To Be Worthy In Honor (Book II of the Epic of Hotspur)
To Be Worthy in Honor is the second in a trilogy that chronicles several years in the life of Sir Harry Percy, nicknamed Hotspur for his swift action along the unruly Anglo-Scots border. It’s November 1400. King Henry IV has been in power for only a year when tensions between Harry and the king begin to simmer. Although Harry is building a life for himself in Northumberland with his newfound lady-love, the king heaps increasingly erratic demands on him—keep the raiding Scots in check, quell a Welsh uprising, mentor Prince Hal (destined to become King Henry V), attend the Great Council in London. The list goes on. Yet, the king refuses to pay the wages of Harry’s fighting men as required by law, claiming the Exchequer is empty, and commands that Harry betray a treaty signed in good faith. With his honor at stake, amidst cutthroat political maneuvering at court and a personal tragedy in Northumberland, Sir Harry confronts conflict on all sides.
An impressive mix of deep historical research, character development, and writing craft is woven into Armstrong’s powerful tale of honor, royal vanity, and military action in 15th-century Britain. After a rather slow-burn first chapter, where Sir Harry is reintroduced to readers as an honorable, if financially strapped and lovestruck warrior knight, the pace hurtles along at breakneck speed. There’s a castle siege, Scottish reiver attacks, and military diplomacy that all figure into the storytelling, with the often harsh reality of medieval life and warfare described in vivid scenes of utter despair and hard-won triumph. Period details abound—from lances, swords, and other weaponry to the exquisite floor tiles of Westminster. Historical notes and an extensive bibliography conclude this emotionally moving novel that had me glued to the story from start to finish.
