Historical adventure fiction

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Book SynopsisA special collector's edition of the second-fastest-selling series in Indian publishing history! Beautifully designed and packaged, the Ram Chandra series by Amish will now be available in a brand-new avatar.

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Book SynopsisA top American fighter pilot battles the Germans in the air and his past on the ground. Can a Red Cross volunteer help him heal the wounds that tore his brothers apart?

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Book SynopsisAD 634. ANGLO SAXON BRITAIN. Confusion and conflict continue as warlords battle across Britain to become the first King of the English. After a stunning victory against the native Waelisc, Beobrand returns to a hero's welcome. His valour is rewarded by wealth and land by Oswald, King of Northumbria. Exhausted, he retires to his new estate with his bride only to find himself surrounded once again by enemies old and new. With treachery and death on all sides, Beobrand fears he will lose all he holds dear. On a quest for revenge and redemption, he accepts the mantle of lord, leading his men into the darkest of nights and the bloodiest of battles. The Cross and the Curse is the second gripping, action-packed instalment in The Bernicia Chronicles. 'Murder, betrayal and vengeance fuel tribal warfare and personal combat. Beobrand is the warrior to follow' DAVID GILMAN.Trade ReviewMurder, betrayal and vengeance fuel tribal warfare and personal combat. Beobrand is the warrior to follow -- David GilmanA tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind. Harffy knows his genre inside out and The Cross and the Curse proves it -- Giles KristianMatthew Harffy has created a gritty, authentic world, home to a hero who shows us the complexity of what it means to be human – the darkness and the delight. The Cross and the Curse is historical fiction at its finest -- Stephanie Churchill

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Book Synopsis The immortal legacy of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Cimmerian, continues with this latest compendium of Howard’s fiction and poetry. These adventures, set in medieval-era Europe and the Near East, are among the most gripping Howard ever wrote, full of pageantry, romance, and battle scenes worthy of Tolstoy himself. Most of all, they feature some of Howard’s most unusual and memorable characters, including Cormac FitzGeoffrey, a half-Irish, half-Norman man of war who follows Richard the Lion-hearted to twelfth-century Palestine—or, as it was known to the Crusaders, Outremer; Diego de Guzman, a Spaniard who visits Cairo in the guise of a Muslim on a mission of revenge; and the legendary sword woman Dark Agnès, who, faced with an arranged marriage to a brutal husband in sixteenth-century France, cuts the ceremony short with a dagger thrust and flees to forge a new identity on the battlefield.Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist John

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Book SynopsisThe golden summer of 1303 and Oxford is plunged into chaos. The severed heads of beggars have been tied by their hair to the trees in woods outside the city. John Copsale, the Regent of Sparrow Hall, has been found dead in his bed and it is being whispered that he was murdered by the mysterious ''Bell Man''. Then the college librarian and activist, Robert Ascham is discovered with a crossbow bolt in his chest. King Edward, hearing of the seething unrest in Oxford, arrives unannounced at Sir Hugh Corbett''s country manor, and insists that Corbett go to the city to solve the murderous mysteries. And when the King commands, few can resist even if it means knowingly entering a dangerous and violent world...

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Book SynopsisA mighty warriorA faithful friendAn immortal loveAs Arthur forges a union in Britain, across the sea a royal son is denied his birthright. The Romans are gone and war is coming to Gaul.In an age of cruelty and barbarism, Lancelot - known as Clothar - has been raised to champion justice and righteousness, but as his boyhood world in Gaul disintegrates, he seeks sanctuary in a new home: Britain.There he finds Arthur Pendragon, newly crowned High King, who, dreams, like Clothar himself, of living in a better world. The friendship of these men, and the love they share for a woman, will grow into Britain''s most enduring legend.Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written

