KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOUR
937871
A great classic movie with very human characteristics portraying the communist take over of Russia during WWI and the horrors that followed during this struggle for power between the Red and White forces.
3467722
Got everything BUT the knight piece.... wouldve been 5 stars didn't receive a major piece...
4104177
I seem to be reading alot of medieval type books lately and this one is a quick read that does provide romance.  To me the title doesn't really match the story. Yes, Hugh is a well known knight and is known to be a promiscuous man.  His thoughts on women are probably accurate for the time period but his actions are not those of a noble knight. Of course not all knights were so noble right?  He is a fierce knight who knows not how to love, an orphan who fought his way to the top, and loses who he is along the way.  His faith & loyal service to the King do not fill the void in his life. He decides that he wants a home with heirs and accepts the Kings gift of a castle & option to marry the daughter of the former Lord.
Lady Anne is the bastard born daughter of that former Lord and is coerced into deceiving him to save her half sister from marrying this brutish knight.  He learns of her deception and chooses to marry her anyway because of her beauty & her fiesty nature. He does, however, plan to continue living his life just as before & keep his paramour who waits for him.  He initially gives no thought to his wife, her life or who she is.  He expects her to obey him and accept whatever he says or does.  There is chemistry there & the story moves along at a quick pace. There are some love scenes which are nicely done.
Hugh was very hard to like at first and I wanted to whack him many times but the author revealed his thoughts & helped me change my mind. Anne is very likeable, kind and sweet despite her mistreatment by her step mother and half sister.  There are some small side stories but they are not deep enough to mention. I felt they detracted from the story sometimes. Can these two find happiness that eludes them?  Can Anne accept this knight as he is or does he have to change his wicked ways?  Will he change?  Is love possible?
You'll have to buy/read to get the skinny on this. It's worth it.
4063327
The book is mainly set in the medieval period. The world-building in this book is excellent, and the characters are well-drawn. The pacing is good, and every scene serves a purpose.  The focus is more on the romance than the history, and the story will probably appeal most to those who have always wished to marry their knight in shining (or not so shining) armor.  There are no explicit sex scenes, but the main characters do have sex after they're married. I'd rate this as "good, clean fun."

Genre Reviews
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4350886
This is a sombre version of the Arthurian legend, and in my view very much in tone with Thomas Malory's 15th century version. The latter is dark and foreboding, and so is this film. The deeds of arms of the knights are represented in terms that undermine the ideals of chivalry. There is only death, blood and severed body parts everywhere. The heap of bodies on which the last shot of the film focuses is the climax of this violence.

At the centre of this film stands the love between Guinevere and Lancelot, sublimely represented in the film: Guinevere waits for Lancelot's return in silence, and suffers for her love of him. Lancelot has come to the point where he tries to resist this love, for the sake of chivalry, but it is interesting to see the way in which he fails in his attempt to relinquish Guinevere.

I dare say this film is essential for anyone seriously interested in the Arthurian legend, and for anyone who has a clear understanding that the latter is not romance Hollywood style, but much darker. This is definitely not a film for everyone. There is a lot of blood and violence in the film, its atmosphere is dark, the dialogue is designedly monotonous, to match the sombre mood of the film, and there is no musical score throughout, except a very little in the beginning and end. It is exquisite in that it tells the story of a great love, accompanied by great suffering, and in that it demystifies any romantic notions we might have had about Arthur and his knights, as seen in other films of the genre. The austerity of the interiors also does away with our romantic illusions.

The acting is amazing, and I identified with the actor playing Guinevere in particular. The last scene of the movie, in which Lancelot, dying, says only one word: "Guinevre" (French version of Guinevere), stays with the viewer forever.
2183768
A fantastic tribute to the epitome of knighthood.  The author clearly illustrates this in portraying Marshall's loyalty to the Plantagenet kings he served, five in all..  To read this book is to view the monarchy from just inside the throne room, at the front of line of battle or from the point of view of an Earl, not always in favor due to the paranoia of those he would serve. Follow William Marshall from his unlikeliest of beginnings through his life at tournament, on Crusade, at the side of Henry I/Henry II/Henry the Young King/John/Henry III and as a favorite of Eleanor of Aquitaine and finally, to his acceptance as a Knight Templar prior to his death.  Truly well written.  Those interested in the women behind the The  Wars of the Roses will find the active role of Eleanor of Aquitaine on par with those of Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth of York, Margaret Beaufort & Margaret of Anjou, et al. A must read for anyone interested in things medieval, English history (especially Plantagenet medieval), medieval warfare & the crusades and knighthood/chivalry.
4157115
Bought this for my son who loved the game. Sad thing was there was no shovel included and I couldn't reach the distributor to get it resolved. So, my don's Shovel Knight is just a Knight. :-(
870817
I read a few series before but this is one of the better one. The author puts you into the action. I'm sure if I got to be in his next book I would be a knight. I cant wait until his next book comes out.
1090847
The cover art for this book always intrigued me, so at last I decided to pick it up and read it. I was not disappointed. This is the story of the petty nobility of 12th century Burgundy. With the political system of the province in a state of flux thanks to the minority of the Duke, one family, the Sauval, amasses power and wealth by robbing travelers and raiding neighboring baronies. The Red Keep is the stronghold of one such barony. It is raided by the Sauval and the Baron is put to the sword--only his daughter, Anne, is rescued by the noble Baron Roger and his men, among them a young page named Conan. In the aftermath of the attack, the damaged keep is left abandoned--the bone of contention around which the story revolves.

