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The Fighting Man
A Tale of Love and Revenge
Set Against History's Bloody Backdrop...
In the year 1060, young Brand Holgarsson's family are wiped out in a Viking raid arranged by Brand's treacherous uncle Malgard. Malgard is named thegn of the town of Stybbor in East Anglia while Brand is made outlaw and hunted through the woods by Malgard's men, determined to extinguish the last possible claim to Malgard's thegnship.
Aided by a strange young woman, Valla, who claims to be 242 years old, Brand escapes and is befriended by Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex and the choice of the Saxon nobles to be king after the childless Edward (the Confessor). Brand nurses his dream of vengeance over Malgard while sharing Harold’s perils and waiting for Valla who will only return from The Place of Dreams if Brand has remained true to his promise to lie with no other woman.
All stories come together at the Battle of Hastings, where Harold’s great banner, The Fighting Man, flew above the field at Senlac Ridge in opposition to the papal cross carried by William the Bastard.
"Not since reading Sharpe have I felt such a sense of being in the story. Outstanding." - Stuart Quin, Full Circle Films
"I read it on the train, walking down the street, well after my usual bed time and when I was supposed to be working. Even though I knew exactly where the story was headed, I was compelled to know what happened next." - Jane B Rawson, From The Wreck
Set Against History's Bloody Backdrop...
In the year 1060, young Brand Holgarsson's family are wiped out in a Viking raid arranged by Brand's treacherous uncle Malgard. Malgard is named thegn of the town of Stybbor in East Anglia while Brand is made outlaw and hunted through the woods by Malgard's men, determined to extinguish the last possible claim to Malgard's thegnship.
Aided by a strange young woman, Valla, who claims to be 242 years old, Brand escapes and is befriended by Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex and the choice of the Saxon nobles to be king after the childless Edward (the Confessor). Brand nurses his dream of vengeance over Malgard while sharing Harold’s perils and waiting for Valla who will only return from The Place of Dreams if Brand has remained true to his promise to lie with no other woman.
All stories come together at the Battle of Hastings, where Harold’s great banner, The Fighting Man, flew above the field at Senlac Ridge in opposition to the papal cross carried by William the Bastard.
"Not since reading Sharpe have I felt such a sense of being in the story. Outstanding." - Stuart Quin, Full Circle Films
"I read it on the train, walking down the street, well after my usual bed time and when I was supposed to be working. Even though I knew exactly where the story was headed, I was compelled to know what happened next." - Jane B Rawson, From The Wreck
464 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Deans
8 books49 followersAdrian Deans is a lawyer, journalist and novelist. He has been writing seriously for 30 years and in that time has seen his darkly comic speculative fiction stories gradually morph into darkly comic crime - then back to spec fiction. His novels, Mr Cleansheets (Vulgar Press, 2010) and Straight Jacket (High Horse, 2013) received some critical acclaim and Straight Jacket was optioned by Ealing Studios in the UK. The Fighting Man was his debut historical novel (High Horse, 2017), but in 2020 he blended offbeat crime with spec fiction to produce Welcome to Ord City. His latest novel, Asparagus Grass (2023), sees Adrian on the edge of science fiction and firmly entrenched among Australia's more original storytellers.
Adrian is represented by Golvan Arts Management.
Adrian is represented by Golvan Arts Management.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 26, 2018
The author has given us a fascinating take on the Battle of Hastings as well as the previous few years, as seen through the eyes of Brand Holgarson, of noble stock, whose brother and father are killed by the Danes and his treacherous uncle at the former's wedding. Hiding and forced to flee, Brand meets and becomes a companion of Harold Godwinson. He also meets Valla, a mysterious young woman, the "witch of the wood" [p.43] into which Brand flees. She tells him she is over 200 years old and seeing he is smitten with her, exacts an important promise from him. His keeping his word enables her to keep and use her powers. All of them travel to Lundene [London] to inform King Edward of the uncle. Uncle Malgard has arrived before them and his lies as to who attacked the wedding party convince the king to outlaw Brand who becomes an anonymous member of Harold's train to escape notice. We follow Brand's adventures in Wales and in Normandy, returning to Inglalond [England]. The king names Harold as his successor; Duke William of Normandy feels he has a claim on the throne too; the forces of each meet at Senlac Hill in Hastings. An excellent battle sequence follows. Meanwhile, Valla and the sorcerer, Myrrthn [Merlin?] try to keep William's fleet from arriving: to maintain pagan ways and to prevent the spread of Christianity. After the decisive outcome of Hastings, Harold's common-law wife and Brand think to memorialize Harold's achievements; he will otherwise be forgotten in time.
