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deefinglee's review against another edition
3.0
This was really not my usual read which made it take me a little longer to finish but I did not completely hate it
alexperc_92's review
4.0
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One of the most accurate descriptions of the Crusades period and of Genghis Khan is presented in this thrilling adventure! I loved all the main characters especially Elaine who is strong for her time, a feminist even, as also how she tried to navigate through a man's world. This was a very enjoyable read.
One of the most accurate descriptions of the Crusades period and of Genghis Khan is presented in this thrilling adventure! I loved all the main characters especially Elaine who is strong for her time, a feminist even, as also how she tried to navigate through a man's world. This was a very enjoyable read.
emilyreadsfantasy's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good historical novel, especially one set ~1220 AD! It was full of adventure and exciting plot twists. My only complaint would be that the romance was much more minor than promised!
jjohans3's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the beginning and the ending of this book. The reason I gave only 3 stars is because the middle was super difficult to get through. I actually put the book down for two months because I couldn’t get through it. However, if you can make it through that part, the book is worth the read!
I really enjoyed the character development for all three of the main characters. I loved the feminism in this book (absolutely love Princess Elaine!). I even ended up liking Conrad by the end, even though he’s still a little thick headed.
It was a fun historical fiction, set in a time period I don’t often read about. It was sometimes infuriating to think of people actually living this way, which gives credit to how well the author was able to portray the period.
I really enjoyed the character development for all three of the main characters. I loved the feminism in this book (absolutely love Princess Elaine!). I even ended up liking Conrad by the end, even though he’s still a little thick headed.
It was a fun historical fiction, set in a time period I don’t often read about. It was sometimes infuriating to think of people actually living this way, which gives credit to how well the author was able to portray the period.
livy22's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 stars
Going into this book, I really had no idea what to expect. The premise sounded intriguing - a Christian princess, a Muslim assassin, and a neighboring prince forced together on a quest that may leave them bonding despite their differences.
Robert Cochran's author bio says he was a co-creator of the show 24, which doesn't surprise me at all. The plot of this story reads like it could be written for TV. It's quick-paced, for sure - definitely not of the Tolkien variety - but still intricate. Though the plot moves like a high-speed train, the story still manages to explore a lot of interesting and relevant themes, especially when it comes to religion. The most important to me being: how do you view and treat others who have different beliefs than you?
There were a few aspects of the story that bothered me.
- Conrad's view of women for the first half of the book was irritating, though I know it's meant to reflect the time period.
- As far as the portrayal of religion, I'll preface by saying I'm a Christian, so I can't speak in-depth on the representation for the Muslim characters, but the Christianity depicted in this book was very surface level. (Which was obviously fine and as expected, since it's not a Christian book!)
- All of the characters could've used more fleshing out. Though I enjoyed our three protagonists, they felt a little like cardboard cutouts and never had my full emotional investment. Rashid was my favorite, though, if I had to choose.
Overall, this book was both fun and thought-provoking. The title The Sword & the Dagger also makes a lot of sense once you finish. I'm curious if this story will be a standalone or if a sequel is in the works!
Going into this book, I really had no idea what to expect. The premise sounded intriguing - a Christian princess, a Muslim assassin, and a neighboring prince forced together on a quest that may leave them bonding despite their differences.
Robert Cochran's author bio says he was a co-creator of the show 24, which doesn't surprise me at all. The plot of this story reads like it could be written for TV. It's quick-paced, for sure - definitely not of the Tolkien variety - but still intricate. Though the plot moves like a high-speed train, the story still manages to explore a lot of interesting and relevant themes, especially when it comes to religion. The most important to me being: how do you view and treat others who have different beliefs than you?
There were a few aspects of the story that bothered me.
- Conrad's view of women for the first half of the book was irritating, though I know it's meant to reflect the time period.
- As far as the portrayal of religion, I'll preface by saying I'm a Christian, so I can't speak in-depth on the representation for the Muslim characters, but the Christianity depicted in this book was very surface level. (Which was obviously fine and as expected, since it's not a Christian book!)
