Freedom's Sword, a Historical Novel of Scotland [Kindle Edition]

J.R. Tomlin (Author)

Book Description

Before William Wallace, before Robert the Bruce, there was another Scottish hero...

In 1296, newly knighted by the King of the Scots, Andrew de Moray fights to defend his country against the forces of the ruthless invader, King Edward Longshanks of England. After a bloody defeat in battle, he is dragged in chains to an English dungeon.

Soon the young knight escapes. He returns to find Scotland under the heel of a conqueror and his betrothed sheltering in the hills of the Black Isle. Seizing his own castle from the English, he raises the banner of Scottish freedom. Now he must lead the north of Scotland to rebellion in hope of defeating the English army sent to crush them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Tomlin has created a fast paced, well -written read that any historical fiction lover will enjoy. -Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

The novel is engrossing and rich with detail. Tomlin makes these historic figures approachable and lifelike in a way that makes you root for them and understand their motivation. - The Kindle Book Review

Product Details

• File Size: 560 KB
• Print Length: 251 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1461004152
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004RUZPPY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,931 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #21 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Biographical
  • #29 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Biographical

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Historical Fiction March 22, 2011

By Laura Lond

Format:Kindle Edition

Year 1296. Andrew de Moray, newly knighted by John Balliol, the Scottish King, is excited to go to his first battle. He is not afraid as he stands next to his father, surveying the long lines of the English army. The enemy is many, but their own forces are numerous as well; the Scots are confident they can win. The English seem to know it, too. In fact, it doesn't look like they want to fight.

Alas, the retreat of the English turns out to be a trap. As the Scots rush into pursuit, they are surrounded, their army is crushed, and the battle of Dunbar is lost. Andrew is among a few survivors. He endures a long, painful journey in shackles, beatings, and the humiliation of seeing the king of Scots stripped of his crown and forced to plead for his men's lives. Before Andrew is locked alone in a dungeon, his weakened father commands him to continue to fight the English.

Andrew vows the same -- if he can survive the cold, pitch black dungeon where he loses track of time. He is hurting and nearly starved; his captors reveal nothing of their intentions, his questions are only answered with blows. It's a miracle that Andrew manages to escape, taking yet another injury in the process. He returns to Scotland and seeks his uncle's aid to fight for the freedom of their land, impossible as it sounds. Seven men, also other survivors of the battle of Dunbar, join Andrew. His forces grow slowly but steadily after each daring victory, each Scottish castle retaken from the English.

Freedom's Sword is a fine work of historical fiction, genuine and well-written. I have learned from reading an interview with J.R. Tomlin, the author, that she knows Scotland not only from research, and it shows in the book -- in the beautiful descriptions of scenery, for example, or nuances of the language. Andrew is very real, believable in his journey from a thrilled youth to a seasoned warrior. War is never pretty, when truthfully portrayed, and this novel does have its share of violence, blood, pain, and cruelty. It is neither graphic nor relished; it is there because the story demands it.

I've noticed several typos, minor things like "horses" instead of "horse's" or a repeated word -- something that probably wouldn't bother most readers. Overall, I would describe Freedom's Sword as a serious, well done historical novel and recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read about a key period in Scottish history March 22, 2011

By mdgarnett

Format:Kindle Edition

Freedom's Sword is a highly readable, well researched book that relates the background behind the English invasion of Scotland at the end of the 13th century and sets the scene for England's defeat at the battle of Stirling Bridge. By crafting a personal story around Andrew Moray and other Scottish patriots like Robert Bruce and William Wallace, the author takes the accepted facts and gives you a perspective that is hard to get from a history book.

If you like historical fiction, you'll like this book. The characters are developed enough to draw you into their lives. Historical "purists" shouldn't find the fiction distracting as the author adhers to the facts very carefully. I began the book on a plane and found myself wishing the flight was a little longer so I could finish it in one read.

The book begins what I think will be a trilogy however it reads well completely on its own and will not leave you mid-story waiting for the next installment.

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars History Lite: Accurate, If Not Exactly Scholarly. Makes for Good Popular Read March 15, 2012

By Ken Korczak

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

FREEDOM'S SWORD is a novel based on a real figure of history, a Scottish knight who fought fiercely against the tyranny of the English crown in the closing years of the 13th Century. Sir Andrew de Moray was a contemporary of William Wallace of "Braveheart" fame; indeed, Wallace and de Moray were co-commanders at the great battle of Stirling Bridge in which the Scots pulled off a stunning victory against a vastly superior English force.

Some historians contend that many of the exploits attributed to Wallace were actually the accomplishments of Andrew de Moray - although they were both pretty tough customers.

It may or may not be fair to say that if you have seen the movie Braveheart starring Mel Gibson, then you will have an idea of the exact flavor, tenor, tone, sentiment and rendering of this novel.

As a historical novel, this is accurate enough in terms of keeping to the historical record. The majority of readers will find this entertaining enough to be well worth what they paid for it, and the time they spend reading it.

However, I can't give it sky-high marks for a variety of reasons:

* As historical novels go, this is not a work of deep scholarship. For example, there is no way this book is in the same league as works such as "Lincoln" or "Julian" by Gore Vidal, or, say, "Poland" or "Hawaii" by James Michener. Rather, Freedom's Sword leverages just as much of the historical record it needs to serve merely as a backdrop for a popular entertainment novel. (There's nothing wrong with that -- just sayin'). But the fact is, this book does not attempt to revisit a key historical period with depth of analysis and detail to really make us see the times in a new way, or in a way that makes us think deeply or about what was.

* The narrative is oddly disjointed and jarring at times. The author fails to weave together the individual lives and alternating events in a way that makes it flow smoothly throughout the novel.

* A few chapters involving de Moray's courting, marriage and relationship with his wife shift abruptly in tone from the rest of the novel - it's as if someone took three or four chapters from a bodice-ripping, blushing romance novel and inserted amid a historical war drama. Again, this demonstrates the disjointed nature of the book.

* The author, J.R. TOMLIN, rightfully informs us that her depiction of de Moray's wife is 100% fictional since no records of the real Lady de Moray exist. That's fine, except the character she creates is a standard cliché of the genre- a feisty, irrepressible Scottish lass with flaming red hair who can take down a deer with a bow while mastering her steed -- and who also eagerly sizzles with hot sexual passion under the embrace of her hero's "rough, callused hands."

* The book, this Kindle version at least, is poorly edited from first chapter through last.

Don't get me wrong -- not every historical novel should strive to be or needs to be a scholarly, weighty masterpiece involving years of deep research, personal interviews and combing through ancient, dusty museum records that are yellow, dusty and crackling with age -- some may leverage just enough information from common sources to create the background for a good yarn. This book does that.

More About the Author

J. R. Tomlin is the author of four historical novels: Freedom's Sword, A Kingdom's Cost, Countenance of War, and Not for Glory. She has also co-authored several fantasies with C. R. Daems: Blood Duty, Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, The Shadow Ryana, and Women of Power.

She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set in Scotland. You can trace her love of that nation to the stories of the Bruce and the Good Sir James her grandmother read her when she was small and to her hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas, Victor Hugo and of J.R.R. Tolkien.

In addition to spending time in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.