Scan barcode
didactylos's review against another edition
1.0
There is a sense the writer knows the period but the way the narrative pans out, with jumps between places and no breaks makes it difficult to follow. Add on the idea of it all being about spying and espionage and frankly it lost me. Will I read any more of these? No.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘There was a chill breeze coming off the sea as Berenger Fripper squatted on his haunches near the fire.’
After the English victory at Crecy in 1346, Berenger Fripper and his men are stationed at Villeneuve-la-Hardie as part of the siege of Calais. Their mission is to defend newly won English territory from the French and their Genoese allies. But there’s a problem: someone from within the vintaine is passing important information to the French. Berenger Fripper needs to find out who it is: not only is the safety of the men at stake, but also the future of the war. The vintaine contains some new members, and there’s no shortage of suspicion and suspects.
Things get worse when the vintaine is attacked while at sea in the harbour near Calais and are captured by the Genoese. What will happen next?
‘There is not profit in death, my friend.’
I really enjoyed the way in which Mr Jecks developed many of the characters in this novel. Berenger Fripper himself is starting to feel like an old man (in his 30s) and has a number of regrets. He also has to deal with the tensions between some of the members of his vintaine while trying to work out who is passing information to the French.
I’m looking forward to the third book: some of the characters are starting to feel like old friends, and I want to know what will happen next.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
After the English victory at Crecy in 1346, Berenger Fripper and his men are stationed at Villeneuve-la-Hardie as part of the siege of Calais. Their mission is to defend newly won English territory from the French and their Genoese allies. But there’s a problem: someone from within the vintaine is passing important information to the French. Berenger Fripper needs to find out who it is: not only is the safety of the men at stake, but also the future of the war. The vintaine contains some new members, and there’s no shortage of suspicion and suspects.
Things get worse when the vintaine is attacked while at sea in the harbour near Calais and are captured by the Genoese. What will happen next?
‘There is not profit in death, my friend.’
I really enjoyed the way in which Mr Jecks developed many of the characters in this novel. Berenger Fripper himself is starting to feel like an old man (in his 30s) and has a number of regrets. He also has to deal with the tensions between some of the members of his vintaine while trying to work out who is passing information to the French.
I’m looking forward to the third book: some of the characters are starting to feel like old friends, and I want to know what will happen next.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
More...