On the whole I enjoyed the novel: historical fiction but with a dash of fantasy in the person of Valla and her doings. I wish that the Lady Emma-and-Brand episode could have been left out or, since it influenced the story, the author could have reduced their interaction to just a few opaque sentences. Although I felt in the middle of a medieval atmosphere through the author's words, I wish he could have left out graphic descriptions of bodily functions. When he created Valla, did his mind run to Vilja in the song from the operetta "The Merry Widow?" His whole idea of making the unnamed figure in green on the Bayeux Tapestry the protagonist of his novel was really original and creative. I thank the author for sending me a copy of his novel.
Highly recommended.
On the whole I enjoyed the novel: historical fiction but with a dash of fantasy in the person of Valla and her doings. I wish that the Lady Emma-and-Brand episode could have been left out or, since it influenced the story, the author could have reduced their interaction to just a few opaque sentences. Although I felt in the middle of a medieval atmosphere through the author's words, I wish he could have left out graphic descriptions of bodily functions. When he created Valla, did his mind run to Vilja in the song from the operetta "The Merry Widow?" His whole idea of making the unnamed figure in green on the Bayeux Tapestry the protagonist of his novel was really original and creative. I thank the author for sending me a copy of his novel.
Highly recommended.
March 2, 2022
Good story revolving around the Battle of Hastings. This is probably 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This story begins in the year 1060 in East Anglia. Brand, a younger noble son and our main protagonist, is getting ready to join a monastery. Things don't quite work out in the way that he expected. After a Viking raid on his village his life takes a drastic turn in another direction. I will leave out the remaining details and refer readers back to the synopsis.
Several times I considered setting this aside as a DNF, but I'm glad that I soldiered on to finish it. The deterrent was the mc's one-track mind. I mean, sheesh!! But then I realized that we were still dealing with an immature teenager; he was only 14-15 years old for a great portion of the book. Boys this age tend to be obsessed with one thing in particular, and consequently leave their commonsense by the wayside. Now I've never been a teenaged boy myself, but I thought that I would never survive the years when my son was that age. Thank God he's grown and married now with sons of his own! So, Brand was hard to take for a bit until I put things into perspective. Once he- thankfully- matured, the plot progressed at a fairly good clip. He joined up with Harald and more or less marched off to war.
There were some very good descriptions of the times. The hygiene, or rather the lack thereof, was repulsive. But that's the way things were, so what else could one expect? The battle sequences were detailed but not overly so. The characters ranged from likeable/honorable to treacherous/abhorrent. I've got to mention that I had two characters in particular that I really liked: Elric and Canine Malgard. Malgard the scumbag, not to be confused with his namesake the dog, was quite the lowlife. I hated him. And since he is fresh in my mind, let me address a controversy within one of my GR groups: . I have no objection to this scene being included in the tale since this was a common occurrence in this century, (actually in most of the earlier time periods in history), but I wanted to clarify the point since the controversial discussion became a little heated. I will not be posting this conclusion in that thread since it really doesn't serve a purpose other than to be an instigator.
So overall this was a very good story set in a time period that is somewhat elusive as far as stories go. Recommended for those interested in the Battle of Hastings.
This story begins in the year 1060 in East Anglia. Brand, a younger noble son and our main protagonist, is getting ready to join a monastery. Things don't quite work out in the way that he expected. After a Viking raid on his village his life takes a drastic turn in another direction. I will leave out the remaining details and refer readers back to the synopsis.
