other Europeans comes to the rescue. The novel involves a love story of a peasant boy who falls in love with a girl from the minor nobility. This is a gripping novel with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing what the end result could be, and at the same time has exciting battles in war as it was in the 17th century. This is a book I would like to read again. It is truly a page-turner, one that is hard to put down.

[Karen York-Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and poignant story of hope, tenacity and perseverance

This story is written with such clarity, the characters come alive from their first introduction. Aleksy and Krystyna struggle against the unfair constraints of class division and racial prejudice. The author describes the times, customs and geography with astonishing clarity.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. A well spun tale. I’m a fan of James Conroyd Martin’s work. I first read his Push Not the River trilogy years ago and loved it. He doesn’t disappoint. The Boy Who Wanted Wings is simple tale and a sweet love story with engaging characters you can’t help but love. Very enjoyable and well written.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of historical adventure I loved when I was young - rich in detail, vivid and fast-paced. And the reading by James Gillies kept me on the edge of my seat during the battle scenes. I don’t particularly like warfare, but this was exciting. The characters weren’t overly subtle, but as I said - this is an adventure - a darn good read, as they used to say…

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. It provided detail about a time in Polish history that I wasn't overly aware about. Martin certainly knows how to hook a reader and keep the story moving through various twists and turns. I just wish his endings were a bit better.

[Lucinda Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH a well-rounded tale that my only gripe was to see it end. This author doesn’t just write words, he weaves them into a precious and beautiful tapestry. This is my 4th book by him and I’m anxious to start the next.

[Elijah]

The Boy Who Wanted Wings is a conceptually compelling story, one that deals with heavy themes of religion, war, politics, race, class, dreams, and true love - but sadly, I don't believe it comes near enough to reaching its full potential.
Still, a fun read.

[Terry Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review posted by June 08, 2018

4.5 stars

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chances of all this good luck happening to one person is completely unreasonable, HOWEVER, I enjoyed the ride. . . .loved the characters.

[Curtis Urness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author James Conroyd Martin is best known for The Poland Trilogy, his remarkable series of historical romance novels set in partition-era Poland. In The Boy Who Wanted Wings, he flies the reader back a century or so to 1683, the year of the Ottoman siege of Vienna. This is a momentous time in history, when the freedom of all of Europe hangs in the balance. Those who have read his previous novels will not be disappointed in this lively and engaging tale.

The “boy” in this story is 17-year-old Aleksy Gazdecki, an adopted Tatar son of a Polish peasant family. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is still at its height, having defeated the Ottoman forces ten years earlier at Chocim (Khotsyn) in what is now present-day Ukraine. Aleksy wants nothing more than to become a hussar, a lancer in the Polish cavalry. This is where the “wings” come in. Each hussar wears an apparatus bedecked with eagles’ feathers on his back. This apparatus is not merely ornamental; the appearance of the wings adds an aspect of size and ferocity to the knight, while the sound of the feathers rustling in the wind during a charge heightens the terror to the enemy.

Well, Aleksy wants nothing more than to become a hussar, that is, until he meets Countess Krystyna Halicka, the daughter of the landowner on whose manor Aleksy lives and works. Krystyna is a rebellious 16-year-old, recently sent home from a convent and destined to enter an arranged marriage with another member of the szlachta, or Polish nobility. Aleksy and Krystyna meet accidentally during outings to the ruins of Halicz Castle, Krystyna having ridden to the castle on a nostalgic adventure and Aleksy on a forbidden ride upon the landowner’s son’s Arabian stallion. The passions sparked there have all the makings of a great romance.

The obstacles to Aleksy’s realization of both of his dreams are immense. The greatest is racial prejudice; Aleksy is a Tatar, a descendant of the Asiatic Golden Horde that has been the scourge of the steppes for centuries. Then, there is class; a peasant stood, or, rather, stooped, on the lowest rung of the Commonwealth’s stratified class system. The arranged marriage has been moved up due to the coming war. Krystyna’s mother and brothers loathe Aleksy and oppose the romance. Then the mobilization begins for campaign to relieve Vienna.

Martin creates memorable, endearing characters, as well as memorable, infamous ones. There is the principled Count Halicki, Idzi, a dwarf who lives with Aleksy’s family, Szymon the stablemaster, a gypsy lady, and the real historical – with some embellishment – figures of King Jan III Sobieski and his wife Maria Cazimire Sobieska. Then, there is the bigoted, ambitious Roman, Krystyna’s brother, Countess Halicki, Krystyna’s scheming mother, and Heloise, the untrustworthy Mistress of the Queen’s Robes.

The author also does a great job of evoking time and place. The battle scenes, especially, are vivid and riveting. Little gems of wordplay increase the reader’s satisfaction. For instance, during a discussion between Krystyna and Countess Halicka about the wealth of the Narodolski family into which Kristina is to marry, Martin writes, “Her mother’s mouth tightened as if with purse strings.” In a warning about Roman’s enmity towards Aleksy, Idzi says, “’They say anger’s like an old snake skin that needs to be shed. Well, that fits him just fine.’” Poignant metaphors, such as the following, appear. The elegant prose is not disruptive but slips into the stream of the narrative.

"Krystyna had observed a water clock once and she imagined herself now as a condemned criminal watching the steady fall of the drops, listening to the relentless, nearly noiseless, plops, knowing that when the water was done, life would be over."

The Boy Who Wanted Wings addresses serious themes about racial and class prejudice and the changeability/unchangeability of fate while still serving as an enjoyable read.