Customer Reviews

Falcons of Montabard

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sabin FitzSimon has a reputation for trouble, but when he seduces one of the King's mistresses not even his fighting skills can save him from the King's soldiers. When he returns to England from abroad he is given the chance to rebuild his career and salvage his reputation. The knight Edmund Strongfist is leaving for the Holy Land and Sabin leaves with him and his daughter.
Just a taste, read the rest yourself.
When I read Elizabeth Chadwick's books I always wonder as a man whether I really should be, as they could be construed as love stories. But she has such a feel for the period (twelfth century), a part of history I am particularly fond of that I cannot put them down.

Elizabeth Chadwick is an amazing author. This is the first of her books I have read and it will not be the last. The scenes are well written, right down to the smells -- you can picture every thing in your mind. A wonderful, exciting love story and a refreshing change to read about Outremer (Israel) during the crusades.

It was wonderful seeing Sabin grow and mature from a young hellion and womanizer into a caring, loving husband and father, while at the same time being a fierce and noble warrior. The fight between Sabin and the Arab where all Sabin had to defend himself was a wooden shield was heartstopping.

The final chapters were some of the most thrilling page turners I have ever read. An incredible rescue, and according to the author based upon true events, except that Sabin and Anais are fictional. An excellent read, I cannot recommend it enough.

This is the story of Sabin FitzSimon, the illegitimate son of a deceased Earl, who has earned himself quite a reputation for his bad boy ways. Having never had the love of a mother and with the only parent he has ever know dead, he is left in an awkward situation in a family in which he is basically an outsider. He covers his pain with his outlandish behavior causing his step-mother, who never showed him any warmth to begin with, and her new husband to expect the worse of him...and he is happy to oblige.

Sabin tests his luck one too many times by bedding the King's favorite mistress. This earns him a severe beating, gets him thrown out of the King's service, and off the ship that is bound for home. Ironcially, this turns out to be a good thing as the ship ends up sinking killing all on board. Arriving home in disgrace, it is decided that he will accompany a family friend on a crusade to Outremer (part of the middle east that today includes Israel, Palestine, and a few other countries)to give him one last chance to straighten out. He ends up in service to Baldwin, the King of Jerusalem and in charge of Montabard, a great fortress in an unstable part of the region and charged with protecting Annais, the daughter of the man he came to Outremer with. Given this new start, Sabin decides to make the best of it and proves that there is more to this bad boy than an uncanny ability to seduce women and get himself in trouble.

This was an exciting novel to read. There were lots of battle scenes, harrowing moments, and many touching ones too. I appreciated the exotic setting and the way Ms. Chadwick describes daily life from the food, the heat, the pests, the clothes, to the music makes the reader feel as if they were right there in the story.

Sabin's character was beautifully written as he transforms from boy to man before the reader's eyes. I didn't think Annais, the heroine's character was as good. For a heroine, she seemed rather run of the mill. I did love Mariamne, a wealthy widow who is given by the King to Annais's father in exchange for his service. She was complex and multi-faceted. It would've been nice if her character had been included in more of the story.

While this wasn't my favorite Chadwick, it was still an amazing book with lots of excitement, very well written, and I highly recommend it to any lovers of historical fiction.

In 1120, King Henry's men beat up Sabin FitzSimon for insulting His Royal Highness by having a tryst with Lora, the regally current favorite. Sabin's bruises are nothing compared to Lora being killed since she has no noble kin protecting her like the illegitimate Sabin has. Anticipating repercussions, his aristocratic family arranges for Sabin to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Believing he should have died instead of the innocent Lora as he caused the incident, Sabin agrees.

Reluctantly Scottish warrior Edmund Strongfist allows Sabin to join his group that includes his convent "educated" daughter Annais on a trek to Outremer (Israel). Strongfist knows of Saban's unsavory reputation with women and warns him to stay away from his daughter or die. Still feeling culpability over Lora's death, Sabin tries to stay away from the pretty innocent, but admits to himself he is very attracted to her. Annais is fascinated with Sabin's dark reputation and womanizing scandals, but both keep their wary distance until they reach their dangerous destination and begin to fall in love as they need each other to survive

This is a strong tale that brings to life the early twelfth century Holy Land though the novel also contains a powerful romantic subplot that uses historical events to further the relationship between the lead characters. The key to the story line is the secondary players with various backgrounds that enable the audience to obtain a complete vivid picture of a place almost nine centuries ago. The changing relationship between Sabin and Annais is brilliantly handled with this incredible historical panorama so historical fiction and medieval romance fans gain a terrific epic.

