Pamela Taylor (4)

Great continuation of the Second Son Chronicles. I was excited to jump back in to the story, but could have done with a quick refresher on the story line. I remembered most as it went along.
Excellent depiction of the battle and tension in war. The downfall of the duke was foreseen but not quite as expected, great twist.
I've enjoyed the whole series and recommend it wholeheartedly for those who enjoy historical fiction.

This is a difficult book to review. It is a simple story of a best loved grandson in a fictional kingdom in a fictional place a very long time ago. He is a good boy, trying to live up to the expectations of his parents and his grandfather, the King, even though he knows he has no prospects as the second son of a second son. There are knights, a jealous sibling, a wife, a favorite horse - as I said this is a simple story. Forgiveness, betrayal and revenge find their places in equal measure show more and it is these things that move the story forward.

In the author’s words: “This series is dedicated to the hope that thoughtfulness, compassion, respect, and rational dialogue can triumph over bigotry, greed, mistrust and self-righteousness to create a world that is truly a better place for all mankind.” I enjoyed the time spent with this book and realized that a good writer does not always have to be driven by a strong plot, there can be other elements that draw the reader into contemplative thought. A strong 3-1/2 stars.

I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. show less

My apologies to Ms Taylor for writing my review a couple of months after finishing the book. I haven’t read the previous two books, but I felt there was enough references to the previous storyline’s that I didn’t feel I had missed anything, I’m fact I was quite keen to read them. I enjoyed the story and how nice Alfred, the main character is. The author portrays his brother, the king, lack of empathy, compassion and forethought so well I felt sad and uncomfortable for the major show more characters and people of the kingdom in general.
Worth a read with mystery, mostly good hearted characters and hope,for the future. I look forward to the next book! show less

Pestilence is book 3 in the series of Second Son Chronicles. I have not read the two titles preceding this one, but Pestilence easily stands on its own. Set in the Middle Ages/early Renaissance, Lord Alfred tells the events occurring in the kingdom upon the death of their father when turned over to John his brother and the new heir of the throne. As king, John is determined to achieve great personal power making policy changes as he sees fit. On the other hand Lord Alfred continues to live show more according to the laws of the kingdom. The dissension between the two is palpable and quickly sets the stage for battles, blood and plenty of conflict as King John seeks to build the size of his realm. The plot and engaging characters developed quickly and held my interest to the end. It was a great read and recommend it to fans of historical fiction. show less