Summary from GoodReads:

As the papal wars of the Western Schism rage across Europe, a young man takes his first step on the journey of a lifetime.

Geoffrey Hotspur dreams of knighthood. As an English orphan-squire bonded to the court of Sir John of Gaunt, uncle of the English King Richard II, his prospects are few.

An inveterate gambler already deep in debt, young Geoffrey accepts an invitation to participate in a raid on French lands. His plans go awry, however, after a deadly street brawl results in his banishment from court. As further punishment, he is ordered to join a royal commission bound for Florence.

Accompanied by Jean Lagoustine, a mysterious Frenchman whose intentions towards the young squire are not all they appear to be, the ship upon which they journey is waylaid by corsairs. Barely escaping with their lives, Geoffrey and Jean find themselves forming part of a company of Catalonian crossbowmen en route to enlist with the Roman papal army.

My Review:

I am not sure how to review this book.  I really struggled with this one – but that’s not to say that I didn’t like it.  Just that I really struggled while reading it.

I’m not much of a war/wars type of reader.  I enjoy reading about the more personal (well, enjoy isn’t the word, but I find the more personal aspects easier to read) side, but not so much the strategy, historical facts, and world-building around the wars.  Which is funny to me, because I love world-building in fantasy books.

There’s a lot of building in this book.  A lot.  And it’s very frustrating if you aren’t already familiar with the historical basis behind it all.  I felt like I’d walked into a college level history course mid-way through the semester.  It was bewildering and I think I spent the first 30% of the book trying to get my bearings and wishing the story would just stay put on one character.

Because I loved Geoffrey Hotspur.  That character made me laugh so much, although I’m sure not all of it was intentional.  He was deliciously flawed, filled with life, and I wanted to cry every time the story veered away from him.

This book will take a commitment from you.  It’s over 400 pages long, and you will walk away having learned so much information when all is said and done.  Just prepare for it, set aside the time to really  read the novel, and do not be tempted to skim.  It won’t help, trust me.  You’ll just go back and have to read and re-read it again.

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