Harriet Klausner

This is an engrossing tale with just the right balance of historical detail, action, and romance. Chadwick's characters are well rounded and her writing superb. I've never read any of Chadwick's novels before, and this was a very pleasant surprise.

Historical fiction doesn't get much better than a Chadwick novel. This one is my third. I have 4 more in my TBR pile and when those are all read, I'll be off to find more, as many as I can, whether from the library or from Amazon.

I admit to being a longtime reader of paperback historical romances. Some people turn their noses up at that category, but I've found some really good books hiding there amongst the dreck. I also enjoy well-written historical fiction, like works by C.W. Gortner, Sharon Kay Penman, Bernard Cornwell, Margaret George, etc. So to find an author who supplies historical accuracy, excellent description of life in the time period of the book, actual historical events and people, and, in addition, manages to make it all romantic and entirely enjoyable and entertaining while being educational, well, that's like winning the lottery.

If you like to read about the 1100s, the Crusades, knights, Saracens, desert thieves, adventure, romance, and Bad Boys turned good, this is the book for you. Fictional hero Sabin FitzSimon, in his early 20s in the year 1120, is a bit of a restless fun-lover and womanizer. When he tries to seduce one of Henry I's chosen mistresses, that's the last straw. It's off to the Holy Land for him, as he joins the knight Edmund Strongfist, who is leaving England to serve the King of Jerusalem.

Strongfist's daughter Annais accompanies him and Sabin is told straight out that she is off limits. Sabin is able to comply, partly because he really does have hidden honor and partly because there's lots of warfare with the Saracens and intrigue to keep him busy.

This keeps the reader busy too and very entertained with a rip-roaring adventure in an exotic place and time. The book covers approximately 4 years and it's also very enjoyable to watch the disgraced and reckless Sabin become a mature family man.

In THE FALCONS OF MONTABARD, medieval history comes alive. Sabin Fitzsimon, born the illegitimate son of an earl, developed a reputation early on for his dalliances and conquests. Caught literally with his pants down dealing with the king's favorite mistress, Sabin was beaten severely and left for dead by the king's soldiers. Later when the king's mistress is found dead, he blames himself for her death. Sabin is given a new lease on life and a chance to redeem himself when Sir Edmond Strongfist asks him to accompany them on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he intends to offer his sword and services to the king of Jerusalem. His only concern and request is that Sabin stay away from his covenant-raised daughter, Annais. It shouldn't be a problem except that Annais is very beautiful and has more spunk than most men. Annais is also intrigued by Sabin's reputation and good looks.

Once in the Holy Land, Sabin works hard to restore his reputation, but meets resistance at every turn. He agreed to stay away from Annais, but Sir Edmond's new wife, Mariamne is another story. She is not playing heed to any such instructions. She intends to have him at any cost and what results is Sabin being sent away again, but this time in service to Annais and her husband, Gerbert, as they travel to Montabard. The politics of the Holy Land will have them all caught up in the maelstrom of war and change that will bring Sabin and Annais a lot closer than Strongfist would ever have imagined.

Elizabeth Chadwick is indeed a master storyteller. She weaved an interesting love story around the medieval times that included a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. With her command of the scenery and the history, I found myself truly caught up in this story from start to finish. The character development was so good that the supporting characters were just as interesting as the primary ones. Those of you that are historical romantic buffs, this is an author worth checking out.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This is the third novel I've read by Elizabeth Chadwick. I recently read 'The Champion' and awhile ago read 'The Greatest Knight'.

This story starts out a bit on the slow side. I was ready to give it up at a hundred pages but thought perhaps I should give it one last try. I did and found the story had taken an interesting turn with a rivalry between two characters that added tension to the story. Unfortunately the tension didn't last.

