I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, sarcastic or otherwise, are my own.
Oh, historical fiction, how we love thee. It’s always been one of those deceptively difficult genres to write in. Fantasy authors like myself tend to poo-poo it because it, on the surface, doesn’t require direct world building. But think about it a little deeper, and you realize that narrative is a misleading. Good historical fiction is both blessed and cursed by facts. On one hand you are buoyed by a real setting to ground your story in. On the other, the information we have on your chosen era may be incomplete, or just plain wrong. History is a living medium, and our knowledge of it is ever changing. Plus, licenses must be made to make it readable. In the end you are either going to tick off your average reader or be put into the crosshairs of a history nerd. Hard to win.
That out of the way, Tony Morgan’s A Pearl of York, Treason and Plot, is a respectable undertaking.
Guy Fawkes is looking back, reminiscing about his youth and one of the pivotal instances that put him on the path towards becoming a revolutionary. In this flashback he lives with his mother and sisters in York after the death of his father, where he attends St Peter’s law school. But late one night he discovers a secret that will turn his world upside down. Guy’s mother has been attending Catholic Mass – an illegal activity in that day – and one where in certain circumstances, is punishable by death.
Enter Margaret Clitherow, the butcher’s wife, and host of these clandestine meetings. Religious beliefs will be challenged. Plots will be hatched. And many more secrets will be uncovered, as Guy Fawkes tries to save the life of Margaret, or as she has come to be known: The Pearl of York.
Morgan does most things right in his historical fiction. At the core, he understands characterization and how to use human emotion well, and this ties his book together. The prose is simple and understandable (though I personally prefer more complex styles), and the plot easy to follow. There Is little barrier to entry in this piece, and the setting seems authentic enough; sacrifices in the dialogue were made for readability. There are slow portions of the novel in the places where you’d expect. Personally, some of these chapters happen to be my favorite as they allow time for Morgan to chew the scene.
The Pearl of York, Treason and Plot is a solid historical fiction. It is skillfully written, and a narrative where you as the reader get to watch the writer really grow into his chops. I will be watching for new works from this author in the future, and you should as well.
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