Monthly Group Reads: NOVEMBER 2013 (Group Read 2) Sworn Sword by James Aitcheson

[Darcy]

I've finished the other group read for the month and am now being introduced to Tancred.

[Amanda]

My request for Sworn Sword finally came in and I picked it up from my library today.
I hope I'll be able to catch up with you all :).

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Amanda wrote: "My request for Sworn Sword finally came in and I picked it up from my library today.
I hope I'll be able to catch up with you all :)."

Some members are yet to start. You'll have company. :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Paula wrote: "I have to tell you that I so love this book. I thought I would some how, even if it is (May all forgive me for my anti Norman sentiment) told from the viewpoint of one of the 'invaders'. I'm just ..."


I think that because this is a favourite era of yours and mine, Paula, that we get a little extra out of the books.
For example, when I recently read Giles Kristian's English Civil War book I simply struggled to geet into it. I have very little interest in the ECW and that works against the book.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Darcy wrote: "I've finished the other group read for the month and am now being introduced to Tancred."

You too will now be able to evaluate Tancred's state of mind. :)

[Darcy]

Terri wrote: "You too will now be able to evaluate Tancred's state of mind. :)"

Ooooh, right! I hadn't even thought of that. Another reason to get to it then :D

[Ryan]

I'm about half way through and enjoying the story. I didn't realize that there were still serious open rebellions three years after the conquest.

[Justin]

I'm close to half way, and am impressed, seeing as this is as debut novel (I'm always more patient with debuts). I really haven't read any Norman conquest novels, so it isn't a novelty for me to read it from the Norman perspective. I'm eager to read on.

[Jane]

Ryan wrote: "I'm about half way through and enjoying the story. I didn't realize that there were still serious open rebellions three years after the conquest."

I hadn't realized that either, but it's logical.

[Paula]

Ryan wrote: "I'm about half way through and enjoying the story. I didn't realize that there were still serious open rebellions three years after the conquest."

Yes,the Normans didn't really fully conquer England for another 5 years or so. the problem for the English was that there was no one powerful enough and with a well established following to really resist it. Harold and his brothers were the only ones really to have been in that position and they were all dead. Though there were some very brave Englishmen like Hereward and Edgar and Eadric the Wild, there wasn't a cohesive centralised HQ for them.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Justin wrote: "I'm close to half way, and am impressed, seeing as this is as debut novel (I'm always more patient with debuts). I really haven't read any Norman conquest novels, so it isn't a novelty for me to re..."

that is what impressed me the most about the book. That it was a debut. So many authors are simple writers in their debut and the skills form over the first few books. With Sworn Sword, despite some flaws in writing in the second half of the book, read like a third or fourth book in a series. The skills were already there.

[Justin]

I agree. I think Aitcheson has quite a career ahead of him.

[Paula]

He definitely has a great writing career ahead of him!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

How are folks going with the read? I keep waiting to see reviews for this book and the other monthly read, Hero of Rome. :)

As long as the review is on Goodreads and the link it to GR, please feel free to add a link to your review.
It doesn't matter if it is negative or positive. As I mentioned in the Hero of Rome thread...all opinions are valid and welcome.

[Justin]

The book's pace slowed quite a bit about halfway through and seemed to transition from a action/adventure to mystery/thriller. Now the action is back. Not too sure how I feel about it. Though our hero is well-rounded, I feel that most of the other knights in his mini conroi are all floating in a undifferentiated knight-soup. They could use more depth. I'll be finishing it in the next day or two and will post my thoughts then.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Justin wrote: "undifferentiated knight-soup.."

OMG. That's the funniest description I have seen, ever! :D

Funny. That is how I felt about the book too. Way back when I read it. There is a distinct change from about the half way mark. I found the writing weakened a bit and the story lost its way a few times.

[Paula]

I'm wading through the boat journey and now they've just got their horses. As usual, time is conspiring against me to keep up with the read. I'm looking forward to the bit where they arrive at Wltun. I sort of have an idea why he is going there and who the priest has a message for ;)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Let us know if your idea pans out. :)

[Alicja]

Paula wrote: "I'm wading through the boat journey and now they've just got their horses. As usual, time is conspiring against me to keep up with the read. I'm looking forward to the bit where they arrive at Wltu..."

Hehe, I had an idea as well and I was completely wrong. Do let us know if you figured it out!

[Alicja]

I wrote a review for Sworn Sword if anyone is interested, here is the link to it (in GR): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Good review. :) Thanks for sharing the link.

[Patrick]

l love these books even theo we see it from the one side that has class as the bad guys of english history, can't wait for the next book

[Paula]

I am so enjoying this book. its not just a "We went there and fought and won a great battle, then we went here and fought another great battle and won and then we went here and fought another great battle..." and so on, this book has real depth, with characters that never seem what they are and have more than one dimension to them.This a book about a journey that takes the protagonist into a world he does not feel comfortable with and as the story develops so Tancred has to examine what his purpose must be in life now that his world has been shaken up so much with the death of his lord. the actions of his friends lead him to also examine his own values in this new country in which he is one of the conquerors. and then you have the priest with his secrets kept close to his chest. I have this shiver of excitement knowing that something big is coming and I cant wait!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Love to see someone enjoying a book that much, Paula. :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Paula]

So this read is over. What are peoples' thoughts? Have we already moved on lol? I am still reading, got about 50 pages to go, which is damned good for me. When i read Robyn Young's book I was way behind. Anyways, i am hoping that everyone has enjoyed reading this as much as I. I really quite liked Tancred, I liked his moody seriousness and his sense of what is right and honourable, however, if he calls my Harold a Usurper again - well, I might just let it go one more time lols

[C.P.]

