Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I just put it down to start something else and haven't picked it back up.
This is the first book in a trilogy about Robert the Bruce. This focuses on Robert before he became the King of Scotland. I haven't read a lot of non-fiction work about Robert the Bruce so a lot of my education has come from myth, legend and Brave Heart! Robyn Young gives us a Robert who isn't too perfect, a little idealistic and very human. I love the period detail and the narrative - a great start to another favourite series of mine.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great read - compares well with the Nigel Tranter classic so far. Robert the Bruce was a complex character and the conflicts of loyalties and friendships are well described in this first volume. Looking forward to the remaining 2 volumes.
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hello! Robert the Bruce, Edward Longshanks, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, William Wallace & Alexander Stewart & to many more to mention. Young tackles the history of Scotland, England & Wales beautifully! The story abounds with treachery and vivid battle scenes! The reader is wonderful. The portentous ending literally gave me waves of full body goosebumps and perfectly sets up the next book!
Insurrection is the romping start of the epic life story of Robert the Bruce. The story is high pace and told with passion and eye for detail. I was immediately drawn into this retelling of the eventful life of the Bruce, after it won my heart in the prologue. I'm such a sap for medieval knighthood and here was a wonderful scene of a 13th century tournament to start me off. The rest of the book did not disappoint either. Full of political intrigue, military campaigns and wonderful battle scenes alternated with tales of magic, Arthurian myth and a mysterious knightly order... I especially like Young's inclusion of (parts of) the Arthurian myth. I thought it added an extra dimension to the story.
Young is a master in writing about the complex political and military events of late medieval Britain. She manages to capture it all, clearly, making it easy to grasp even for those not familiar with this period of history, without simplifying the events beyong recognition. The action scenes were very well written and I found myself on the edge of my seat when reading them. Yet other parts of the story felt underdeveloped. I was disappointed with the glossing over of
Another aspect of the story that could have been developed better was the character of Robert in the first half of the novel. There's a lot happening to Robert in his youth, and the people around him steer him in certain directions. Yet I had no idea what Robert wanted. I missed a sense of urgency in him, or an inner drive that made him do what he did in the first half of the novel. That's the reason that in the first half of the novel, I liked king Edward a whole lot more. He had a clear goal and drive to get what he wanted. In the second half, Robert is presented a dilemma:
THE WRITING
I like Young's style. She's very descriptive, at times flowery, with loads of detail of medieval life. However, there were instances where it didn't work as at times her descriptions get away from her. For example: "He could see ladders being carried by lines of men and the weapons in their raised fists weren't swords or spears, but axes, hammers and picks, as if they were a mad horde of labourers rushing in to start a day's work." (p. 243)
The image conjured up by that description is quite funny, but probably not the feeling she was going for when describing the enemy storming the castle.
Futhermore, forgetting at times that descriptions are used to evoke images, and are not to be used for description's sake only, some descriptors are turned into empty phrases by their repeated use. All medieval halls are "cavernous" and oodles of things are "garish in the sunlight". Red wine is "scarlet", "ruby-red" or (my favorite) "plum-dark". Why can't red wine be just red?
Though most of the time, her writing evokes the period very well, and is able to grip the reader. I spend a few nights staying up late, unable to put the book down before going to sleep. I'm on the look out for the other books in this series, and might check out her Templar series as well.
Eh, good, but REALLY dry. Young's books are impeccably researched, but this one gets WAY too bogged down in names and places and politics. Finishes well, but I'm not rushed out to read the next one.