Fields of Glory is an epic telling of the journey of a group of English soldiers on their progress from landing at Normandy to the Battle of Crécy. Through the chapters we come to know each character, their struggles, quirks, strengths and weaknesses, and how they come together to support and protect each other in their efforts to ensure they all return home. Edward III has decided to bring France to its knees and these men (amongst many others) are integral to his plans, but not all those who have made the journey are supportive of each other and a young lady, dealing with her own personal battles, divides the men from their Welsh comrades. Through her and the men we are introduced to the customs, beliefs, and superstitions of the period.

The French are unwilling to meet Edward III in battle, forcing the English to wreak havoc across France in an effort to force the enemy to fight. On their journey the men face individual battles, but they share skirmishes and their desire to live. The characters; Berenger, Clip, Ed, Grandarse (yes that’s his name!) and others, bring a personal perspective to this turbulent period and Jecks has created a multitude of personalities adding depth to the storyline and viewpoints of facing the French in battle. Sadly, it is not just the French who the men need to be wary of, and one scene left me shocked and saddened; the reality of fourteenth century war. I won’t say any more than that but I’m sure those that have read this will know which scene I am referring to.

Jecks sets an exciting pace as he builds towards the epic Battle of Crécy and brings the reader amongst the midst of Berenger and his men whilst also covering the battle on a larger scale and the effects and devastation of the modern weapon of gunpowder and cannon. There are some gory fighting scenes depicted so vividly so can hear the clanging of weapons and imagine men falling to their death.

I have since learned that this book is the first in a series and I am now looking forward to continuing the journey with the men, or at least, those who remain…

A good novel of medieval warfare with colorful and well-developed characters. The story is set in the Hundred Years war and does not hold back on the horrible living conditions or experiences on the field of battle. The scenes are vivid and lifelike and will give you a feeling of being there. A great historical read!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A riveting read.

Well written and researched.

This book grips you from the first to last page. The characterisation is excellent and there is a real feel of time and place, almost as if you are there witnessing history at its most gruesome.
A quality read and highly recommended.

Michael Jecks' Fields of Glory immerses readers in the savage heart of the Hundred Years' War, presenting a raw and uncompromising vision of medieval warfare. The novel is set in 1346 and tracks Berenger Fripper, a vintener commanding a company of archers, as King Edward III's English forces launch a calamitous campaign through France and culminate in the legendary Battle of Crécy.

The author is great at portraying the ugly realities of the war. This is not a cleaned-up version of history; the fighting is raw, the conditions are frightful, and the cost to the ordinary soldier is real. As seen by Berenger and his troops, the readers get a sense of the endless marches, the fear of sieges, and the bedlam of combat, bringing to life the desperation and resilience of those in the maelstrom. The author's thorough research is evident in the detailed information about medieval life and warfare, from the workings of the longbow to the initial, formidable employment of gunpowder.

Although the big name historical characters such as Edward III and the Prince of Wales appear, the author keeps the focus on the human aspect, bringing out the motivations, anxieties, and inner conflicts of the regular soldiers. This human-interest take on the subject matter makes it possible for the reader to become deeply interested despite the dark nature of the topic. Fields of Glory is a must read for anyone who enjoys gritty, realistic historical fiction with a powerful and immersive travel into one of history's most recognizable conflicts.

An excellent, fast-paced action story set in the 1300s about a group of soldiers fighting in France. Their life is harsh and brutal yet the group are tight knit and they spend so much effort looking out for each other. One aspect of the story is simple but very powerful: that of the impact of the lack of food available to the group. It’s touches like this that make this such an excellent story.

Fields of Glory is a thoroughly immersive read, which deftly combines the real historical account with a tale of a dangerous adventure, as seen through the prism of ordinary people, enmeshed in the ambitions of the ruthless rulers.

Full review is posted as part of the blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks is a novel about the Hundred Years’ War in all its bloody glory. Featuring an ensemble cast of characters, every person has their own story to tell, hidden behind the veneer of bloody war, and the demands of an intolerant king, who appears to preach reconciliation with the French but finds every excuse to change his mind.

I can’t say any of this ragtag collection of men is particularly endearing. Sir John cares more for his horse than his men, while King Edward and the Prince of Wales are just as thoughtless regarding the lives they’re destroying. This makes it a very realistic portrayal, if not for the faint-hearted. Indeed, if seeking some semblance of empathy between the characters, we must look to the men of the Vintaine, and not those who command them.

