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jefffrane's review against another edition
5.0
An exceptionally-well written novel set in the early 11th Century during the final days of purely Saxon England. Godwin Wolfnothson was apparently a significant figure in the years prior to the Conquest; lacking the benefits of a British education I hesitate to call him "obscure" but he's certainly less familiar than the usual cast from 1066. Shieldwall focuses on his early years during the last struggles between the Saxons and the Danes and benefits from some spectacular battles and unlikely victories. Justin Hill writes beautifully, a terrific storyteller.
heathssm's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
blackestclovers's review against another edition
4.0
Very good book. A little surprised at the ending, but at the same time it clears up any time line issues with the next book (if that makes sense). Definitely worth a read.
jennyn52779's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bc2112's review against another edition
A good story telling of the historical facts around the turn of the years 1000 to 1018 in England.
speesh's review against another edition
3.0
A nicely written and paced novel, rich with drama and intrigue and which begins at the start of a momentous period for what was beginning to become England. The 11th Century.
If '11th Century' says nothing to you - 1066 was the second half of the 11th Century. Better?
But that's not just for fun, because this is actually a novel set in England of the early 11th Century, a century of invasions, clearly. Vikings are banging on Englands door every few years, they invade and conquer a couple of times, then there's the pesky Normans, here just waiting and watching. In Normandy.
Beginning at the start of the century and concentrating on the situation in England - and wider afield sometimes - this is a story taking place before the momentous events of later on. Pre-Conquest happenings seem to have been non the less momentous as those later on, by the sounds of it. And as I found here, obviously benefit greatly from a little illumination, context and background.
But it's not just a history lesson, though it is clearly well researched, and not just fleshing out the bare bones of history. Wikipedia could have told me that (and I did have to check a couple of times, to see if the characters were who I thought they were). Here, Justin Hill's writing really brings the period to life, the landscape, the people, the politics, the prevalent mentality of the period. Fully formed and thoroughly immersed, I think you might say it is and one becomes.
We follow, at the start of the book, one Wulfnoth, who seems to have become an Anglicised ex-Viking invader. Then for the majority of the novel, his son Godwin guides the story through the period. And if you add a '-son' to his name, as was the habit in those days, if you know anything at all of the period, you'll understand the significance of the person Justin Hill is writing about. Whilst they are the embodiment of a people becoming 'English', they are also Viking invaders of the first wave. Now fighting against new Viking invaders, to form an new land, their land, 'England'.
So this is the situation in England before the Norman conquest of 1066, that James Aitcheson and James Wilde are currently writing so evocatively about the after effects of. Where James Aitcheson's stories of the Norman knight 'Tancred' show the invaders' side and James Wilde's 'Hereward' series is about the guerrilla war of English resistance to the conquerors, this is a much more relaxed, panoramic view of the the events leading up to the conquest. As I say, there is drama and intrigue, politicking (and later, action) aplenty. And it is all handled with a confident, fluidic surety by Justin Hill. I think this is his first foray into the Historical Novel field, though you'd never know it. You can tell he had great fun writing this one, that's clear from some lovely descriptive passages that are almost lyrical and must have felt lovely when just written. The book has in parts, an almost dream-like feel to it. You can feel him looking back into history, trying to see into the mists, attempting to make sense of and see what is forming. Then there come passages and events clear, sharp and bright. And heart-pounding action, of course. Best I can sum it up as.
Interestingly, if he's got his research right and I can only presume he has, this is an England being formed by and fought over, by what we would think of as boys, young men at best. Godwin is barely 19 at the end of this, Knut is I think a little younger, and all the other main characters, Ethelred apart, are very young men.
If there was one quibble I had, it was the lack of meaningful action (by which I mean, fighting) in the first half. I saw somewhere he was writing a trilogy and even with having to follow historical events pretty closely (by which I mean that if there weren't any battles, you can hardly write about them, can you?), there could have been a bit more mayhem at the start, even if you are largely setting up for a trilogy. The front cover illustration (of the paperback version I have) is also a bit non-descript. Not gonna be leaping off the shelves with that one.
Oh yeah, if I might recommend one thing to the author/publisher; it would be to change the photo of Justin Hill in the back cover (of the paperback version I have). To something more 'read my book, you'll really enjoy it'- like. Rather than the current 'read my book - or I'll break yer legs!'
Enjoyable though.
If '11th Century' says nothing to you - 1066 was the second half of the 11th Century. Better?
But that's not just for fun, because this is actually a novel set in England of the early 11th Century, a century of invasions, clearly. Vikings are banging on Englands door every few years, they invade and conquer a couple of times, then there's the pesky Normans, here just waiting and watching. In Normandy.
Beginning at the start of the century and concentrating on the situation in England - and wider afield sometimes - this is a story taking place before the momentous events of later on. Pre-Conquest happenings seem to have been non the less momentous as those later on, by the sounds of it. And as I found here, obviously benefit greatly from a little illumination, context and background.
But it's not just a history lesson, though it is clearly well researched, and not just fleshing out the bare bones of history. Wikipedia could have told me that (and I did have to check a couple of times, to see if the characters were who I thought they were). Here, Justin Hill's writing really brings the period to life, the landscape, the people, the politics, the prevalent mentality of the period. Fully formed and thoroughly immersed, I think you might say it is and one becomes.
We follow, at the start of the book, one Wulfnoth, who seems to have become an Anglicised ex-Viking invader. Then for the majority of the novel, his son Godwin guides the story through the period. And if you add a '-son' to his name, as was the habit in those days, if you know anything at all of the period, you'll understand the significance of the person Justin Hill is writing about. Whilst they are the embodiment of a people becoming 'English', they are also Viking invaders of the first wave. Now fighting against new Viking invaders, to form an new land, their land, 'England'.
