Title: Shadows and Strongholds
Series: (The Fitzwaren Novels #1)
Author: Elizabeth Chadwick
Format: Paperback
Pages: 568
Published: November 29th 2005
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (first published July
2004)
Source: From the Publisher, in exchange
of an honest review!
A medieval tale of pride and strife, of
coming-of-age in a world where chivalry is a luxury seldom afforded, especially
by men of power.
England, 1148---ten-year-old Brunin
FitzWarin is an awkward misfit in his own family. A quiet child, he is
tormented by his brothers and loathed by his powerful and autocratic grandmother.
In an attempt to encourage Brunin's development, his father sends him to be
fostered in the household of Joscelin de Dinan, Lord of Ludlow. Here Brunin
will learn knightly arts, but before he can succeed, he must overcome the
deep-seated doubts that hold him back.
Hawise, the youngest daughter of Lord
Joscelin, soon forms a strong friendship with Brunin. Family loyalties mean
that her father, with the young Brunin as his squire, must aid Prince Henry of
Anjou in his battle with King Stephen for the English crown. Meanwhile, Ludlow
itself comes under threat from Joscelin's rival, Gilbert de Lacy. As the war
for the crown rages, and de Lacy becomes more assertive in his claims for
Ludlow, Brunin and Hawise are drawn into each other's arms.
Now Brunin must defeat the shadows of
his childhood and put to use all that he has learned. As the pressure on Ludlow
intensifies and a new Welsh threat emerges against his own family's lands,
Brunin must confront the future head on, or fail on all counts....
Rating: 5/5
I do admit that Shadows and Strongholds
isn't necessarily my usual type of read, but I really liked this book. At first
I didn't think it would be this kind of reading. I may have misread the blurb
at first, but I didn't expect this. I rather expected something in the same
genre as Julianne MacLean, but this is really not the case. More in the genre
of Mireille Calmel, if you read in French or Diana Gabaldon!
I was pleasantly surprised by my growing
interest in the characters and the basic story. I was immediately resulted in
the intensity of life at that time and I created a quick link with Brunin
FitzWarin and Hawise, the main characters of this story. I loved the complexity
of these two characters, but mainly Brunin that we follow from childhood to
adulthood. He will suffer the ups and downs of an intensive and harsh learning,
offered by Lord Joscelin, to become a knight.
I loved the romance that intertwines
with the rude description of the kind of life at that time. Arranged marriages,
quarrels between neighbors to gain territory and that all are forced to live
under the authority of a monarchy that can change every second! The plot was
interesting, but not something I never read about. I was most impressed by some
treasons that occur during the reading and that demonstrates the ability of the
author to build a good story. The fact that this romance is only at the 3/4 of
the book doesn't bother me, because I was so absorbed by the story as such,
that I did not even notice its non-existence.
The fact that the story wasn't always
about Brunin, but also on his family, friends and Lord Jocelin family too added
to this story. When you read Shadows and Strongholds, you realise that the
FitzWarin family have many connection and link through the years and country
that it won't and can't ended with only Brunin's story.
This is the first time I read anything
written by Elizabeth Chadwick and it will probably not last, because I loved my
experience and I hope to read more of this series and from her!
Page Turner: Yes!
Series: Yes (The Fitzwaren Novels #1)
Stand Alone: Yes, but you will surely
want to read the next book!
Hotness: Brunin, but I don't really see
him as an ’’Hotness’’
Proserpine Recommendation: Do you love
Historical Fiction and Historical Romance? Everything with a medieval
background is on your top To-Be-Read List? You love action, romance, treason,
fighting scenes? Then this book is for you! Buy-Borrow-TBR pile!
Best selling historical novelist
Elizabeth Chadwick won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel The Wild Hunt.
She has been shortlisted for the UK's mainstream Best Romantic Novel of the
Year Award 4 times and longlisted twice. Her novel The Scarlet Lion about the
great William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare, has been selected by
Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society as one of the landmark
historical novels of the last ten years.
When not at her desk, she can be found
taking long walks with the dog, baking cakes, reading books (of course!)
exploring ruins, listening to various brands of rock and metal music, and
occasionally slaving over a steaming cauldron with re-enactment society Regia
Anglorum.
Good review - I have not read anything by this author but I'm intrigued by this book and series. Thanks for sharing
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