A blood-drenched traipse through France will bring our characters the opportunity to earn battle booty, if only they can live through it. Fields of Glory is a must-read for fans of the genre and those interested in the Hundred Years’ War.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Historical fiction readers looking for a book that will keep them up all night need look no further than Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks.

1346, France, and an ambitious king is desperate for more power and glory. King Edward III wants to bring France under his own rule and he will stop at nothing until he attains what he believes is rightfully his. He’s had many stumbling blocks thus far in his quest for France, but despite of his disappointments, he simply will not be deterred. He has finally devised a new plan of attack and one which will leave the French army with no choice but to surrender: a battle.

Berenger Fripper is a Vintener of a motley crew of sixteen who comprise the Vintaine of Sir John de Sully. He had stormed the beaches of Normandy intent on glory and to bring victory to their king, but the French are nowhere to be seen. Still, Berenger is determined to lead his men to war and to the Battle of Crécy, which will change the lives of his men forever and be a catalyst for the Hundred Years’ War…

Readers who enjoy vivid, well-researched and atmospheric historical novels written with wit, intelligence and flair will be completely gripped by Fields of Glory. Michael Jecks is a wonderful storyteller who has penned a pacy, authentic and brilliantly told historical yarn that will keep readers entertained and engrossed until the last page.

Review

This was my first foray into the works of Michael Jecks and being billed as being perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden expectations were high.

Fields of Glory follows the English army from the beaches of Normandy, through destruction and mayhem to Paris, before retreat and the inevitable battle with the French army.

History is a massive submit and I’ll be the first to admit I’m no expert but what I’d like to think I am an expert in, is spotting authors who have a talent for storytelling, and in particular historial fiction.

The author manages to impart his knowledge of the period but expertly weaves this with character arcs. History is never boring but you need to get your hooks into the reader to keep them invested.

I think what made this story stand out was that each of the characters have their own motivations and part to play in the story but they are treated as cattle essentially.. it’s brutal and honest..these men will need to earn any glory and its the relationships, and sometimes the disconnection between the men and those who command them which really felt real to me.

Being new to the author I felt at home pretty quickly, the style very much hit the mark as as Bernard Cornwell fan but if you are new to the genre do give the book the time it deserves. The style and pace are perfect but this is not a light read.. you will really get engrossed as there’s so many minute details added which I just loved.

Michael Jecks commands the reader..and pushes your thoughts exactly the way the men must have felt at the time..you start to detest Sir John, King Edward and the Prince of Wales as they care little for the lives that will be lost. These moments are vivid but certainly disconnected as we see things through the eyes of the men fighting at the front.

There are moments of brutality that will stay with you, the Kings justice..it’s emotionally jarring and thought provoking. I felt the focus of the book allowed the reader to see the brutality from both sides, not only the violence carried out on the French but also the effect this had on the men themselves.. you can see the humanity and light within their eyes die as the “justice” continues.

Awfully good read and a cracking start for a series. Jecks managed to surpass any expectations I may have had with the sheer detail, and what felt like a brutality honest portrayal seen from those men’s eyes.

5* from me.. and great to see Boldwood getting involved. As a publisher they are killing it with the historical fiction genre and never fail to introduce me to top notch authors.

4.5 STARS!

In the opening novel of his Hundred Years' War trilogy, Michael Jecks masterfully brings the common soldiers of Edward III’s army to life, crafting a richly detailed, immersive story that lingers long after the final page. Fields of Glory follows Berenger Fripper and his vintaine of twenty archers from their landing near Cherbourg through the harrowing siege of Caen and the brutal march to the legendary Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Jecks captures not only the violence and chaos of medieval warfare, but also the diverse motives, hopes, and fears of the men who fought in it. Berenger is a wonderfully complex protagonist—loyal, conflicted, and deeply human—and the addition of a master gunner character offers a fascinating exploration of gunpowder’s early impact on European warfare. The battle scenes are expertly written, but Jecks also excels in depicting the long, grueling marches and the psychological toll of endless conflict. While grim at times, the vivid storytelling and compelling characters make this a deeply rewarding read. A must for fans of realistic, character-driven historical fiction.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the first in a new series by this author. I've read some other books by this author before, and I didn't think this was like any of the others I've read, but it was an interesting and complex historical novel that I could sink my bookish teeth into.

