de Norton trilogy
1 primary work • 3 total works 3 total works planned
Book 1
'A very promising historical adventure' - THE TIMES
'A terrific novel' - HISTORIA MAGAZINE
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'There is a fury in England that none shall suppress - and when it breaks forth it will shake the throne'
1264
Storm clouds are gathering as Simon de Montfort and the barons of the realm challenge the power of Henry III. The barons demand reform; the crown demands obedience. England is on the brink of civil war.
Adam de Norton, a young squire devoted to the virtues of chivalry, longs only to be knighted, and to win back his father's lands. Then a bloody hunting accident leaves him with a new master: the devilish Sir Robert de Dunstanville, who does not hesitate to use the blackest stratagems in pursuit of victory.
Following Robert overseas, Adam is introduced to the ruthless world of the tournament, where knights compete for glory and riches, and his new master's methods prove brutally effective.
But as England plunges into violence, Robert and Adam must choose a side in a battle that will decide the fate of the kingdom. Will they fight for the king, for de Montfort - or for themselves?
Searingly vivid and richly evocative, Battle Song is tale of friendship and chivalry, rivalry and rebellion, and the medieval world in all its colour and darkness.
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Readers absolutely love BATTLE SONG:
'Another five star Ian Ross novel!' *****
'Truly is a masterclass in historical fiction' *****
'The best historical fiction I've read in years. Up there with Hilary Mantel!' *****
'A great well researched novel' *****
'Brilliantly researched, gorgeously plotted and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters' *****
'Well written and engaging characters' *****
'Ian Ross writes with a class and style that leaves the reader or listener thirsting for more' *****
'Brilliantly researched, gorgeously plotted and blessed with a terrific cast of exquisitely drawn characters' *****
'A gripping tale of early England' *****
'A really good story, brought to life by an excellent narrator' *****
1265
England has a new master.
Simon de Montfort's victory at the Battle of Lewes has made him king in all but name. He has vowed to restore the rights and liberties of the kingdom, but now even his friends grow wary of his power.
As old alliances break down, new rebellions gather strength. The captive king's supporters muster, vowing to overthrow the new regime.
Meanwhile Adam de Norton, who won the honour of knighthood on the field at Lewes, has reclaimed his ancestral lands. A peaceful and prosperous future lies before him - until he receives a summons he cannot refuse.
War is inevitable. But this time, will Adam be on the winning side?
The Battle of Evesham has been fought and lost. The King is triumphant, Simon de Montfort is dead, and Adam de Norton is a prisoner, stripped of everything he once honoured and prized.
Escaping from captivity in the grim castle of Beeston, Adam becomes a fugitive in a country in turmoil. Branded a king's enemy, he can be slain with impunity.
Together with the widowed Joane de Bohun, Adam flees across a bleak winter landscape, evading both pursuing royal troops and a desperate band of outlaws to seek shelter with a surviving rebel force in the north. But when the rebels are beaten once again, only one place in the land still holds out defiantly against the king: Kenilworth Castle, the mightiest fortress in England.
Joining the garrison of Kenilworth as it prepares for one of the most epic sieges in English history, Adam finds dangerous foes both inside and outside the walls. But as the siege grows ever more brutal, he must decide between a valiant defence and a still more perilous bid for freedom.