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Book SynopsisJanuary 1304 and Hugh Corbett, devoted emissary of King Edward I, has been charged with yet another dangerous mission. Scrope, an unscrupulous manor lord, has reneged on his promise to hand over a priceless ornate cross he stole from the Templars during the Crusades. Furthermore, he has massacred as heretics fourteen members of a religious order, whose corpses now hang in the woods near Mistleham in Essex. The King, determined to restore order, sends Corbett to Mistleham in his stead. But as Corbett reaches the troubled village, it becomes obvious that the situation has worsened. A mysterious bowman has appeared, killing townspeople at random. Is one of the Brethren responsible, or have the Templars arrived to wreak revenge? Can Corbett restore Mistleham to peace, and return the treasure to the King, before further blood is shed?Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty and his other novels: 'Resurrectionist magic * New York Times *The best of its kind since the death of Ellis Peters * Time Out *I really like these medieval whodunnits * Bookseller *Historically informative, excellently plotted and, as ever, superbly entertaining * CADS 20 *This rich tale ... seeps authenticity and is written with wonderfully efficient style. A gem of an historical thriller * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *The maestro of medieval mystery * Books Magazine *Doherty dazzles with his story-telling * Nottingham Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisSeptember 314 AD and once more death strikes the sprawling streets of Imperial Rome. When two prostitutes are found murdered - their bodies ripped open and their right eyes gouged out - it''s feared a notorious killer, the Nefandus, has returned. Rumoured to be an imperial officer, he once waged bloody murder amongst Rome''s prostitutes but vanished before his identity could be discovered. Has he reappeared, or is someone working in his guise? Desperate to retain order, the Empress Helena turns to her most trusted agent, Claudia. Helena commands her to discover the truth behind the Nefandus, before Rome descends further into chaos and confusion.Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty and his other novels: 'Resurrectionist magic * New York Times *The best of its kind since the death of Ellis Peters * Time Out *I really like these medieval whodunnits * Bookseller *Historically informative, excellently plotted and, as ever, superbly entertaining * CADS 20 *This rich tale ... seeps authenticity and is written with wonderfully efficient style. A gem of an historical thriller * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *The maestro of medieval mystery * Books Magazine *Doherty dazzles with his story-telling * Nottingham Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisThe young Pharoah Tutankhamun is unwell, but there is no heir apparent. Egypt''s enemies, the Hittites, are advancing through Canaan, and Ay - First Minister of Akenhaten, father of Nefertiti, brother of Queen Tiye - still plots, like the spider he is. The web is woven, the traps set...Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty's other novels: 'I really like these medieval whodunnits * Bookseller *A romping good read * Time Out *Historically informative, excellently plotted and, as ever, superbly entertaining * CADS 20 *This rich tale ... seeps authenticity and is written with wonderfully efficient style. A gem of an historical thriller * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *

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Book SynopsisIn this fourth instalment, Captain Alatriste becomes involved in a mission to save the King of Spain''s gold... Swashbuckling adventure and high octane action.The year is 1626, and a battle-weary Captain Alatriste and his companions sail home from the on-going war in Flanders. He returns to a Spain that is rotten to the core, as gold from the Americas floods into the port of Seville, brought by the country''s infamous treasure fleet.As various factions within the Court vie for supremacy, certain interests are creaming off undeclared profits from the galleons'' cargo, thus depriving the royal treasury of its lifeblood. Indeed some of the booty is finding its way into the hands of the same rebel provinces Spain is fighting to suppress.The King and his most trusted advisor, the Count-Duke Olivares, have become aware of one such plot and have decided to teach the perpetrator a lesson. Once more, they must call upon Captain Alatriste''s blade in a dangerousTrade Reviewanother swashbuckling thriller set in the turbulent 17th century * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisDecember 1890: Eleven days before Christmas, Clarice and her husband, Reverend Dominic Corde, arrive in the idyllic village of Cottisham to watch over the Reverend Wynter''s flock, whilst he takes a richly deserved holiday.With its village green and thatched cottages, Cottisham is a far cry from the bleak London parish they''ve left behind. But Clarice can''t shake the feeling that the welcoming smiles of the locals are hiding dark secrets. When a shocking discovery confirms her suspicions, Clarice can''t resist investigating. Could it be that the Reverend is not all that he seems? Are there black sheep in the fold? One thing is certain: Clarice is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means putting her own life in danger.Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Perry's other Christmas novellas: 'This brief work has an almost Jamesian subtlety, and with its powerful message of responsibility and redemption - "We need both to forgive and to be forgiven" - it conveys a moral force in keeping with the season * Wall Street Journal *The tale is redolent with Victorian atmosphere, from the hypocritical snobbishness to the rigid social conventions of the time * Tangled Web *If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time you finish the final few pages, you shouldn't have had all that sherry * Yorkshire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisUnable to make any progress in locating the missing Indavara, a desperate Cassius has been given an unrewarding assignment in Antioch. But when an old ally''s daughter is kidnapped, he feels duty-bound to repay a long standing debt. Disillusioned with the tawdry demands of the Imperial Security Service, he disobeys his superiors and leaves Syria, determined to do some good.Accompanied by nomadic chieftain Kabir and a trio of warriors, Cassius soon finds himself in Greece hunting a vicious band of slave-traders trafficking women across the Empire. But these are no common criminals, and as Cassius sets out to bring them down, he finds himself up against ruthless, cunning men with powerful friends and a lot to lose.For the Agent of Rome, desperate times call for desperate measures.Trade ReviewA gripping addition to the [Agent of Rome] series. * The Times *This entertaining adventure thrills from the outset but it also has much to say on that living, breathing monster of the Roman Empire - slavery. * Sunday Express *It's hard to avoid a comparison with the Empress of Roman crime, Lindsey Davis, but for me, Nick Brown holds his own in such exalted company. * crimereview.co.uk *Praise for AGENT OF ROME: THE IMPERIAL BANNER:'THE IMPERIAL BANNER is Roman adventure at its best . . . brutal action leavened by a cynical brand of military humour, history, mystery, romance and an almost tangible sense of cohesion and camaraderie amongst Cassius and his cohorts. It's a formula that works well in so Brown's capable hands . . . Cassius's next assignment can't come too soon!' * Lancashire Evening Post *If you love Scarrow, adore Iggulden and of course admire Scott, then make sure you add Brown to your list. Great stuff. * Falcata Times *Praise for AGENT OF ROME: THE SIEGE:'A masterful debut from a new author completely at home in this era' * Manda Scott *Once the action kicks off you won't be able to put it down. * Anthony Riches, author of the Empire series *Perfect pace, vivid combat sequences and superb characterisation * Lancashire Evening Post *Brown promises to be one of the most exciting sword-wielding writers in an ever-popular arena. * Oxford Times *A thrilling and fascinating coming-of-age adventure * Book Gazette *Nick Brown has the craft of storytelling at his fingertips ... The Siege is a fast-paced and satisfying read * Russell Whitfield, author of Gladiatrix *Brown has given this Roman military/adventure story a great twist in having Cassius hail from the secret service ranks . . . THE SIEGE is also a character study and offers a rare glimpse into 3rd century Rome and her occupation of Syria. * Historical Novels Review *

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Book SynopsisFirst of an exciting new trilogy from the author of Byzantium, The Iron Lance is set at the time of the first Crusade in 1099.Amidst visions of the ancient past, a 19th century Scottish lawyer glimpses the harrowing pilgrimage of an ancestorIn the year 1095, Pope Urban II declares war on the infidel. Kings, princes, and lords throughout Europe take up the cross and rush to join the Crusade.Murdo Ranulfson is left behind to guard his family's interests in the remote Orkney Isles while his father and brothers join the fight to win Jerusalem. But when all the family's lands and possessions are confiscated, Murdo follows the Crusade with the hope of finding his father and redeeming their land.His epic journey leads him to the heart of the civilized world, where the Emperor Alexius and the Lords of the West are engaged in a battle of wills that threatens the survival of the Holy Roman Empire.Steeped in heroism, treachery and the clamour of battle, The Iron Lance begins an epic trilogy of a Trade ReviewPraise for Byzantium: ‘Fantasy writing doesn’t get much better than this’The Express ‘This is a rip-roaring adventure story; the pace rarely flags. There’s scheming, murder and betrayal aplenty’Interzone ‘Amusing and interesting’Locus ‘A vivid historical setting and a credible and satisfying plot’Publishing News

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Book SynopsisThe second installment in this thrilling maritime adventure; two mighty empires battle each other for control of the high seas.

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Book SynopsisThe third volume of the crusades trilogy from bestselling Swedish author Jan Guillou.Trade Review‘He has a remarkable grasp of the mindset of the period and always puts the emphasis where it would be for the people involved at hat time, rather than ours. Some readers may find that disorienting, but a capacity for disturbing readers’ assumptions is even more a hallmark of good historical fiction than the inclusion of the Knights Templar’Diana Gabaldon 'Thrilling and inspiring, bloody and romantic; utterly of its time and utterly modern’Tom Holland 'Destined to become a classic, a brilliant and dramatic recreation of the medieval world' Sharon Penman

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Book SynopsisAún en Britania, Quinto Licinio Cato ve la alegría de su ascenso a centurión empañada por una misión casi imposible: convertir a una tribu de bárbaros, los Lobos, en una unidad al servicio del ejército romano que deberá cubrirle las espaldas en su avance por el interior del país. Los infructuosos intentos por dotarlos de disciplina, pese a la ayuda de Macro, darán pie a divertidas escenas, pero hay poco tiempo para las bromas cuando una turbamulta de salvajes se dispone a atacarles.La presencia de los romanos en Britania es un aspecto de la historia antigua poco tratado hasta la fecha en novelas históricas, y la obra de Scarrow cubre perfectamente esta carencia.

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Book Synopsis313 AD, and tempers are rising in Rome. The Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena are trying to make sense of the new Christian religion which is spreading through the Empire - but the Christians can''t agree among themselves. Scholars are locked in a bitter struggle over whether Christ really was the son of God, and Constantine invites delegates from both sides to debate before him at his villa.Now strange things start to happen. Envoys from both sides are found murdered in a most macabre way. The villa is secretly attacked, and the Holy Sword is stolen. Helena calls on the help of her secret agent Claudia - that shrewd, unobtrusive detective - to untangle the dangerous web of intrigue. As she sets to work, the spy is also facing a crisis in her own life...Trade ReviewPraise for Paul Doherty's other novels: 'I really like these medieval whodunnits * Bookseller *A romping good read * Time Out *Historically informative, excellently plotted and, as ever, superbly entertaining * CADS 20 *This rich tale ... seeps authenticity and is written with wonderfully efficient style. A gem of an historical thriller * Huddersfield Daily Examiner *

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Book Synopsis PERFECT FOR FANS OF DAN BROWN, ROBERT HARRIS AND SCOTT MARIANI

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Book SynopsisThe explosive and highly controversial new film of The Crime of Father Amaro is set in Mexico, in a material and religious culture of this century not unlike the provincial Portugal where, as a young man, de Queiros was despatched to train for the consular service. The Crime of Father Amaro is set in Leiria, a provincial cathedral city, in which the hypocrisies of churchmen were not far to seek. Father Amaro, a young man like himself, with a priestly rather than a diplomatic vocation, falls into a relationship with a woman, and their tragic story unfolds with a harsh relentlessness. The situation of women, tightly swaddled in conformities yet fevered in their illusions of romance, much troubled the young author in this and later books

