England, 1351. The Pestilence has ravaged the land. Villages lie deserted however for crows and corpses. Highways are patrolled by marauders and murderers. In these darkish and harmful instances, the sensible maintain to themselves.
However Gerard Fox can not afford to be sensible. The younger knight has been robbed of his ancestral residence, his household identify tarnished. To regain his lands and fame, he units forth to petition the one man who can restore them.
Destiny locations Fox on the mistaken highway on the mistaken time as he hurtles in direction of an opportunity encounter. It is going to entangle him with an enigmatic girl, a relic of incalculable worth, and a darkish household secret. It is going to lead him removed from residence and set him on a collision course with probably the most bold and harmful males in Europe – a person on the cusp of seizing Christendom’s highest workplace.
And now, Fox is the one one standing in his means…”
Gerard Fox could also be a knight, and Lord of Oakhurst, however he’s additionally a stressed, disgraced man, excommunicated and alone on this planet. An opportunity encounter leads him to avoid wasting a noblewoman fleeing her abusive soon-to-be husband with an important treasure, and right into a harmful journey.
Quick-paced and peopled with corrupt churchmen, a revengeful half-brother, loyal and resourceful companions from Gerard’s previous, and a courageous, succesful girl, The Lawless Land is about partly in locations acquainted to readers (or watchers) of medieval drama: Canterbury, Mont St Michel, Notre Dame.
There’s fast motion coupled with detailed descriptions of dangerous escapes and battles, each hand-to-hand and on the tiltyard, balanced by devious plans to maintain the noblewoman’s treasure – a sacred icon of nice age and holiness – from falling into the mistaken arms. Wit and daring matter, each with weapons and plans.
The Lawless Land is at the beginning an journey story, though sufficient backstory for Gerard is included to develop his character properly. Twists and turns abound, conserving the story flowing and the reader intrigued. Effectively-researched, there are sufficient options of medieval life, from particulars reminiscent of pilgrim badges to references to the Reynard the Fox folktales, to set the story in its time.
The ending, whereas wrapping up this story properly, makes it clear there are future books to come back.
A number of issues niggled: the usage of ‘teen’ to explain a youth; ‘weasel phrases’– trendy phrases that jolted this reader out of the fantasy of medieval life. A number of the flashbacks felt intrusive. However total, The Lawless Land is really useful for followers of Knightfall, or Dan Brown-style tales – or just anybody who needs an entertaining escape.