Several times I considered setting this aside as a DNF, but I'm glad that I soldiered on to finish it. The deterrent was the mc's one-track mind. I mean, sheesh!! But then I realized that we were still dealing with an immature teenager; he was only 14-15 years old for a great portion of the book. Boys this age tend to be obsessed with one thing in particular, and consequently leave their commonsense by the wayside. Now I've never been a teenaged boy myself, but I thought that I would never survive the years when my son was that age. Thank God he's grown and married now with sons of his own! So, Brand was hard to take for a bit until I put things into perspective. Once he- thankfully- matured, the plot progressed at a fairly good clip. He joined up with Harald and more or less marched off to war.
There were some very good descriptions of the times. The hygiene, or rather the lack thereof, was repulsive. But that's the way things were, so what else could one expect? The battle sequences were detailed but not overly so. The characters ranged from likeable/honorable to treacherous/abhorrent. I've got to mention that I had two characters in particular that I really liked: Elric and Canine Malgard. Malgard the scumbag, not to be confused with his namesake the dog, was quite the lowlife. I hated him. And since he is fresh in my mind, let me address a controversy within one of my GR groups: . I have no objection to this scene being included in the tale since this was a common occurrence in this century, (actually in most of the earlier time periods in history), but I wanted to clarify the point since the controversial discussion became a little heated. I will not be posting this conclusion in that thread since it really doesn't serve a purpose other than to be an instigator.
So overall this was a very good story set in a time period that is somewhat elusive as far as stories go. Recommended for those interested in the Battle of Hastings.
March 16, 2022
Strong in historical context, this is an interesting tale of a young boy who ultimately fights with King Harold in the Battle of Hastings. Unfortunately the subplot involving the love interest of said young hero was a poor plot arc. Instead of adding a touch of magical realism it was underwhelming and overlooked during the middle two thirds of the book.
October 2, 2019
According to the intro, this is the first historical novel by this author. If that is true, he set the bar pretty high. The book follows the story of Brand. He is burned out of his home at a young age and betrayed by his uncle. Then he is "outlawed" and forced to flee into the forests where he meets a mysterious woman. As the story progresses, Brand becomes a part of Harold Godwinson's retinue. Harold is the Earl of Wessex and favored to be the next King of England. The story climaxes at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Deans writes very descriptive battle scenes, most likely due to his experience writing crime novels. I found this book compelling and hard to put down. Deans puts the reader in the middle of the action and you feel like you're really there.
Deans hints at a sequel. I hope it's more than a hint because it will be a must read for me.
Deans writes very descriptive battle scenes, most likely due to his experience writing crime novels. I found this book compelling and hard to put down. Deans puts the reader in the middle of the action and you feel like you're really there.
Deans hints at a sequel. I hope it's more than a hint because it will be a must read for me.
December 29, 2020
The Fighting Man Adrian Dean’s
Many reviewers have already summarized the book so I’ll skip straight to how I perceived it as a reader.
At the beginning of reading The Fighting Man, I found the story intriguing, however, by the middle of the story it became hard for me to read and I found myself skipping chapters because I didn’t care enough about any of the characters except for the protagonist.
The changes in character perspectives made it a real struggle for me to want to finish the book.
The main issue was that the story went from first person perspective to third person perspective which was really distracting from the plot, I found myself losing interest because of this and would skip pages to get back into the story.
I really enjoy Romance in books so after the character Valla left the story for a while, I grew bored because the plot wasn’t enthralling enough for me to want to continue reading it.
In the end this was the reason I chose 3 stars.
Many readers have praised this book, if you like the sound of it then give it a read, and decide for yourself.
Many reviewers have already summarized the book so I’ll skip straight to how I perceived it as a reader.
At the beginning of reading The Fighting Man, I found the story intriguing, however, by the middle of the story it became hard for me to read and I found myself skipping chapters because I didn’t care enough about any of the characters except for the protagonist.
The changes in character perspectives made it a real struggle for me to want to finish the book.
The main issue was that the story went from first person perspective to third person perspective which was really distracting from the plot, I found myself losing interest because of this and would skip pages to get back into the story.
I really enjoy Romance in books so after the character Valla left the story for a while, I grew bored because the plot wasn’t enthralling enough for me to want to continue reading it.
