This is from one of our readers in Ohio (but watch for the spoilers in the second paragraph) —
Be Warned: This is an unabashedly rave review of The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold. With their historical fiction true to the 11th century epic poem The Song of Roland, the authors take the reader effortlessly into Roland’s 9th century world of nobles (men and women), fiefdoms, kingdoms, moral imperatives, and treachery. Embellishments of plot and character flow with symmetry and grace to envelop the reader passionately in the medieval experience.
Roland’s adventures stand alone. They chronicle a bold, sometimes reckless, young nobleman who fights for the singular honor of becoming his King’s champion. With his faithful companion Oliver as well as the contingent of Franks who have sworn loyalty to him and to King Charles, Roland battles through the Saracen armed forces clearing the way for his King. Painful scenes such as Roland searching for and honoring Oliver’s corpse intensify the individual significance of battle losses. The action moves flawlessly to Aude’s frantic ride alone through the battle-scarred countryside to warn her husband Roland of betrayal and moves flawlessly again to her suicide over his dead body.
One of the authors’ greatest strengths is their sensitivity to the medieval environment. A duplicitous court; a conniving, murderous clergy; religious wars; and a tragic love story are integral medieval elements. Charles’ bedchambers offer a unique perspective of the King, sitting in his robes, signing royal decrees and staining his fingers black to read word by word in the sputtering light, spied upon by a villainous poisoner in the shadows. His lecherous nobles engage in raucous “Tom Jonesian” banquet revelry, replete with gluttony, ravenous dogs, and flirtatious serving wenches. Yet another noteworthy example of sensory detail is the extraordinary description of the hand-to-hand combat. Eging and Arnold display their expertise in weaponry and fighting with just enough specifics to raise the reader’s heart rate and his/her emotional investment without overwhelming the plot or character development. The authors emphasize above all else the medieval values of courage, honor, commitment, and sworn loyalty. An apparent contradiction? Yes. Such was life in the Middle Ages.
I cried with these characters. I laughed and caroused with these characters. And I lived a medieval life through these characters. I wholeheartedly recommend The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold. This novel is a treasure that belongs in every book lover’s collection.
Kathleen Mills
Middlefield, OH
