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Paperback Shadows and Strongholds Book
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ISBN: 1402274599

ISBN13: 9781402274596

Shadows and Strongholds

(Book #1 in the FitzWarin Series)

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Format: Paperback

Condition: Like New

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Book Overview

Superb writing, phenomenal storytelling, breathtaking detail, sparkling characterization, a moving tale of love and tragedy with plenty of wit and humor thrown in."--Bookfoolery

Written with vivid detail and great historical accuracy, Shadows and Strongholds is a captivating historical novel of Medieval England. Fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Sharon Kay Penman, and Bernard Cornwall will be hooked on this well-crafted medieval tale of pride, loyalty, and conflict as one man fights the shadows of his past and his future.

The one thing Brunin Fitzwarin knows best is nothing worthwhile is easy--especially not becoming a knight. But nothing will be more challenging than the past he's struggling to leave behind.

Sent away by his father, Brunin is now a knight-in-training to the Lord of Ludlow--and still utterly alone. That is, until the youngest daughter of the house, Hawise, befriends him.

With England in turmoil, Brunin must fight with his lord to support King Stephen for the English crown. As the war rages on and hits particularly close to home, Brunin must defeat the shadows of his childhood and take on the mantle of knight, confronting the future head on.

More Medieval Historical Fiction Titles from Elizabeth Chadwick:

Lady of the English

The Greatest Knight

The Summer Queen

What reviewers are saying about Shadows and Strongholds

"Romance, history, and action all rolled into one delicious ball."--NetGalley Review

"An exquisitely written, compelling tale--a keeper to be enjoyed more than one time."--Long and Short Reviews

What people are saying about bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick

"A star back in Britain, Elizabeth Chadwick is finally getting the attention she deserves here." - USA Today

"Elizabeth Chadwick is to Medieval England what Philippa Gregory is to the Tudors and the Stuarts, and Bernard Cornwall to the Dark Ages."--Books Monthly, UK

"The best writer of medieval fiction currently around." --Historical Novels Review

" Chadwick] makes the time period come alive for the reader, utilizing small historical details in order to really set each scene."--S. Krishna's Books

"Chadwick is an icon for the historical fiction community for her ability to create a believable and passionate story based around major events of the era."--The Burton Review

"Breathing life into historical personages is hallmark Chadwick."--RT Book Reviews

"Picking up an Elizabeth Chadwick novel is like having a Bentley draw up at your door: you know you are in for a sumptuous ride." -Daily Telegraph

Related Subjects

Contemporary Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literature & Fiction Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy

Customer Reviews

5 ratings
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SHADOWS AND STRONGHOLDS IS SUPERB!

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
18 Aug 2004: Refers to UK Hardcover Edition This is a medieval tale of Brunin FitzWarin and Hawise de Dinan. It begins in England, 1148 and ten year old Brunin is a misfit in his own family. He is a quiet child and is tormented by his brothers and is detested by his own paternal grandmother, Mellette. His beautiful mother, Eve, is a shy, quiet woman who doesn't have the mettle to stand up to her mother-in-law or her domineering husband, Fulke FitzWarin and therefore is incapable of protecting herself, let alone her oldest son. Brunin's father decides that the boy needs encouragement to fully develop and sends him to be fostered in the household of his friend, Joscelin de Dinan, Lord of Ludlow. Brunin will learn the knightly arts but he must also learn to overcome his own self-doubts. There he meets Hawise, the youngest daughter of Lord Joscelin and they form a friendship while growing up together at Ludlow. He learns to fight with Lord Joscelin, and his father for Henry of Anjou for Henry's crown against King Stephen. However, in the background, rival threats against Ludlow and Whittington become more prevalent and additional battles must be fought. This is an extremely well-written book and delves deep into the personalities of the main characters, especially Brunin and Hawise. I felt their emotions so strongly it was almost akin to being in their shoes. A veritable page turner! I couldn't stop and was sad to see it end! Another winner for author Elizabeth Chadwick and anyone who reads her novels!

Great

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
The "family chronicles" was a rather popular genre between the 12th to the 14th centuries. These chronicles were written by clerics, under the supervision of the family. One of these chronicles is the story of the Fitzwarin family, and this ancient piece was the basis for the wonderful novel "Shadows and Strongholds". This is a story of two childhood friends and eventually husband and wife, Brunin Fitzwarin and Hawise de Dinan, and their adventures and tests of courage and love in times where nothing is for sure and everything is under threat, including the beloved castle where they both spent most of their years and where their future awaits- Ludlow castle. This is a fascinating story, based on true facts and real characters- highly recommended!

Wonderful!

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Elizabeth Chadwick's ability to create both believable characters and believable medieval settings is nothing short of amazing. Shadows and Strongholds is a romance, but it's far superior to most category romances, and really, it's superior to most historical novels in general. I can hardly wait for Chadwick's next book.

Very good story!

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
If you like medieval action, daring knights, smart and independent ladies and an interesting story, then this is the book for you. I bought this book not knowing anything about the author, because usually I research an author before I buy a book, but this time I just went ahead and bought it by reading the backcover, what a treat, it had me engrossed completely from beginning to end! I will go ahead and buy another Chadwick book just to see if her other books are as good as this one. Brunin and Hawise are a wonderful couple and Chadwick shows you how they mature and grow together and become wiser and stronger in their own circumstances.

Chadwick's books just can't be bad

Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Because I bought this book in an English bookstore in Amsterdam, I've read it before it has been published in the USA. This book is very good, it's even better the Lords of the White Castle, and is certainly worth reading for the back-story on how the FitzWairin family loses Whittington Castle. England in the time of the civil war between Stephen and Matilda is not a fun place to be. Because of the war between the kingly ones, justice is not getting dispensed to those in need. For this reason, strong alliances are more important than ever. Thus, Hawise de Dinan and Brunin FitzWairin, two teenagers who have known each other their whole lives are made to wed so that Brunin can help protect Hawse's family estate, Ludlow, which is under almost constant attack from Gilbert de Lacy. Readers of Lords of The White castle will be delighted to read the romantic and stunning story of the parents of Fulke FitzWairin, who unfortunately aren't seen much in LOTWC. All The characters are real people of their time with true personas and real motivations, and as always, this is not some nice neat tale of midlevel life. It's dirty and gritty and very realistic. It's also not really fair to classify this as a romance novel, since there isn't that much sex in the book. Chadwick has done it again!
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