In the end this was the reason I chose 3 stars.
Many readers have praised this book, if you like the sound of it then give it a read, and decide for yourself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
I really, truly enjoyed this novel. Knowing a bit about The Battle of Hastings, I looked forward to how the author would plot the novel.
Brand is a wonderful protagonist and the characters surrounding him are the story. The narrative is rich and well developed. The twists and turns build to the intensity of the Battle! I could not put it down...
I am intrigued to learn that the inspiration for this novel was provided by the Bayeaux Tapestry. Fascinating!!
Brand is a wonderful protagonist and the characters surrounding him are the story. The narrative is rich and well developed. The twists and turns build to the intensity of the Battle! I could not put it down...
I am intrigued to learn that the inspiration for this novel was provided by the Bayeaux Tapestry. Fascinating!!
November 10, 2020
The Fighting Man by Adrian Deans is a fantastic example of historical fiction.
As a whole I enjoy historical fiction but often dislike how the era that the story takes place is often romanticized, leaving the negative aspects of the world at the time out and replaced with only the grandest examples of the year. The Fighting Man does none of that. Early on, it makes the filth of the locations obvious. Though if you have a weak stomach for the lack of hygiene of the 1000s, you may have some difficulty reading some parts of the book.
Adrian Deans made a believable story of historical character as well as fitting his fictional ones comfortably in to the time period. Deans makes an entertaining story out of a portion of history that is full of holes. He switches between the first person view of the principal character and slides in to third person tales of the side characters. It’s a comfortable transition between the viewpoints and makes up for the complications often seen in first-person stories.
While the love story aspect of the tale felt a bit forced at first, Deans does a fine job of tying it in to the story as a whole and by the end of the book it feels as though it has found its place in the story as a whole. The characters are memorable and grow throughout the story, changing in appearance and personality, growing in to their own over the years of the tale.
The Fighting Man by Adrian Deans is a must read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those who are interested in early England, Vikings, and epic battles.
I got this book as a review copy from Voracious Readers Only.
As a whole I enjoy historical fiction but often dislike how the era that the story takes place is often romanticized, leaving the negative aspects of the world at the time out and replaced with only the grandest examples of the year. The Fighting Man does none of that. Early on, it makes the filth of the locations obvious. Though if you have a weak stomach for the lack of hygiene of the 1000s, you may have some difficulty reading some parts of the book.
Adrian Deans made a believable story of historical character as well as fitting his fictional ones comfortably in to the time period. Deans makes an entertaining story out of a portion of history that is full of holes. He switches between the first person view of the principal character and slides in to third person tales of the side characters. It’s a comfortable transition between the viewpoints and makes up for the complications often seen in first-person stories.
While the love story aspect of the tale felt a bit forced at first, Deans does a fine job of tying it in to the story as a whole and by the end of the book it feels as though it has found its place in the story as a whole. The characters are memorable and grow throughout the story, changing in appearance and personality, growing in to their own over the years of the tale.
The Fighting Man by Adrian Deans is a must read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those who are interested in early England, Vikings, and epic battles.
I got this book as a review copy from Voracious Readers Only.
May 28, 2020
Adrian Deans tells a story worthy of the anonymous warriors of the Bayeux Tapestry, their names and deeds lost to history. I want to believe this story of the brave warrior Brand and his Valla really could be true. The world is gritty and visceral; the characters are colorful, richly imagined and well-woven from the weft and warp of history known and imagined. They are merrily murderous, violent, cunning, and wickedly humored and well contrasted by a delightfully subversive and unexpectedly romantic tale- all underscored by the drumbeats of political intrigue and war. It really kept me turning the pages.
The greater themes of love, faith, power, ambition and vengeance are timeless, but the author handles these ideas with perfectly balanced irreverent humor and originality. I especially enjoyed the immersive themes proposed by the many-faceted battles and struggles within the narrative: the fighting for one’s honor, home and way of life are very compelling within the larger (very poignant) implications of the impending invasion of a killer god and the treacherous politics of a ‘civilized’ faith. The veil of spirits, ancient ones and the mysticism of the wilds only deepens my appreciation of this perspective. A thoroughly good read, indeed.
