Changes

Toby has actually been very clever. Thomas and Katherine may be in the 15th century; however , they're not of it, having lived most of their lives in a priory (since the age of 5 for Katherine and 12 for Thomas). The priory was so enclosed and sheltered that the mores, thought and even food of the 1400s is alien to them. This makes them ideal guides for us readers, the total aliens. The other thing is that since Katherine has no idea how a 15th -century woman should behave, she can be her own unaffected self with some interesting results.

From the moment our heroes flee from certain death among the devout (talk about thrilling set -pieces!) they're flung from one adventure to another until they find themselves in a fight of a different level, surrounded by the death that they previously sought to escape. Thomas also discovers a side to him he'd rather have remained unknown as we witness the psychological effect of gory hand to hand combat. Meanwhile , Katherine and Thomas's nemesis still looms large.

''Kingmaker'' may not have the big-character-name historic depth of an [[:Category:Conn Iggulden|Conn Iggulden]] or [[:Category:Elizabeth Fremantle|Elizabeth Fremantle]] but this doesn't matter as Toby is mining a hist-fict niche that, in side-lining the historical celebs, brings us the grass roots grassroots authenticity. In a way this is similar to the approach of [[:Category:Karen Maitland|Karen Maitland]] (but without her mystical leanings). Toby Clements has provides ripping action we can be absorbed by and relate to; a talent that many more experienced authors have yet to grasp.