- Paperback: 413 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan New Writing; Airside ed edition (1 Jan 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0230007511
- ISBN-13: 978-0230007512
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,229,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Chronicles
`The Secret War is well written and an easy page-turner.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
For thousands of years a secret war has been fought between Heaven and Hell. Daemons and angels, vampires and knights, clash for the future of mankind, and as the two sides wage war across the world, innocent people are caught up in the conflict - men like Captain William Saxon and Lieutenant Kieran Harte, two great friends who have recently survived the horrors of the Battle of Waterloo. But now they face a greater struggle, against the daemonic forces of Count Ordrane, and the clandestine ambitions of the Vatican. They must try to survive assassination attempts, political machinations, epic battles on land and sea, and above all the power of a mysterious bronze pyramid - the Scarimadean - that brings everlasting damnation to all who come into contact with it. Their only allies are an old man, a fading secret organisation in the Church, and an enigmatic warrior, who may hold the key not only to the friends' fates, but to the fate of all mankind...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Some books just strike the right key. I read this on holiday and I was blown away by it. The plot is pretty simple yet compellingly written: two friends are swept away on a perilous adventure not of their choosing, and battle against the armies of the Damned across land and sea. Its episodic, like the adventure serials of the 1930s and 40s, but without the staged cliff-hangers. There's a great affable spirit to the adventures and the heroes are quite likeable. My only minor criticism is that I felt at times frustrated by the possibilities that could have been explored in the book but the author chose to go in another direction (I won't spoil it for you). But this is a small criticism. Hopefully if there is another book (as I suspect there will be), all those questions will be answered. A cracking read.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I don't know what I expected with The Secret War. You look at the author's blog and he cites writers like Clive Barker as one of his influences. However, this is definitely not a Clive Barker book. Yet while it might lack his originality, The Secret War is honest and undeniably a great page-turner. It moves from one rollicking adventure to the next and as an adventure it is one of the best I've read for a while. The battle scenes are a little gory in places, but the pace of the narrative doesn't let the reader dwell on them.
It might not have any strong female characters, (I agree with the review below)but then does it really need any? And if the other books are as good as this one, then I don't really mind if a series is on the cards!
It might not have any strong female characters, (I agree with the review below)but then does it really need any? And if the other books are as good as this one, then I don't really mind if a series is on the cards!
16 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What do you get when you cross some of the bloodiest battlefields in our history with a timeless struggle between the powers of light and darkness? You get this, a 'historical fantasy' from a very promising new voice.
We are drawn into the book with some highly atmospheric and realistic scenes from the aftermath of the battle of Waterloo, before the action quickly changes up about 5 gears and takes it's first thrilling turn into the fantastical.
You are never far away from epically described and imaginatively detailed battle scenes, while lead characters William Saxon and Kieran Harte, like Vorenus and Pullo from HBO's Rome, find themselves in the middle of high adventure and history changing events every time they pause for breath.
MFW Curran has created a world - and a secret world, that could endure for a long time and for many volumes. It nods towards the rich history of fantasy writing, from Tolkien to Rowling, without ever once standing around long enough to be accused of being derivative. It's a fresh approach and mix of genres that thrills. The author could scarcely improve on the action, thrills and spills and plot development - with a little more depth next time round he may well stray into 'classic' territory.
We are drawn into the book with some highly atmospheric and realistic scenes from the aftermath of the battle of Waterloo, before the action quickly changes up about 5 gears and takes it's first thrilling turn into the fantastical.
You are never far away from epically described and imaginatively detailed battle scenes, while lead characters William Saxon and Kieran Harte, like Vorenus and Pullo from HBO's Rome, find themselves in the middle of high adventure and history changing events every time they pause for breath.
MFW Curran has created a world - and a secret world, that could endure for a long time and for many volumes. It nods towards the rich history of fantasy writing, from Tolkien to Rowling, without ever once standing around long enough to be accused of being derivative. It's a fresh approach and mix of genres that thrills. The author could scarcely improve on the action, thrills and spills and plot development - with a little more depth next time round he may well stray into 'classic' territory.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Little Rough, but Promising
After surviving the horrors of Waterloo, two British soldiers soon face a threat far more deadly than Napoleon's French. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by Book Gannet
I can't believe some people don't like this book...
I read this book in a couple of days. I loved the whole vampire/history tie in. It's well written and an excellent story. I really struggle to understand what's not to enjoy...
Published on 13 Dec 2009 by Nick
I Really wanted to enjoy this BUT......
The story line COULD be very good it has an interesting plot .
BUT
It is a complete mess of ideas from other novels / Authors , not well put together at... Read more
BUT
It is a complete mess of ideas from other novels / Authors , not well put together at... Read more
Published on 24 July 2009 by # 1 JASPER
Not very good
I picked this book up after seeing it in a local bookshop. I read the blurb on the back and I thought that it sounded quite interesting. Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2009 by Mr. T. M. Oliver
interesting concept but poorly executed
I pick up this book because of the blurb on the back giving the impression of an interesting concept, and the concept is interesting. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2009 by Connart
A great book
A real cracking read couldn'put it down looking forward to the next installment I'm sure there is going to be a lot more
Published on 22 Jan 2009 by CVH
The Secret War
I read a few reviews about this book which tempted me to buy a copy and I also enjoy reading Fantasy. This book seemed just that little bit different and it is. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2009 by Elrohir
When's the sequel?
A beautifully written descriptive and graphic adventure. The cover is deceiving for although this is undoubtedly a story about war it is so much more than that. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2008 by Alison
a great adventure
I'm not normally a fantasy reader, but I found this at my boyfriend's house and started reading it because I was bored. To my surprise I really liked it! Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2007 by Patricia Bellafonte
Excellent first novel!
Thoroughly enjoyable atmospheric historical fantasy novel. The characters are sympathetically drawn and you are able to share their shock and fear at the bizarre world that they... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2007 by Loopy
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