If there is to be a continuation or a sequel, I will certainly read it. Truly looking forward to reading other works by this author.
The greater themes of love, faith, power, ambition and vengeance are timeless, but the author handles these ideas with perfectly balanced irreverent humor and originality. I especially enjoyed the immersive themes proposed by the many-faceted battles and struggles within the narrative: the fighting for one’s honor, home and way of life are very compelling within the larger (very poignant) implications of the impending invasion of a killer god and the treacherous politics of a ‘civilized’ faith. The veil of spirits, ancient ones and the mysticism of the wilds only deepens my appreciation of this perspective. A thoroughly good read, indeed.
If there is to be a continuation or a sequel, I will certainly read it. Truly looking forward to reading other works by this author.
February 5, 2022
This book has an exciting story with very well thought out characters. I really feel as if I am part of the events and challenges of the time. My only reservation, and it may be just a personal idiosyncrasy, is that there is too much blatant crudeness used in the language and the descriptions of raping both men and women. Now, I am not a prude by any means but I do feel that this was too much. Otherwise I very much enjoyed the characters. It was great to watch Brand grow from an untried young boy into a strong and loyal man. Elric was a joy. So subtle and yet so wise. Malgard was easy to hate. His cruelty and greed were evident, as was his cowardice, which most bullies have. A very enjoyable story.
Please note that this review is in exchange for a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
Please note that this review is in exchange for a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
July 5, 2021
This is lovely stuff. Set near the end of Edward the Confessor's reign it takes the reader up to William the Conquerer's invasion. Full of ambition, greed, pride and dark deeds. Brand Holgarson's world is shattered on the day of his brother's wedding. His evil uncle set assassins on the family to gain his brother's place. Unfortunately for him, Brand survived the massacre. Although promised to the church, Brand becomes a fighting man. Enough said. Here you will find adventure and a little bit of romance too. A nice bit of Saxon blood and guts. Recommended reading for sword and sorcery fans.
June 8, 2020
Mr Deans has taken a pivotal point in England’s history and filled many of the gaps with a very plausible tale. Brand is a very likeable character and watching ‘history’ unfold from his perspective is engaging. The battles are well developed and easy to visualise. The depiction of the politics and life at the time is enthralling.
The well-known result of the Battle of Hastings is given a slight twist, or is it? History has as many secrets as facts.
Looking forward to the sequel.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review.
The well-known result of the Battle of Hastings is given a slight twist, or is it? History has as many secrets as facts.
Looking forward to the sequel.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review.
March 20, 2018
Chaucer meets Cornwell in a powerful, mystical romp
Adrian Deans treads well-worn territory with his latest - a historical tale set in one of the pivotal moments of British history. We follow Brand, deposed thegn and, to be honest, whiny little kid at the start, as he navigates a path through the treachery, intrigue and all-out violence of the years leading up to the Battle of Hastings.
Like the best of them the author uses the gaps in our recorded historical knowledge to his advantage, spinning a proper yarn but hitting all the right historical beats, imbuing them with motivation and, at times, a strong hint that mystical forces are at play.
And like the best of them he brings his own voice. Like his previous books, this is expertly plotted: dramatic and well-paced, moving up through the gears to a breathless finish but always giving his characters the time and space to breathe. And, more so than many of the books I have read in this genre, there's a bawdy and scatological joy running right through it. It's a romp, but a powerful and action-packed romp at the same time.
Adrian Deans treads well-worn territory with his latest - a historical tale set in one of the pivotal moments of British history. We follow Brand, deposed thegn and, to be honest, whiny little kid at the start, as he navigates a path through the treachery, intrigue and all-out violence of the years leading up to the Battle of Hastings.
Like the best of them the author uses the gaps in our recorded historical knowledge to his advantage, spinning a proper yarn but hitting all the right historical beats, imbuing them with motivation and, at times, a strong hint that mystical forces are at play.
