Recommend for the coveted BookViral Crimson Quill. To make your recommendation simply click on the award badge below..….
SUMMARY: Senlac is a two-part historical novel that brings to life the turbulent period leading to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. A bloody war fought at close hand and on horseback with sword and battle-ax, with the English pitted on different fronts against the Normans and the Vikings, the results of this invasion would dramatically change the course of Medieval history and beyond.
The BookViral Review:
Intensely compelling Senlac proves a must-read for discerning fans of Historical fiction with Julian de la Motte transporting the reader to another age and the years preceding the fated battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.
Revolving in the main around King Harold and William, Duke of Normandy Julian de la Motte magnificently evokes a sense of immediacy as he inhabits their thoughts. Their ambitions, values, the bitter undertones of political unrest and the ever-pervasive shadow of conflict.
Blending fact and artistic licence he creates an absorbing and plausible narrative that moves seamlessly between characters and scenes. A narrative that is fearsomely visceral yet remains exquisitely in period throughout. Charting in harrowing detail the machinations of war and the savagery of battle whilst evoking an all-important sense of scale.
This alone makes for compelling reading but Senlac is much more than this. It’s about the personal codes of its protagonists and in Harold and William Julian de la Motte gives us men of honour. And with superb characterization extending to Senlac’s broad and expansive cast of characters he finds the often blurred lines between dramatic connection and motivation within existing historical texts.
History tells us they will meet in battle We know King Harold will fall and the Duke of Normandy will become better known as William The Conqueror but in another life, they might well have been allies and it’s in exploring the dynamics between them that Julian de la Motte delivers something rather special.
A superb read throughout. Senlac distinguishes Julian de la Motte as an outstanding author of historical fiction and is unreservedly recommended.
Whilst there is undoubted value in considering historical context, not least because past forces, individuals and trends both shape the present and provide valuable lessons for our future decisions, is historical fiction of any value?
A modern girl. A door to the past. No way back.
When Sophie Arundel falls through a hidden portal into 1925, she assumes she’s dreaming. Except she isn’t!
Hell, hath no fury like a God scorned.And for Clemence and her group of magical misfits, no truer words were spoken.
I read with both fascination and disgust as I learned how he was attacked by a bear who scalped him and left part of his skull flapping open but was not prepared to lay down and die.
Heroes come and go. That’s certainly true of the fictional variety where very few linger in the mind beyond the last page of a novel. So what makes the perfect fictional hero?
The imaginary worlds and characters of fantasy fiction continue to enthral readers around the world.
The Covid-19 pandemic has influenced our consumption of media in a variety of ways. From every new Netflix original being crowned its ‘best ever’, to cinema releases being consistently pushed back, stay at home orders have resulted in us engaging with media differently.
From humble beginnings in 2002 as a book review club BookViral has grown to become the first choice in book reviews for authors around the world and one of the biggest book review sites on the web. BookViral reaches millions of potential readers through best practice SEO and a trusted social media presence ensuring readers get unbiased, critical recommendations they can trust.
BookViral also offers a full suite of author services, including, book editing services for unpublished and self-published authors, website design and bespoke SEO that help authors get discovered by more potential readers as well as industry influencers, such as publishers, agents and film executives.
© Copyright 2019 BookViral Reviews. All Rights Reserved.