22 Jul Book Review The Agincourt King Mercedes Rochelle #TheAgincourtKing #HenryV #Agincourt #HistoricalFiction #Plantagenet #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @authorRochelle @cathiedunn

FEATURED AUTHOR: MERCEDES ROCHELLE

It is my pleasure to feature author Mercedes Rochelle again in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between July 2nd – 23rd, 2024. She is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Agincourt King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 5), that was published on April 8th, 2024 by Sergeant Press (260 pages).

Below are highlights of The Agincourt King, Mercedes Rochelle’’s author bio, and my 5-star review of her meticulously researched book. 

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/05/blog-tour-the-agincourt-king-by-mercedes-rochelle.html

HIGHLIGHTS: THE AGINCOURT KING

The Agincourt King
(The Plantagenet Legacy Book 5)
By Mercedes Rochelle

Blurb:

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father’s usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III’s footsteps, and recover lost territory in France.

Better yet, why not go for the crown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn’t manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him.

By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought. Little did they reckon on Henry’s leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn’t matter when God was on their side.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mq70Ze

AUTHOR BIO: MERCEDES ROCHELLE

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” and begins with the reign of Richard II.

She also writes a blog: www.HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to “see the world”. The search hasn’t ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

Author Links:

Website: https://mercedesrochelle.com/

Blog:  https://historicalbritainblog.com/

Twitter / X: https://x.com/authorrochelle

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mercedesrochelle.net

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mercedes-rochelle

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mercedes-Rochelle/author/B001KMG5P6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1696491.Mercedes_Rochelle

BOOK REVIEW: THE AGINCOURT KING

The battled-hardened warrior king, Henry V, is determined to create his legacy in the Medieval Historical Fiction, The Agincourt King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 5). Impetuous and fiery-tempered, King Henry V puts on a mask of piety even though his cruelty could manifest at any moment. He believes God has destined him to regain lost territories in France and thus decides to reignite the Hundred Years’ War. The time seems right in 1414. France is distracted by its internal conflicts and its weak king. But as Henry V is ready to embark to France, he discovers the Cambridge Plot to replace him with Edmund Mortimer as king. He exacts justice with an iron fist on the treasonous nobles, then sets sail to demonstrate his military prowess with decisive victories in France, despite the odds. 

Author Mercedes Rochelle demonstrates her impeccable research in this historical biographical fiction. Various points of view were sometimes used in a chapter to paint a broad stroke of the political intrigue and the battle scene. Scenes told from the first-perspective perspective of Henry’s younger brother, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, provide the greatest insight into King Henry V as a historical figure. His inner circle of nobles stays clear of him when his temper flares, but they demonstrate absolute allegiance to protect him in battle. Likewise, Henry V shows respect and generosity to those most loyal to him. He inspires his army with his leadership qualities and fights with his soldiers to win decisive victories despite the odds. 

This is a plot-driven novel, emphasizing the political intrigue behind the campaigns that Henry V undertook. I felt as if I were in the midst of battle at Agincourt. The points of view change, giving the reader a sense of what is happening at various locations in the conflict. Military tactics switch suddenly, depending on unexpected changes in the momentum of the clash. Hardship and cruelty of war resonate from one battle scene to another. Soldiers suffering from disease and malnutrition fight fiercely to protect their comrades. Prisoners of war held for ransom are sometimes sacrificed when the promise of victory turns the tide. A list of characters and maps are additional bonuses.

I highly recommend The Agincourt King for its intriguing political intrigue, cinematic battle scenes, and historical detail of the medieval era in Europe.

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