And like the best of them he brings his own voice. Like his previous books, this is expertly plotted: dramatic and well-paced, moving up through the gears to a breathless finish but always giving his characters the time and space to breathe. And, more so than many of the books I have read in this genre, there's a bawdy and scatological joy running right through it. It's a romp, but a powerful and action-packed romp at the same time.
January 9, 2018
Very happy to say that I enjoyed this book immensely. Until now 1066 had just been a date! Not anymore. Someone has finally pondered on the possible or dare I say probable stories behind the story for one of the most significant events in history and in the process given it a greater human dimension and meaning. Should make a movie out of it!
May 14, 2022
I was given a copy of The Fighting Man by the author in exchange for an honest review. I read the book in three sittings and found the historical period it is set in very interesting. The book is a work of historical fiction based around real people and events with just a little dash of fantasy thrown in as well. I enjoyed meeting Harold Godwinson within its pages and learning a little bit more about his life rather than always focussing on 1066. Brand Holgarson, the main character in the book was engaging, easy to like and, as with all the other characters, has been finely drawn to be represented in a way that is believable and human. Malgard, his usurping uncle was deserving of a slightly larger role in the story I felt - I would have happily read more pages documenting his scheming plans. Overall, I liked the book and the story. I gave it 4 stars because I personally thought the battle scenes at the end were a bit cumbersome and overly lengthy but I appreciate that this was the climax of Harold's dream to be King so the author rightly wished to give it a full telling.
January 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Swallowing it up in three days is a dead giveaway. It’s what I would call a ‘rollicking yarn’ in perhaps my favourite genre, using the fascinating history around 1066 and the Battle of Hastings as its framework. The author has very cleverly created his main character based on an anonymous figure from the amazing Bayeux Tapestry. There’s a classic romance, a lot of sex and violence (think Game of Thrones) and an authentic feel with some irreverent modern humor thrown in. If you’re squeamish, or you don’t cope with crass language, proceed with caution. If you love investigating history where the gaps are filled with the author’s wit and imagination you’ll have a fun ride.
July 18, 2020
I enjoyed this novel, it was well researched and made sense of what was a complex political situation in 11th century England. The three main characters were very believable and the author told a cracking good tale. I particularly liked the source of inspiration being the Bayeux Tapestry.
I couldn't quite give it 5 stars because I was not at all sure about the subplot, which rather distracted from the main tale, and seemed a bit silly given this was 11th not 5th or 6th century. I also felt it was a bit of a boys' book, a lot of fighting (and male orientated sex scenes) as one might guess from the title.
However overall very good, I think the author says he likes Bernard Cornwall and he should be proud of his tale which certainly holds it's head up well in that genre.
I couldn't quite give it 5 stars because I was not at all sure about the subplot, which rather distracted from the main tale, and seemed a bit silly given this was 11th not 5th or 6th century. I also felt it was a bit of a boys' book, a lot of fighting (and male orientated sex scenes) as one might guess from the title.
However overall very good, I think the author says he likes Bernard Cornwall and he should be proud of his tale which certainly holds it's head up well in that genre.
February 4, 2021
1066 is a year known for altering the course of England's future. This novel plots an intriguing narrative of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, told through the eyes of a young minor Nobel, Brand, as he comes of age on and off the battlefield in a politically unstable England.
Adrian Deans weaves together known historical facts, events, people, and conditions (and the occasional historical rumour!) and gives the reader personalities with hopes, fears and conflicts to bring this era to life. He also brings in a touch of fantasy via a remnant of pre-Roman Britain.
Overall this is an entertaining and well-written read, which I would recommend to lovers of historical fiction or anyone who wants to fan a fledgling interest in the era.
Adrian Deans weaves together known historical facts, events, people, and conditions (and the occasional historical rumour!) and gives the reader personalities with hopes, fears and conflicts to bring this era to life. He also brings in a touch of fantasy via a remnant of pre-Roman Britain.
Overall this is an entertaining and well-written read, which I would recommend to lovers of historical fiction or anyone who wants to fan a fledgling interest in the era.
April 21, 2018
This is a cracking story, told well, and respectful of the known history - whilst having great fun in the gaps. Adrian Deans can write!
