History, told as it should, plus a great story! Recommended!
351539
As a medieval historian, I knew about the historical background this book is based on. But I was pleasantly impressed by how the author was able to portray the period in such a vivid and exciting way, though still being factually accurate! This is not a quality many authors have, but one that many many readers appreciate! The story, also, was well constructed and kept me turning page after page. Well done!
270032
The author does a great job of setting up a sustainable story in this first in a series. You can tell he's really done his due diligence into the history of the book's environment, and inserted believable circumstances and characters to enhance the historical elements. Intriguing read!
3766410
This book packs the punch of history with an excellent story telling imagination. In my minds eye I could SEE the events depicted, and they were all plausible, even preferable to what really happened. Bill Yenne has history by the tail with this story, and he keeps you engrossed to the last page. I highly recommend it, and only wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
3504705
A delightful mix of history, and great storytelling. The characters came to life and made my heart ache for their struggle and cheer for their strength. A good read that will stick to your heart!
19552
It is a great book, keeping me aware of history plus weaving a good story. I can't wait for the next in the series.
4593971
Great story.  Well worth it and you get to learn a little about history.
3135253
An enjoyable, well reasearched, and engaging piece of history. William Marshall is someone that it is easy to deify, Asbridge resisted the temptation, ultimately telling a better story by making Marshall human. It reads like a piece of historical reporting that reminds me of some of the better pieces about the founding fathers of the United States. The attention to detail, structure of the presentation, and intelligent discussion about what might have actually happened. Make it a must read for medieval history buffs. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the subject can lend itself to being a bit wordy, but it works here.
2315196
Recommend for anybody who likes a very good story, fiction mixed with intriguing historical facts, "get on with it" storyline.

I liked this book very much and highly recommend it. The only reason I gave it a 4 star instead of 5 was the "giant" evil and "giant" good guys. A little cheesy. The link to 9/11 for money was an especially good, realistic detail.
911503
Great Story! Loved the story and the historical information in it. Is there a series connected with this book? I would purchse if there is.
887550
McCullough never seems to disappoint.  From John Adams to Harry Truman, his tales of historical figures leap off the page and grip you by the throat, making you read until your eyelids droop!  All too often, people tell me "history is boring."  If you think that, just pick up one of Mr. McCullough's books and see it come alive.

As a slightly-more-than amateur historian (my minor in college, although I have taken many other history courses and workshops since my BA), and particularly one with a deep interest in military history, I thought I had been exposed to more than enough of the Revolution.  But many, many little known (to me, at least) facts came to light while reading, all of which made me thirst for more in-depth study of the characters who became real.

McCullough knows his subject as well as any scholar alive, but the difference seems to be in his writing style.  Calling it a "page turner" isn't enough... it cries out to be read and re-read, for each time you go through the material, you pick up other nuances.

In particular, the Battle of Brooklyn was the key point in the story as I lost a multiple-great uncle as a prisoner of the British, who later hanged him.  My relative, along with his four brothers, had the bad fortune to land at Philadelphia from Ireland just in time to enlist in the Continental Army after the Declaration was signed and read.  McCullough's account of the events of the encounters between Washington and Howe brought a lot of family history into perspective, as I'm sure they will for many other readers who have relatives who fought in the War for Independence.

An excellent read, and excellent addition to anyone's library, it's a must-buy!
2978685
What a fantastic book!  If I had history books like this when I was in school, I might have just been a history major.  The story progresses and reads like a novel with enough details and anecdotes to provide flavor and context, but not so much as to bog down the pace; a fascinating novel-like rendering of intriguing history.  I thoroughly enjoyed the read and highly recommend it for anyone.
824398
The historical detail mixed with good storytelling - a pleasure to read. Bill did not disappoint! I only wish he was back on Fox News.
2664028
Secrets of Greenoak Woods is a good story told well.

I was especially impressed with the editing, which made the easy story easy to read. This is critical, given the historical setting and language would be alien to many readers. Consequently, it took little effort to become immersed in the story, despite (or perhaps because of) its complexity and detail.

On this, I found the dialect added authenticity. As I read I could hear the characters speaking in my mind! And talking about the characters, these are great. From the bonesetter, to the priest, and everyone in between, the author made a solid cast of supporting characters come alive, along with the leads.

Mature readers will appreciate the detail and effort that went into crafting this fine work.
636822
I loved this book!
Interesting history and philosophy woven into an almost true story. Extremely well written, easy and enjoyable to read. In fact, I had a difficult time putting the book down.
4848952
I couldn't put this book down!  I stayed up half the night reading it, and finished it the next morning.  What a fine blend of history, mystery, genealogy and great story telling.  There were probably less than a half dozen of profanities, and just one or two typos.  A couple of surprising twists at the end (when I thought I already had it figured out)  made for a very satisfying conclusion.  Overall, a great read!
2037972
What a great book! I love this series! Lots of history interwoven but does not overwhelm the story. Highly recommended.
210900
Never dry or boring, and lots of good historical facts amongst the great storytelling.  For high school and above due to mature, but not graphic, content.