Title: Duncan’s War
Author: Douglas Bond
Date Started: June 16, 2014
Other Works by Author:
King’s Arrow
Rebel’s Keep
The Faith and Freedom Trilogy
The Mr. Pipes series
Hostage Lands
Hand of Vengeance
The Betrayal
The Thunder
Nonfiction: Stand Fast vols 1 & 2
Grace Works! (And Ways We Think it Doesn’t)
The Mighty Weakness of John Knox
The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts
Augustus Toplady, debtor to mercy alone
Girolamo Savonarala
Forgotten Songs, reclaiming the psalms for worship
Genres: Fiction, history,
My Rating: 4
Summary: The English have been persecuting those who hold to the covenant that Jesus is the only king of the church. As a 14 year old boy, Duncan likes playacting, especially that he is helping to rout the English oppressors of the kirk. He dreams of when the covenanters will finally stand up to the Engilsh and he can join in the fight… until it actually happens. Duncan survives the rout at Rullion Green and begins the search for his Father.
My Thoughts: I read this book for the first time several years ago and I enjoy it every time. This book first sparked my interest in the trials of the Scottish Covenanters leading me to books such as In Freedom’s Cause by G. A. Henty and Hunted and Harried by R. M. Ballantyne.
The story is exciting and it relays the struggles and the faith of the covenants.
Note: Because of the battle and some description of tortures it may not be good for young children.
My Favorite Quotes:
A boys power of scent, though well trained to sniff out mealtime smells, was no match for a dogs keen sense of smell. ~chapter 1, pg. 8
“Ye ken they’ll take all his winter food. And leave the old man to starve. There’s no justice in that, man.” ~Chapter 14, pg. 116
“Aye, we may pay at the hands of ye English oppressors for defending our neighbor against yer brutalities. But, barring yer repentance, ye’ll pay. Aye, ye’ll pay on the judgment day. Make no mistake about it, sir ye’ll pay King Jesus for yer crimes against his kirk and his bairns.” ~ Chapter 15, pg. 125
But ye’ll remember,” said Duncan, “that more than once when others wanted to kill ye, it was my father who spoke in yer defense sir.” ~ Chapter 24, pg. 194
Duncan hadn’t thought of that. He knew that if Jamie and his father were inside, they’d put up a sturdy defence against anyone they thought might be an intruder.
“What do we do?” He said.
“We march in singing,” said Duncans father. “Dragoons don’t decend on women and bairns while singing the Psalter.” ~Chapter 35, pg. 263
Where can you get this book: Amazon, CBD, BondBooks
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