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A review by chymerra
Book of the Night by Oliver Pötzsch
4.0
I very rarely read historical fiction even though I like reading it. I don’t know why I don’t read that genre. Probably because 90% of the historical fiction that I have read is usually very dry and becomes boring because the authors usually stick to the facts and not build an actual story around them.
That is what I liked about this book. While it was historically accurate (I googled the battles, the Inquisition, the burning of the witches, the general and the Swedish king at the time to verify), the author built a fictional story around those events.
I felt awful for Lukas. His whole world was ruined within a day. His father murdered, his mother accused of being a witch and taken away and his sister kidnapped. If that wasn’t enough to break someone, a few days later, he happened into town when his mother was being burned at the stake. Talk about traumatizing and my heart broke for him.
But, after almost freezing to death and a run in with a group of children who were not good to be around (and I understand that’s how it was in those days), he fell in with a travelling group of performers. There he met Giovanni, Paulus and Jerome….fencers who put on an act. He proves his worth against the Master fencer and is incorporated into their act.
After the troupe is attacked and most of its members killed, the foursome decide to seek out the “Black Musketeers”….a group of legendary fighters in the King’s army. Lukas had found out, earlier in the book, that his father was part of the “Black Musketeers” and the fencing master in the troupe was also. After a journey, they find the “Black Musketeers” and beg to join. After proving themselves to the leader, he allows them in.
Now, not going to go into the book from there. All I have to say is that Lukas finds out a lot of things about his mother, sister and father from a few people and that his fencing skill is put to the test as well.
The end was a bit surprising to me because I honestly wasn’t expecting it. I really thought that the opposite was going to happen and was preparing myself for it. I also loved that the author did leave the book open for a second book.
How many stars will I give Book of the Night? 4
Why? A great, engrossing read. I was up most of the night and got emotionally invested in Lukas’s character.
Will I reread? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age Range: Adult
Why: Violence
**I received Book of the Night from AmazonCrossing as an ARC**
That is what I liked about this book. While it was historically accurate (I googled the battles, the Inquisition, the burning of the witches, the general and the Swedish king at the time to verify), the author built a fictional story around those events.
I felt awful for Lukas. His whole world was ruined within a day. His father murdered, his mother accused of being a witch and taken away and his sister kidnapped. If that wasn’t enough to break someone, a few days later, he happened into town when his mother was being burned at the stake. Talk about traumatizing and my heart broke for him.
But, after almost freezing to death and a run in with a group of children who were not good to be around (and I understand that’s how it was in those days), he fell in with a travelling group of performers. There he met Giovanni, Paulus and Jerome….fencers who put on an act. He proves his worth against the Master fencer and is incorporated into their act.
After the troupe is attacked and most of its members killed, the foursome decide to seek out the “Black Musketeers”….a group of legendary fighters in the King’s army. Lukas had found out, earlier in the book, that his father was part of the “Black Musketeers” and the fencing master in the troupe was also. After a journey, they find the “Black Musketeers” and beg to join. After proving themselves to the leader, he allows them in.
Now, not going to go into the book from there. All I have to say is that Lukas finds out a lot of things about his mother, sister and father from a few people and that his fencing skill is put to the test as well.
The end was a bit surprising to me because I honestly wasn’t expecting it. I really thought that the opposite was going to happen and was preparing myself for it. I also loved that the author did leave the book open for a second book.
How many stars will I give Book of the Night? 4
Why? A great, engrossing read. I was up most of the night and got emotionally invested in Lukas’s character.
Will I reread? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age Range: Adult
Why: Violence
**I received Book of the Night from AmazonCrossing as an ARC**