| Title | : | The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published March 1, 2020 |
The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight, #1) Reviews
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N.L. Holmes is an outstanding writer of pedigree and quality. Her historical fiction is authentic and well-researched, as she paints landscapes and locations onto the page like an artist, putting the reader right there in the story, and able to experience her portrayal of history with all five senses. She is also a master at crafting layered, well-developed characters, who are simultaneously endearing and human, as well as being awe-inspiring and powerful. Her action scenes – whilst very few and far between, it has to be said – contrast from poignant and emotional to epic in scale, even reminiscent of the visual palette of De Mille.
Sadly, though, I was not totally on board with this book. I have recently read another from this author – whom I admire and like a lot, I should say – and it is true that I found it significantly more gripping than The Lightning Horse, this title feeling a little slower and less intense. It still revolves in part around her tendency toward a whodunnit-type mystery – against a backdrop of political espionage and acts of war – but the mystery and suspense of this is somewhat subdued in comparison, and not entirely engaging; it seemed to take a while to gain traction – at least, in my case. It is also very, very wordy and overflows with dialogue.
But, all said, you may enjoy the book a great deal; its quality is undeniable, and for this reason alone I have to give huge, very well-deserved credit to the author in my star rating. Whatever my personal taste regarding the story, this book is a professional and polished piece of work – and from Holmes I would expect no less; she is an example to us writers all. She deserves recognition for the sheer amount of work and research she puts into her writing, which fuses fiction with a significant degree of fact – perhaps more proportionately in favour of the latter. Any doubts or concerns you might have about the authenticity or source of her information (you won’t) are alleviated by her humble Afterword and conscientious glossary. If you like historical mysteries, which place a lot of emphasis on the facts upon which they are based, as well as slow, cosy reads, I’m sure you will enjoy The Lightning Horse a great deal – and, indeed, any title by this author. You could definitely do a lot worse – but, in terms of sheer quality, you’re unlikely to find much better. -
4 Stars
The Lightning Horse is the first book in the Empire at Twilight series by N.L Holmes. This is my second book from Ms. Holmes, and the one thing I love about her books is the historical detail she manages to infuse into her stories. As with the other book of Ms. Holmes that I have read, the authors passion for history is evident in her writing. This passion certainly added to my enjoyment of the story.
I love ancient history- and Ms. Holmes seems to know this subject incredibly well- but I imagine a lot of meticulous research, blood, sweat, and tears also went into the creation of this book. The story is a fascinating blend of fiction and historical fact woven into quite an intriguing piece of work. This time, the story is set in the Hittite period, which the author does a great job of recreating and bringing to life.
The story is a slow building cozy mystery, with a little drama for added interest. So, if you love ancient history, original stories with interesting characters and settings, cozies, and crime fiction- then you will probably want to grab a copy of this book.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, N.L Holmes! -
Oh, how I loved this book. I love historic fiction. I loved Troy by David Gemmell, and all Rick Riordan books. Any historic fiction entices me because more than the plot and the characters itself, it gives an insight into a culture which existed and flourished centuries before our times. We understand their way of living, their beliefs, their traditions, customs, rituals and their practices. There are many who attempt to write historic fiction, but despite having the setting, their plot gets lost in the complex shades of the characters. This book does not fail in that aspect. Though the characters are in plenty and each character has multiple layers, the background runs concurrently to paint the Hittite empire, present day-Turkey vividly to the eyes of the reader.
It was a little difficult to remember the characters (there are many), the king, his many wives, his offspring and other descendants of the royal family. The story revolves around a charioteer who seeks to solve the mystery behind the accident of his father. What is visible to the eye is not always the truth. The truth is hidden deep under layers and layers of treachery and deceit. The mystery runs through out the book, it is hard to suspect the culprit till the very end.
Overall, for historic fiction fans like me, it is a great read ! -
I enjoyed this historical fiction crime story by N.L. Holmes and as it’s book one in a new series, I look forward to future novels. The story centres around a young Hittite charioteer who discovers that what he believed had been a chariot accident that killed his father and also maimed his grandfather was in fact an act of sabotage aimed at the king. Setting out on an adventure to find his fathers killer, the young man learns that good and evil are often not what they seem. The novel is based in the Hittite empire, present day Turkey, in around 1250 BCe, and the author really bought this era and place to life with their detailed descriptions of time and place. The characters are well defined and interesting and I particularly liked the main character and felt invested in his search for his fathers killer. It is this underlying mystery that runs throughout the whole story, which had enough drama and twists and turns in it to keep me hooked and guessing. There were a lot of characters to keep up with and also place names to remember but the glossary at the back was helpful with this as was the map at the start. I could tell whilst reading the novel that the author had obviously done a lot of research as this comes through in her writing and I liked the fact that there was a historical notes section at the end which confirmed this and tells the reader what is fact and fiction.
