Review

This was my first foray into the works of Michael Jecks and being billed as being perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden expectations were high.

Fields of Glory follows the English army from the beaches of Normandy, through destruction and mayhem to Paris, before retreat and the inevitable battle with the French army.

History is a massive submit and I’ll be the first to admit I’m no expert but what I’d like to think I am an expert in, is spotting authors who have a talent for storytelling, and in particular historial fiction.

The author manages to impart his knowledge of the period but expertly weaves this with character arcs. History is never boring but you need to get your hooks into the reader to keep them invested.

I think what made this story stand out was that each of the characters have their own motivations and part to play in the story but they are treated as cattle essentially.. it’s brutal and honest..these men will need to earn any glory and its the relationships, and sometimes the disconnection between the men and those who command them which really felt real to me.

Being new to the author I felt at home pretty quickly, the style very much hit the mark as as Bernard Cornwell fan but if you are new to the genre do give the book the time it deserves. The style and pace are perfect but this is not a light read.. you will really get engrossed as there’s so many minute details added which I just loved.

Michael Jecks commands the reader..and pushes your thoughts exactly the way the men must have felt at the time..you start to detest Sir John, King Edward and the Prince of Wales as they care little for the lives that will be lost. These moments are vivid but certainly disconnected as we see things through the eyes of the men fighting at the front.

There are moments of brutality that will stay with you, the Kings justice..it’s emotionally jarring and thought provoking. I felt the focus of the book allowed the reader to see the brutality from both sides, not only the violence carried out on the French but also the effect this had on the men themselves.. you can see the humanity and light within their eyes die as the “justice” continues.

Awfully good read and a cracking start for a series. Jecks managed to surpass any expectations I may have had with the sheer detail, and what felt like a brutality honest portrayal seen from those men’s eyes.

5* from me.. and great to see Boldwood getting involved. As a publisher they are killing it with the historical fiction genre and never fail to introduce me to top notch authors.

4.5 STARS!

In the opening novel of his Hundred Years' War trilogy, Michael Jecks masterfully brings the common soldiers of Edward III’s army to life, crafting a richly detailed, immersive story that lingers long after the final page. Fields of Glory follows Berenger Fripper and his vintaine of twenty archers from their landing near Cherbourg through the harrowing siege of Caen and the brutal march to the legendary Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Jecks captures not only the violence and chaos of medieval warfare, but also the diverse motives, hopes, and fears of the men who fought in it. Berenger is a wonderfully complex protagonist—loyal, conflicted, and deeply human—and the addition of a master gunner character offers a fascinating exploration of gunpowder’s early impact on European warfare. The battle scenes are expertly written, but Jecks also excels in depicting the long, grueling marches and the psychological toll of endless conflict. While grim at times, the vivid storytelling and compelling characters make this a deeply rewarding read. A must for fans of realistic, character-driven historical fiction.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the first in a new series by this author. I've read some other books by this author before, and I didn't think this was like any of the others I've read, but it was an interesting and complex historical novel that I could sink my bookish teeth into.

If you're looking for something action-packed to read, this could be it. I found the battle scenes intense and nail-biting, if a little gory at times. There was some banter between the characters at times, which I appreciated. I wonder if this is the type of book that most would prefer to read a little at a time, rather than in one sitting. If you are a historical reader though, particularly of the medieval period, this is a wholesome read.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Tthis is a gritty, gory, and action-packed story.

It portrays a real and disenchanted view of France and the perils and tribulations of being an army on the march in hostile terrain, like the severe lack of rations and the reliance on oatcakes to survive, the loss of friends forged on campaign, and the squalid conditions of an army on the march.

Jecks also captures some of the things that kept the men’s morale going, such as the rich plunder as they sacked conquered towns and the camaraderie between men from all walks of life. He explores the connections and relationships in vingtaines (units of twenty men).

Beatrice is the only female in the story, bringing in not only a female lens but also a complex story of hate and vengeance against her fellow countrymen.

Her story starts off strong, with a detailed backstory, but as the novel progresses, I felt she faded into the background and became part of the wider machinations of war. Although she has an affinity for the explosives and assists the xxxx, it’s unclear what her aims and motivations are once she has joined Berenger’s vintaine. Her story is one I hope develops as the series continues.

Expect lots of violence, chaos and action in this thrilling start to a new series.



Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

"Fields of Glory," by Michael Jecks has characters who flip-flop, a girl with a knife who kills more coldly than the English archers, experienced warriors making dumb decisions, and brutal men crying over killing. War deadens soldiers, a real issue for them, which is not in here.

Wow! This was an in depth look at what war was like in Medieval Europe. I enjoyed reading this version of what led up to and the Battle of Crécy. I have a vested interest with King Edward and William de Bohun being grandfathers. For some reason the human destruction didn't bother me, but if you are an animal lover, beware, there are some scenes that will have you cringing. Overall it is a fantastic Medieval story based in history with brilliant characters and well worth the read!

I don't really like appraising historical novels as a 'man's read' or a 'woman's read' as that tends to put books into outdated stereotypical genres - even now when I say I'm an author I get, 'Oh what do you write? Romances?' (I guess the chaps get, 'What do you write? Thrillers?') But for Fields of Glory I do wonder if this is a 'man's read' because it's basically about men on the battlefield - and it's very gritty (as battlefields were - are!). Having said that, if you're a lover of well-researched, detailed - as near as we can get to what really happened historical fiction - regardless of being suitable for male or female readers, then I'd recommend Mr Jeck's novel as an exciting and entertaining read.

I know nothing about this period apart from there were battles during a lot of rain at Crécy and Agincourt, and something about a certain play based around 'We few, we happy few...' by a chap called 'Bill', so it was a pleasure to read a novel where the facts of what went on were aparrently reliable. Although there were a couple of minor quibbles which, if I was reading purely for reading, not for writing a review, I would probably not have noticed. One was at the very opening: gunwale. The word (and an actual gunwale) first came into use soon after 1325ish, this opening chapter is 1346 so the dates are only just right, but I'm assuming this was a transport ship not a warship ... so I'm being very picky, but 'gunwale' doesn't quite sound right for this context. Personally, I'd have used 'bulwark' or plain 'rail'. Also, men seemed to recover from wounds pretty quickly - but then, for both observations, this is fiction so does it matter?

I did have to concentrate on getting my head around all the different characters with their unfamiliar names and unfamiliar job descriptions etc, but that's my failing as a reader, not the author's writing ability or style. (At 72 I'm finding remembering even close friends' names not as easy as it used to be - and reading on a Kindle makes the task harder as it isn't as practical to flip back through pages as a reminder.)

All that said, for readers who enjoy a good historical novel that is well written about historical events and the people involved in them, and readers who don't mind the blood, violence, guts and gore of the battlefield don't miss this one, it's a good read.

This is, literally, a breath-taking novel! The pace is relentless, especially during the description of the Battle of Crecy. Michael Jecks’ knowledge of historical combat adds authenticity to the battle scenes. But alongside the fighting, is an array of interesting characters and sub-plots around relationships amongst the soldiers. Even the one female character is fully integrated into the plot. Brilliant!

The very epitome of page-turner with a chilling storyline that grips from the first and kept me guessing right up to the heart-racing denouement STUNNER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️