However, there are some irritating editing errors, which spoiled it a little for me - the book nearly went across the room the second time the protagonist tied a belt around his waste; and having wild garlic, bluebells, and blackberries all around in England at the same time - in July - also grated. Luckily, most of these errors are clustered at the beginning, so if you persevere, you get drawn into the story anyway!
However, there are some irritating editing errors, which spoiled it a little for me - the book nearly went across the room the second time the protagonist tied a belt around his waste; and having wild garlic, bluebells, and blackberries all around in England at the same time - in July - also grated. Luckily, most of these errors are clustered at the beginning, so if you persevere, you get drawn into the story anyway!
June 3, 2020
This is an interesting work of historical fiction that dives into the complicated politics and subterfuge of the time. It is also focused on battles and conflicts which are all really well written. However, there is an unnecessary focus on sex that detracts from the story, as the few women who were included in the work were mostly there just for the protagonist's sexual forays or were extremely minimal characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 19, 2020
I typically avoid books written in the medieval era (as I have a degree in medieval studies and usually authors take too many liberties for my liking) but this book was evidently very well researched. It was believable and engaging. I especially loved seeing the main character grow up over the course of the novel, from a very believable teenager to a respectable man. Even though I knew where the story was going, I was so eager to see how it got there and how the author was going to handle it. I can’t wait to read the next instalment!
January 8, 2018
An excellent story! A book that I found impossible to put down. In combining affairs of the heart paralleled with the saga of politics and church leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, The Fighting Man has plenty to keep you entertained. Richly written with characters that you will both love and love to hate, Adrian Deans has captured a part of history with a unique tale of one man’s journey in a way that only Adrian himself can tell. I thoroughly recommend this book.
March 23, 2018
I really liked reading this book. The story is compelling and you just want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.
Before reading this book, I had a very limited knowledge of the history of medieval Britain. So I didn't know what the outcome of the final battle would be and I have to say it was very exciting.
Since then I'm trying to learn more about that period of time and I'm happy to know that most of the characters were real.
Before reading this book, I had a very limited knowledge of the history of medieval Britain. So I didn't know what the outcome of the final battle would be and I have to say it was very exciting.
Since then I'm trying to learn more about that period of time and I'm happy to know that most of the characters were real.
March 6, 2021
One of the only books i have read about 1066 which features more on Harold's story , told through the eyes of the main character Brand.
The character himself starts off really annoying , but my main dislike was the girl Valla , some sort of pagan druid type , she didn't fit into the story for me , most of Europe by this stage was christian , so her placement in the storyline just didn't work for me .
The character himself starts off really annoying , but my main dislike was the girl Valla , some sort of pagan druid type , she didn't fit into the story for me , most of Europe by this stage was christian , so her placement in the storyline just didn't work for me .
December 23, 2017
I really enjoyed reading The Fighting Man. Before reading this book, I had a very limited knowledge of the history of medieval Britain. Adrian Deans’ clever story telling has drawn me into the mystery and intrigue of history 1000 years ago - his ability of describing the scenes and living conditions of the times engaged all my senses, in a gripping tale. History comes alive! Highly recommended.
August 21, 2020
I loved this book! Fantastic storytelling kept me turning page after page. I love historical fiction and this book did not disappoint. I really hope there is a sequel because I couldn’t get enough of it! I want to thank Voracious Readers Only for this complimentary copy of the book.
June 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the sequel. It started slowly but as I got further in to the story I was caught up in the story. While I read a lot of historical fiction I haven’t read a lot about this time period. I received a complimentary copy of this novel.
August 2, 2021
Excellent battle scenes. Attention to detail that only someone who does their research can accomplish. The only negative I can report is that the author is a man writing as a man would when it comes to sex.
January 23, 2022
If you love the middle ages,and adventure you will loce this book. This is a truer accoubt of what life would have been like in the brisitish island in the middle ages. I was facinated by the book, complex plots, the action and humor it had.
November 19, 2020
As a first historical fiction, the story read really well, transporting you to the world with ease. A definite read for Game of Thrones fans that need their thriller fix.
January 8, 2021
If you want to know how life in 1060s was, read this book. Excellent.
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