Historical Fiction Obsession: BLOG TOUR: Fire & Sword by Louise Turner

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

BLOG TOUR: Fire & Sword by Louise Turner

TouSchedule: http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/fireandswordtour

Tour Hashtag: #FireandSwordBlogTour

Publication Date: September 19, 2013
Hadley Rille Books
Formats: eBook, Paperback

On the 11th June in 1488, two armies meet in battle at Sauchieburn, near Stirling. One fights for King James the Third of Scotland, the other is loyal to his eldest son, Prince James, Duke of Rothesay.

Soon, James the Third is dead, murdered as he flees the field. His army is routed. Among the dead is Sir Thomas Sempill of Ellestoun, Sheriff of Renfrew, whose son and heir, John, escapes with his life.

Once John’s career as knight and courtier seemed assured. But with the death of his king, his situation is fragile. He’s the only surviving son of the Sempill line and he’s unmarried. If he hopes to survive, John must try and win favour with the new king.

And deal with the ruthless and powerful Lord Montgomerie…

Praise for Fire & Sword

“Louise Turner skillfully brings to life the conflict-ridden world of 15th century Scotland. Based on the true story of John Sempill, the narrative takes us from near ruin to an uneasy but satisfying final triumph. Thomas is a wonderfully flawed character, not your typical knight-in-shining-armor, but a young man plagued by uncertainty, prone to dark moods, and keenly aware of the ax hanging over his head. Hugh Montgomery, at once John’s nemesis and eventual ally, is simply delightful in his charisma and ruthlessness. The principle women of the story, Mary, Margaret, and Helen, bring fresh and varied perspectives to the events at hand, each one admirable in her own way. Honestly, I found nothing to complain about in this novel. It is expertly written, kept me turning the pages and reading late into the night. A fantastic debut, recommended for all fans of historical fiction, medieval times, and romance. I look forward to seeing what Turner has to offer next.” – Karin Rita Gastrich, Amazon Reviewer

My Review

“Fire & Sword” by Louise Turner started out a little slow, but turned out to be a fantastic read! I immediately liked John’ character, he’s part of the nobility, but he still has compassion and empathy for those below him. He’s a very likable character, someone who you are rooting for as you read. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the battle scenes. The author did a great job bringing the reader right into the action along with the characters. You were able to picture everything that was going on clearly in your mind.

The story started out a little slow, up until Lady Margaret’s character was introduced. I absolutely hated her for the majority of the novel. She is John’s betrothed, and she is definitely introduced as a character to hate at first. I became more interested in the novel after the love interest was brought into the novel. I love a good historical fiction novel, but I prefer it to have some type of love interest going on! This book satisfies that desire by adding a bit of a love story right along with all the action and drama. When I was about 35% into this novel, I could no longer put it down.

I would definitely recommend this novel to any lover of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy reading about Scotland’s history. The author does a great job of taking you there, and you definitely walk away from the novel feeling as though you learned something without realizing it, because you enjoyed it the entire time.

I give this novel a FIVE out of FIVE stars!

Buy the Book

Amazon UK (Ebook)
Amazon UK (Paperback)
Amazon US (Ebook)
Amazon US (Paperback)

About The Author

Born in Glasgow, Louise Turner spent her early years in the west of Scotland where she attended the University of Glasgow. After graduating with an MA in Archaeology, she went on to complete a PhD on the Bronze Age metalwork hoards of Essex and Kent. She has since enjoyed a varied career in archaeology and cultural resource management. Writing has always been a major aspect of her life and in 1988, she won the Glasgow Herald/Albacon New Writing in SF competition with her short story Busman’s Holiday. Louise lives with her husband in west Renfrewshire.