Friday, May 21, 2010

Book Review: I SERVE by Rosanne E Lortz


This read was a refreshing follow up read on the black prince.  Since I fell in love with Karen Harpers “The First Princess of Wales”, I have been on a mission for more good reads like it.  A must for me is that it has to feature the more romantic side of the black prince and Joan of Kent’s tale. I have found in my mission I tend to stick with the more romantic versions of the story and when I found a read lacking in regards to the romance aspect I usually will not finish it. This read has all of the components that a novel set this time frame must have; the back cover could not have put my requirements any better than this quote “ A Tale of Arms, of Death, of Love, and of Honor”.

John Potenhale was a lucky man in my mind; he came from a family of low birth but still made it into the rank of knighthood. His grandfather was the caretaker of an estate of a noble man and the only request his grandfather ever made of his lord was to take the young Potenhale on as his squire. Set during the Hundred Years war it was at the battle of Crecy that John earned the accolade and from that moment forward he was in the service of the black prince as a knight. From the siege of Calais to the French’s attempt to take it back John never left the princes service, he was bound by honor to serve.

John had a story to tell and not just to anybody, specifically it was meant for the French widow Jeanne de Vergy. Jeanne could not fathom why an English knight would come all this way to speak with her. In reality it was not just John’s story but also the intermingled tale of Jeanne’s husband Geoffroi de Charney who Potenhale had taken prisoner during the attempted siege of Calais.

 4/5 This was a unique read; it covered so many events of the Hundred Years War that I cannot even begin to get into the details here. It had it all from disguises, unsatisfied love, fights for honor, and most compelling of all the torments of a mans conscience. All the while the “pestilence” sweeps the land taking almost half the known population with it. My favorite aspects of this read was the prince’s capture of the Bohemian ostrich feathers and latter the shroud of Christ.  Romantic YES, and YES a interesting tale of a knight who is tormented by the gritty details of war. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a bit off the main stream. 

Thank you David for sending me the book I really did enjoy the read. FTC this book came from author.
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11 comments:

  1. I will definitely add this to my TBR as well as The First Princess of Wales! :)

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  2. Wow this sounds like an awesome read, Lizzy. I hadn't heard of it before, but I'll have to add it to my wish list. Thanks for heads up on this title and for the awesome review.

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  3. Almybnenr, both are wonderful reads and the two of them are my favorites for that time period.

    Marie, You would love it. It was not what I expected in a really good way. You will have to get your hands on a copy it would really be worth the read.

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  4. This sounds fantastic! I'll add this to my TBR!

    I also fell in love with Harper's The First Princess of Wales and have been on the lookout for more about Joan and the Black Prince.

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  5. Robinbird, If you you loved Harper's then you will enjoy this one. It give a unusual perspective, which made the story new and fresh to me.

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  6. I will have to get this one. I want a book with some substance and with a slightly different perspective. This sounds like it looks at several things not generally dealt with, certainly not all in one book. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Am putting it on my wish list.

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  7. What a very unique historical fiction cover. Reminds me of the TWILIGHT cover. It's extremely striking. Glad to hear it was a good book.

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  8. Sounds like a great read, Liz. I had to turn it down for review because my TBR pile is getting to be insane, but I plan on purchasing it to read at a later time. Glad it lived up to your expectations as a First Princess of Wales-comparable read.

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  9. Librarypat, this one would fill that need for you, it was a engaging read worthy of a wish list.

    Christine, You are so right it does pop in person. The digital online image does not do the cover justice because there is more to it that the black swallows. It has a grey shield with a coat of arms. The red gloves have much more detail. I was not so sure about the cover until I actually saw it, it is manly but romantic at the same time.

    Allie, You would love this one but I think you still have harper yet to read too. I swear if I worked where you did the books would have me going insane, mad book fever or something. You know I have been on a mission for at least something to put in the same league as Harper and this did it for me.

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  10. Ooh sounds good! I passed this one up once because I had too many books to read. I may have to buy it! Great review!

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  11. Arleigh, You NEEEED this one especially since you were the one who turned me onto Harper. You would love this one.

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