Book review of The Cardinal's Sword

by Simon Fairfax (Author)

Updated at: 17/01/2025

In Simon Fairfax's The Cardinal's Sword, the first thrilling installment in the Condottieri series, readers are transported to the turbulent pre-Renaissance Italian peninsula. Flavio Sabatini, a seasoned pirate and condottiere with a shadowy past, returns to his hometown of Corneto amidst a landscape ravaged by war and political intrigue. The Western Schism has fractured the Papal States, leaving powerful Italian entities embroiled in a deadly power struggle. As Saracen threats loom and conflict erupts within Italy itself, Sabatini finds himself forced to choose a side, a decision that will pit his past against his future. This gripping historical fiction plunges into a world of treachery, violence, and moral ambiguity, where survival demands a constant, perilous balancing act.

The Cardinals Sword (Condotierri series book 1)

4.2 / 51 ratings

Review The Cardinal's Sword

I absolutely devoured The Cardinal's Sword, and I'm already eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Condottieri series! Simon Fairfax has a real knack for crafting gripping historical fiction, and this book is no exception. If you enjoyed his A Knight and a Spy series, prepare to be equally captivated by this new adventure set in the tumultuous pre-Renaissance Italy.

The protagonist, Flavio Sabatini, is a truly compelling character. He's not your typical flawless hero; he's a complex individual with a murky past – a wealthy landowner, a former mercenary, a smuggler, and a deadly swordsman – all wrapped up in one intriguing package. Fairfax only hints at his troubled history in this first book, leaving me deliciously wanting more. I'm dying to know what secrets lie buried in Sabatini's past!

The setting itself is breathtaking. Fairfax expertly paints a vivid picture of 13th-century Italy, a land fractured by warring city-states, each vying for power through any means necessary—poison, assassination, political maneuvering, and outright invasion. The backdrop of the Western Schism adds another layer of intrigue, showcasing the corruption and ambition that festered not only within the secular rulers but also within the very heart of the Catholic Church. It's a world where even Cardinals and bishops are as likely to be backstabbing power-hungry individuals as anyone else.

The plot is expertly woven, a tangled web of deception and intrigue that keeps you guessing until the very end. Sabatini finds himself thrust into a perilous situation, indebted to the cunning Cardinal Vitelleschi and tasked with a seemingly suicidal mission. The mission itself involves navigating the treacherous political landscape of Viterbo, uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the Papal See. But before he even embarks on his mission, his hometown of Corneto is attacked by Saracens, an event that adds another layer of urgency and personal stakes to the narrative. The escape from this attack, and the introduction of Banina Bani Severus, the master bowman who becomes Sabatini's loyal companion, is a particularly thrilling sequence.

What truly elevates The Cardinal's Sword is the blend of historical accuracy and thrilling fiction. Fairfax grounds his fictional characters within documented historical events, making the story feel both authentic and exciting. The level of detail is impressive, transporting the reader to the heart of 13th-century Italy. It's a fascinating glimpse into a time of political turmoil and religious upheaval, and Fairfax makes it all incredibly accessible and engaging. This is not just a story of sword fights and daring escapes; it's a study of ambition, betrayal, loyalty, and the struggle for survival in a world brimming with danger and uncertainty. If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong sense of place, memorable characters, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then The Cardinal's Sword is an absolute must-read. I wholeheartedly recommend it.