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Reconquista Chronicles #1
Castilian Knight
The legend that was El Cid began more than a thousand years ago and time has meant that reality and fiction are intertwined like the threads of a spider’s web.
This is the story of a time when brother fought brother and Christian fought Christian. Power was all and Spain was riven by strife which was political, religious and familial! One man came from the harsh land of Castile to make one land and one state. Spain truly began with Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, El Campeador, El Cid.
His story is told through the eyes of the warrior who spent his life at his side. William Redbeard came from humble origins but he was destined for greatness too as he walked in the seemingly endless shadow of El Cid.
This first instalment in the Chronicles tells of Rodrigo’s rise to prominence when he became the champion of Prince Sancho of Castile. This is but the beginning of a tale which still stirs the blood a millennium after it began.
This is the story of a time when brother fought brother and Christian fought Christian. Power was all and Spain was riven by strife which was political, religious and familial! One man came from the harsh land of Castile to make one land and one state. Spain truly began with Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, El Campeador, El Cid.
His story is told through the eyes of the warrior who spent his life at his side. William Redbeard came from humble origins but he was destined for greatness too as he walked in the seemingly endless shadow of El Cid.
This first instalment in the Chronicles tells of Rodrigo’s rise to prominence when he became the champion of Prince Sancho of Castile. This is but the beginning of a tale which still stirs the blood a millennium after it began.
235 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2019
267 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Griff Hosker
306 books437 followersI was born in 1950 in Lancashire and attended a boy’s grammar school. After qualifying as an English and Drama teacher in 1972, I worked in the North East of England for the next 35 years. During that time I did write, mainly plays, pantos and musicals for the students at the three schools in which I worked.
When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.
My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.
griff-signature-360x57
When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.
My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.
griff-signature-360x57
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 20, 2022
3.5 stars. This was an interesting historical fiction audiobook and while I found it to be a good story. Don't think I'll continue on with the serie, it didn't fully grab my curiosity
April 15, 2021
A knight in the making
This book was interesting, let me say, this book is told from a first person view. It's about El Cid, the hero of Spain, before he became El Cid, when he was in his young days and learned how to become a knight. That's where the first person comes in, this book is told from his trainer, who was also his friend.
This book took me longer to read, because of the first person telling which I don't read a lot of, and there are two more in this series.
I consider this book historical fiction and if this genre interests you, than it's worth the read.
Happy Reading.
This book was interesting, let me say, this book is told from a first person view. It's about El Cid, the hero of Spain, before he became El Cid, when he was in his young days and learned how to become a knight. That's where the first person comes in, this book is told from his trainer, who was also his friend.
This book took me longer to read, because of the first person telling which I don't read a lot of, and there are two more in this series.
I consider this book historical fiction and if this genre interests you, than it's worth the read.
Happy Reading.
April 1, 2021
A subtle change of theatre of war
I gave this book 4 stars as it is novel that events in Spain are overshadowed until well into the mid 1300's when the Templars arrived. It's downside is the reputation of characters re-emerging for instance William could be the Warlord, Maria could be Matilda etc. Not sure I'll pursue this series at the moment.
I gave this book 4 stars as it is novel that events in Spain are overshadowed until well into the mid 1300's when the Templars arrived. It's downside is the reputation of characters re-emerging for instance William could be the Warlord, Maria could be Matilda etc. Not sure I'll pursue this series at the moment.
June 7, 2020
Usual Gruff Hosker fare,well researched,good storyline,believable. Plenty of battles intregue. My only criticism would be it seems very similar thread to many of his previous knight's tales.
July 24, 2022
I want to like this book more than I do.
I'm not sure it's just one thing that keeps me from being completely caught on the hook with this book.
The dozens of unnecessary exclamation marks? The still occasional spelling and grammar errors? Maybe it's the "hero that can do no wrong" theme?
I still finished it and will read the next in the series too, so what do I know?
I'm not sure it's just one thing that keeps me from being completely caught on the hook with this book.
The dozens of unnecessary exclamation marks? The still occasional spelling and grammar errors? Maybe it's the "hero that can do no wrong" theme?
I still finished it and will read the next in the series too, so what do I know?
September 16, 2020
El Cid lives
Really enjoyed this book, I also loved the movie, saw it for the first time in the mid 1980s.
Great characters and love the point of view from William Redbeard!!
Really enjoyed this book, I also loved the movie, saw it for the first time in the mid 1980s.
Great characters and love the point of view from William Redbeard!!
October 16, 2020
A great read
Full of descriptive action from start to finish and makes you want to read the sequel. I hope they are just as good
Full of descriptive action from start to finish and makes you want to read the sequel. I hope they are just as good
November 27, 2020
Painful prose and stilted dialogue.this one was not for me so unable to recommend to the normal crew.
July 23, 2024
Read it because of interest in El Cid. First time I’ve tried this author. Well paced and interesting. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
February 24, 2020
Interesting. El Cid brought to light.
February 19, 2020
Slow start to what the author intends to be a multi book series. Reads like young adult fiction.
October 23, 2019
A great read telling the story of the legend of EL CID
Historical fiction can leave many holes in the facts for the author to weave his story allowing the reader to actively feel a part of the narrative IF the writer has done his job. Griff Hosker has done an exceptional job beginning the story of Rodrigo de Vivar, known worldwide as EL CID thanks to Hollywood and Charleton Heston. The author takes his craft seriously obviously by doing pain staking research. Then weaving a story with historical characters, places, and events. Hosker never fails to inform and entertain. Looking forward to book 2!!!!
Historical fiction can leave many holes in the facts for the author to weave his story allowing the reader to actively feel a part of the narrative IF the writer has done his job. Griff Hosker has done an exceptional job beginning the story of Rodrigo de Vivar, known worldwide as EL CID thanks to Hollywood and Charleton Heston. The author takes his craft seriously obviously by doing pain staking research. Then weaving a story with historical characters, places, and events. Hosker never fails to inform and entertain. Looking forward to book 2!!!!
February 5, 2020
Excellent combination of fact and fiction!
Highly entertaining story of a tumultuous period of which little is known but legend. Excellent combination of scholarship and research into weapons and tactics of the per as well as details on the politics of everyday life. Great beginning of a new series.
Highly entertaining story of a tumultuous period of which little is known but legend. Excellent combination of scholarship and research into weapons and tactics of the per as well as details on the politics of everyday life. Great beginning of a new series.
December 18, 2019
A Totally wonderful read from start to finish, the characters are brought to life in a believable manner without the Hollywood twist of the old movie.
Please bring on the next book asap.
Please bring on the next book asap.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews