Customer Reviews

Duncan's War (Crown and Covenant #1)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first got Duncan's War, I had no idea about what to expect. It turned out to be a breath of fresh air from the vast inflow of objectionable fiction that is usually sold today. In less than a week I had read it from cover to cover. Along with a fast-paced, excellent plot, this book offers a very Christian worldview, shows clearly the differences between good and evil, and shows how hard it is to obey the Biblical command of loving your enemies. It makes us keenly aware that Christians in the United States today have it easy compared to the fierce persecutions the devout Scots endured and encourages all Christians to stay in the battle.

We started reading Duncan's War by Douglas Bond together as a family sometime during the fall. We became so excited about the story that we had to put the children under strict orders not to touch the book during the day, but they had to wait until family reading hour. "No Peeking!" was the command they would hear when their hand would reach slyly for the book on the end table.

Duncan's War is followed by The King's Arrow and then finally Rebel's Keep. This series, called the Crown and Covenant, follows the lives of the M'Kethe family during 17th Century Scotland as they endured brutal persecution at the hand of King James and King Charles. Those that remained loyal to King Jesus called themselves the Scottish Covenanters. This is the story of those who must wrestle with honoring God and applying His word while living amidst a government that is trying to obliterate Christianity.

As a reader, I was particularly struck with what I would do if I were in this situation with my own family. While reading these stories, I had to grapple with the scriptures as I put myself in their shoes. As a father and a Christian, I want to honor God and obey His word above all else. And yet I desire desperately to protect my children from all outside harm. In the story, the children watch their father's actions as he attempts to obey King Jesus above all others, and while they do not fully understand them at the time, they come to appreciate them more fully later as they grow and mature. The father never compromises his integrity in the midst of war. He clearly keeps the perspective that this life on earth is not the only one we live for. There is one to come. How we live and die here will show Whom it is we honor. This is how I want to live. I want to set a strong example for my children as I live out God's word even during difficult times. While reading these stories, I was struck once again that how we live in this life has implications in the next. We are to live for the Audience of One.

I bought this for my Scottish history enthusiast child, but after reading them myself, it turned into a must read to the whole family of eight, including Dad. Since then, we have purchsed every Douglas Bond book we can acquire. This is a time of Scotland and Scottish Covenanters that I have found few people are familiar with. It is an important addition to a study of the American Revolution in that so many Scottish Covenanters fought in that in Europe it is also referred to as the Presbyterian Rebellion. Mr. Bond also lines out for the reader at the end which characters are documented nonfiction, and which are not, what of the story is fiction, and what is clearly not, and how he changed them. A very valuable addition to our large family library, and to the education of our children. It also shares principles and values that we very much want to instill in our 6 children.

These are great books!!!!!! There's three in this series, DUNCANS WAR, KINGS ARROW, AND REBELS KEEP. I read them all in six days,and altogether there are over seven hundred pages. This one's about duncan M'Kethe who helps the covenanters fight the cruel British soldiers. When they capture the British Dragoons leader, what will they do with him? Some say shoot him... You'll have to read it yourself to find out. I highly reccomend these books, and if anyone gives them less than five stars, they surprise me a whole lot.




William Andrews

Inspiring Scottish heroes, cruel English villains, a courageous uprising, and a secret tunnel will draw readers of all ages into this engaging story. We first meet an immature fourteen-year-old Duncan M'Kethe as he is, in his father Sandy's terms, "playacting" rather than watching their sheep. However, increasing oppression of Presbyterian families like Duncan's forces peace-loving Sandy M'Kethe, along with his son, into a bloody conflict that ends in disaster. Duncan must grow up quickly as he sees the price others have paid for their devotion to the Covenant and Jesus, the only true Head of the Church. And in the end he must take an extreme risk to keep his father from paying that same price. Infused with historical fact, "Duncan's War" makes us believe, for a short time, that we are truly in early Scotland. And it accurately depicts the struggles our predecessors faced to follow Christ.

As a soldier deployed to Afghanistan while reading this, I found it a very encouraging and thought-provoking book.

I've always loved the stories of the Scottish Covenanters, especially the steadfast faith they exhibited during their many hardships (I think Fair Sunshine is a convicting little book when it comes to being willing to give up your life for the faith). Without idolizing them, I must say I look at many of them--and many other early Reformers--as spiritual giants, used mightily by God, compared to me and my "trials."

This short novel, I believe to be very well written; Bond has a good handle on how to write a good novel, especially for someone not as well known as the popular writers of the day.
Besides being a good story. It also contains a good amount of biblical truth in it; it deals with many of the questions I've had myself when attempting to reconcile my Christian faith with my temporal duty as a soldier. When is it right to take another life? How is it loving our enemies to do so? When is war/fighting/violence just? Why, if God is for us, does he allow us to be defeated at times (and not just in war, but in many aspects of life)?

I highly recommend this book. I am actually looking forward to reading the next two! I'm sure I'll be writing a review on those as well.
I was thinking while reading this book that I would love to read this to my older children some day. I say older, because the book does deal with some of the harsh realities of war, bloodshed, hangings, and torture.

Soli Deo Gloria!

"Mom, can we read Duncan's War?!" Is the plea I have from my son every morning. He loves Duncan's adventures and I love that he's also becoming familiar with history: 1600s Scotland. The church v. the king, there's persecution, a drunk vicar catching fire during the sermon that's supposed to be on Sunday but he holds it on Saturday (he's drunk, remember), old castle ruins, a stand for what's right, and fun scottish accents. It's funny, intense, suspenseful. I've kept the dictionary close by and I've stopped and explained a few things but basically it seems my 8 year old is able to grasp the happenings (he WANTS MORE)! (He couldn't read it on his own, I'm reading it aloud.) I'd probably suggest it is a bit beyond him, but at this point we're both hooked. (I'm tempted to read on without him because I can't wait to see what happens.) My 4 year old daughter is less than impressed (not enough pictures you know!)