If you're looking for something action-packed to read, this could be it. I found the battle scenes intense and nail-biting, if a little gory at times. There was some banter between the characters at times, which I appreciated. I wonder if this is the type of book that most would prefer to read a little at a time, rather than in one sitting. If you are a historical reader though, particularly of the medieval period, this is a wholesome read.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Tthis is a gritty, gory, and action-packed story.

It portrays a real and disenchanted view of France and the perils and tribulations of being an army on the march in hostile terrain, like the severe lack of rations and the reliance on oatcakes to survive, the loss of friends forged on campaign, and the squalid conditions of an army on the march.

Jecks also captures some of the things that kept the men’s morale going, such as the rich plunder as they sacked conquered towns and the camaraderie between men from all walks of life. He explores the connections and relationships in vingtaines (units of twenty men).

Beatrice is the only female in the story, bringing in not only a female lens but also a complex story of hate and vengeance against her fellow countrymen.

Her story starts off strong, with a detailed backstory, but as the novel progresses, I felt she faded into the background and became part of the wider machinations of war. Although she has an affinity for the explosives and assists the xxxx, it’s unclear what her aims and motivations are once she has joined Berenger’s vintaine. Her story is one I hope develops as the series continues.

Expect lots of violence, chaos and action in this thrilling start to a new series.



Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

"Fields of Glory," by Michael Jecks has characters who flip-flop, a girl with a knife who kills more coldly than the English archers, experienced warriors making dumb decisions, and brutal men crying over killing. War deadens soldiers, a real issue for them, which is not in here.

Wow! This was an in depth look at what war was like in Medieval Europe. I enjoyed reading this version of what led up to and the Battle of Crécy. I have a vested interest with King Edward and William de Bohun being grandfathers. For some reason the human destruction didn't bother me, but if you are an animal lover, beware, there are some scenes that will have you cringing. Overall it is a fantastic Medieval story based in history with brilliant characters and well worth the read!

I don't really like appraising historical novels as a 'man's read' or a 'woman's read' as that tends to put books into outdated stereotypical genres - even now when I say I'm an author I get, 'Oh what do you write? Romances?' (I guess the chaps get, 'What do you write? Thrillers?') But for Fields of Glory I do wonder if this is a 'man's read' because it's basically about men on the battlefield - and it's very gritty (as battlefields were - are!). Having said that, if you're a lover of well-researched, detailed - as near as we can get to what really happened historical fiction - regardless of being suitable for male or female readers, then I'd recommend Mr Jeck's novel as an exciting and entertaining read.

I know nothing about this period apart from there were battles during a lot of rain at Crécy and Agincourt, and something about a certain play based around 'We few, we happy few...' by a chap called 'Bill', so it was a pleasure to read a novel where the facts of what went on were aparrently reliable. Although there were a couple of minor quibbles which, if I was reading purely for reading, not for writing a review, I would probably not have noticed. One was at the very opening: gunwale. The word (and an actual gunwale) first came into use soon after 1325ish, this opening chapter is 1346 so the dates are only just right, but I'm assuming this was a transport ship not a warship ... so I'm being very picky, but 'gunwale' doesn't quite sound right for this context. Personally, I'd have used 'bulwark' or plain 'rail'. Also, men seemed to recover from wounds pretty quickly - but then, for both observations, this is fiction so does it matter?

I did have to concentrate on getting my head around all the different characters with their unfamiliar names and unfamiliar job descriptions etc, but that's my failing as a reader, not the author's writing ability or style. (At 72 I'm finding remembering even close friends' names not as easy as it used to be - and reading on a Kindle makes the task harder as it isn't as practical to flip back through pages as a reminder.)

All that said, for readers who enjoy a good historical novel that is well written about historical events and the people involved in them, and readers who don't mind the blood, violence, guts and gore of the battlefield don't miss this one, it's a good read.

This is, literally, a breath-taking novel! The pace is relentless, especially during the description of the Battle of Crecy. Michael Jecks’ knowledge of historical combat adds authenticity to the battle scenes. But alongside the fighting, is an array of interesting characters and sub-plots around relationships amongst the soldiers. Even the one female character is fully integrated into the plot. Brilliant!

The very epitome of page-turner with a chilling storyline that grips from the first and kept me guessing right up to the heart-racing denouement STUNNER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️