Hawkwood’s Voyage (Monarchies of God #1) by Paul Kearney

The setting is straight from the Middle Ages.

Quite a good story, although it took a while to get started. I still have the feeling this book is a mere prelude to the main happenings in the story.

The story is told from 3 viewpoints. The first is that of an invasion by an African seeming race on the Ramusian Kingdoms to the west. The second is the politics played by the monarchs of the Ramusian Kingdoms and the religious powers of the age. The third is a westerly voyage to lands hitherto unknown.

The setting is straight from the Middle Ages. Featuring the politicking of various religious and secular powers, each trying to gain dominance over the other. It even features the threat of ex-communication by the High Pontiff who is in effect the Spiritual Head of the Church, a la Pope. Hawkwood’s voyage is similar to that of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Despite the similarities of the setting to Europe of the Middle Ages, the plot is quite different and more intriguing.

It’s a kind of ensemble cast. There’s no particular main character, and the characters are also somewhat gray. I don’t even know where my own loyalties lie!

Anyway, it’s a good book. From where Hawkwood’s Voyage ended, the second installment of the series promises to be more intense.