- All of the characters could've used more fleshing out. Though I enjoyed our three protagonists, they felt a little like cardboard cutouts and never had my full emotional investment. Rashid was my favorite, though, if I had to choose.
Overall, this book was both fun and thought-provoking. The title The Sword & the Dagger also makes a lot of sense once you finish. I'm curious if this story will be a standalone or if a sequel is in the works!
ikarichelle's review against another edition
5.0
*** Disclaimer: I received a free early access copy of The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran from NetGalley and Tor/Forge for review purposes. Thanks so much!
What initially drew me to this book was the title and cover. Once I read the summary, the historical fiction aspect drew me in, especially since takes place during the Crusades which is a time period you just don't see much of in young adult fiction.
Elaine is the princess of Tripoli who is betrothed to the prince of Antioch, Conrad, in hopes of an alliance between the two countries during the time of the Crusades. As the last two Christian lands, their marriage is important for political reasons. Rashid is an Assassin which is an extremist Muslim sect. He's sent to kill Elaine for promises of going to Paradise.
Once the assassination attempt fails, Elaine decides to rescue Rashid in hopes to discover why and who wanted her dead. Conrad learns of their escape and joins them on their journey that is given to them by the Old Man, the leader of the Eagle's Nest. They are the find out about what is causing the deaths by whistling, feathered arrows.
First of all, this interested me because of the age old conflict of religion, specifically between the Christians and Muslims which is still very prominent in today's society. The mentions of Assassins as well as a brief mentions of Templars immediately brought the first Assassin's Creed game to mind. Something like that can be relevant to most people.
I loved the aspect of three people from extremely different backgrounds having to band together for a common cause. It's rather trope-y, but for this plot it's very appropriate. Despite the formula for a love triangle situation, there isn't one. For a majority of the story everything is strictly platonic.
Elaine is an extremely amazing character and I love how strong willed she was. For the time period it's more unheard of and I like that she's just as strong as the two men. The sacrifices she gives and her stubborn determination is relatable. While they all evolve, Conrad probably have the most character growth. Conrad has a shadow of his older brother hanging over him making that his weakness. His constant disagreement with Rashid is understandable and I like how they have those moments of agreement. I also really liked Rashid because he sticks to his values and fits the role of an assassin. He's careful and plans things out before jumping into action in contrast to Conrad and sometimes Elaine.
The story is predictable at times, but it's an easy read. It kept me interested because it showed the different POV from each character back to back so it wasn't jumping back and forth. I think it's a great novel for someone who is transferring from screenwriting to prose.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am totally recommending it!
What initially drew me to this book was the title and cover. Once I read the summary, the historical fiction aspect drew me in, especially since takes place during the Crusades which is a time period you just don't see much of in young adult fiction.
Elaine is the princess of Tripoli who is betrothed to the prince of Antioch, Conrad, in hopes of an alliance between the two countries during the time of the Crusades. As the last two Christian lands, their marriage is important for political reasons. Rashid is an Assassin which is an extremist Muslim sect. He's sent to kill Elaine for promises of going to Paradise.
Once the assassination attempt fails, Elaine decides to rescue Rashid in hopes to discover why and who wanted her dead. Conrad learns of their escape and joins them on their journey that is given to them by the Old Man, the leader of the Eagle's Nest. They are the find out about what is causing the deaths by whistling, feathered arrows.
First of all, this interested me because of the age old conflict of religion, specifically between the Christians and Muslims which is still very prominent in today's society. The mentions of Assassins as well as a brief mentions of Templars immediately brought the first Assassin's Creed game to mind. Something like that can be relevant to most people.
I loved the aspect of three people from extremely different backgrounds having to band together for a common cause. It's rather trope-y, but for this plot it's very appropriate. Despite the formula for a love triangle situation, there isn't one. For a majority of the story everything is strictly platonic.
