Just Finished Reading: The Sword of Albion by Mark Chadbourn

Will Swyfte is a national hero. Stories are written about him in the penny dreadfuls that circulate on the streets and in the taverns all over England. People sleep safe in their beds knowing that he stands between England and her many enemies. But the propaganda hero is only half the story. If England knew of the other half there would be Hell to pay. Will is in the employ of England’s greatest Spymaster – Sir Francis Walshingham. Dedicated to protect England from enemies both foreign and domestic he uses whatever methods he has at his disposal to protect the country and the newly installed Queen Elizabeth. Things are looking grim when the Spanish plan to invade and conquer England is uncovered. Elizabeth’s treasury is empty of gold and most of Europe is dedicated to her downfall. But even greater dangers are abroad in the night. England faces an enemy far more dangerous than the might of the Spanish Armada – a vicious and unfeeling enemy who has prayed on humanity since the dawn of time and who have decided that the English must be expunged from the world forever: The Fey. When Walshingham learns of a new super-weapon that the Fey intend turning over to the Spanish he sets Will and the other spies privy to the secret war within a war to stop it falling into their enemies hands – but how do you fight supernatural beings with nothing more that wits and cold steel?

I actually bought this book by accident – well sort of. I thought – from the cover and a brief glance at the synopsis – that it was another historical novel set during the reign of Elizabeth I. But it was far more than that! It was, it turned out, a historical fantasy novel which delighted me from the first page to the last. I had hoped that it would last me most of the week I recently spent at my mother’s house. I actually raced through it in 4 days, which isn’t bad for a book of just over 600 pages. Swyfte is a superb character. He reminded me a great deal of James Bond – 1588 style. With little more than a sword, quick wits and a sparkling wit (with some great one liners) he carves his way through England’s enemies despite overwhelming odds. Of course he doesn’t get his own way. His apparent cavalier attitude hides a deep wound that drives him so hard against his enemies. There where times that I found this book painful, disturbing and creepy. At other times it was uplifting, funny and down right exciting and is probably the best, or at least one of the best, fantasy books I read this year or last year come to that. The sequel is already out in paperback and the third book is out in hardback. I will definitely be reading them both – avidly! Highly recommended for anyone with a hankering for a book they won’t want to put down.