Review: Light treatment of a heavy subject.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 18, 2013
I have read a couple of other historical books by this author and have been reasonably satisfied with all of them. Heppner does give value for money, especially in his suspenseful, action packed delivery combined with a good presentation of medieval life, both military and domestic. His settings are arguably the best features in his books.Heppner's characters are a mixed bunch; heroes are super-heroes and villains extremely dastardly, almost all of them completely over-the-top. One get distinctly uncomfortable when realising the brutal day-to-day lives that were suffered by the underdogs in those times. The nobles had complete freedom to exercise corporal punishment to their serfs, and were not afraid to apply it.There is a fairy tale quality though to this story, not least in a hasty and imminently predictable "and they lived happily ever after" ending.Worth a read though. Likely to do the sequel, if released.