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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1)
By N.L. Holmes
5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading the book The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes. It is a story that had me hooked from the very beginning and I was turning pages to find out what happens next. It is a book that is exciting and enjoyable to read. The story has wonderful characters to read about. I liked the main character who is a young Hittite charioteer. He finds his life and family changed after a chariot accident. After it is revealed that what happened was sabotage, he becomes determined to find out what the saboteur is. Will he succeed? Read this book to find out. This story takes you back in time and to another land. The author does a wonderful job of making both the storyline and the characters come alive. I felt like I was right there with them. There are twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Don’t miss out on an intriguing and exciting story that you won’t be able to put down until the final page. I highly recommend it. -
Tiwatipara is a charioteer, working for the Hittite King Hatusshili, as his father and grandfather have done before him. He loves caring for the great horses who pull the chariots, as well as the chariots themselves. Tipa drives the chariot of the crown prince, the eldest son and probable heir of the King.
And then a tragedy occurs: while racing, Tipa's grandfather is severely injured and his father is killed in an accident while driving the king. When Tipa discovers that the chariot had been sabotaged, his life's purpose becomes finding the saboteur and exacting revenge.
This is the basic plot line for the rest of the book, but mostly, there is a lot of world-building and so many unusual names - of people, cities, and nations. If a reader pronounces words in their heads as they read, the reading will be slowed to a crawl by the difficulty of doing so w/ the unusual names. The intertwined relationships amongst the books characters are also difficult.
That being said, the descriptions of charioteering, marching armies, and battles are pretty thrilling. Constant heartbreak for Tipa - and an unexpected, huge plot twist - keep one reading. The major flaw in the plot - besides the difficult names - is that the saboteur of the king's chariot is so glaringly obvious as to remove most suspense from the novel.
I read the Kindle version of the novel, in which the author's notes, acknowledgements, and a glossary of names were at the end of the book. It would have been most helpful to have read them all first, as many of the people and conflicts delineated in the book are actually historical. This information elevated the number of stars that I will assign the book to 3.4 stars, rounding down to 3. -
Thanks to #NetGalley, the publisher and the author N L Holmes for providing me with a copy of #TheLightningHorse in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book but initially I did have a problem remembering who the characters were but soon overcame this. This book soon became difficult to put down and I look forward to reading more by this author.
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The Lightning Horse by N.L. Holmes is the first book in the Empire at Twilight series. This is a historical fiction with a bit of thriller and mystery thrown in. The author used her experience in archaeology to bring a well written piece to work. There is a very helpful map at the front and a list of historical notes to refer to as needed. This is about a young Hittite charioteer who learns so much concerning the personalities of man and the pain of loss at a young age. How does he move forward with his life? I will not give more away concerning the plot because I will not be able to stop. There is so much involved and I enjoyed the characters as well as the setting. I look forward to where this series will go in the future and reading more from this author.
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While history was not my favorite genre, I have learned to really like them. I like to see history through other people’s eyes. In this book N.L. Holmes took to the past. The plotline held my interest and I found myself flying through the pages. There had to be hours of research to make the story seem real. The characters are fully developed and connectable. The story is about a young charioteer who saw his father and grandfather in an accident that was more than just an accident. Will good and evil be discovered or will they remain hidden? Can the charioteer deal with what is happening around him? You will have to read the book to find out the answers to these questions.
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I enjoyed this historical story. The characters brought the story to life and kept the story engaging. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from them. This is a well written story that kept me turning pages and pulled me in right from the beginning. The story was easy to read and interesting. The story is about a charlot accident that killed a young man’s family. What will happen when he goes after finding the killer? Sometimes things are not what they seem, what happens next you will need to read this great book to find out. I highly recommend this book.
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You become enthralled to the young Hittite charioteer who is set out to solve a mystery. I love the time travel as the world is painted around me in this read, where the mystery will take me but there's more that will keep you turning pages in this one.
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This is not a time period I am familiar with but I found it entertaining and with some twists I did not expect. I appreciate the insinuations of violent acts or relations between people but without the details that I don’t want to read. The characters were easy to follow and their actions made sense. The political structure was somewhat familiar but not the same as we know in medieval times, for example, so it was a nice change. Some portions of the story I had figured out earlier on in reading, but there were a handful of twists thrown in that provided a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed the focus on family and how things come full circle. Overall, a great read!
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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes is a historical mystery fiction story where lies and secrets, murder and political espionage, danger and acts of war are the name of the game. NL is passionate and clearly well researched in the genre that each story is written, and she paints a vivid picture. The Lightning Horse is a slow cosy read that transports the reader to a different time and world and way of life.
