The Twelve Children Of Paris
By Tim Willocks

Summery courtesy of goodreads.com
Paris, August 23rd, 1572.

What do you do when your wife disappears?

In the middle of the bloodiest massacre in European history?

And you know she is about to give birth to your only child?

Three wars of religion have turned Paris into a foetid cauldron of hatred, intrigue and corruption. The Royal Wedding, intended to heal the wounds, has served only to further poison the fanatics of either creed. But Carla could not have known that when she accepted an invitation to the ceremony.

When Mattias Tannhauser rides into town, on Saint Bartholomew''s Eve, his only intention is to find her and take her home. But as the massacre of tens of thousands of Huguenots begins, and the city plunges into anarchy, Carla is abducted by Grymonde, the grotesque gang leader of the Yards, and Tannhauser finds himself imprisoned in the Louvre, at the center of a vicious conspiracy.

Wanted by the law, the assassins' guild, and a militant army who call themselves the Pilgrims of Saint-Jacques, Tannhauser must rise to pitiless extremes even he has never known before. With no one to help him but a stable boy, he wades a river of blood without knowing what lies on the other side.

As he harrows Hell in search of his beloved

His destiny is changed forever by...

The Twelve Children Of Paris

Review

I was really excited when I discovered The Twelve Children Of Paris the second book in the Tannhauser series on Netgalley, as the first book The Religion was fantastic.

Matthias Tannhauser, is a one man army a Saxon-born ex-Janissary. Hes Matthew Reilly's character Shane Schofield set in a historical setting.

Matthias travels to Paris to find his wife Carla. Unfortunately Paris is in chaos, the St.Batholomew's Day massacre is in full force as Catholics scour the city killing 25,000 Huguenots. The streets are bathed in bodies and blood, Carla his wife is not just in danger, she is Pregnant and both she and Mattias will journey through hell and wade through rivers of blood to ensure their child’s safety.

In their bid to escape, they encounter 11 other children who desperately need their help if they have any hope of surviving the massacre.

What I love about Tim Willock's books is not just the action and violence,and believe me there's plenty of it, it's the way he brings Paris to life in its raw and bloodied state.

Tim Willock's produces an epic historic read, that is a satisfying read that leaves you wanting more. My only compliant is the five years between books.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

4 Stars