Elaine is an extremely amazing character and I love how strong willed she was. For the time period it's more unheard of and I like that she's just as strong as the two men. The sacrifices she gives and her stubborn determination is relatable. While they all evolve, Conrad probably have the most character growth. Conrad has a shadow of his older brother hanging over him making that his weakness. His constant disagreement with Rashid is understandable and I like how they have those moments of agreement. I also really liked Rashid because he sticks to his values and fits the role of an assassin. He's careful and plans things out before jumping into action in contrast to Conrad and sometimes Elaine.
The story is predictable at times, but it's an easy read. It kept me interested because it showed the different POV from each character back to back so it wasn't jumping back and forth. I think it's a great novel for someone who is transferring from screenwriting to prose.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am totally recommending it!
makennakjacobs's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised that this is Cochran's debut novel because The Sword and the Dagger read smoothly, with good pacing for an exciting adventure story. The novel focuses on three main characters: Princess Elaine and Prince Conrad, who are about to enter their arranged marriage against their will, when the Assassin Rashid attempts to kill Elaine. Elaine, desperate to take control of her life, breaks Rashid out of prison and demands that he take her to the person who ordered her death. Meanwhile, Conrad goes to bring Elaine back. With exciting fights and twists, the trio of teens undergoes an insane journey rooted in the history of the Crusades, ultimately coming face-to-face with Genghis Khan himself. Along the way, Elaine, Conrad, and Rashid learn about themselves, about friendship, and about intercultural relationships, discovering that Muslims and Christians may not be so different after all. The characters are fully developed and well-balanced, with each of them, as well as other characters, occasionally taking the spotlight in a limited third-person perspective. The Sword and the Dagger would be a good choice for young adult readers who like adventure tales. Even readers who normally shy away from historical fiction will enjoy this book because the history is integrated naturally and effectively. Although some sections were less engaging, overall it was a good adventure for characters and readers alike, with important thematic elements running through even the most intense of the fights.
kazbrekkercore's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Slavery, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
amandathebookish's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the chance to read this book, The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran! My thoughts are my own, as always.
I give this book 3 stars.
Synopsis :
When empires clash,
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin
embark on the quest of a lifetime
During the time of the Crusades, an unlikely trio—a Christian princess, her affianced prince, and a Muslim assassin—embarks on a quest to the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.
A rousing tale of adventure and romance about three young people who must grapple with fundamental issues of loyalty, friendship, faith, honor, and courage against the backdrop of conflicts that still resonate today.
...
I downloaded this book for our trip because it looked just a perfect historical fiction read for a long bus ride or a plane. While I did enjoy this story, it was fairly unremarkable and moderately slow plotted. I found the character arc of the prince to be difficult and unreliable, and I didn't like him. The other characters were generally unremarkable and clichéd as well.
I give this book 3 stars.
Synopsis :
When empires clash,
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin
embark on the quest of a lifetime
During the time of the Crusades, an unlikely trio—a Christian princess, her affianced prince, and a Muslim assassin—embarks on a quest to the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.
A rousing tale of adventure and romance about three young people who must grapple with fundamental issues of loyalty, friendship, faith, honor, and courage against the backdrop of conflicts that still resonate today.
...
I downloaded this book for our trip because it looked just a perfect historical fiction read for a long bus ride or a plane. While I did enjoy this story, it was fairly unremarkable and moderately slow plotted. I found the character arc of the prince to be difficult and unreliable, and I didn't like him. The other characters were generally unremarkable and clichéd as well.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
I received a copy of The Sword and the Dagger through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Sword and the Dagger is the debut novel by Robert Cochran. The description sounds a bit like the beginning of a joke, a princess, a knight, and an assassin. But in all seriousness, this is a fascinating novel.
The novel is fictional, but it is based on real events and time periods. That brings a whole new level of realism to the world itself. The obstacles the characters come up against are believably because they happened quite frequently during their time.