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Book SynopsisJersey fishing captain, Jean Cotterell is rescued by a French frigate - The Hortense - off the Grand Banks of Nova Scotia in May 1794. His fishing vessel has foundered and he is the sole survivor. The Hortense is part of Republican Admiral Jan Van Stabel's great fleet of over 100 ships bringing corn to France. Lord Howe's Channel Fleet is off Brest, hoping to intercept them. Life on The Hortense is like France under the Terror; chaotic, ungovernable, obsessed with savage, radical political theories. Separated from the French fleet in the Western Approaches she is intercepted by two British frigates and battle is joined... The Antigallican is the first in a series of novels set at the end of the 18th century at sea, in Britain, in the Channel Islands and in Revolutionary France. In Jean Cotterell we find a character that bears comparison with Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe, in a narrative that will delight fans of Patrick O'Brian.Trade ReviewWith its captivating, pungent, and sharply drawn characters, this first instalment in a series of sea stories is a welcome addition to the Napoleonic sea story genre -- Margaret Barr * Historical Novels Review *I believe [Tom Bowling] has a great future, and will become one of the leading authors in the historical naval fiction genre -- Robert Squarebriggs

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Book SynopsisA single death could plunge the Empire into chaos.Silus, member of Emperor Caracalla's elite assassins, the Arcani, is dispatched to Numidia. Rumours of assassination plots against Marcellus, the Emperor's closest aide, are rife. Silus must stop them. But the forces arrayed against the Arcani are now as powerful as they are clandestine.Inducted into the Emperor’s bodyguard, his Lions, Silus soon discovers secrets that should have stayed hidden. And as the Emperor becomes ever more reckless in battle, Silus unearths a conspiracy that runs deeper than his worst nightmares.It’s not clear who is a friend, and who an enemy. Yet come what may Silus must keep the Emperor alive or – yet again – watch the ones he loves die.An awe-inspiring historical thriller of Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Ben Kane and Simon Scarrow.

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Book SynopsisThe deluxe edition of the first installment of the Hierarchy series, following a young fugitive as he uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets at the elite Catenan Academy, by bestselling author James Islington. Including new cover art by Jaime Jones, gold sprayed edges, colored endpapers, a map by James Islington, foil stamped three-piece case, and newly added bonus material. AUDI. VIDE. TACE. The Catenan Republicthe Hierarchymay rule the world now, but they do not know everything. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focuswhat they call Willto be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. I tell them that I belong, and t

