Review: A Cracking Good Read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 10, 2013
A most interesting and illuminating read about a period and a people of whom I knew little. The storyline follows the trials and tribulations of Yaroslava, a young Russian princess, as the Mongols sweep into mediaeval southern Russia, take her prisoner and kill or enslave most of the people she knows.My initial impression was of a slow tale, but I was mistaken. It kept me reading and as an avid but impatient reader of everything - genre and literature - that is a very good sign! The story builds momentum, then bowls along at a fair rate and becomes involving at an early stage.One cannot help but feel for this young and relatively innocent girl whose world is permanently destroyed by an irresistible force of 'barbarians'. Her adaptation to her changed circumstances is carefully visualised and skilfully written by Larisa Walk and the whole work feels 'real' as a result. I tire of reading novels labelled ostensibly as 'historical' where actual fact is subsumed into an imagined reality far from historical accuracy or any semblance of the period. It's perfectly acceptable in steampunk, time travel or alternate reality works, but not in historical novels that follow a linear timeline. There are one or two instances of magical elements in this book (I feel it could have been an excellent purely historical novel without the fantasy) but they don't detract from a cracking good read. In fairness, the book is labelled as historical fantasy, so I have no real complaint.All in all, a genuinely good book, well written by an accomplished indie author and worth the five stars I have no hesitation in giving. Recommended!