I loved this book. JC Harvey has done a fantastic job of bringing this period of History to life. I had next to no knowledge of the 30 years war, the Hapsburgs and the HRE prior to picking this novel up, and that really didn't matter.
The book is written very well, it is engaging and I really felt transported to the times and locations experienced by the protagonist, Jack. There's intrigue and mystery wrapped up with everyday life and the military actions of the period.
The Silver Wolf, the questions on Jack's past that are slowly revealed, and the everyday life of a Continent on a war footing make this a rich story for anyone who likes historical fiction to really sink their teeth into.
Battles and conflicts are told well, with just the right balance of accuracy, horror and gore to really place me on the battlefield with the characters, without being overly graphic for the most part.
I really loved this book, and I am pleased that further stories will be following it.
4/5 stars as I have 1 criticism, in that a lot of this novel did dwell on character development and attitudes, and there were a few places where there could possibly have been some more action or faster based plot movement. Parts of it did read more like a prequel or a scene setting and went a bit ploddy( rather than seeming to be the fast paced historical war novel I was perhaps expecting).
Book 2 as and when it is completed will be faster and better I am sure.
The book is written very well, it is engaging and I really felt transported to the times and locations experienced by the protagonist, Jack. There's intrigue and mystery wrapped up with everyday life and the military actions of the period.
The Silver Wolf, the questions on Jack's past that are slowly revealed, and the everyday life of a Continent on a war footing make this a rich story for anyone who likes historical fiction to really sink their teeth into.
Battles and conflicts are told well, with just the right balance of accuracy, horror and gore to really place me on the battlefield with the characters, without being overly graphic for the most part.
I really loved this book, and I am pleased that further stories will be following it.
4/5 stars as I have 1 criticism, in that a lot of this novel did dwell on character development and attitudes, and there were a few places where there could possibly have been some more action or faster based plot movement. Parts of it did read more like a prequel or a scene setting and went a bit ploddy( rather than seeming to be the fast paced historical war novel I was perhaps expecting).
Book 2 as and when it is completed will be faster and better I am sure.