This Original multicast drama blends history with fiction to tell the story of Jonah, a young apprentice from London who raises himself from poverty by wit and luck to become one of the most powerful merchants of the age.
London, 1337. England is at war, and the King is in financial straits, meaning that Jonah's hard-earned business and fortune hang in the balance. A far cry from his humble beginnings as a draper's apprentice, Jonah is now one of the influential merchants in England, and he manages to secure the hand of the daughter of one of the most powerful and dangerous nobles in the country.
As Jonah's wealth and prominence grow, so do his enemies and the threats they bring - and even Jonah's close relationship with the King doesn't guarantee security. The King is at war, and he wants Jonah there beside him.
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(Audible Audio, 5 February 2018, audiobook, 10 hours 22 minutes, various narrators, Audible)
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I enjoyed Rise even more than the first book in the series, Apprentice. After listening to the first book I felt I knew the characters really well and could settle more into the story. Jonah was at the top of his game at the end of Apprentice and in Rise he loses it all, regains some of it and becomes a better person along the way. I liked this Jonah a lot more than Apprentice. In the first book he comes across as a bit of a brute and this is not always justified. I really warmed to him in Rise. Jonah is sharp as a tack. He manages to marry the daughter of a powerful rival and makes important friends in King Edward and his wife Philippa, earning him the begrudging respect of people who once scorned him. Rise goes from one extreme to the next, with joy and tragedy in every chapter. Rise is a cracking listen. I look forward to the third and final chapter, Empire.