What really made this novel extraordinary was the way Cochran made his characters – all inherently different – capable of seeing eye to eye with one another. Here we have a Christian princess, a Muslim assassin, and a Christian Prince/Knight who believed in his right to rule. You'd think that these three would have nothing in common, right?
Based on the other reviews I've seen out there, people are either going to love or hate this novel. I personally enjoyed it a lot, but to each their own. The reasons I mentioned above are a good part of why I enjoyed it, but there is more as well.
Warnings: The Sword and the Dagger is a historical novel, and it shows some of the worst of our past. There's religious bias and discrimination, slavery, and forced marriages. And as in history novel where horses and war are involved...it doesn't go well for the mounts. None of these events are terribly graphic though, for what it is worth.
The Sword and the Dagger was a fascinating read. I really enjoyed it, mainly for the characters and getting to see how much they changed during the course of the novel. Character building is one of my favorite aspects of writing, so this was a huge detail for me.
The world was richly detailed, and as I mentioned above having it based in real events really enhanced the whole feeling of the novel. Though obviously the characters created were pure fiction – I preferred that, personally.
I will say that there was one element of this novel that may be off-putting for some. There are frequent and sudden perspective changes throughout the novel. I don't mind this when they're delineated by chapter changes, but that wasn't the case here. It would change mid-chapter, and then change back again at a whim. Once I got into the rhythm of it I was fine, but I know some people are especially bothered by this writing style.
I think my only other complaint about this novel was the conclusion. And I don't really mean the conclusion to the main plot, but really one of the secondary plots between characters. It seemed too sudden – I would have preferred the implication that more time had passed before the...decision was made. Perhaps that's just me though.
On the whole I really enjoyed the Sword and the Dagger, and am so happy I took the time to read it. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Robert Cochran comes out with. I'd be curious to see how his writing evolves with time.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Sword and the Dagger is the debut novel by Robert Cochran. The description sounds a bit like the beginning of a joke, a princess, a knight, and an assassin. But in all seriousness, this is a fascinating novel.
The novel is fictional, but it is based on real events and time periods. That brings a whole new level of realism to the world itself. The obstacles the characters come up against are believably because they happened quite frequently during their time.
What really made this novel extraordinary was the way Cochran made his characters – all inherently different – capable of seeing eye to eye with one another. Here we have a Christian princess, a Muslim assassin, and a Christian Prince/Knight who believed in his right to rule. You'd think that these three would have nothing in common, right?
Based on the other reviews I've seen out there, people are either going to love or hate this novel. I personally enjoyed it a lot, but to each their own. The reasons I mentioned above are a good part of why I enjoyed it, but there is more as well.
Warnings: The Sword and the Dagger is a historical novel, and it shows some of the worst of our past. There's religious bias and discrimination, slavery, and forced marriages. And as in history novel where horses and war are involved...it doesn't go well for the mounts. None of these events are terribly graphic though, for what it is worth.
The Sword and the Dagger was a fascinating read. I really enjoyed it, mainly for the characters and getting to see how much they changed during the course of the novel. Character building is one of my favorite aspects of writing, so this was a huge detail for me.
The world was richly detailed, and as I mentioned above having it based in real events really enhanced the whole feeling of the novel. Though obviously the characters created were pure fiction – I preferred that, personally.
I will say that there was one element of this novel that may be off-putting for some. There are frequent and sudden perspective changes throughout the novel. I don't mind this when they're delineated by chapter changes, but that wasn't the case here. It would change mid-chapter, and then change back again at a whim. Once I got into the rhythm of it I was fine, but I know some people are especially bothered by this writing style.
I think my only other complaint about this novel was the conclusion. And I don't really mean the conclusion to the main plot, but really one of the secondary plots between characters. It seemed too sudden – I would have preferred the implication that more time had passed before the...decision was made. Perhaps that's just me though.
On the whole I really enjoyed the Sword and the Dagger, and am so happy I took the time to read it. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Robert Cochran comes out with. I'd be curious to see how his writing evolves with time.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks