Hookline Books |
| A 'Hookline Favourite' The Readers' Choice The Half-Slave by Trevor Bloom |
The year is 476 AD – the Roman empire is disintegrating and
Germanic tribes are moving south to share the spoils and
stake a claim to Roman Gallia. Among them are the Franks
under their ruthless young Overlord, Clovis. The Franks plan
to build a new empire that will eclipse Rome’s fading power,
plans that are jeopardized by the massing forces of a
seaborne Saxon uprising led by the powerful and enigmatic
warlord, Radhalla.
One young man is sent to find out where and when the
Saxons will strike. Born the son of a Saxon warlord and a
Roman slave mother, Ascha is a half-slave, locked in the
limbo between slave and free. As a hostage of the Franks,
Ascha struggles to survive. But when the Overlord offers to
make him a free man if he will spy on his own people Ascha
must summon all his resources and his courage to discover
where his true loyalties lie.
In a journey riven by hope, betrayal and brutal war, Ascha is
caught in a clash that will decide the future of Gallia.
The Half-Slave didn't win last year's Hookline Novel Prize, but
readers loved it.
Read their comments:
A very good story. I couldn’t put it down once I started
reading it.
This lived up to the reputation raised by the first 3 chapters.
Thoroughly convincing recreation of an entirely different era
which kept you fascinated by the characters and wholly
enjoyed in the fate of the hero, with some gripping situations
and moral dilemmas. I found it increasingly hard to put down,
so a lot of midnight oil. Variations in pace, tension and vivid
description. Engrossing!
As an ex-teacher, I cannot see any room for improvement –
hence, the perfect score!
A really satisfactory action tale. A very plausible recreation of
an important period – the beginnings of France and England
. Well patterned; the semi-outsider among his own people
who saves Clovis’ life at the beginning and the end and
works for him but never is able wholly to give himself to that
person and developing society. The ‘romantic’ interest is well
managed. The confusion of the post-Roman period comes
over but the author manages not to let the story become too
confusing. The epilogue is an excellent way to end a life still
ongoing – the perspective of his outsider mother. ‘Brothers’
theme is always a strong one if well handled as it is here. A
refreshing lack of idealisation – even of the hero; I believed in
the characters. Action scenes excellent; writing style,
appropriate.
I’d happily read the sequel!
Very good plot making a fascinating read.
Germanic tribes are moving south to share the spoils and
stake a claim to Roman Gallia. Among them are the Franks
under their ruthless young Overlord, Clovis. The Franks plan
to build a new empire that will eclipse Rome’s fading power,
plans that are jeopardized by the massing forces of a
seaborne Saxon uprising led by the powerful and enigmatic
warlord, Radhalla.
One young man is sent to find out where and when the
Saxons will strike. Born the son of a Saxon warlord and a
Roman slave mother, Ascha is a half-slave, locked in the
limbo between slave and free. As a hostage of the Franks,
Ascha struggles to survive. But when the Overlord offers to
make him a free man if he will spy on his own people Ascha
must summon all his resources and his courage to discover
where his true loyalties lie.
In a journey riven by hope, betrayal and brutal war, Ascha is
caught in a clash that will decide the future of Gallia.
The Half-Slave didn't win last year's Hookline Novel Prize, but
readers loved it.
Read their comments:
A very good story. I couldn’t put it down once I started
reading it.
This lived up to the reputation raised by the first 3 chapters.
Thoroughly convincing recreation of an entirely different era
which kept you fascinated by the characters and wholly
enjoyed in the fate of the hero, with some gripping situations
and moral dilemmas. I found it increasingly hard to put down,
so a lot of midnight oil. Variations in pace, tension and vivid
description. Engrossing!
As an ex-teacher, I cannot see any room for improvement –
hence, the perfect score!
A really satisfactory action tale. A very plausible recreation of
an important period – the beginnings of France and England
. Well patterned; the semi-outsider among his own people
who saves Clovis’ life at the beginning and the end and
works for him but never is able wholly to give himself to that
person and developing society. The ‘romantic’ interest is well
managed. The confusion of the post-Roman period comes
over but the author manages not to let the story become too
confusing. The epilogue is an excellent way to end a life still
ongoing – the perspective of his outsider mother. ‘Brothers’
theme is always a strong one if well handled as it is here. A
refreshing lack of idealisation – even of the hero; I believed in
the characters. Action scenes excellent; writing style,
appropriate.
I’d happily read the sequel!
Very good plot making a fascinating read.
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To read an
excerpt from
The Half-Slave -
click here
excerpt from
The Half-Slave -
click here
The Bookbag review:
'An appealingly pacy adventure set in
a rarely attempted period of history,
The Half-Slave excels in gritty
atmosphere and believable
characterisation.'
To read the Bookbag review
http://bit.ly/cUseGU
'An appealingly pacy adventure set in
a rarely attempted period of history,
The Half-Slave excels in gritty
atmosphere and believable
characterisation.'
To read the Bookbag review
http://bit.ly/cUseGU
Historical Novel Society review:
'I found the realism in the characters and
situations, and deftly woven plot strands
made this a gripping story.'
Janet Williamson
'I found the realism in the characters and
situations, and deftly woven plot strands
made this a gripping story.'
Janet Williamson
Bookline & Thinker Ltd.
#231, 405 King's Road
London, SW10 0BB
Tel: 0845 116 1476
Email: editor@booklinethinker.com
#231, 405 King's Road
London, SW10 0BB
Tel: 0845 116 1476
Email: editor@booklinethinker.com
Also available as an ebook:
ISBN: 9780-9555630-72
ISBN: 9780-9555630-72