| Title | : | The Iron Castle (Outlaw Chronicles, #6) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 331 |
| Publication | : | First published July 3, 2014 |
The Iron Castle (Outlaw Chronicles, #6) Reviews
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Another excellent instalment in The Outlaw Chronicles that recounts the real life siege of Chateau Gaillard and featuring our heroes Alan Dale & Robin Hood. Brutal and thrilling, Angus Donald is unflinching in his descriptions of the violence in medieval siege warfare ; all backed up by impeccable historical research . Very, very stabby indeed and highly recommended.đ°đ°
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Actual rating: 5.00
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Absolutely fantastic! The Iron Castle is the best in what is a great series. So tense, thrilling, powerful and downright exciting is this Outlaw adventure that I could not end the day without finishing it. I visited Château Gaillard years ago. I now can't wait to go again. The Iron Castle also contains one of my favourite portraits of King John. Without doubt, this'll be among my top reads of 2014.
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My first encounter with Robin Hood was through Disney. Then came Costner, followed by Elwes. Prince of Thieves had better music and Morgan Freeman, but Men in Tights is just better. A very well-written book by Angus Donald. I should look for the other books in this series, shouldn't I?
A good book gets me angry with the baddies and cheering for the good guys. I had more than a few words for King John as a result of this book. Unprintable stuff - fit for my diary and nothing else. Definitely a great book. -
Last I read this series we were in the South of France defeating the âbad guysâ that had been hunting Sir Alan Dale & Robin the Lord of Loxley (Robin Hood to you & me) for the best part of the series so far through some shadowy organisation.
The start of this one sees Sir Alan Dale back in blighty but not for long as a poor harvest takes most of his wealth & when Robin swears allegiance to King John they are both off to Normandy to defend whatâs left of England on the continent against the French & the Norman barons that have fallen under King Phillip of Franceâs sway, for coin of course, as well as a little plunder when they venture forth into enemy lands.
Baron after baron switches side to King Philip of France & itâs not long before the whole of the region is in turmoil with the English forces seemingly putting out fires at all four points of the compass in Normandy. Makes for a lively read.
The book is a tale of violence throughout, battles, sieges, raids going on in an endless cycle all over Normandy until King Philip moves his entire army to besiege the Iron Castle (Chateau Gaillard) which sees Robin & Alan within itâs walls as the French strike (of course they would be you cry!). A good part of the book (half) covers this event with the outcome being decisive in the war for Normandy & all of Englandâs possessions left on the mainland continent.
The historical detail is grand in this series, covering it all, be it everyday life, the commoner trades or the military weaponry, siege warfare & tactics of the era.
Along with the main characters & the supporting cast there is so much to enjoy from this series.
Historical notes of the real events are included in the back of the book too.
Smack on the five stars for me, canât fault it. -
I was very taken with this series and the stile of writing this author possesses. I loved the fresh look on a very exploited story and the wonderful feel of the historic times and intrigues of the turn of 13th century. Loved it, loved it, loved it!
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Now, unusually, the Iron Castle has been out a week before Iâve got my review up. Why? Simple: I have had a plethora of books and manuscripts to read all arriving in a short time and most of which will never see the light of review day, but all had deadlines. And shuffling them around, one thing was clear⌠Angus Donaldâs Outlaw novels do not deserve to be shoe-horned into the middle of such a rush. They deserve to be savoured like a 12 year old single malt. So I have taken my time and enjoyed every nuance of the book.
Anyone whoâs followed my blog or my Goodreads or Amazon reviews will know my opinion of Angusâ books. They are one of the top series of historical fiction out there. I have enjoyed each of the books, though I have always maintained that the best in the series was Kingâs Man (the third of six). Well, the Iron Castle might just topple that for me.
I think that anyone whoâs read the first five books will agree that with the death of the Lionheart and the somewhat off-shoot nature of the plot of book five, we all wondered how the interactions and situations would work with King John on the throne, what with Robin being such a loyal follower of Richard. How could the series continue to work? Well the good news is that with this return to the intrigues and dangers of interacting with the Plantagenet dynasty, the whole feel of the book has actually taken a step up rather than down. Serving a man the protagonists dislike more than the enemy has its own special fascination and informs not only the plot of the book, but the deeds and desires of the characters.
So whatâs it about? Well you know I avoid spoilers as much as possible, but there are certain things I think I can say without ruining anything for you. Through Robinâs desire for settled security for his wife and children, he finds himself taking an oath to John. Through Alanâs ongoing fealty to Robin, so does Alan. Both men therefore find themselves dragged to France to take part in Johnâs wars over the ownership of Normandy, with King Phillip of France looming in the east, Arthur of Brittany in the west and other troublesome characters in the south. The defence of the crown land of Normandy would look utterly daunting were it not for one thing: the route for Phillip into Normandy is guarded by Chateau Gaillard, the great Iron Castle built by King Richard a few years earlier. This imposing and unconquerable fortress is the one great bastion holding the enemy from Johnâs lands. I think you can probably see where this is going, particularly given the bookâs title. Expect a siege. I did.
