Liberty or Death (The Soldier Chronicles)

I read Cook's collection of short stories, BATTLE SCARS, which led me to try this novella of the Irish rebellion (or fight for liberty) during the Napoleonic wars. Mr. Cook is both a good writer & a good story teller. His writing is full of historical detail and descriptions of people & places. Even in the medium of a novella, he is able to develop his characters enough to make them interesting. In addition to the story of men and women in battle, there is also a manhunt and a mystery. I was planning to offer some criticism of a character "drawing a bead" on & shooting a rebel with a smooth bore cavalry carbine. On a whim, I did a little research and found that with properly sized balls, modern shooters have found the Brown Bess, from which the carbine was derived, to be accurate against man-sized targets at 50 yards. The inaccuracy of the Brown Bess appears to be based upon two factors: The British army did not teach or emphasize individual marksmanship and they used undersized balls for speed of reloading. The James Lane reference in my title is a plot hint to those familiar with the Kansas Border Wars before and during the American Civil War. This review is from the 4th edition released April 25, 2014, sold by Amazon Digital Services.

The plot seems to meander a bit and lacks a satisfactory conclusion. Given the novella length, we don't get the necessary exposure to characters to give depth and meaning to their actions and events which should have a large impact on the reader are more matters off factUltimately, it was okay. Certainly not the best piece of historical fiction.. But short enough that it makes for an enjoyable evening or two.

With Liberty or Death, David Cook proves to be a serious writer, capable of bringing history to life. His historical facts, coupled with keen phrasing, makes this novella a story worth your time. Mr. Cook doesn't shy from the harsh truths of history -- in this case, the rebellion of the independent-minded Irish against the English crown in the late 1700's. With that said, his interpretation is more than fair, allowing the reader to make up his/her own mind as to the justifications for both sides during the crisis.The story is action-packed and fast-paced. What I think impressed me most was Cook's ability to write believable, compelling dialogue, capable of holding my interest while never coming across as contrived or dull. Liberty or Death is a history lesson, but one that doesn't bore or stray down unnecessary paths. It's a worthy read, especially for those who are drawn to historical fiction.

I grew up and was educated in England but I never learned the history of the Irish Rebellion. I was, therefore, unaware of the horrific events which took place in 1798 when the United Irishmen - 50,000 Catholics, Protestants, rich and poor made a stand against the British.Never have I read such a detailed and convincing description of hand-to-hand fighting and massacre such as that portrayed by David Cook in "Liberty of Death". Featuring fictional characters in factual events, many of the scenes have been reconstructed from eye-witness accounts. Whilst the story is brilliantly told, it is blood-chilling in its reality.How, David Cook's work has not been taken up by a major Publishing House, I do not know but I congratulate him on getting his work to the reader via Amazon.I have already purchased the next book in "The Soldier Chronicles" series. And at a price that is unbelievably low.Recommended reading.

As someone of both English and Irish ancestry, I was happy to have come across this engaging novella, Liberty or Death. Set during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, I was immediately pulled into the story, and eager for the success of Major Lorn Mullone's mission to hunt down the nebulous Colonel Black. And I wasn't disappointed! Mr. Cook's vast knowledge and deep passion for history shines through and gifts the reader not only a history lesson, but a damned good read. That said, it is also the mark of a good writer to instill in the reader further curiosity about the subject matter. Check! I also bought the other books in the Soldier Chronicles series, and look forward to reading them. In my estimation, Mr. Cook's work deserves far greater exposure.Thank you!

I was looking for some short historical novellas to take with me on my trip to Colonial Williamsburg and was lucky enough to happen upon The Soldier Chronicles. Liberty or Death takes place during Ireland's Great Rebellion and traces the story of Major Lorn Mullone who is sent on a mission of discovery. Mullone develops quickly into a multifaceted character and I enjoyed the battle scenes with him as much as the opportunities the author presents which allows the reader to get to know who Mullone is as a man. Liberty or Death was a quick, fascinating read that had me researching Irish history on Google for hours after I was finished to learn more. Cook clearly knows his history and I thank him for spurring my curiosity. Highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction.

A brilliantly told novella. Gritty and raw David holds nothing back in his descriptions of the battles in 1798 between the English and Irish rebels. Very few writers can do a battle scenes well and David is one that can. His research of the time period gives an authenticity to his story. His characters are well drawn with conflicting thoughts and loyalties of soldiers of Irish blood who are fighting for the English. The story draws the reader on at a breathless pace until the end.I don't usually read historical stories or stories about battles but I was glad I decided to give this story a go.O.N. Stefan. The Deadly Caress.

excellent story line, gives the reader the promise of more to come, has plenty of action but with a very human element, the story was very short, the reader will feel that he only got a half a book. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Liberty of Death (The Soldiers Chronicles Book 1) David CookThis strong, sometimes violent and sometimes harrowing novella is set in the Iirsh Rebellion of 1798 and holds back nothing in the descriptive accounts of the attrocities inflicted by both the British government militias and the republican rebels; inflicted on each other and on the population caught between the fighting factions.Mr Cook tells his story well weaving a fictional central charcter seamlessly into the historical facts without partizan bias. I found that this was one of those tales that I could not put down and completed in a single night. His fictional characters are sympathetic and believeable, not superheroes, but realistically portrayed with normal human flaws and strengths.This is one of those stories that should be read and then put in the 'to read again' file and revisited in a years time. I have already purchased the sequel which I hope is as good a read as this one was.

Whish it was a full novel, just getting into the character and you have finished the book.The author knows his subject and tells a good story. have read all four.

An extremely rare thing - to find a great novel based upon historical knowledge in the French Revolutionary period - the 'early' Napoleonic Wars. Written in a very easy to read, fast flowing manner which keeps you interested all the way through. Great successor to the Flashman & Sharpe novels - Certainly a writer to follow.

Really enjoyed this novelette - a fast moving, engaging tale set against the violent backdrop of the 1798 rebellion. Cook's storey has a gritty realism and believability, refreshingly free of partisan bias.Looking forward to reading more from this author.

A rollicking tale but not very well told, maybe because of the inevitable confusions of civil war.It is just not clear who is who, and why we should care.