Sworn Sword: A Novel (The Conquest Series, 1)

I was looking for historical fiction about the Norman Conquest and discovered James Aitcheson's series featuring the fictional knight Tancred a Dinant. These book are exactly what I was looking for - lots of adventure, careful recreation of the historical period and minimal explicit sexual content. Tancred is an interesting hero - arrogant, guilt ridden, impetuous and an intelligent leader. Aitcheson is an excellent writer whose prose flows easily making for very enjoyable reading. Most of my ancestry is French, English, Irish and Scottish and dates back to the Conquest. I'm leaving this week with my family for a visit to the British Isles to discover our "roots" and reading these books is an enjoyable and useful means of learning the early history of the countries.

It was obvious that the author researched the facts of this case exhaustively. It conformed very well to the story that I was familier with. It was one of those books that is hard to put down, once started. I read it in two days. Good reading, and recommended to anyone with a with a sense of history.

James Aitcheson’s SWORN SWORD is an outstanding debut novel that treats an underexamined area in historical fiction: the Saxon rebellions following William the Conqueror’s victory over Harold Godwinson in 1066. Tancred a Dinant is a “sworn sword” of Robert de Commines, who has been charged by King William with subduing northern England. Loyalty is everything in Tancred’s world, and when his lord is killed the first thought in his mind is revenge. Before he can accomplish this, however, he becomes entangled in a world that is far more complicated and treacherous than he is accustomed to. Tancred, as the novel’s protagonist, is clearly a man of his time and yet someone a modern reader can root for – a well-done balancing act by Aitcheson. Secondary characters are well-drawn too (with the possible exception of a high-born demoiselle who seems uncommonly forward with a mere knight). In the next two books in the series, we may hope for a consummation of Tancred’s desire to revenge himself on Eadgar, the Saxon leader responsible for Lord Robert’s death.

Enjoyed the book and would consider other books from this author. Gives a good idea of life at the time. I would have given him a 5 if there was more historic reference.

I was really hoping this would be something special in light of all the reviews but it disappointed. Like a few others here I found the plot more than a little obvious and the characters to be one dimensional. The dialogue is somewhat of a high school level which added to the awkwardness of the text. The travel and battle scenes were ok but the fighting narratives became very repetitive with little new to add. Overall it didnt grip me in the same way as Conn Iggulden or Adrian Goldworthy does so this book doesnt make it into the top league by any stretch. I wont be buying the second volume of the saga because he doesnt make me care enough about anyone in the first, nor is the writing so good that I have to buy it.

This is an absorbing read that begins with quietly paced pages in which Tancred of Dinant's thoughts tell us time, place and circumstance. While the first sentence is not "It was a dark and stormy night," it's raining. (Easy to joke "Of course it's raining, it's England," but O, to be in England on its glorious sunny days.) Tancred, who fought at Hastings, is leading his contingent of armed men into still-resistant Northumbria. Soon enough, we're in battle and on to Tancred's page-cramming further adventures.The author's bona fides are impressive. At Cambridge he was a student of Dr. Elisabeth van Houts, who gave him a glowing jacket blurb in which she says he is "as true to the sources as possible." Prodigious scholar of the period, editor and translator of The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, along with her immense body of other scholarly work, she should know.All that said, what matters most to the reader is: can I put this book down? I say no, as a matter of fact I couldn't, and I'll be reading Aitcheson's next.

If you like reading stories about this timeframe, the book was very enjoyable. The book has a good storyline and a nice twist at the end. The book would probably make a good movie.

This is a subject being widely read by fans of Bernard Cornwell. His series has been moving toward the end of the saxon era. Thus, this novel is about a decade, give or take, past that time frame. It is 3 years past conquest by William. Please note that this book is more from the norman and french point of view and not the saxon or English. No matter, I believe it reflects the era well from a historical standpoint. The main character is a knight who, from age 13 or so, had been following from battle to battle a norman noble. He was head of a small group, about 20 or so, of knights from this noble. Since there were several hundred fighters in this group, it gives you an idea that he was a valuable asset to him. As the book changes after a battle, our hero is required to provide an oath to another noble to repay a debt. The oath involves travelling halfway across Great Britain, keeping safe the travellers and taking an important message to the far south. There are several battles, chases by horse and ship, trickery and deceit, a shade of romance and the clash between honor and country. I perhaps did not describe the interesting book well that I read but to do so would give away the plot. Suffice it to say it is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read as well as a great heroic fiction book. It is a GREAT read...shu

Only 3 books, too bad, awesome writing

Bernard Cornwell style story of a landless knight during the aftermath of Hastings. Looking forward to reading the second part.

The author James Aitcheson has not only written something pretty remarkable and captivating for his young age and in a difficult genre to crack which is often filled with middle-aged to old men/women, he has awakened and created a whole other aspect and slant on history and historical figures.Most of the popular historical fiction is centred around Anglo-Saxons or Vikings or Civil Wars (in America and England) or royal courts from the sixteenth century onwards but yet I do believe James is the first writer to pick a part of history and not write it from the key event, and not write it from the point of view of those who's history it is; BUT He writes it in the first initial years AFTER the fateful year of 1066 where William, Duke of Normandy defeats the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson; James writes it also from the point of view of the invading NORMAN KNIGHTS - NOT - the defeated Anglo-Saxon people/nobles.What James has written is a new, refreshing and original stance on a very significant point of history - now some readers may think that what on earth could be interesting enough about the bullyish Normans conquering England? Well I won't say a lot apart from the secret that is riddled cunningly throughout the story is as original and as powerful as the entire story view point itself. Involving a little known part of the aftermath of 1066 which could indeed shake the foundations of the new Norman rulers.The plot isn't just gripping but the characters too are powerful enough for any reader to come to care, admire and like them regardless of their Norman identity. As a reader you are put on a rollercoaster of a learning curve to come to terms and understand that the Norman knights and nobles who invaded England with Duke William had lives, loves and losses of their own too. They fight with as much courgae, skill, honour and loyalty to friends and Lords as much as the Anglo-Saxons do to their Thegns and the Vikings (distant ancestors of the Normans) to their Jarls.So if you are perhaps getting bored of reading of the Vikings killing Anglo-Saxons or The Red Coats fighting the Blue Coats or of courtly affairs in royal bed chambers but still want a great tale with strong and influential characters, packed with historical action then Sworn Sword is definitely a great book to revive anyone's love in history, beit fictional or not.

Excellent yarn

Well written and just like B Cornwell novels you can taste the history and viosualise the scene, sights and sounds. Have bought first 3 books in series and the Harrowing. Hopefully, and I'm sure they will all as good as this one.