Stevie‘s review of The Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles
Gay Historical Adventure Fiction – Ruritanian Romance published by KJC Books 15 May 18
I love Ruritanian Romance (even when there’s no romance involved in the contemporary sense) and I love retellings of classic stories from an alternative point of view. So when I saw the blurb for this book way ahead of its release, I had to get my hands on a copy. Especially since it is by KJ Charles, who certainly knows all about writing gripping historical stories. Henchmen rarely get a good deal out of stories, be they in print or on screen. If they’re not being killed by the hero on the way to vanquishing the villain of the piece, then they’re being dispatched by that very same villain as a punishment for failure, a warning to the others, or just because the villain’s having a bad day and needs a bit of cheering up.
Jasper Detchard has survived quite well as a hired blade so far – ever since receiving a dishonourable discharge from the British Army and being disowned by his family – living off his wits and his skills, and enjoying every minute of it. For his latest job he has been hired by Michael, Duke of Strelsau, second son to Rudolf IV of Ruritania, who has designs on the throne once his father passes away. The true heir, Prince Rudolf, is the very worst sort of wastrel, and while Michael has many faults, he may be the country’s better option, given that the next in line to the throne, while eminently suitable in all other respects, is a woman, and no woman has ever ruled Ruritania in her own right. And so the adventure begins…
Michael has assembled a crew of henchmen, each with their own particular skill-set, including the handsome duellist and minor noble, Rupert von Hentzau. Detchard is attracted to Hentzau, but knows any hint of fraternisation will get him accused of disloyalty and lead to him suffering the fate of so many unwary henchmen. Meanwhile, he has also learned that an old friend is also involved in the plot: a courtesan, who has saved Detchard’s life on more than one occasion, is reluctantly Michael’s mistress, unable to leave him now she has fallen out of love with him, since he holds her daughter prisoner in a distant, secret location.
The plot gets more convoluted still with the appearance of another Rupert: Rupert Rassendyll, an Englishman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the future king (though not if Michael has any say in the matter). Rassendyll is, of course, the narrator of that classic book that started the whole genre: The Prisoner of Zenda, a book to which Detchard refers with derision at various points in our story. Rassendyll, it seems to Detchard, wants the throne for himself, for all he claims to be working for the good of Ruritania, and while Detchard and Hentzau aren’t convinced of the matter, they do believe that neither of the official male heirs will be any good for the country or their continuing good fortunes. So yet another plot is hatched, this time to ensure that Ruritania and our heroes – now lovers – survive in the best possible state to fight another day.
This was a rip-roaring adventure from start to finish. A most excellent retelling of the classic with lots of extra details thrown in to explain the points at which the two plots diverged slightly. And while our heroes don’t get a conventional happy ever after, they get a far better future that suits their personalities than any cosy cottage together could ever do.
Grade: A
Summary:
Jasper Detchard is a disgraced British officer, now selling his blade to the highest bidder. Currently that’s Michael Elphberg, half-brother to the King of Ruritania. Michael wants the throne for himself, and Jasper is one of the scoundrels he hires to help him take it. But when Michael makes his move, things don’t go entirely to plan—and the penalty for treason is death.
Rupert of Hentzau is Michael’s newest addition to his sinister band of henchmen. Charming, lethal, and intolerably handsome, Rupert is out for his own ends—which seem to include getting Jasper into bed. But Jasper needs to work out what Rupert’s really up to amid a maelstrom of plots, swordfights, scheming, impersonation, desire, betrayal, and murder.
Nobody can be trusted. Everyone has a secret. And love is the worst mistake you can make.
A retelling of the swashbuckling classic The Prisoner of Zenda from a very different point of view.
No excerpt available.
