This was a great story that I really enjoyed. It was very interesting and easy to get into. I listened to the audiobook and really liked the narrator. I thought the story was well written and contained some great atmosphere. I love stories like this one that spark emotions within me as it makes for a brilliant reading experience. The characters were interesting and were just right for the period. I definitely recommend giving this book a go. I loved the jousting in this book it definitely had that knights tale vibe about it.

So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating an interesting story. I just loved the ending and the section at the end telling us more about the history of the time period
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/battle-song-by-ian-ross-hodder-stoughton-4-stars and new blog https://ladyreading365.blogspot.com/2023/05/battle-song-by-ian-ross-hodder.html under ladyreading365

This book took me to the medieval world. A tale of loyalty, friendship, bravery and love. I could imagine the world while listening to the narrator. I wouldn't say it was the best book I listened to but I definitely was lost in that world that existed long, long time ago and enjoyed the experience as a reader. Definitely worth a one time listen.

A really good story, brought to life by an excellent narrator.

It was well written and had a good mix of character and action, reflected well on the customs and behaviours of people back then (or at least as modern tv portrays those times).

A slightly open end or, at least, one that didn’t wrap everything up neat and tidily, but was probably the correct sort of ending and in line with the rest of the story.

Thoroughly recommended.

1264 and England is on the verge of civil war. The King and his barons are at odds. The King demands obedience. The barons, led by Simon de Montfort demand reform. Something will have to break or there will be war.
Adam de Norton is a young squire who dreams of chivalry, becoming a knight and regaining his father’s lost lands. However life has just changed for him as he has a new master.
A knight by the name of Sir Robert de Dunstanville - a tough merciless man who will use any strategy to gain victory and claim what he believes is his by right.
They travel to Europe and its tournament fields where Adam is educated in the art of warfare and winning at any cost.
As things become bloody in England, knight and squire now have a choice to make. Do they back the barons or fight for their King or maybe fight for themselves?
A brilliant story narrated by Nathaniel Priestley. He brings to life the author’s wonderful ability to draw the listener or reader into the past and how life truly was, using great characters and with rip-roaring action throughout along with a tense atmosphere.
Ian Ross writes with a class and style that leaves the reader or listener thirsting for more.
This truly is a masterclass in historical fiction and I very much look forward to the next instalment.

A thrilling and exciting story of tournaments and civil war, knights and squires as young squire Adam d' norton fights on the side of Simon de Montfort against the forces of Henry III. I am not especially familiar with this period of history and at times would have liked a bit more reinforcement of the historical context to underscore the story. The main characters are strong and full of life but there were a lot of peripheral characters that sometimes became a little confusing. I fully appreciated the historical veracity and the detail was finely tuned to create vivid and colourful images of events, the battle scenes crisp and decisive, the more domestic passages informative and realistic. The story follows Adam from his early years and I very much enjoyed the way his character grew and matured throughout, learning from his experiences and through his service to Robert de Dunstanville. I particularly enjoyed the encounters with Joanne and the effect she had on him.

The audio narration on the whole was very good, the characterisation and voices were excellent, emotional and dramatic. The narrative descriptions were surprisingly at times a little dull and unemotional in contrast that deadened the pace. There were also some rather long pauses that halted the narrative at inopportune moments and made the audiobook a little longer than it needed to be. But nevertheless an entertaining and on the whole enjoyable listening experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

This book was awesome! Absolutely loved it. The battle scenes were epic, and Ross is so good at atmosphere.

Full review coming