29 Jun Book Review The Hussar’s Duty Griffin Brady #HistoricalFiction #WingedHussars #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @griffbrady1588 @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: GRIFFIN BRADY

It is my pleasure to host Griffin Brady again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour that is being held between June 19th — June 30th, 2023. Griffin Brady is the author of the Historical Fiction novel, The Hussar’s Duty (The Winged Warrior Series, Book 3), released by Trefoil Publishing on May 18th, 2023 (538 pages).

I previously reviewed the first book in the series, The Heart of a Hussar, set during the 17th-century Polish-Muscovite war, a period with which I was not familiar. The first novel had everything I enjoyed reading in epic historical fiction — fully developed characters, adventure, romance, political intrigue, and world-building. The third book continues the rich tradition of the first book and motivates me to read the second book in the series, A Hussar’s Promise.

Below are highlights of The Hussar’s Duty, Griffin Brady’s author bio, and my 5-star review of her novel. 

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/04/blog-tour-hussars-duty-by-griffin-brady.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE HUSSAR’S DUTY

The Hussar’s Duty

(The Winged Warrior Series)

by Griffin Brady

Blurb:

Poland’s most valiant winged hussar is called to fight in a campaign ripe for disaster. But he must also protect those he loves from jackals waiting to pounce. How does he choose between duty and devotion when death is on the line?

When Sultan Osman II sends Poland’s envoy packing, the Commonwealth must prepare for war against one of the largest armies the Ottomans have ever assembled. Tasked with repelling the invasion is Grand Hetman of the Crown Stanisław Żółkiewski, and he knows who to turn to: Jacek Dąbrowski, the Commonwealth’s most valiant Polish winged hussar.

Jacek has been idle far too long, and the call to arms is a siren’s song he can’t resist. But he has built a life far from the battlefield with his wife, Oliwia, and their children. If he pursues his quest for glory, who will safeguard them?

Oliwia knows her husband is restless. In fact, she’s been sending Jacek on cross-country errands for years in the hopes of quelling his lust for battle. When she realizes her efforts are futile, she resolves herself to letting him go—after hatching a scheme to accompany him.

Honor. Obligation. Devotion. These forces push and pull Jacek in different directions. His country needs him, but so does his family. Where does his duty lie? His choice will cause catastrophic ripples no matter which path he follows … and could very well bring the loss of his loved ones or his life.

Will the cost of defending king and country prove too steep for this warrior?

This is a standalone continuation in The Winged Warrior Series.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://readerlinks.com/l/3336453

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2VZ2963/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C2VZ2963/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C2VZ2963/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C2VZ2963/

AUTHOR BIO: GRIFFIN BRADY

Griffin Brady is an award-winning historical fiction author with a keen interest in the Polish Winged Hussars of the 16th and 17th centuries. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Her debut novel, The Heart of a Hussar, was a finalist for the 2021 Chaucer Early Historical Fiction Award and a 2021 Discovered Diamond.

The proud mother of three grown sons, she lives in Colorado with her husband. She is also an award-winning bestselling romance author who writes under the pen name G.K. Brady.

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.griffin-brady.com/historical-fiction/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/griffbrady1588

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGriffinBrady

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/griffin-brady

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/griffinbrady

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20675881.Griffin_Brady

BOOK REVIEW: THE HUSSAR’S DUTY

Loyalties and honor are blurred in war-torn Poland in the historical fiction novel, The Hussar’s Duty by Griffin Brady, as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth prepares to fight Ottoman troops at the Battle of Cecora in 1620. Book 3 in the Winged Warrior series continues the saga of Jacek Dabrowski, an elite Hussar commander, and his wife, Oliwia, an heiress of the estates of her former husband. Although this is the 3rd book in the series, with sufficient backstories from Book 1 (The Heart of a Hussar) and Book 2 (A Hussar’s Promise), it can be read as a standalone. However, it would be helpful to read the first two books to fully grasp Jacek and Oliwia’s ordeals before marrying.

Even though Jacek is in marital bliss raising Oliwia’s son, fathered from her former husband, and their own two children, the estate is plagued with financial hardship. Another challenge is Oliwia’s teenage brother’s rebellion against training under the mentorship of Jacek. A soldier itching for action and glory, Jacek is pulled from a sense of duty to fight for his former seventy-year former commander, Stanisław Żółkiewski, in a possible confrontation with the Ottoman Empire. Like many disputes throughout history, the goal of protecting the ruler of the neighboring kingdom of Moldavia seems like a just cause. What Jacek does not expect are the divisive loyalties of mercenaries and magnates lacking in discipline and morale. His duty as a Hussar and his undying love for his family is tested in the hell of the Battle of Cecora.

Author Griffin Brady has masterfully written a gripping family saga with strong elements of romance interwoven into action/adventure. It is a character-driven tale in which Oliwia and Jacek fundamentally change due to their life-threatening circumstances. The author’s meticulous research is evidenced by her descriptive details of the Polish culture, political turmoil between the warring Polish Commonwealth and Ottoman Empire, and battle scenes. She stays true to actual events and terms used in the period. A glossary of terms and historical figures’ backgrounds are bonuses at the back of the book.

The tale starts slowly but sets the stage for the climactic battle steeped in action, unexpected twists, and heart-wrenching scenes in which you don’t know who will survive. The tension becomes razor-sharp in the last half of the book when Jacek recognizes that everything he believes as an honorable warrior is turned on its head. Immoral mercenaries and wavering magnates fight for their self-interest. He questions the judgment of his aging commander, who leads them into a battle where they are outnumbered. The universal themes of duty vs. love, corrupt political power, sacrifice, and friendship are explored in this riveting story. It has a satisfying ending that will leave you pondering the justice of war.

Readers who enjoy historical romantic adventure will become immersed in Jacek’s struggle to balance love for his family and to seek glory and ambition in his duty as a Hussar to the sovereignty of Poland. Highly recommended.

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