The Crown in the Heather
Books | Fiction / Historical
N. Gemini Sasson
(THE BRUCE TRILOGY: BOOK I) Love and loyalty. Betrayal and murder. What is the cost of a crown? In 1290, Scotland is without a king. Two families - the Bruces and the Balliols - vie for the throne. Robert the Bruce is in love with Elizabeth de Burgh, the daughter of an adherent of the ruthless Longshanks, King of England. In order to marry her and not give up his chances of someday becoming King of Scots, Robert must abandon his rebel ways and bide his time as Longshanks' vassal. But Edward, Longshanks' heir, doesn't trust the opportunistic Scotsman and vows to one day destroy him. While quietly plotting his rebellion, Robert is betrayed by one of his own and must flee Longshanks' vengeance. Aided by the unlikely brilliance of the soft-spoken young nobleman, James Douglas, Robert battles for his throne. Victory, though, is never certain and Robert soon learns that keeping his crown may mean giving up that which he loves most -- his beloved Elizabeth.The Crown in the Heather, Book I of the Bruce Trilogy, is free. Other books in the series are Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy: Book II) and The Honor Due a King (The Bruce Trilogy: Book III). To read closely related books, check out Isabeau and The King Must Die.keywords: historical fiction, medieval, king, knight, battle, Robert the Bruce, Scotland, England
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Author
N. Gemini Sasson
Pages
298
Publisher
Cader Idris Press
Published Date
2014-12-07
ISBN
098271582X 9780982715826
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"3.5 stars"
A J
Andrea Jaffray
"Most people, even those that are not so well versed in Scottish history know of Robert The Bruce and Sir William Wallace’s tales, or at least know them from Braveheart, that however was not an accurate portrayal of these two historical figures, it was and still is an excellent work of fiction. If like me you can never get enough of Scottish history and/or just history, this is a read for you. If you are a curious reader that wishes to learn more about Robert The Bruce and the First War Of Scottish Independence, then this series will satisfy that need through some skillfully woven fiction. Fiction! Remember, this is not just history but also a work of fiction. That’s what historical fiction is all about: giving voice and color to the past. It comes down to the reader’s common sense to know what is accurate and what is fictional. If you are wondering about the fictional bits in the Author’s Note Sasson explains just what type of material, besides true historical facts, she has drawn from to write this book. In this beautiful retelling of Bruce’s life, Gemini Sasson keeps the reader captivated with elegant prose, striking descriptions and plausible characters, all while taking the reader back to the First War of Scottish Independence and following Robert the Bruce as he leads the people of Scotland against the English rule. The story is told from three different first person POVs, that of Robert the Bruce, James Douglas and Edward II. We are inside the minds of these three historical figures exploiting their fears, longings, and personal struggles in the harsh, hot, political mess that was 13th century Scotland. I loved exploring the story from three unique perspectives, and the character’s personalities felt realistic, relatable, and distinct. Gemini’s storytelling ability is impressive, not only she offers beautiful descriptions, but she has a knack for drama and great dialogues. This was a pleasant and satisfying read by a skilled storyteller. My wish was to travel to Robert The Bruce and Sir William Wallace’s Scotland and thanks to Gemini Sasson I did. I will definitely read the next two books in the series, and I know they will not disappoint.<br/><br/>This review only covers the first book in the trilogy, and I promise I will review the others. A 5 Stars read!"
T
TheBibliophile