Rebel’s Keep

Title: Rebel’s Keep
Series: The Crown and Covenant Series #3
Author: Douglas Bond
Date Started: August 30, 2014

Other Works by Author:
Duncan’s War
King’s Arrow
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: History, Fiction

My Rating: 4

Good for ages: 13+

Summary: The struggle between the Scottish Covenanters and the English continues. Angus, Duncan, and their father continue harassing the dragoons to protect their families and neighbors. Angus still longs for peace, preferably to flee the country to the American colonies, but he accompanies Ducan to fight at the battle of Airds Moss. When they return Captain Inglis is hunting down all covenanters that fought in the battle and their families so the M’Kethe family then moves from their croft on the hills into a cave.

When Angus is captured trying to lead the dragoons away from his brother and a minister the M’Kethe family creates a plan to free him and the others. Angus taught his nephew Malcolm well with the bow but Malcolm forgets to look for sentries being lost in the scene unfolding before him, it is then that tragedy strikes the M’Kethe family and they flee to the colonies.

My Thoughts: This was always been my favorite book of the trilogy, it’s full of thrilling adventures and the continued struggles of those trying to be faithful to God. There are a few gross parts as they describe some of the deaths of the martyrs of the time, and of course there are the descriptions of the battles.

My Favorite Quotes:

~ “Malcolm,” said Duncan, halting and leaning over so he could look his son full in his wide merry eyes. “Be silent! Och, lad. Ye said ye’d not make a sound. But ye’ve gone on for these five minutes and been making a whole string of sounds, hardly stopping long enough to breathing.”

~ “Och, aye, lad. Events are in God’s all-wise hands,” replied the minister. “Ours is to obey…and to suffer, just now.”

~ “But what can we do against so many?” asked Angus. “We’re but four in arms; they have thousands.”

“We do in God’s name, what we can,” replied his father. “And what we can do by stealth increases our numbers against unsuspecting dragoons. We hope in God, and we continue our patrols.”

~ My end is sure, thought Angus, trying desperately to hold down the urge to break and run.
My en is sure. Slowly a faint smile played on his lips, and the rising storm of panic was checked. Of course: My end is sure. The words took on a new meaning.

~Without pale death
We will no resurrection gain,
Nor win the joy
Without the sacrament of pain.

Where can you get this book: Amazon, Bondbooks

King’s Arrow

Title: King’s Arrow
Series: The Crown and Covenant Series #2
Author: Douglas Bond
Date Started: July 31, 2014

Other Works by Author:
Duncan’s War
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

Good for ages: 13+

Summary:
Peace loving Angus just wants all the fighting with the English to be over. Quite the opposite of his older brother Duncan he does not want to learn to use the Musket or Claymore, he is more than content using his bow and only to protect sheep. But when cruel Archbishop Sharp is murdered by fanatical covenanters and bloody Claverhouse takes over things just seem to get worse.
When Claverhouse proclaims any covenanter that bears arms as treasonous to the king they must decide how they will protect their families. Angus is forced to join his father, brother and others in taking up arms to protect the women and children when they are attacked during a field meeting.

My Thoughts:

I love this book. It continues the same struggle against the English that was in Duncan’s War but six years later and from a different perspective. Instead of high-strung Duncan who looks forward to a fight it is his younger brother who doesn’t want to fight.
I appreciated reading about Angus’ struggle as he wants to be peaceful but he must decide when it is right to back down and love his enemy and when loving his enemy means he must defend his neighbor.

My Favorite Quotes:

I have no love for Sharp’s murdering ways,” said Sandy M’Kethe. “And he surely was the chief designer of our woes. But murder’s murder. And there’s no justice in it. With this foul deed, these men bring more harm to the Covenant than any of us kens.”

“Aye, and peace-loving man that I am, I’m nevertheless inclined to think that there are times when fearing God means standing against the injustice of the king. Not an active rebellion, mind ye, but nor by celebration and giving public show of support for his evil schemes. As I am a Christian, we’ll light no bonfire.”

“What ye’re longing for, lad,” said his father, “is heaven. Aye, ye might find more freedom for a time in other lands. But, I’m thinking, it’d only be for a time. Nae, lad. Fix yer hope on heaven, and be faithful to God’s summons while abiding in this our benighted Scotland.”

“Duties are ours, Angus. And ye shall have duties enough in the days ahead, I should think. But for now–and always– leave the events to King Jesus’ hands, not in King Charles’s.”

Where can you get this book: Amazon, CBD, BondBooks

Book Review: Duncan’s War

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

Book Review: A Novel on John Knox

Title: The Thunder
Author: Douglas Bond
Date Started: March 1,2013
Date Finished: February 1, 2014

Other works by author:
The Crown and Covenant Trilogy
~Duncan’s War
~Kings Arrow
~Rebel’s Keep
The Faith and Freedom Trilogy
The Mr. Pipes series
Hostage Lands
Hand of Vengeance
The Betrayal
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

How many have I read: I have currently read all of his published fictional works

My Rating: 3

Summary: The story follows George Douglas, a pupil of John Knox alongside his brother Francis. The story begins at the fall of the Castle of St Andrews and follows through his time as a galley slave then his traveling back and forth between England, Scotland, and Geneva preaching the doctrine of the reformation.

The main character and his brother have been separated from their father since they became pupils of Knox, and a good friend, Alexander, since they were captured in the siege. Being underage and still under the protection of Knox they follow him in all his travels and exiles until they come of age when Francis accepts a position in the reformed church of Scotland and George remains as Knox’s secretary until he is made a deacon in a church in Scotland.

My thoughts: I knew that the style was going to be similar to The Betrayal which is my favorite of Bond’s books so I think I went into this book a bit prejudiced. I thought the beginning was very slow, especially compared to The Betrayal, whose main characters back story is a bit more intense and involved. I felt as though I was just being told what was happening in Knox’s life instead of getting to know the main character.

Halfway through, however, I felt that it began to pick up and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think I would have enjoyed the rest of it more if I hadn’t been so prejudiced. I do wish that he had written one more chapter, or even just one more paragraph to finish up the story. I felt that he ended it in a bad spot for the MC.

Where did I hear about this book: I have read most of Bond’s books so I keep up with his blog and website here. 

Where can you get this book: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com