A page-turning historical action novel in the tradition of Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow and George MacDonald Fraser, Reiver is an adventure on the war-torn borderlands of 16th century England and Scotland.‘If Jesus Christ was amongst them, they would deceive him…’1569 AD. The March lands between England and Scotland are a place of terror, where outlaw bands and broken men rob, pillage and … rob, pillage and murder in open defiance of the law. Here, deadly blood-feud is a way of life. Families of robbers, known as Border Reivers, live via blackmail and terrorism. No man sleeps safe in his bed, and the sound of hoofbeats on the tops is a herald of death.
Richie Reade, known as Richie O’the Bow, finds himself dragged into this dark and bloody world. One night his village is raided by a gang of Armstrongs, the most dreaded of the reiver families. After he slays two of the gang, Richie is declared a dead man walking: the Armstrongs and their allies will not rest until they have his head. Betrayed by the law, Richie is forced to flee into the wilderness. He and his fellow outlaws begin to forge a reputation as Richie’s Bairns, killing the Armstrongs wherever they find them.
Meanwhile the Border is threatened by war. The rebellious northern earls plan to depose the Protestant Queen of England, Elizabeth I, and replace her with the Catholic Mary Stewart. Many of the reiver families rise to join the rebellion, and the earls march south under the Banner of the Five Wounds. Civil war threatens to break out in England, even as fresh murder and conspiracy raise havoc in Scotland.
With the north in turmoil, and the Border in a state of bloody flux, Richie and his outlaws do what they can to survive. As his fame grows, Richie finds himself drawn inexorably into the war for England’s soul. When the final battle looms, above the rushing waters of the Hell Beck, he must choose his fate.
Reiver is the latest novella by David Pilling, author of the Caesar’s Sword trilogy, Leader of Battles, The White Hawk and Soldier of Fortune.
more
I usually shy away from books heavy with battle descriptions, but the Marcher Lords and the political intrique that surrounded Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with her cousin Mary proved to be very compelling to this fan of all things Tudor. Will definitely read more in the series.
Easy to read. Not very sophisticated in the writing but I learned a lot. Since I love anything about Scotland I learned about the Reivers. They are from the area close to where my ancestors came from. Who knows? Maybe I had a few from my past.
I was interested in seeing what my Scottish roots might be like. I am not sure I like them.
great historical novel
Enjoyed this book very much.
Great ation adventure- real characters.
Loved the historical details. It felt like going back in time.
It shows how difficult it was in that era.
Historical. Interesting. Didn’t feel it was quite finished at he end of the book.
Enjoyable historical read.
I loved the historical aspect of this book. They led hard, miserable lives. Interesting characters made this book worth reading.
Historical fiction.
a tough story historically somewhat true…
This is a grand tale, set in the time o Good Queen Bess, while Mary Queen o Scots was still in an English prison. The historical background is accurate and many o the characters are historical. Sixteen-year-old protagonist, Richie Reade, is a likeable kid who has to grow up all too fast, which was not unusual in those days. He quickly develops leadership qualities and his adventures on the lawless English-Scottish borderlands make exciting reading. I have a feeling a sequel may be coming, since the story ends with Richie sort o riding off into the sunset, but not in a cliffhanger.
Enjoyed reading this book
Most powerful book I’ve read in many a year! It is a realistic account of the Borders. Not for the faint-hearted.
I learned a lot about an period of history which isn’t often covered. Sad and shocking to learn how these people had to live at this time and place in history
This is about the border skirmishes in Scotland and it helped understand the politics of the day.
Interesting depiction of times that represent an integral stepping stone in the evolution of contemporary culture. Well written.
Richie Reade is a reiver (outlaw and cattle thief) on the Scottish English border. When a rival clan steals cattle at Crowhame, Richie’s village, Richie kills two powerful members of the Armstrong clan, which leads to a blood feud. And up to this point, Reiver was a pretty good piece of historical fiction. But then the author veered off into history and politics, taking a didactic tone. And after that Richie only made cameo appearances. I would not recommend this book. It is pleasant to learn history through storytelling; it is not enjoyable to be force fed dry historical facts and events.