Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Book Review: THE GREATEST KNIGHT by Elizabeth Chadwick

The greatest knight indeed, that William Marshall is by far one of the hunkiest men ever written about, besides Robert Dudley. I do not know what I can say that has not already been said about him. Yes Elizabeth Chadwick breathes life into historical fiction. She even takes it a step farther and makes it more than that. As a reader it is like being Alice in Wonderland and falling down a rabbit hole finding your self transported to another place and time. I became immersed in William’s time and it is proof that history is still hot. "The Greatest Knight" is a prime example that history is still sexy even today.

Set during the tumultuous Elenore of Aquitaine days in England. William is set to carve his story into history. Being a “newbie” to this period I found this sometimes-intimidating period easy to follow through heartthrob William. At heart he was Elenore’s man but he also became my new man. He gave chivalry a new meaning to me right along with loyalty. Prior to this read I did not know that when a knight swore loyalty it was for life only to be broken by death.

William’s story of the middle son with a terrifying childhood story of almost getting hung by his giblets at five years old by King Stephen was just his first lesson in loyalty to the King. Going on to fight his own way into the tourneys he found great success. What was it about William that was so enticing, was it is benevolent personality and impeccably noble character? I believe it was a combination of the mix along with a few other honorable traits including singing and sewing. A romantic you could say but still a realist.

In an era like this it can be down right confusing as The War of the Roses. This family feud that started between a husband and wife led to their children against each other and against their parents. How did William fit into this battlefront, he became the queens man and swore his loyalty to her eldest young son. They called him the “Young King” and he was brash but William had known him since he was a child. Together they roamed the tourney circuit like modern day movie stars. But even movie stars fall from grace; knights and Kings were no exception to the rule.

5/5++ add me to the pool of people that have been constantly buzzing about this book. The buzz is right, read it, just read it, there can not be once person who will not think William Marshall is one of the hottest HF men ever written about after this read. It is worth all the attention and I must read more and follow up with “The Scarlet Lion”. I can finally say I read one of Chadwick’s book and now I can add a new author to my list of great historical fiction writers.

Be sure and click on the image above to go to the Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table website to enter the giveaway for your chance to win a copy of the "The Greatest Knight" and "The Scarlet Lion". I know WOW a chance to win both copies that is amazing, so just go you know you want to!
footer sig

17 comments:

  1. Don't ya wish you could marry him!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know quite a few people who were just a little bit in love with him once they read about him. I hope you get to read about his dad too! There's just something about those Marshal men.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm one of the people who fell in love with him via The Scarlet Lion. I have yet to read Greatest Knight, but I imagine the younger version of William will be sexy and swashbuckling! Where are men like him today?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love William Marshall! And I agree, he is making history sexy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Daphne, I know the dream husband. I would for sure take him in a heartbeat.

    Marg, is there not another Chadwick book about him I know the name I just can not think of it. Yes that is my next one his father. those Marshall men are to die for.

    Elizabeth you think you love him now wait until you read about him in his younger years. Did you enter the giveaway on the HFBRT site? Please tell me you did, you neeeeeeeeeeed to read it asap. I would implore you to read it like yesterday it is just that good and damn sexy too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dolleygurl, yes very sexy indeed and very yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lizzy, he is mentioned quite a bit in The Champion, and he is also mentioned in The Time of Singing, which is going to be released by Sourcebooks next year under a different title. These two books are more about other people though!

    The book about John Marshal is called A Place Beyond Courage. I didn't think that I would like John Marshal, but I really, really did.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Marg, right on I have A Place Beyond Courage on my Amazon list. I will have to check into the other ones. Thank you so much for coming back and cluing me in. I am really diggin' this time period and the Marshall family.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awesome review, Lizzy!! What a hero :) I can't wait to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Marg, I went to Paper back swap and added every single one of the reprint books listed to my wish list. I want all of them now.But I am now on the watch for next years release.

    Carrie, I could not recommend a better book. It does not get much better than this read. William has cursed me because no man in any read can even compare.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nothing is better than a book written by an author who transports you to the time and place being written about. To feel you have really been there is a gift few authors can give you. Lucky for us Elizabeth Chadwick is one of them.

    I haven't started this set of books yet, but look forward to doing so.

    ReplyDelete
  12. LibraryPat, you will enjoy them guaranteed. I am now hooked and must own them all! Mawhaaaa!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Elizabeth Chadwick books were the very first historical novels i picked up and has been my all time fave, this book and shadows and strongholds has to be my favourite X

    ReplyDelete
  14. Elizabeth Chadwick books were the very first historical novels i picked up and has been my all time fave, this book and shadows and strongholds has to be my favourite X

    ReplyDelete
  15. Miss D, what a amazing first start to historical fiction. I have added all of them to my wish lists.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oooh. I am LOVING this book so far. ^.^ I love William too. I'm not even halfway done with it yet, but I have to force myself to put this book down. Thank you for telling me about this book. Thank you. Thank you. =D

    ReplyDelete
  17. Carole Rae, LOL is he not the hottest? I am telling you addicted now is an understatement. I am so glad you are loving Chadwick she is the queen of medieval. I read TGK and then Scarlet lion right after which is like the next leg in William's life but another really good one is For the Kings Favor and William is in it too. I heard Chadwick won a really big award for her most recent one on William Marshall's daughter in "To Defy a King". I have that one and dying to get to it. Let me know when you finish it.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...