Review: Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality by Thomas Schultz

Destiny-starred lives collide in Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality, a dark historical fiction novel set in medieval England. A powerful tale of death and betrayal boasting exquisite language, unforgettable characters, and a tangled knot of a plot, author Thomas Schultz delivers a bold first piece of his new trilogy.

Thomas de Parr is a free-thinking young man in a world that crushes such spirits; he is faithful to his maker, but also insatiably curious, and dangerously independent. Surviving human history’s most horrific plague is only the beginning of this unpredictable adventure, which pits this young nobleman against the daunting weight of expectation, gentility, faith, and family as he follows his heart towards an unknown destiny.

Along with a dash of romance and hormonal motivation, this combination makes Thomas an excellent protagonist – charming, flawed, and sympathetic. As he finds himself descending into an unexpected world of secrets, lies, and familial revenge – even as the plague creeps in from every side – he must rely on his strength, his friends, and his love to survive.

Historically speaking, the level of detail is impressive, suggesting a large amount of research was conducted by the author. This book takes readers back to the dark heart of England’s 14^th century, when the Black Death ravaged the island nation for two horrific years, claiming nearly half of the 2 million souls who called it home. Schultz makes such a distant and disturbing setting feel immersive, with obvious attention to the smallest nuances in language and scenery, while also achieving a grim, suspenseful tone, as though death is always lurking around a corner.

Aside from creating such a compelling atmosphere, the characters are also developed gracefully, without exposition dumps or clumsy narration. Their personalities spill out through their conversations, and the author’s subtle descriptions. There is emotional dexterity in the prose, which is capable of slipping between tender fraternal love to religious zealotry, or existential dread to superstitious terror. When death plays such a central role in the mood of a novel, navigating the subject in interesting ways is important, and Schultz unpacks the morbid theme with delicacy and drama.

There are also powerful explorations of paternal protection, childhood trauma, the weight of grief, and moral failure in the face of desperation. The plot and characters carry this novel and keep the pace up, but the thematic complexity is what provides the memorable and emotional impact, which has obvious and compelling parallels with the current moment, making this historical work surprisingly, and eerily, relevant.

On the technical side, the writing is clean and well-edited, with few grammatical errors to speak of, but there is a lack of creative flair in some of the descriptive language. A “red face,” a “clenched fist,” “smooth skin,”, and “lightning speed” are a bit well-worn, if clear, and these occasional instances of dull imagery affect the book’s overall consistency and authenticity.

That said, this issue is a small critique within a deeply impressive piece of historical fiction. The world-building is original and the story is immediately engaging, laying a solid foundation for an attention-grabbing, emotionally expansive series.