I was really disappointed in A Cruel Fate.
I liked the idea of the quickread books; I love books and think that it would be great if more people realized how wonderful they are. I love Lindsey Davis, and figured anything she'd written would be great. I expected a short, well written historical novelette with great characters, humor, and plot twists, and since I could get the ebook for less than a buck and read it immediately, how could I lose?
The best thing I can say about it is that I only wasted 99 cents, and not much time. I was sadly put in mind of proofreading high school fan fiction (with historical rather than pop culture characters). Given that it's Lindsey Davis, I assume the research was good. The events on which it was based were gripping.
However, I cannot imagine something less likely to convince people who don't like reading to read books than attempting this one. The sentences may be short and the words simple, there's even gripping human drama: fighting, torture, escape, love, true history (to paraphrase William Goldman), but somehow it was still boring, more like notes and outline for a story to be written.
Perhaps Davis shouldn't have attempted to "dumb down" her writing? It's not that the potential wasn't there. The book burning, abuse of prisoners by William Smith, Jane trying to rescue her brother Nat, the English Civil War, it all has so much potential. I was excited to get another Davis book, however short, to read while waiting for Deadly Election to come out, but we would do better to go back and reread her other books. ( )

Set in the English civil war times, this is about the cruelty of the times at the hands of one Oxford Castle Jailer Capitan William Smith, who tortures, beats starves and deprives his captives.

Story is told for 2 peoples perspectives, Martin Watts a bookseller and Nat Afton who does anything for an easy life. Both end up being Prisoners of war and suffer horribly at the hands of the Smith.

Really well written and engaging from the start. great lunch time read ( )