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Book Synopsis''Intelligent, beautifully written'' The Times''Historical fiction fans, meet your new favourite author'' Stella Magazine''Beautifully written, immaculately researched and powerfully imagined'' Lancashire Evening PostOceania, 1879. For two years the Peacocks, a determined family of settlers, have struggled to make a remote volcanic island their home. At last, a ship appears. The six Pacific Islanders on board have travelled over eight hundred miles in search of new horizons. Hopes are high, until a vulnerable boy vanishes. In their search for the lost child, settlers and newcomers together uncover far more than they were looking for. The island''s secrets force young Lizzie Peacock to question her deepest convictions, and slowly this tiny, fragile community begins to fracture . . .An intimate, intense and beautifully realised novel of possession, power and the liberating loss of innocence. The perfect Christmas gift for fans of MISTER PIP and THE POISONWOOD BIBLE.Trade ReviewSyson's novel, a modern take on the literary genre known (after Robinson Crusoe) as the robinsonade, is a haunting exploration of Lizzie's disillusion with her father's dreams and their damaging consequences * The Sunday Times *Syson's novel is richly evocative of a Pacific world in flux, as cultures clash and individuals battle to find their place amid the ensuing confusion . . . a very moving story of fathers and children, of faith and disillusion, and of the dangerous consequences of trying to take possession of people as well as land * BBC History Magazine *An intelligent, beautifully written story about a dysfunctional family in a sinister paradise * The Times *Lushly written, with immaculate historical detail, it worked for me on many levels * Woman and Home *Mr Peacock's Possessions is a wonderful book, full of drama, courage and aspirations. The language is rich and the characters so humanely drawn * Carol Drinkwater *A thrilling story of love and courage, brutality and hope all told with equal measures of deep humanity, imagination and élan. Lydia Syson has an amazing gift of bringing history alive through richness of language, dramatic pace and fabulous visual imagery. This is better than watching a film! -- Anne SebbaWith its chorus of vivid voices, Lydia Syson's novel reminds us why we consumed The Poisonwood Bible and The Underground Railway so avidly, but it has a (literally) breathtaking bravura and an intensity all of its own * Michelle Lovric *What a powerful, rich and fascinating book. Dark historical events are interwoven with the mystery of a missing child on a remote Pacific island in 1879. Highly compelling * Anna Mazzola *Swiss Family Robinson meets Lord of the Flies in Lydia Syson's superb and engrossing book. This scintillating story evokes an island paradise which descends into a nightmarish hell as Mr Peacock's Possessions builds towards a shocking revelation and a thrilling climax * Wendy Moore *This tense, evocative, richly-imagined novel conjures the voices of a strange time and place, and makes them universal * Emma Darwin *As compelling, mysterious and haunting as the troubled tropical paradise it portrays . . . Syson doesn't just write about the past, she transports us there. A tour de force * Piers Torday *Lydia Syson writes very well about the natural world . . . [and] the dark tensions in family life that overwhelm the Peacocks * Miranda Miller *Dazzling . . . A vividly realised, compelling novel * Linda Newbery *Mr Peacock's Possessions - one of those rare novels which keeps you up much later than you'd planned - is everything I love in a book. What starts out as a wonderful adventure slowly reveals itself as something altogether darker. Then you realise you can't put it down until you discover the truth. Swallows and Amazons for grown-ups * Alex Monroe *A gripping yarn with unexpected outcomes . . . Syson writes engagingly and evocatively * Morning Star *Syson's eye for character is immediate - her narrative voice reaching out from the page and grabbing the reader from the off. They're drawn into a small but compelling community, one full of interesting characters and complicated relationships that only becomes more intriguing as the book goes on . . . Syson brings things to a climax that's as rewarding as it is moving - and allows her to examine community, youth and family in a beautifully drawn setting * The Bookbag *That's perhaps the greatest achievement of this novel: it stays with you. I've been haunted by it since I finished reading it. I hope very much that it gets the attention and praise it deserves . . . This novel is pleasurable on so many levels * The History Girls *Powerful, intense and beautiful, this novel will stay with me for a long time * Historical Novel Society *A wonderfully written piece from Lydia Syson * A Book And Tea *Mr Peacock's Possessions is a gripping novel . . . I'm in love with Lydia Syson's writing * Globe Trove *I absolutely love this book. It was an amazing read * Novel Thief *Lydia Syson's skill as a storyteller, brings Monday Island, the place and its eccentric inhabitants so vividly to life * Jaffa Reads Too *Mr Peacock's Possessions was an enjoyable historical read which offered an intriguing family story within an unfamiliar landscape * The Owl on the Bookshelf *This certainly is one of the most powerful, brilliantly written books * Breakaway Reviews *A dazzling tale of colonisation and corruption, enterprise and abuse . . . Lord of the Flies as if written by Barbara Kingsolver, perhaps, with a dash of The Wicker Man. But I think readers will find various other parallels and echoes in this vividly realised, compelling novel * Reviews by Writers *Haunting * Sunday Times Culture *Historical fiction fans, meet your new favourite author . . . intense and beautiful -- Stella Magazine * Sunday Telegraph *Mr Peacock's Possessions offers an intriguing and tension-packed exploration of family dynamics, colonialism, loss of innocence, and the perilous power of both possession and obsession . . . Beautifully written, immaculately researched and powerfully imagined * Lancashire Evening Post *Syson succeeds splendidly . . . Her main narrator, 15-year-old Lizzie, is utterly authentic: idealistic, frightened and pitiless. The narrative counterpoint between her and Kalala is deftly balanced. Pa is a memorable creation, driving and driven * Weekend, NZ *Atmospheric and compelling, Syson's novel exerts a grip that doesn't relax till the very end * The Herald, Scotland *

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Book SynopsisThe second novel in a new historical fiction series by bestselling author Joanna Courtney. Discover the real women behind Shakespeare's most infamous queens . . .

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Book Synopsis145BC - CALABRIA, ANCIENT ROME. After many years of spilling blood for Rome, Gaius Furius Paullus has returned home to spend his remaining days working quietly on the family farm.But it seems death has followed Paullus from the battlefield. Just days after his arrival, bodies start appearing - murdered and mutilated. And as the killings continue, and panic spreads, the war hero becomes the prime suspect. After all, Paullus has butchered countless enemies on the battlefield - could he have brought his habit home with him?With the psychological effects of combat clouding every thought, Paullus must use all his soldier's instincts to hunt the real killer. Because if they are not brought to justice soon, he may become the next victim.

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Book SynopsisFans of Evie Dunmore, Sarah MacLean, and Eloisa James will delight in this innovative, empowering, and sexy story from acclaimed author Minerva Spencer. Join the Rebels of the Ton as they subvert Regency norms and expectations…and manage to find true love along the way. “Unique characters and emotional depth...a winner. Spencer gives you all the feels!” —Sabrina Jeffries “Brilliantly crafted…an irresistible cocktail of smart characterization, sophisticated sensuality, and sharp wit.” —Booklist STARRED REVIEW   “Sparkling…impossible not to love.” —Popsugar A PopSugar Best New Romance of November A She Reads Fall Historical Romance Pick A Bookclubz Recommended ReadThe cure for a willful wife . . .Drusilla Clare is full of opinions about why a woman shouldn''t marry. But that doesn''t stop the rush of desire

