"Aitcheson brings excitement and intrigue to a bloody period of medieval history--one that is underrepresented in the genre... and] shows great promise as an adventure novelist in this colorful debut."--Publishers Weekly
January, 1069: Less than three years after the Battle of Hastings, two thousand Normans march to subdue the troublesome province of Northumbria. Tancred a Dinant, a loyal and ambitious knight, is among them, hungry for battle, honor, silver, and land. But at Durham, the Normans are ambushed by English rebels, and Tancred's revered lord Robert de Commines is slain. Badly wounded and bitterly determined to exact vengeance, Tancred uncovers a plot that harks back to the day of Hastings itself. If successful, it threatens to destroy the entire conquest--and change the course of history.
James Aitcheson's stunning debut sweeps readers into a ruthless world, where violent warriors seek honor in holy places and holy men seek glory in dark deeds. As the two opposing forces battle for conquest, the fate of England hangs in the balance.
"A terrific writer...Aitcheson's portrayal of eleventh-century England is vibrant and authentic...Full of intrigue and vivid, realistic battles, this accomplished debut novel sets a high standard indeed."--Ben Kane, bestselling author of The Road to Rome