If you like a story where fiction meets historical mystery, then give this one a shot. -
I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction type books, but this wasn’t bad! I’m glad I gave it a chance. I think I’ll stick around and read the next one. It’s a definite 4/5 stars for me. It was easy to read, nothing that couldn’t be read in a couple hours. This book has a little of everything.
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What a good read, Good character build-up, Easy to read and follow the story. The author does well making you want to keep reading page after page! I look forward to more books from this author.
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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes, is one of my favorite kinds of stories. I love a mystery. But her mysteries aren’t just any mystery. Her mysteries are set in history. Ancient history. More precisely the Hittite period. Not only does she write great stories, the language is beautiful, the world is very descriptive, the imagery is evocative, and her characters are so alive. N. L. Holmes is an author I will not tire of recommending.
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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes - Review by Gail Guerrero
Four Star
In this story you will find yourself back in time where chariots are modes of transportation and men are only loyal to their king and country. A young Hittite finds himself with all those he holds dear gone and two of those were sabotage aimed for the king. I enjoyed the characters especially Hittite he is determined to find the truth. He is very brave and straightforward. I liked how the author plotted this story. It was very refreshing and entertaining. The flow was easy to follow and I found myself looking for more. I will definitely be checking out book two. The author shows you so much in this world and it is very appealing to those who just want to step away from reality for a few. -
The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes was an intriguing historical read. While not my usual cup of tea, I found the book pulled me in on a journey. I enjoyed the attention to detail and descriptions. It really solidified the world for me as I was reading. I cannot wait to read more!
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This is an exquisite piece of writing. The story grabs you from the opening line and takes you to another place in time. The author is on point with the world building and characterisation. The plot line had me turning the pages and I really enjoyed the mystery. Historical fiction is not a usual genre for me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed N.L. Holmes’ writing style and I will be definitely checking out more of her work.
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This book drew me in from the very beginning. I love historical fiction, and read it often but this was a very different historical fiction for me! It was fascinating to be reading and learning about chariots and history in the middle east at the same time! Oh, to live in that time and to be in the middle of all the intrigue of bringing a king into power and keeping him there.
The author did an exceptional job developing the characters in such a way that you could feel their pain, confusion, and heartbreak. The mystery of who the culprit was that attempted regicide kept me guessing until the end! If this is only book 1, I am definitely looking forward to book 2! -
The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1 ) By N.L. Holmes
4 Stars!!!!
This is the first book by this author I have read and I was not let down. I really like books that are based on historical events and peoples. I like how the author was able to bring the characters to life. There was drama mixed in with bits of intrigue and draws the reader in. I was unable to put this book down.
I really like how there are a lot of twist and turns. I also like how this being the first book really sets up the series to come. I found that the author has a unique style and is able to wind the story around the characters and the sort of dangled ending to this first book really leaves the reader wanting more . I will definitely read more from this author as well as this series. I am quite eager to see how it will progress. -
This story is set in the Hittite era with a son who has tragically lost his father, a famous charioteer. He sets out to find the truth surrounding the accident. The son soon finds things are not always what they seem. The story definitely kept me reading. If you love horses, you will love the detail surrounding how they were managed and cared for. The author did an outstanding job with character description which made it easy to visualize them.
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In the land of Hatti, Tiwatipara is a charioteer and he drives the chariot of the Prince Nerikaili, son of The Sun and he is very proud of his work with both the chariots and the horses who pull them. This day is no different when The Sun’s new pair of stallions are being shown off to a crowd of royalty, fellow charioteers, the staff who work at the stables, as well as other inhabitants of the city, it is a proud day for Tiwatipara who has been invited to ride in The Sun’s chariot, however, this chance is taken away when The Sun is called away on urgent business and instead Tiwatipara stays on the sidelines and his father and grandfather ride in the chariot, however, this is both a blessing and disguise when the chariot crashes killing Tiwatipara’s father and gravely injuring his grandfather and because he was the one to prepare and check the carriage over, the guilt he carries from that day from thinking that he was the cause of it changes his life forever.
Three years later and things within the kingdom are in flux, old enemies are reappearing and new enemies are trying The Sun’s patience by wasting his time with meaningless requests and platitudes while working against him in the background. Tiwatipara is still driving Prince Nerikaili’s chariot, however he does so recklessly and this puts others in a predicament while dealing with him and from that day, he feels like his and his families fortunes are on the descent and that they are being punished for some reason. As things become more confused and conflicting within Hatti, Tiwatipara is given information which again changes the course of his life, but will this be for the better, or for the worse and how will it affect those around him?
This is a historical fiction with intrigue, secrets, betrayal, love and hate where nothing is as it seems and will keep you reading to both know what happens in the end, all while learning more about the culture and the history it is based upon.