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Book SynopsisThe second book in The Wilderness Series is set in Canada and Scotland.Now blissfully married, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner, the hero and heroine of Into The Wilderness, have settled into their new life together in the North American frontier. When Elizabeth gives birth to twins their happiness seems complete. However, it proves to be short-lived. While attempting to rescue his father, Hawkeye, who has been imprisoned in Canada, Nathaniel is arrested by British colonials for spying a hanging offence.Left alone in the wilderness with only her step-daughter Hannah and her newly-born twins, Elizabeth embarks on a desperate bid to save her husband. Gathering up the children, she sets out on a dangerous journey across unremittingly hostile terrain. However, the fate of the Bonner family appears to be in the hands of other forces, who intend to kidnap them to Scotland in order to engage them in a bitter family feud and a destiny they could never have imagained.Trade Review Dawn on a Distant Shore was on the NYT Bestseller’s list for 3 weeks Second in the 5-book Wilderness series Like Into the Wilderness, sequel of sorts to James Fennimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, incorporating many of the characters into the tale Author also writes under the name Rosina Lippi. Her very succesful Homestead, shortlisted for Orange Prize, is published in Flamingo

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Book SynopsisCharles the king, our emperor great,Has been a full seven years in Spain.As far as the sea he conquered this haughty land.Not a single castle remains standing in his pathCharlemagne (768-814) was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 and presided over a huge empire. He frequently appears in literature as a great warlord and pious crusading figure. In 778, the rearguard of Charlemagne''s retreating army was ambushed and defeated at the battle of Roncevaux. This became the inspiration for songs and poems celebrating deeds of valour in the face of overwhelming odds, through the character of Charlemagne''s nephew (the imaginary) Roland. The Song of Roland is the most stirring and moving epic poem of the European Middle Ages, offering a particularly heady mixture of history, legend, and poetry. Presented here in a lively and idiomatic new translation, the Song of Roland offers fascinating insights into medieval ideas about heroism, manhood, religion, race, and nationhood which were foundational for modern European culture. The Song of Roland is accompanied here by two other medieval French epics about Charlemagne, both of which show him to be a far more equivocal figure than that portrayed by the Roland: the Occitan Daurel and Beton, in which he is a corrupt and avaricious monarch; and the Journey of Charlemagne to Jerusalem and Constantinople, which gives the heroes of the Roland a comic makeover.

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Book SynopsisMatthias Fitzosbert is the illegitimate son of the parish priest of the village of Sutton Courteny. Despite the recent spate of murders, each day he braves the dark woods to visit his friend, a mysterious hermit who shows him many strange and beautiful things. Though enthralled, the boy is always puzzled by his lessons with the hermit - never more so than the night the villagers hunt the hermit down, and burn him, believing him to be responsible for the many deaths. THE ROSE DEMON explores Matthias''s unique relationship with a spirit he strives to placate but ultimately flees from. His story is played out against the vivid panorama of medieval life: the fall and sack of Constantinople; the turbulent Wars of the Roses; the terror of witchcraft; the battlefields of Spain and finally the lush jungles of the Caribbean where the Rose Demon and Matthias have one final, dramatic confrontation.

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Book SynopsisA hero is bornA sword will choose himA sorcerer will save himThe Roman Empire is in ruins. On a tiny boat in the Irish Sea float one man and a child, helpless after war has nearly destroyed their home, the colony called Camelot.That man is Merlyn Britannicus, cousin to the slain king Uther Pendragon. He would shed oceans of blood and sacrifice his life to defend the baby and royal heir: Arthur.With Camelot ripped apart by warring lords and assailed by violent tribes, Merlyn must use everything in his power to protect Arthur and return him to the land in which he''ll become a hero.Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written

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Book SynopsisPerez-Reverte wrote the Captain Alatriste seies as a homage to the adventure books that had been his own initiation into the world of reading as a boy - books such as Dumas's The Three Musketeers.Captain Alatriste is a swordsman for hire in Spain in the 1620s - a time when Court intrigue was high and the decadent young king had dragged the country into a series of disastrous wars. As a hired 'blade', Alatriste becomes involved in many political plots and must live by his wits. He comes face to face with hired assassins, court players, political moles, smugglers, pirates and of course, the infamous Spanish Inquisition...All the stories are told by Inigo Balboa, Alatriste's young page. The cast of characters also includes Quevedo, an irrepressible subversive poet who likes to start fights in the local tavern, the kind-hearted innkeeper and ex-prostitute who shares Alatriste's bed, the elegant Count of Guadalmedina, the beautiful but deadly Angelica de Alquezar, and a whole host of underwTrade ReviewThe arrival of a new Alatriste book is always a joy... it's one to be devoured with passion... Highly recommended. * HAM & HIGH (30/6/06) *The cult of the renegade swordsman seems poised to increase... Ought to tickle the fancy of anyone who enjoys having their swashes buckled. * GUARDIAN (8/7/06) *

