HISTORICAL FICTION REVIEW: The Braveheart Chronicles: Rebel - Jack Whyte

Release Date: 10/05/12

SYNOPSIS:

A.D.1305. An hour before dawn. London's Smithfield prison. In a dank cell, the outlaw William Wallace waits to be executed at first light. He is visited by a Scottish priest who has come to hear his last confession - the confession of a life even more exciting, violent and astonishing than the legend that survived. From internationally bestselling author Jack Whyte comes a story of brutal battles and high adventure, of heroism and redemption - the story of William Wallace as the world has never heard it before.


REVIEW:

When you decide to write a book about one of Scotland’s heroes you’re heading into dangerous territory as first of all you have those who love Gibson’s Braveheart and another band of Scots who believe that he quartered a national hero nearly 7 Centuries after the English did the same to the original.

What this story by Jack Whyte does is cut though a lot of the myth and presents a historical fiction story that contains all the elements that readers love, first of all you have action and second of all a human element that allows the reader to associate with the characters within.

All in the story is cleverly crafted and for an opening novel of a trilogy its one that really does stand out as a wonderful piece of fiction. Add to this solid pace, decent dialogue as well as a solid arc and all it for me, it was a novel that I’ll reread before starting the second instalment.