The main character, Conan, is immediately sympathetic. He is strong, brave, and chivalrous to a fault, but young man that he is, he makes occasional bone-headed decisions that nearly cost him his life. As the story progresses, Conan's youthful naivete transforms into savvy adulthood as he carefully plans a strategy to thwart the Sauval.

The character of Anne is also appealing. Though she is presented in fighting trim throughout the book, she is not given unrealistic strength or the ability to strike down fighting men twice her size--a common but ludicrous feature of much modern literature. Anne's true strength lies in her courage, her determination to regain her father's fief and her willingness to step outside of the expected female role, even in the face of difficult odds, for the sake of justice. In this, I thought she resembled St. Joan of Arc.

Overall, I loved this book. The main characters were good and solid, and the antagonists were suitably detestable. The story itself and the writing are also first rate. Add to this the great black & white illustrations by Andrew Wyeth throughout, and you've got a real winner of a book, perfectly suited for kids 10 and up, but easily read and enjoyed by adults as well.
175554
This book has a hero who takes a unique approach to problems. He does not triumph through superior magic or a magical sword, or aid from a dragon or a wizard. He uses his brain, reminding me of a fantasy MacGuyver.  By all means a hero, but he triumphs in ways the enemy (and the reader) would never expect or predict.  A very good single volume fantasy,  it has one of the best characters you will see anywhere.  Janny Wurts is an author to watch!
4661949
The Book:
Knight Marcus Annan wants to bury his past. When a mysterious monk demand Annan help him, Marcus is forced to join the Third Crusade in the Holy Land and risk exposure.
He is wounded in battle and agrees to marry  in name only  the widow of an old friend, in order to protect her from her enemies.
The journey to take Lady Mairead to a safe area becomes Annans goal, even if it means death.

My Thoughts:
The Middle Ages came to life in this book. Marcus Annan was an adventurous character that didn't back down from any fight. And fight he would.
The reader traveled throughout the Holy Land giving us a feel for what happened during the Crusades. The reader was taken behind the curtain to look at raw human emotions, both good and evil.  Good character traits shines the greatest in much darkness. There was a lot of goodness shown.
I enjoyed this book. The author did a lot of research. Superb job.
3656943
A brash and brazen Norseman, a fresh new castle guard, an old stable master, a barons daughter, and a woman of striking beauty. What do these people have in common? Nothingand everything. A grand adventure for five stalwart companions drawn together by lies, greed, and one old Vikings journey to find a grand and glorious death worthy of the notice of the Valkyries.  Together the group finds that no matter what brings us together, it is the trials and struggles we experience together that brings us together in unbreakable bonds of friendship. So what do a wise old warrior, a powerful young fighter, a determined horse master, a compassionate baroness, and a loyal woman have in common?  Nothingbut adventure!
2930923
Nice to read a historical romance without the smut. An excellent example of Christianity in the old west. Now book II.
458072
If you like romance this was truely a knight in shining armour. I recommend this for easy reading and an enjoyable afternoon of reading.
2505759
We loved the costume!  I would have gave it a 5 star rating but the sword was NOT included and it says on the packaging ... SWORD INCLUDED.  Don't understand?  Zorro without a sword is a bit sad and so was Griff. : (
3039025
This book is a companion to Philip Matyszak's Legionary book. This book written by Michael Prestwich goes into the world of medieval knight of Europe. The book is well written, well research with a lot of information written in a very easy to read and digest. The book goes step by step into taking you into the world of knights, their habits, gears and rules of engagement. However, the book basically centered around the 14th century so one of the greatest knights in medieval history, William Marshall isn't even mentioned here. But this book proves to be a great introduction to the world of medieval knights.
958443
Knight the bad boy finds his love and protects it, nourishing it.  Sex, love and more sex. Wish there was more