The siege of Chateau Gaillard is a familiar event to many lovers of medieval history, and was one of the most brutal of the age. It made it recently onto Dan Snowâs TV series Battle Castle. Given the fact that I was already familiar with the siege and many years ago spent a day exploring the ruins of the castle, I was particularly interested to see how Angus handled the great and horrible event. The answer is: masterfully. There are a few books out there that have portrayed a siege in a fashion that actually had me sweating and biting my nails for the heroes as I read. Nick Brownâs âSiegeâ. Douglas Jacksonâs âHero of Romeâ and Paul Fraser Collardâs âMaharajahâs Generalâ are three of the best. The Iron Castle has now joined that list. It has all the tension, glory, despair and horror of a Zulu or a Masada and more. The fate of the âUseless Mouthsâ still leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
And as the threads of the characters and plot weave about the siege, there is a hint of treachery and betrayal that informs some of the more critical events and which will leave the reader guessing until the very end.
The main characters continue to grow, which is pleasing, especially six books into a series. Robin is becoming a straighter, less despicable character, which had to happen with Royal commission and a family. Alan seems to have finally tipped past that point where the concerns of youth guide his hand â heâs been heading that way for three books â and is now a grown man in all respects.
Simply, this series is a long way from done, clearly. Book six reaches heights I had not expected and injects new strength into the Outlaw books.
The Iron Castle is now available in hardback and various e-formats. Go buy it, people, and see how a siege is written. -
Another really excellent, action-packed, riveting read from Angus here. Superbly well-planned and executed, with all the highs and lows youâre looking for in your fighting historical fiction. âThe Iron Castle' certainly doesnât disappoint (unless, perhaps, youâre looking for Robin, in Sherwood, the Sheriff of Nottingham et al). It begins in 1203, in what is now France, at the end of the time of Englandâs possession of the French territories that came with the Norman Conquest. There is an absolutely superb Historical Note at the end that you really should stay on for. Angus could easily write (a) wonderful Non-Fiction history book(s) in the future. The majority of the action, takes place in and around the siege of the âIron Castleâ of Chateau Galliard as Alan and Robin are there to help save the castle from being captured by the French and thereby help King John save Normandy (Interestingly, only King John is the same as the character we know and loathe from the Robin Hood of legend, books and films). It is a tense struggle, full of incident and really well and effectively written for the action taking place in relatively confined spaces. It is also book looking at the concept of a manâs honour and the dependancy on it to the extent that someone hides behind their honour to cover their own shortcomings or to excuse their wrong-doings. Robin might say âA manâs honour is the most important of his possessionsâ but Alan (standing in for us) experiences it in quite a different, more realistic way.
I'd say you can read this as a stand-alone book and not think you needed to have read the previous five. But if you haven't read the previous five, this'll show you much of what you're missing. -
Wow again! I can never put one of Angus Donald's books down! In this book Robin and Alan Dale have to swear loyalty to sniveling King John of England now that King Richard the Lionhearted is dead. They do so in order to live in peace in England. King John soon sends them to fight in Normandy against the French. It all boils down to the English holding Chateau Gaillard, or the Iron Castle. The French lay siege to the castle for months on end, with no help coming from King John. Many of the Norman barons turn sides and join King Phillip of France after seeing John be the useless coward that he was. It turns out, some one within the castle is a traitor, and is helping the French gain the castle. But is it Robin? Alan finds out in the end and takes care of the traitor once and for all. Can't wait for Donald's next book!
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The world can do with new RH stories. Donaldâs "Outlaw Chronicles" promised to do that but got lost somewhere along the journey. For sure RH, LJ, Marie-Anne and Alan Dale all appear in The Iron Castle but they are just names. These characters have developed consistently from the premise established in Outlaw but they no longer bear any resemblance to the myth. That said, Donald writes a rollicking historical adventure â probably just behind Cornwell â but it ainât RH!
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My favourite of the series so far. Brutal. Brilliant. Bloody.
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This was a great book in this series.
What Donald excels at, is the ability to create new styles and roadmaps in each book. There is no formulaic approach.
The character work is the stand out point of this story . Alan is full of angst and fury, fret with trust issues and in mourning of his beloved
A great story -
Great installment
Angus Donald is one of the best writers of medieval historical fiction out there, in the same vein as Cornwall, Iggulden, and many others. Recommended. -
The sixth in a series that keeps on giving and shows no signs of slowing down at all. Yes, the series is loosely based on the legend of Robin Hood but it has moved on to cover the Crusades and in this one the battles in France between King John and Philip of France. The main thrust here is the siege of Château-Gaillard where Robin and pro-King John barons hold out for a rescue by the King that would never come. The story is told by the real hero of the series, Alan Dale who is an honest God-fearing man who has the strength of loyalty to Robin.