So this is the situation in England before the Norman conquest of 1066, that James Aitcheson and James Wilde are currently writing so evocatively about the after effects of. Where James Aitcheson's stories of the Norman knight 'Tancred' show the invaders' side and James Wilde's 'Hereward' series is about the guerrilla war of English resistance to the conquerors, this is a much more relaxed, panoramic view of the the events leading up to the conquest. As I say, there is drama and intrigue, politicking (and later, action) aplenty. And it is all handled with a confident, fluidic surety by Justin Hill. I think this is his first foray into the Historical Novel field, though you'd never know it. You can tell he had great fun writing this one, that's clear from some lovely descriptive passages that are almost lyrical and must have felt lovely when just written. The book has in parts, an almost dream-like feel to it. You can feel him looking back into history, trying to see into the mists, attempting to make sense of and see what is forming. Then there come passages and events clear, sharp and bright. And heart-pounding action, of course. Best I can sum it up as.
Interestingly, if he's got his research right and I can only presume he has, this is an England being formed by and fought over, by what we would think of as boys, young men at best. Godwin is barely 19 at the end of this, Knut is I think a little younger, and all the other main characters, Ethelred apart, are very young men.
If there was one quibble I had, it was the lack of meaningful action (by which I mean, fighting) in the first half. I saw somewhere he was writing a trilogy and even with having to follow historical events pretty closely (by which I mean that if there weren't any battles, you can hardly write about them, can you?), there could have been a bit more mayhem at the start, even if you are largely setting up for a trilogy. The front cover illustration (of the paperback version I have) is also a bit non-descript. Not gonna be leaping off the shelves with that one.
Oh yeah, if I might recommend one thing to the author/publisher; it would be to change the photo of Justin Hill in the back cover (of the paperback version I have). To something more 'read my book, you'll really enjoy it'- like. Rather than the current 'read my book - or I'll break yer legs!'
Enjoyable though.
justabridge's review
5.0
4.5 stars as Shieldwall was absolutely fantastic. The beginning was a little slow and the ending felt slightly rushed, but everything inbetween was great. The descriptions and the voice of the novel are lovely - I really felt like I understood the time period and was able to become immersed in it. The way that Hill was able to build up the Anglo-Saxon culture without spelling it out impressed me. The other element I found very well balanced was the blood and guts, which while being healthily spread throughout the book never feels too overdone, which I always appreciate in books. Violence and death, while a fact of life for the characters, was never cheapened.
I also thought the characterisations were great. I got to know them all very well in a short space of time, and they all felt three dimensional and really lifted out of the page. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!
I also thought the characterisations were great. I got to know them all very well in a short space of time, and they all felt three dimensional and really lifted out of the page. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series!
elysianfield's review
3.0
3.5 stars
After Godwin’s father falls out with Alderman Eadric, he is held as hostage at King Ethelred’s court. The king’s son Edmund saves his life and they become friends. Godwin rises from being the second son to be the king’s right-hand man. They have the same vision of England and Godwin stays loyal to him even when things go from bad to worse.
I’m having some troubles writing this review but I’m not sure why is that.
To say this was action packed is an understatement. There was battle after battle and while I do like battles it really took the center stage when someone dies it’s told in great detail. The problem is that I didn’t get to really know the characters besides Godwin or what they were thinking. Lot of back-slapping and other manly activities but I kept missing for something else. I did like Kendra who first nursed Godwin’s father in the end and became Godwin’s mistress after that. But I would have liked to know what happened to her later on.
I know this gives the idea that I hated the book but I did enjoy it. It just had the action as the main point instead of historical things. I liked Godwin and Edmund but Knut was just like a spoiled brat. Haven’t read many books about this era and some of the characters were so different from what I’ve thought them to be.
After Godwin’s father falls out with Alderman Eadric, he is held as hostage at King Ethelred’s court. The king’s son Edmund saves his life and they become friends. Godwin rises from being the second son to be the king’s right-hand man. They have the same vision of England and Godwin stays loyal to him even when things go from bad to worse.
I’m having some troubles writing this review but I’m not sure why is that.
To say this was action packed is an understatement. There was battle after battle and while I do like battles it really took the center stage when someone dies it’s told in great detail. The problem is that I didn’t get to really know the characters besides Godwin or what they were thinking. Lot of back-slapping and other manly activities but I kept missing for something else. I did like Kendra who first nursed Godwin’s father in the end and became Godwin’s mistress after that. But I would have liked to know what happened to her later on.
I know this gives the idea that I hated the book but I did enjoy it. It just had the action as the main point instead of historical things. I liked Godwin and Edmund but Knut was just like a spoiled brat. Haven’t read many books about this era and some of the characters were so different from what I’ve thought them to be.
brynhammond's review
2.0
Terrific first chapter but I'm a Did Not Finish on page 166. See how persistent I was? It's not going to live up to the beginning. Can I have a whole book like the first chapter? That was five stars, with its elegy and inglory - an inglorious end, and the mood of the Old English elegies that were heavily quoted. I felt for Wulfnoth and I was happy to go back and see what led him to this. I thought his death seen ahead might give a sense of fatedness - that ingredient of the sad courage you find in the tragic epic of the times. But none of that came to pass and besides the book isn't about him. It's been unstartling histfic ever since -- even of the clumsy, cruded-down sort I can't stand. I've hoped it works up to a conclusion of equal weight to the beginning, but I can't get there. I'm rarely this cruel - blame my heightened expectations.
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