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Book SynopsisGraham Hancock, an expert in ancient civilisations and author of the 9 million selling Fingerprints of the Gods, and expert too, on the use of hallucinogens to achieve higher states of consciousness, brings these two interests together in the second volume of the War God trilogy. The conquistador Hernán Cortés is dreaming of Tenochtitlan, the golden city of Aztecs. But in order to win the Aztecs'' gold, Cortés and his small force of just five hundred men will have to defeat the psychotic emperor Moctezuma and the armies of hundreds of thousands he commands. Cortés expects that the Tlascalans, hereditary enemies of the Aztecs, will join him, but instead finds himself locked in a deadly struggle. As Cortés risks all against the Tlascalans, he plays mind games with Moctezuma, aiming to defeat the Aztec emperor psychologically before ever having to face him in battle. In this he is aided by his lover Malinal, a beautiful Mayan princess. It is from MaTrade ReviewReviews for War God: Nights of the Witch * : *...part historical fact, part fantasy, the effect is as intense as the events themselves. It's a fascinating read that will have you booking a flight to Mexico long before you finish the book. * Evening Standard *The book offers up a heady mix of action, politics, spirituality and the supernatural and we learn a lot...Convincing fantasy elements and viscerally recreated details keep the narrative charging forward. * Daily Mail *Five hundred years ago the old Mexican prophecy which announced the return of Quetzalcoatl came true. In an era dominated by human sacrifices and the decadence of a great culture, bearded men, white-faced, from beyond the sea, arrived to impose their law. In this fast-moving highly recommended novel, Graham Hancock masterfully reconstructs the biggest clash of civilizations ever, revealing aspects that only a genius author could unveil. * Javier Sierra New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Supper and The Lost Angel *Interweaving historical fact and vivid fiction, Graham Hancock's War God is packed full of blood, guts, conflict, sacrifice and witchcraft in the last days of the Aztec empire. The story of the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the downfall of Moctezuma is the perfect (if very gory) distraction from modern life. * Wanderlust *

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Book SynopsisThe concluding volume in Valerio Manfredi''s epic series of Alexander the Great''s tumultuous life.Trade ReviewRemarkable . . . one of life’s unalloyed pleasures: praise for Valerio Massimo Manfredi * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen Ted discovered (don''t ask!) that his toilet allows him to travel back in time to any point in history, his adventures were only just beginning. Now he''s desperate to get back to Tudor times to learn to dance, but an encounter with Henry VIII finds him needing to stay on his toes to keep his head! Fun, facts, and fast-paced adventure for all.

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Book SynopsisJoin Ted on another hilarious historical u-bend adventure, this time to meet great leaders of the past - from Tutankhamun to Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and Emmeline Pankhust - all to help him in his quest to become the school''s Head Boy. But his grand plan to persuade everyone to vote for him finds Ted facing some hysterical historical consequences...

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Book SynopsisThe fate of Rome, and thousands of lives, rests on the shoulders of one man.After murdering his brother, and taking the position of Emperor for himself, Caracalla orders a brutal purge of the supporters of Geta.Meanwhile, Caracalla's ally Marcellus has his son suddenly kidnapped. But why? Silus is ordered to track down and rescue the boy, rumoured to be Caracalla's child. As Rome buckles beneath the weight of slaughter, Silus will travel to the city of Alexandria. There he will need to risk everything to save the boy, the Empire and his own life...An intense and blood-soaked thriller of Ancient Rome, perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden and Ben Kane.

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Book SynopsisA clash of crowns pits brother against sister in the battle for ultimate powerAn ambitious kingSpring, AD 777. Sigurd Hring, new King of the Svear, is summoning all the greatest warriors of the North to his banner, promising them riches and glory. He invites Bjarki Bloodhand, the famous berserkr who can summon the fury of a wild bear in battle, to swear an oath of fealty to him. But Bjarki has already sailed away to rescue a beautiful Saxon princess.A reluctant shield maidenTor Hildarsdottir, sister of Bjarki, now oath-bound to a powerful Svealand jarl, finds herself unwillingly enrolled in Sigurd’s mighty army. When Sigurd Hring arrogantly rejects the overlordship of Siegfried, King of the Dane-Mark, red war is inevitable.The battle to end all battlesThe two sides agree to meet on the field of honour at Norrkoping on the Svealand border. But Bjarki has sworn an oath to Siegfried and joined his Danish host, while Tor must fight for her lord and homeland. So the siblings will face each other over the shield-rims in a battle to end all battles to decide who shall be… King of the North.The epic fourth volume in the Fire Born saga, perfect for fans of Giles Kristian and Matthew Harffy.

