Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ASIN: B08563V87C
ISBN-10: 1684334810
ISBN-13: 9781684334810
Synopsis
At the dawn of the Renaissance, Alfred - the eponymous second son - must discover the special destiny foreseen for him by his grandfather. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Alfred’s brother is king. And it isn’t long before everyone’s worst fears are realized. Traditional allegiances are shattered under a style of rule unknown since the grand bargain that formed the kingdom was
struck over two hundred years ago. These will be the most dangerous years of Alfred’s life, forcing him to re-examine his duty to personal honor and to the kingdom, while the threats posed by his brother constantly remind him of his father’s final words of advice. What choices will he have to make to try to protect the things he holds most dear?
My Thoughts
Told from the perspective of Lord Alfred, the favoured second son of the late King Harold and second in line to the throne, Pestilence takes the reader into a fictional kingdom where its traditions and customs are being eroded by the whims of a power-hungry and selfish King John. His demands and changes disrupt the peaceful lives of those at court and while the royal family look upon some of these with amusement, they dare not disobey.
Lord Alfred is aware that his position is tenuous due to the strained relationship he has with his brother. To avoid conflict, he removes himself and his family from court, hoping that his absence will shield him from King John's focus and allow him to write a chronicle of events for posterity.
It soon becomes clear that King John is on a path to avenge every slight made against him in the past. Well-respected lords and knights are dismissed from long held and trusted positions to be replaced with men of dubious character. Family are not exempt from this purge. King John's mismanagement brings poverty, fear and unrest to the realm, but of greater concern is the purpose of the army that he is amassing.
Even though this is the third book in the series, it works well as a stand-alone. However, I would have liked more physical descriptions of the characters, such as their ages etc. This may have been addressed in the previous two novels and is probably not an issue for those that started the series from the beginning. Regardless, the moral qualities of the characters and their allegiances are apparent as the story unfolds and makes their reactions to King John's dictates very credible, and the risks they are willing to take to protect their families and the future of the kingdom.
Pestilence is a fast-paced, easy read, with plenty of action to satisfy the discerning historical reader. Despite its fictional setting, the threads taken from history are smoothly integrated into the narrative. The use of traditional English names (Harold, Alfred and John) immediately give it that medieval flavour and help create a believable world. The women, too, are a presence here: the Dowager Queen, Alice, exerts her influence on King John as no-one else can and Lord Alfred's wife, Gwen, is also a woman of courage and sense.
While I may not go back to read the first two volumes, I would like to know what happens to Lord Alfred, his family and supporters, and the kingdom. So I will be looking out for the next book in the series.
Pestilence is available to purchase as a print copy and as an e-book at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Be sure to add this to your GoodReads reading list too!
About the Author
You can follow her online at:
Author Website: https://pamela-taylor.com
Series Website: https://www.SecondSonChronicles.com
Twitter: @PJTAuthor
Instagram: PJTAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSecondSonChronicles
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51487326
Blog Tour Dates
June 22nd @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us as we celebrate the launch of Pamela Taylor's blog tour for her book Pestilence. You can read an interview with the author and enter to win the first three books in her series "The Second Son Chronicles."
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
June 23rd @ Lisa Haselton's Review and Interviews
Stop by Lisa's blog today where she interviews author Pamela Taylor about her book Pestilence.
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/
June 24th @ Rebecca Whitman's Blog
Visit Rebecca's blog today and you can read Pamela Taylor's guest post discussing the allegory (themes) embedded in the narrative of Pestilence specifically and the Chronicles generally.
https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.com/
June 25th @ A.J. Sefton's Blog
Visit A.J. Sefton's blog and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://www.ajsefton.com/book-reviews
June 26th @ Jill Sheet's Blog
Visit Jill's blog today and read Pamela Taylor's guest post about getting historical details accurate.
http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/
June 27th @ Storeybook Reviews
Join Leslie today as she shares Pamela Taylor's guest post about her life with corgis.
https://storeybookreviews.com/
June 28th @ Reading is My Remedy
Visit Chelsie's blog today and you can read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://readingismyremedy.wordpress.com/
June 29th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit Anthony's blog today and you can read Pamela Taylor's guest post about the authors and books that inspired the creation of the Chronicles.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/
June 30th @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
Visit Veronica's blog today and you can read a guest post by Pamela Taylor about the trap of linguistic anachronism – getting the language and word usage right for historical narratives.
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/
July 1st @ Rebecca Whitman's Blog
Visit Rebecca's blog again and you can read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.com/
July 2nd @ 12 Books
Visit Louise's blog today and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://12books.co.uk/
July 3rd @ What is that Book About?
Visit Michelle's blog today and you can check out a spotlight of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com/
July 5th @ The New England Book Critic
Visit Vickie's blog today and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://thenewenglandbookcritic.com/
July 6th @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Visit Anthony's blog today and read his review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/
July 7th @ Fiona Ingram's Blog
Join Fiona Ingram today when she shares Pamela Taylor's guest post about data encryption in ancient times.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
July 8th @ Bev A. Baird
Visit Bev's blog today and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
July 9th @ To Write or Not to Write
Visit Sreevarsha's blog and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.com/
July 10th @ Thoughts in Progress
Visit Mason Canyon's blog today and you can read a guest post by Pamela Taylor about deriving details for your setting from historical maps.
https://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/
July 11th @ Books & Plants
Visit Ashley's blog and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://booksbeansandbotany.com/
July 11th @ A Darn Good Read
Join Yvonne as she reviews Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://adarngoodread.blogspot.com/
July 14th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
July 15th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog and read Pamela Taylor's guest post about period-appropriate names for characters.
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com
July 17th @ Books & Plants
Visit Ashley's blog and read Pamela Taylor's guest post about ways to do historical research.
https://booksbeansandbotany.com/
July 18th @ Bookworm Blog
Stop by Anjanette's blog today where you can read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence. Plus you can read an interview with the author!
https://bookworm66.wordpress.com/
July 20th @ Coffee with Lacey
Visit Lacey's blog where you can read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://coffeewithlacey.com/
July 24th @ Medievalists
Stop by Medievalists where you can check out a spotlight of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://www.medievalists.net/
July 25th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Stop by Linda's blog today and read her extensive interview with author Pamela Taylor about her book Pestilence.
http://bootsshoesandfashion.com/
July 25th @ Reading in the Wildwood
Join Megan today and read her review of Pamela Taylor's book Pestilence.
https://readinginthewildwood.com/
Thank you so much for your review!
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