The author is a master story-teller and this series is very special indeed. Here he seamlessly gets so much into the novel, a story with pace, real characters and conflicts, the historical aspect and of course the siege itself. I do read a lot yet every time I pick up one of Angus Donaldâs books I am reminded what a true art it is to write historical fiction to this standard. -
Angus Donald has moved on from the fancies of the Grail Quest to the much more interesting historical and political machinations of the war between King John and Philip II Augustus of France. The great siege of Chateau Gaillard is handled deftly and mined for all of its dramatic potential: the courage of both the besieged and the besiegers is studied; military and personal honour is scrutinized; the fascinating details of siege warfare are explored with skill and the drama is heightened by concerns over a possible betrayal within the walls of the besieged castle. What more could a reader of historical fiction require? Great stuff, rich in drama, occasional flashes of humour and darkest tragedy.
This is one of the strongest entries in Donald's series to date. -
There is not alot more that i can say about the new outing of the Robin Hood series that i have not said before, Angus Donald has done it again,Iron Castle had me page turning into the early hours of the morning with another cracking adventure of Sir Alan Dale and the Earl of Locksey ,as they take on King Pilip 11 army ,when they must defend the most powerful fortress in Christendom Chateau Gaillard. As with all the other books in the series, this is well reasearched and full of detail, written in a compelling style,that puts you into the heart of the action,as you stand shoulder to shoulder with Alan and Robin in this rip roaring adventure that left me hungry,hungry for more.Same again soon please Agnus.
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A series that continues to both amaze and astound me. How Angus keeps each book so fresh and different from the last is brilliant.
With this one we once again follow Sir Alan Dale in the service of his lord, the erstwhile Robin Hood, the lord of Loxley. Charged with defending the Iron Castle, the last great English stronghold in Normandy, Alan and Robin will overcome both betrayal from the king and traitors in their midst as they battle to hold the castle from king Phillip of France.
As always with this fantastic series, the book was brilliant. And as always with this fantastic series, I finished the book wondering why on earth it took me so long to read them. If you haven't read OUTLAW yet, get it, read it, NOW! -
Yes, that's right: I read this novel in a day.
Book number 6 in Angus Donald's 'Outlaw Chronicles' series, which follows the same path as that set down by the earlier entries in that it is presented in parts, with each part prefaced by the elderly Alan a'Dale remembering and writhing g down the events of his younger days.
In this case, those events are the defence (and ultimate capture) of Chateau Galliard, the Iron Castle of the title, the crown jewel of King Richard that was later lost by his brother John.
Fast moving, bloody and exciting, this may be the best entry in the series since the first. -
Ever wanted to know what a castle siege is really like? This is probably your best chance. Alan Dale is still recounting his life with Robin Hood and after swearing loyalty to King John (phoney King of England) so defending John's interests in Normandy is more of an order than a good strategic plan. Before you know it there's a traitor in the castle, the cheese is all gone and then you run out of arrows.
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The latest in the Robin Hood series which takes our hero's to 1200 and Normandy where king John has trusted Robin and Sir Alan to keep Normandy under English rule under pressure from Phillip of France.
This is the best in the series so far and brings early 13th century to light -
Another stunning chapter in the life of Alan Dale and Robin Hood. I couldn't put this book down
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I just love Alen's story... i can't have enough of him...
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I love this very different Robin Hood story.
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I can't read a book like this any more without flinching at the horrible sexism. Yes, the book is mainly about the manly pursuit of warfare, honour and bloody fighting, but the depiction of the main female character is downright nasty. Alan Dale has the stereotypical madonna/whore attitude towards her. How on Earth any medieval woman could influence the men around her without using sex is beyond me!
I did enjoy the adventure of the book and the details of the siege were fascinating. I had a look at photos of Chateau Gaillard and can see the huge edifice it must once have been. The whole period when this story took place is very interesting, but it does bring so closely to mind the fact that so many millions of people have died over the centuries so that powerful men can gain a few acres of land. And so it still is today. -
4.5 - OK....at this point, I have completely forgotten any of the old Robin Hood stories and movies that I have ever seen. This series is really excellent and chronicles the actual events of King John's Normandy campaigns in the early 1200s. The heart of this story details the rigors of siege warfare, as Robin and Allen are tasked to defend Château Gaillard, built by John's brother Richard the Lionhearted. What would a prolonged siege be without treachery, intrigue, spies, disease, starvation, and bloody and vicious warfare? The underlying theme of this entire story, though, is honor. Some are holding fast to it, some are seeking it, and others are willingly giving it away. I think this was my favorite so far in the series. Pretty good since it's the 6th book. Already onto #7.
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Another exciting romp through the middle ages with Robin Hood and Alan Dale. This time they are set to guard Arthur of Normandy and then defend Castle Gaillard. Gruesome and violent in places, but I like how well the story is researched so that RObin and Alan slip in,easily as if they really could have been there.
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Did not stop until finished. Really easy to follow and entertained until the end
