THE BLACK BOW

Bender’s supernatural historical novel centers on one man’s battle to save his family during the Thirty Years’ War.

In the first half of the 17th century, the Germanic kingdoms are wracked with tensions amid the Catholic Inquisition. Erich is a reluctant guard at a prison in Ulm, overhearing awful tortures inflicted by Klaus, the leader of the local Catholic League. Worried for his family’s safety, Erich decides they must escape to Leipzig. but there’s something he can’t leave behind: the Black Bow, a weapon that has been in his family for more than 400 years that some say has mythical powers. After stealing it from where it’s being held at the sheriff’s office, Erich makes one last rescue before evacuating. He breaks Mara, a young healer jailed for witchcraft, out of prison and she becomes a spiritual guide to Erich, “who showed much valor to bring her back here from the point of immense danger.” Erich’s wife, Catherine, and his family leave for Leipzig, and Erich pledges to return Mara back to her home at the monastery at Eibingen; here, the narrative splits, mainly following Erich and Mara, and Klaus in Erich’s pursuit, but occasionally touching Catherine’s story and that of Erich’s son, Cort, who later chases after his father. The chapters comprise several third-person perspectives, jumping between people and places, which has the effect of making the narrative excitingly fast-paced. However, the transitions between different storylines can be a little overly abrupt at times. Bender includes a variety of side characters to more fully explore the impact of the Inquisition on everyday people, including a scholar who was horribly tarred for his academic allegiances, soldiers of the Swedish brigades, and women tortured because of their medical knowledge. Overall, this account effectively sheds light on a period of history with which many readers may be unfamiliar.

A fast-paced adventure that skillfully weaves in horrific aspects of European history.