Well, I haven't started yet, being over my ears in Elizabethan England, so you are way ahead of me, Paula!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sounds like it may be a refreshing change for you, C.P. To get out of the Elizabethan period into some post Conquest.

[Paula]

Terri wrote: "Sounds like it may be a refreshing change for you, C.P. To get out of the Elizabethan period into some post Conquest."

Yes come on over to the 11thc! A most exciting and intriguing time. And there are no Elizabeths and No Mary's. Lots of Alfgyva's though, God, there are a lot of those. Anyway, I do think that one might need a bit of background knowledge before reading this one. Terri, do you get Time Team over there?

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Love Time Team. Have seen nearly every episode except for last season. I have not seen any of the new one hour 'specials' either. Waiting for them to air.

[Paula]

Terri wrote: "Love Time Team. Have seen nearly every episode except for last season. I have not seen any of the new one hour 'specials' either. Waiting for them to air."

Terri wrote: "Love Time Team. Have seen nearly every episode except for last season. I have not seen any of the new one hour 'specials' either. Waiting for them to air."

We've just had the recent one about the "Lost Battlefield" http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/new...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I am so jealous. I actually feel slightly anxious that I have to wait a long time to see that special. :[

[Mark]

Teri I posted a link to english heritage about the programme but I think it got lost in the opera stuff. :)

was in a hurry so it went in random thoughts, sorry.

[Tyler]

Just wanted to say, thanks for making this the November read. Enjoyed it, and it had been sitting for a bit anyway. Thanks!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Great! two things I love to hear on these group reads.
One: that it inspired members to read a book that they owned, or had been on the tbr a long time, and had needed that push to get to
Two: that it was enjoyed!!
:)

[Amanda]

I finally had the time to pick this book up again. I'm about 75 pages in and enjoying it so far. For a while I wasn't getting into it, but a good battle scene always gets my blood up! Hopefully it can keep my interest :).

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I can't remember how much of the book is battle scenes.
BUt if you end up liking this one, the second one is thick with battle scenes. I gave the book five stars (based on enjoyment factor over all) and yet there was so much protracted battle that I did skim read plenty of times. :)

[C.P.]

Terri wrote: "Sounds like it may be a refreshing change for you, C.P. To get out of the Elizabethan period into some post Conquest."

:-D

[Amanda]

Woo! Finally got around to finishing Sworn Sword. I enjoyed it a lot, especially as I got farther along in the story and things began to pick up.
I thought Tancred was an interesting character. He was honorable, but not too good and kind.
I know next to nothing about the Normans, so now I have to find some good history books about them and their invasion.

My favorite thing about the book was that I learned a lot! And the battle scenes, of course ;).

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Glad you liked it, Amanda. :)
I see you gave it the same amount of stars as I did.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

For anybody considering reading the second book. I finally got my review done today. Not a long one. Didn't really know what to say. Like the first only written better and even more battles, pretty much sums book two up. :\ I gave it 4 stars.

No spoilers..
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Paula]

Amanda wrote: "Woo! Finally got around to finishing Sworn Sword. I enjoyed it a lot, especially as I got farther along in the story and things began to pick up.
I thought Tancred was an intere..."

Hi Amanda This book The Norman Conquest: The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England by Marc Morris is a brilliant up to date read and An oldie but a goodie, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... by

[Paula]

I finished this a few days ago and will be posting a review shortly.I really enjoyed it

[Amanda]

I must have missed the notification for this thread.
I'm looking forward to the second book and seeing where Tancred goes from here.

Great review Terri! I'll definitely love all the fight scenes :).

[Amanda]

Paula wrote: "Hi Amanda This book The Norman Conquest: The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England by Marc Morris is a brilliant up to date read and An oldie but a goodie."

Thanks Paula! I'll check to see if my library has the book.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Amanda wrote: "

Great review Terri! I'll definitely love all the fight sce..."

Thanks!
There are a lot of them and they go for many pages. Right up your alley. :)

[Sherry]

I'm slow, but finally catching up with the rest of you! Have found and read Sworn Sword, which I loved. I'm a bit of a swashbuckler fan, I guess, and really enjoyed Tancred as well as the nicely developed plot. Have just posted my review.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

5 stars. Wonderful!
He's a good character, that's for sure (well, to my personal taste and yours and some others who read the group read, I understand that not all would agree with us and that is perfectly okay). :)

[Paula]

I know some of you guys found Beatrice really annoying? I didn't mind her at all. some of the negative qualities she possessed were similar to those of Tancred, i thought. He too was actually quite rude to her when she was trying to be a shoulder to cry on and he had no consideration for what she might have been through (i.e had lost her husband etc etc) and he too was moody and sullen at times, didn't stop me liking him though. What are other peoples thoughts?

[Dawn]

Pretty sure all my thoughts are already in here somewhere but I didn't find Beatrice annoying either. I didn't like Tancred though.

Have you finished the books now Paula?? What have you rated it?

[Paula]

Dawn wrote: "Pretty sure all my thoughts are already in here somewhere but I didn't find Beatrice annoying either. I didn't like Tancred though.

Have you finished the books now Paula?? What have you rated it?"

Yes I have finished it, however working on my rating at the moment, it will either come out as 4 or 5. I have a bit of a points system and use criteria to add them up. I know, sad aren't I lol. But my Review is done. I cant post it yet as i have reviewed it for my Blog first and I have an interview coming up with James to coincide.