Sadly these characters seemed flat and stereotypical and the story just wasn't that interesting to me. It reminded me a lot of Roberta Gellis' Rosylnde series but not as well done.

I also thought there was a bit of redundancy with the descriptions I found a few too many things like a puppy and too many jewels the size of bird's eggs.

I don't think this is Chadwick's best. I really enjoyed 'The Champion' and I'm looking forward to reading more of her novels. But sadly this one just didn't thrill me.

I have read several books by Elizabeth Chadwick this year. She always impresses me with her ability to weave real history with created characters, and with how she brings an entire era to life. This book is no different, in fact I think its among her best. Her story is rich in detail, with scenes that stab at your heart. But don't be fooled; this isn't a silly romance. There is enough battles and intrigue to satisfy most HF readers, with plenty of tension as well (I must admit I had my heart in my throat for the last few pages) I highly recommend this book, esp if you have not read any of her books yet.

Every now and then I come across an author that simply ruins a literary genre for me. This time, it's been the historical novel world, and Elizabeth Chadwick is the culprit. For the last year, I've been steadily working my way through her backlist of titles, carefully spacing the books out so that I won't burnout on them, nor will I run out of something new to read of hers.

This time, the selection was The Falcons of Montabard, a tale set mostly in the lands that were called Outremer -- beyond the sea -- by Europeans, and what we think of as the Holy Land today. Many adventurers made journeys there for different reasons -- some to make religious pilgrimages to pray at Christian holy sites, others to carve out wealth and lands from themselves. And for quite a few, it was a convenient place to go in case things were getting a bit too uncomfortable at home.

Such is the case for young Sabin FitzSimon, a young man of illegitimate birth and a bit of a hell-raiser at King Henry's court. When the story opens, he's with his half-brother, Simon, in the port town of Barfleur. To bide the time and waiting for his ship to be made ready to sail, Sabin is dallying with Lora, a pretty young courtesan with the court. Unfortunately, she's also the King's latest mistress, and their sexual encounter is interrupted by some soldiers who take Lora away and beat Sabin into a bleeding pulp. Between that and his brother being drunk, they miss their ship -- which is a good thing.

For that ship is the White Ship, a magnificent galley built by King Henry I of England to be his flagship, and it sinks not far out from Barfleur, taking all but one person to their deaths. It's a nasty shock for Sabin, who watches as Lora's body is brought back to shore, and he is consumed with guilt over her death. It's a sobering experience, made worse when he returns to his family's home in the north of England. But it's a poor homecoming -- his father has died many years earlier, and for a bastard there's nothing to inherit.

Another man, Edmund Strongfist, is discovering that there's little to be found in England as well. One brother has remained in Outremer, and the other remained in England. And Edmund has his daughter's future to consider as well. Annais may be a knight's daughter, but without land or wealth, there are not very many prospects for her either.

In the Holy Land, they all find fortune, if not emotional satisfaction at first. Both Edmund and Sabin are skilled fighters, and Sabin has a rare skill in the art of politics. And Annais finds herself married to the lord of Montabard, Gerbert, who is a devoted husband, but there is also Sabin to consider, with whom she has a strong bond of friendship. Or is really something deeper that she can't admit to?

Along the way, the reader is treated to battles at sea, the daily life in Jerusalem, battles with the Muslims who are trying to take back Jerusalem, and a look at an exotic culture that is very different than what the reader might expect from depictions from Hollywood. There are several elements that I really do enjoy from Ms. Chadwick's novels. One is that she never, ever talks down to her readers; instead she weaves plenty of authentic details, without going into the pit of explainitis, and she knows that a good novel depends on creating characters that interest the readers. Another delightful touch is that she knows how children behave, and write them up accordingly, without turning them into miniature adults, or precocious brats. As a result, her novels are rich and are wonderful to read. Most of all, it's her interest in the subject and time period that really shine through, and I for one, am captivated every time I pick up one of her novels, and always wanting more.

This earned a solid four star rating, and for those interested in the Crusading period of medieval history, well worth the time and effort to find.