Book Reviews

Initially I was worried about the huge list of characters at the beginning of this book but it was ok to follow and this list was a great reference point. This was a really well researched novel full of history and detail and I learnt so much about the persecution of Huguenots and I want to read more now about Catherine de Medici and the part she played in history. As a Catholic I thought the summary of what Catholics believe and the main tenets of the Reformation were described really well. I certainly will be looking out for the next in the series and more by this author. If you love early history and in particular learning about religious division and persecution I would highly recommend.I received a free copy of this book via the niche reader.

I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader, and found it quite interesting historically, but I wasn’t able to empathise with the fictional characters. The writer has spent a lot of time making it as clear and accurate as he can, and shoud be pleased with it, however I felt it read more like a documentary or a history lesson than a family saga, and I did not fully engage with it. That is not to say it is not a very good book, just not quite what I expected.

An informative story set in 16th-century France during the turbulent times of the Protestant Reformation. It tells of the struggles that the Millet family have to endure as they try to stay true to their faith during the Protestant Reformation Received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader.

The historical period and detail are fascinating. The author has done his research and has a firm grasp of complicated topics. I enjoyed this aspect very much. The style of writing was appropriate but there were some authorial choices that pulled me out of the story. For example we had ‘Seigneur Philippe’ but he was speaking to Mr. Millet. Why not call him Monsieur Millais and stay more French? Also the use of Dad when Papa would have sounded better. Small points but unnecessarily jarring. Sadly the characters never really came to life for me. I would suggest this is something the author could work on for his next book?

I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader. The book was very informative, very detailed with the historical research. But I felt that I was reading a historical account rather than a historical fiction/story.

It was hard for me to stay invested in the storyline of this book. The description (about a bourgeois man who finds himself attempting to help France avoid civil war armed with his humanist books) immediately got me interested, as I have always been into revolutionary history. I was impressed, from a historical point of view, at how well placed in time and in events this story was. But, and it is a big but, I found the main character (Maurice) completely jarring as a character. I understand that times were different back then, but the way the man approaches women is just… uncomfortable. Aside from Maurice, I also couldn’t get attached to any of the plot or characters. Everything just missed that little bit of depth that keeps you invested in what happens next. It’s a shame, because the setting and the idea were good! Just needs a bit more depth of character. I read this for free through the Niche Reader, and I am glad I read it for free because I think if I had paid for it I might be disappointed. No shade towards the author– maybe it just didnt hit the chords right for me.

I received a free copy of this book through the Niche Reader Project. I was incredibly hopeful about this book. The topic is super interesting and there’s loads of potential for emotional character development and fast-paced action. Unfortunately, neither of these things happened. I have never left a negative book review before – I really appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into researching and writing a novel. However, today is the day. I hope the author, if he reads this, will take it as a list of suggestions for next time – I’d love to see how he hones his craft as he develops as a writer! Language:Others have said the language used was appropriate… I didn’t feel like it was. Certain words are used throughout the book to give it a sense of Middle English. However, there are points when these words are misused, or at least used in a way that isn’t easy for the modern reader to understand, with or without Old/ Middle/ Modern English dictionaries. In future, I’d really recommend that the author learns more about English grammar, and particularly about word types and sentence structure. This will help him to identify which…

By Rod and Staff provided an interesting journey through France and parts of Europe in the 1500s, a period of much turmoil and strife between the Catholics and the Protestants. Following the Millet family and their attempts to both practice and proselytize the Protestant faith. With plenty of political intrigue and interaction with well recognized historical figures, the story provided a unique look at that time period. While it was a little confusing keeping track of all of the characters and their affiliations in parts, and there was some inconsistencies in tone and voice, I did find the story engaging. I felt the pacing was good, but there were some things that could have been explored in more depth. Big thanks to The Niche Reader for providing an advance reader copy.

This work of historical fiction is very interesting in that it covers a time and subject which I have not seen much written a about. The discrimination against Protestants in 1500s France is a theme at the center of this story. There is much intrigue, strong characters who portray the life and times of both women and men and an intimate look at the reign of Catherine de Medici. If you are interested in this time period this would be an excellent book to read.

I love to read religious fiction, and this is well-written. The political and religious turmoil in 16th century France is well described. Initially Great character development.

This was a very well researched book and it gave me information that I did not know about the Protestant persecution. Some of the character and plot were very engaging such as the story about the main characters sister and her learning to be a nurse but the main character, to me, was not as engaging. His literary discourse fell flat for me. All in all a good book if dry in places. I received a free copy of the book from The Niche Reader.