Customer Reviews

Fast and Loose

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I am a big reader of Tranter. Fast and Loose has a great plot line and characters but I feel it was very superficial. The main character is Colin MacColl and his foster brother Tormaid a priest. They are returning from the main land Europe poor and forgotten after Colin had been summoned to court as a hostage for his father's good behavior. Colin's father is the chief of the Clan MacColl. In Colin's absence his younger twin brother has imprisoned his father; spread rumors of Colin's demise, hand fasted with Colin's betrothed and assumed leadership of the clan. Colin returns to reclaim his heritage. There is no back ground into the history of the Clan MacColl, no explanation for Colin's years at court. His faster brother has no depth and just is the praise spouting side kick. Fast and Loose should be called fast and light. Depth and detail are lacking when compared to other Tranter books I have read. If this is your first Tranter book don't shy away. Get a copy of the Bruce Trilogy and start there.

This is a first book by this author I have read, and it certainly inspired me to look for more of his books.

The plot is fairly simple: the eldest son and heir is outsed by his younger brother, and seeks to get his inheritance and his bride back.

What makes this book such a delight are the exciting adventures (Tranter is good at vivid depictions), the rather pragmatic and tongue in cheek attitude of the main character, and the pure fun I had reading it. This might be Walter Scott light, but in quite a few ways, it is also much more fun!