This is a topper of a book, a 100% best seller. Jacky Harvey has painted a vast back scene of the 17th century's 30 year war in Europe, which proportionally was the most deadly war ever. However, this is NOT a war book. It is about an orphan boy, Jag, who grows and survives in those violent and harsh times. The cast is the host of people he meets, lives with, works and fights with, along the way. Jacky has carried out vast researches to be able to give such life and accuracy to everything, housing styles, horses, food, weapons, places and events, but certainly not in any dull way. You are pitch-forked into the world of people and action from the first sentence. Although this is her first work of fiction, her pedigree as a writer shows brilliantly through the seamless flow of people and action that is constant throughout this big book (534 pages!).
Although death destruction and depravity are inevitable consequences of war, and so must be included, she has a subtlety and skilfulness in her pen to depict these horrors without provoking revulsion. This is a truly great work of fiction - and it is only the first book of a trilogy! I cannot wait for the next book.
Although death destruction and depravity are inevitable consequences of war, and so must be included, she has a subtlety and skilfulness in her pen to depict these horrors without provoking revulsion. This is a truly great work of fiction - and it is only the first book of a trilogy! I cannot wait for the next book.