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Book SynopsisEdinburgh, January 1732. It’s the funeral of Rachel, wife of Lord Grange. Her death is a shock. Still young, she’d shown no signs of ill health. Rachel is, however, still alive. She has been brutally kidnapped by the man who has falsified her death: her husband. Her punishment, perhaps, for railing against his infidelity – or simply for being too feisty for a lady and never submissive enough as a wife. Whether to conceal his Jacobite leanings or to replace his wife with a long-time mistress, Lord Grange banishes Rachel to a remote island exile, to an isolated life of hardship on St Kilda, where she can never be found. This is the gripping story of a woman who has until now been remembered mostly by her husband’s unflattering account. It’s a remarkable tale of how the real Lady Grange may have coped with such a dramatic fate, with courage and graceTrade Review“The wronged lady finally has her say … One of the strangest and most disturbing stories to have emerged from Scotland’s Jacobite past.” * The Times *From the Jacobite intrigues of eighteenth-century Edinburgh to Scotland's dark and sea-battered islands, Lady Grange's life is one of eye-popping incident. An amazing story. * Sally Magnusson *"Swept me along breathlessly ... The cruelty and complexity of eighteenth-century Scottish society is richly represented." * Dr Annie Gray *"A fascinating historical novel ... utterly compelling ... a book we'd highly recommend." * Undiscovered Scotland *“A superlative page-turner” * Scones and Chaise Longues blog *“A compelling narrative … fitting current trends in historical fiction, where women’s history is centralised and new light shed on their position in the past … An enjoyable read.” * Historical Novels Review *"There's kidnapping, mystery, intrigue, romance and even murder ... a very enjoyable romp through an interesting period of Jacobean history ... gave a voice to someone who has, like many women, largely been forgotten or misrepresented in history." * Portobello Book Blog *"Fleshing out the limited details available about Lady Grange's life, Sue Lawrence has created a fascinating, enjoyable and eminently readable piece of historical fiction." * Ramblingmads *"Fascinating, entertaining ... an addictive read." * Jera's Jamboree *This is a fantastic and gripping story and I highly recommend. * Geraldine Gatsby *"I absolutely loved this richly drawn novel." * Beauty Balm *"Rachel is the very embodiment of female power in a period of time when women had very little ... This is a powerful book, of a dark but in some ways uplifting story that might just take you away from our current craziness." * Bookbound *

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Book Synopsis"Simply miraculous... As her saga becomes ever more spellbinding, so does the reader's astonishment at the magic she creates. This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music." - Washington PostHarlan and his best friend are invited to perform at a popular cabaret in the Parisian enclave of Montmartre, but after the City of Light falls under Nazi occupation, they are thrown into Buchenwald-the notorious concentration camp in Weimar, Germany-irreparably changing the course of Harlan's life.Trade Review"Simply miraculous . . . This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music."“McFadden packs a powerful punch with tight prose and short chapters that bear witness to key events in early twentieth-century history . . . McFadden presents a remarkably crisp portrait of one average man’s extraordinary bravery in the face of pure evil."

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Book SynopsisJenny Barden has had a love of history and adventure ever since an encounter in infancy with a suit of armour at Tamworth Castle. Training as an artist, followed by a career as a city solicitor, did little to help displace her early dream of becoming a knight. Impelled by a fascination with the Age of Discovery, she has travelled widely in South and Central America, and much of the inspiration for Mistress of the Sea came from retracing the footsteps of Francis Drake in Panama. Jenny has four children and lives in Hertfordshire with her long suffering husband, a loving Labrador and a deadly Bengal cat. More about Jenny can be found at www.jennybarden.com

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Book Synopsis'A beautiful, lyric hymn to the power of social unrest in American history. Jess Walter is a national treasure' Anthony Doerr, author of All the Light We Cannot See_____________________________________________It is 1909 in Spokane, Washington. The Dolan brothers are living by their wits, jumping freight trains and lining up for work at crooked job agencies. While sixteen-year-old Rye yearns for a steady job and a home, his dashing older brother Gig dreams of a better world, fighting alongside other union men for fair pay and decent treatment. When Rye finds himself drawn to suffragette Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, her passion sweeps him into the world of protest and dirty business. But a storm is coming, threatening to overwhelm them all . . . The Cold Millions is an intimate story of brotherhood, love, sacrifice and betrayal set against the panoramic backdrop of an early 20th century America. Jess Walter offers a stunning, kaleidoscopic portrait of a nation grappling with the chasm betwe

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Book SynopsisEvery night Hester Monk tends to women of the streets who have been injured as a result of their trade. But the injuries are becoming more serious, and now a body has been discovered in one of the area''s brothels. The dead man is the respected head of a successful railway company, Nolan Baltimore. With calls for the police to clean up the streets, Hester decides she must intervene to protect these women who stand to lose everything. Meanwhile her husband, William Monk, is investigating a possible fraud at Baltimore and Sons. As Monk endeavours to prevent a serious crime from taking place, he faces some staggering revelations, and finds that the time has come to confront his own demons - even if it means losing all he holds dear...Trade ReviewAnne Perry's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have earned much critical acclaim: 'Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out * New York Times Book Review *A totally contemporary feel ... admirably well-written * Guardian *Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters * Faye Kellerman *A complex plot supported by superb storytelling ... and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisBorn in Edinburgh in 1944, David Donachie has had a variety of jobs, including selling everything from business machines to soap. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The author of a number of bestselling books, he now lives in Deal, Kent with his wife, the novelist Sarah Grazebrook and their two children.

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