Antonio Perez is the son of a knight and a returning war hero, yet he loathes the idea of following in his father’s footsteps. But when his father is executed for alleged treason against Fernando, King of Leon-Castile, he launches a desperate bid to save his life and clear his name. Antonio soon learns that the world is much crueller and darker than he ever could have imagined.Bereft of hope and … of hope and condemned to slavery for his sins, he finds himself in the household of a young knight named Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a man destined for greatness. Together, they must face their demons and put an end to the man responsible for the downfall of the fathers; known as Azarola, renowned for his fox like cunning and malice, and one of the most powerful lords of Leon.
Rise of a Champion is the epic beginning to the Legend of the Cid.
more
An enjoyable read. The first book in a promising new series, regarding the story of El Cid, the famous historical military leader and national hero from Spain. The first book is of the quality of The Saxon Stories (The Last Kingdom) by Bernard Cornwell. The story tells of El Cid’s youth and start to his famous path. There is plenty of action, twists, and changes of fortune which keep the story and main character engaging to the end. The quality of the historical detail and knowledge is as good as any. A recommended read. Five Stars.
As expected from the title of this book, we see a young and untried Antonio Perez, son of a man who was betrayed, arrested, and hung as a traitor. Not a very auspicious start for a champion! At first, Antonio seems an unlikely hero; he is scrawny, he hates his sword training, he is not particularly courageous, and he is lost—in more ways than one. His older brother Inigo, vicious and skillful, takes charge and leads him and his cousin on an ill-fated journey to avenge their father and uncle. All goes very badly and Antonio finds himself the unwilling participant of a confrontation-turned-slaughter on the Camino de Santiago:
“Inigo looked at me with eyes full of pain and offered a sad smile. ‘Forgive me, brother. Forgive me for everything.’
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, before he whispered to the sky. ‘Forgive me, father.’
Rodrigo’s blade sliced across Inigo’s throat and sent a shower of blood spurting on to the ground. My brother choked for a moment before his body went limp and fell to the floor, lifeless.
And I was alone.”
Rodrigo takes Antonio as a slave, and the boy’s prospects go from bad to worse. He is left with the burning desire to avenge his father’s death, though first he must survive a brutal introduction to his new circumstances. Surprisingly, he discovers hidden strengths and resilience and even finds he can defend himself if necessary. It’s a long haul to acceptance, but once he realizes he does not need to hide his true identity, matters take on a whole new turn. He leaves his miserable boyhood behind and emerges as a worthy warrior. At the same time, the opportunity for revenge comes tantalizingly close. But he still has a long way to go. This book gives us a long and slow character development; at first it seems impossible that this wretch will become the famous El Cid. It remains to be seen how this vengeful youth will turn into a great hero.
I will say, this book is in need of a good proofreader; if this bothers you, it might diminish your enjoyment.
BLURB
Antonio Perez is the son of a knight and a returning war hero, yet he loathes the idea of following in his father’s footsteps. But when his father is executed for alleged treason against Fernando, King of Leon-Castile, he launches a desperate bid to save his life and clear his name. Antonio soon learns that the world is much crueller and darker than he ever could have imagined.
Bereft of hope and condemned to slavery for his sins, he finds himself in the household of a young knight named Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a man destined for greatness. Together, they must face their demons and put an end to the man responsible for the downfall of the fathers; known as Azarola, renowned for his fox like cunning and malice, and one of the most powerful lords of Leon.
Rise of a Champion is the epic beginning to the Legend of the Cid.
REVIEW
It seems that no matter how many historical fiction books I read, there are always historical events, locales, and personalities that I know little or nothing about. Sometimes these events, important though they are, become overshadowed by concurrent events in other parts of the globe. Rise of a Champion is the first book in a series about Antonio Perez, El Cid…undoubtedly an important person in an important time in what is now Spain. It is a rousing tale of his early life; the tortuous road he takes to salvage his family’s honor. The author has done his homework and has created a very entertaining tale of the clash of Moor versus Christian. The characters are well developed, fitting into the time, place and cultures of the era. I had very little knowledge of this period even though I have read many books that take place at the same time – an example of the overshadowing effect – the year Rise of a Champion ends is 1064 – lots of stuff going on in Normandy and Britain right about then. But, it is good to branch out, to learn about, and be entertained by history no matter the time or place. I am looking forward to following the rest of El Cid’s tale. 4