The Coronation
By Justin Newland
In Ludwigshain, a Junker estate in East Prussia, Countess Marion von Adler celebrates an exceptional harvest. But it is requisitioned by Russian troops. When Marion tries to stop them, a Russian captain strikes her. His lieutenant, Ian Fermor, defends Marion’s honour and is stabbed for his insubordination. Abandoned by the Russians, Fermor becomes a divisive figure on the estate.
Close to death, Fermor dreams of the Adler, a numinous eagle entity, whose territory extends across the lands of Northern Europe and which is mysteriously connected to the Enlightenment. What happens next will change of the course of human history…
I was really looking forward to reading this novel as the blurb really intrigued me (you know how I like a good blurb) and the cover is certainly eye-catching.
As soon as I started this novel I knew that it was going to be one of those books that really deserves to be read in one sitting. Unfortunately, I rarely have such opportunities, and so I read this novel during my quick coffee breaks, and as the chapters are nice and short, it made the whole process so much easier—I hate stopping halfway through a chapter, and I know I am not the only one.
The writing style used in this novel does take a little bit of getting used to, for it has an almost poetic quality about it that you don't often find in fiction novels. What I mean by this is that each word used is seemingly deliberate. It is as if the author has carefully thought about every word used, which I know sounds a little strange, but that is what it felt like reading this book. One thing I also noticed was the author's use of smilies, which he uses a great deal but also to great effect. One thing is for certain, the way the author has chosen to write this story means that the detailing throughout this novel is astounding.
The story is incredibly compelling and I really enjoyed both the historical aspects of this novel, I believe it is set during the Seven Year War, and the supernatural elements as well. The historical detailing kept this story firmly grounded but the fantasy element also gave this story a burst of magical realism. It can be very hard to pull off a believable mythological background without losing the historical accuracies of the era, but I think the author has done so most admirably.
This novel may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially for die-hard historical fiction fans, but I thought this novel was very clever in its delivery. I really enjoyed meeting the characters in this novel and following them as the story progressed.
I received my copy from The Coffee Pot Book Club but you can grab yours from yours from a wide variety of places - hang on to your hats, here is the list!! Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon CA, Amazon AU, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, Kobo, Author Website (you can get a signed copy here), Publisher’s Website, Wordery (UK), Bookswagon (India), Booktopia (Au), Saxo (Dk, Exclusive Books (SA)
Justin Newland
His Books
The Genes of Isis is a tale of love, destruction and ephemeral power set under the skies of An-cient Egypt. A re-telling of the Biblical story of the flood, it reveals the mystery of the genes of Isis – or genesis – of mankind. ISBN 9781789014860.
“The novel is creative, sophisticated, and downright brilliant! I couldn’t ask more of an Egyp-tian-esque book!” – Lauren, Books Beyond the Story.
The Old Dragon’s Head is a historical fantasy and supernatural thriller set during the Ming Dynasty and played out in the shadows the Great Wall of China. It explores the secret history of the influences that shaped the beginnings of modern times. ISBN 9781789015829.
‘The author is an excellent storyteller.” – British Fantasy Society.
Set during the Great Enlightenment, The Coronation reveals the secret history of the Industrial Revolution. ISBN 9781838591885.
“The novel explores the themes of belonging, outsiders… religion and war… filtered through the lens of the other-worldly.” – A. Deane, Page Farer Book Blog.
His latest, The Abdication (July, 2021), is a suspense thriller, a journey of destiny, wisdom and self-discovery. ISBN 9781800463950.
“In Topeth, Tula confronts the truth, her faith in herself, faith in a higher purpose, and ulti-mately, what it means to abdicate that faith.”
V. Triola, Coast to Coast.
Social Media Links:
Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Amazon Author Page, Goodreads
