After twelve years of marriage the once fortuitous union of Henry VIII & Katharine of Aragon has declined into a loveless stalemate. Their only child Mary is disregarded as a suitable heir & Henrys need for a legitimate son to protect the Tudor throne has turned him into a callous & greatly feared ruler. When the young & intriguing Anne Boleyn arrives from the French court Henry is easily captivated by her dark beauty & bold spirit. But his desire to possess the wily girl leads to a deadly struggle of power that promises to tear apart the lives of Katharine & Mary & forever change Englands faith... ...

Summer 1643 England is at war with itself. King Charles I has fled London his negotiations with Parliament in tatters. The country is consumed by bloodshed. For Thomas Hill a man of letters quietly running a bookshop in the rural town of Romsey knowledge of the war is limited to the rumours that reach the local inn. When a stranger knocks on his door one night & informs him that the kings cryptographer has died everything changes. Aware of Thomas background as a mathematician & his expertise in codes & ciphers the king has summoned him to his court in Oxford. On arrival Thomas soon discovers that nothing at court is straightforward. There is evidence of a traitor in their midst. Brutal murder follows brutal murder. & when a vital message encrypted with a notoriously unbreakable code is intercepted he must decipher it to reveal the kings betrayer & prevent the violent death that failure will surely bring. ...

With its engaging thief-taker hero this YA series from the acclaimed author of THE ADAMANTINE PALACE is perfect for fans of Trudi Canavan & Robin Hobb. Berren has left his past as an apprentice thief-taker behind him in a mist of blood & screams & death. Press-ganged as a sailor his old life is now just a distant memory. Until the day he spots someone who might well be his old master Syannis the man who killed Berren's first love. Syannis was thought dead but he is a hard man to kill. As Berren chases down the man he believes to be an enemy he finds himself caught up in a web of political machination & danger unlike anything he has encountered. For Syannis is a deposed prince & he is willing to go to any lengths
- including dealing with the black-hearted sorcerer Saffran Kuy
- to regain his throne. As Berren struggles to understand his feelings towards Syannis & his mad quest he slowly comes to realize that the world is going to war
- & Berren is caught in the middle. Can he navigate a path through the dangers which surround him? Will he find a way to extricate himself from the sorcery & intrigue that follow him at every step? & who is destined to be the King's Assassin?


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Set ten years after the events in Prince of the Blood" this book is a remarkable adventure of mystery & magic. In Amos Trask's ship Prince Nicholas & Squire Harry set sail for a friendly visit to Uncle Martin in Crydee. But while the two are guests in Crydee disaster strikes. Nicholas third son of Prince Arutha is a gifted youngster but sheltered by life at his father's court in Krondor. To learn more of the world outside the palace walls Nicholas & his squire Harry set sail for pastoral Crydee where Arutha grew up. Shortly after their arrival Crydee is brutally attacked. The castle is reduced to ruins the townspeople slaughtered & two young noblewomen -- friends of Nicholas -- are abducted. As Nicholas ventures further from the familiar landmarks of his home in pursuit of the invaders he learns that there is more at stake than the fate of his friends more even than fate of the Kingdom of the Isles for behind the murderous pirates stands a force that threatens the entire world of Midkemia & only he is destined to confront this terrifying threat." ...

One marriage. Three people. Proud king. Loving wife. Infamous mistress. 1362. Philippa of Hainault selects a young orphan from a convent. Alice Perrers a girl born with nothing but ambition. The Queen has a role waiting for her at court. 'I have lifted you from nothing Alice. Now you repay me.' Led down the corridors of the royal palace the young virgin is secretly delivered to King Edward III
- to perform the wifely duties of which ailing Philippa is no longer capable. Power has a price & Alice Perrers will pay it. Mistress to the King. Confidante of the Queen. Whore to the court. Her fate is double edged; loved by the majesties ostracised by her peers. Alice must balance her future with care as her star begins to rise
- the despised concubine is not untouchable. Politics & pillow talk are dangerous bedfellows. The fading great King wants her in his bed. Her enemies want her banished. One mistake & Alice will face a threat worse than any malicious whispers of the past. ' Better than Philippa Gregory'
- The Bookseller ' Anne O' Brien has joined the exclusive club of excellent historical novelists.'
- Sunday Express



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This 13 week interactive study looks at issues many women face today & reminds them of their inherent value as daughters of ...

As the year 1326 draws to a close London is in flames. King Edward II is a prisoner & the forces of his vengeful queen Isabella & her lover Sir Roger Mortimer are in the ascendant. The Bardi family bankers who have funded the King must look to their future with the Queen steering a careful course between rival factions -- if that is they can keep themselves alive. Others too find their loyalties torn. Guarding the deposed King on behalf of Mortimer Sir Baldwin de Furnshill & bailiff Simon Puttock find themselves entangled in a tightening net of conspiracy greed betrayal & murder. ...

OS Explorer Map is the Ordnance Survey's most detailed map & is recommended for anyone enjoying outdoor activities such as walking horse riding & off-road cycling. The series provides complete GB coverage & can now be used in all weathers thanks to OS Explorer Map
- Active a tough versatile version of the OS Explorer Map.
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THE THIRD CRUSADE IS OVER Richard the Lionheart is bound for Engl&. But with all the princes of Europe united against him.. .can the greatest warrior in Christendom make it safely home? THE LION IS CHAINED Captured. Bound. Imprisoned. King Richard's slim hope of salvation rests on one man
- a former outlaw a vengeful earl a man who scoffs at Holy Mother Church: ROBIN HOOD For King & country Robin & his loyal lieutenant Alan Dale will risk all
- from blood-soaked battlefields to deadly assassins
- to see the Lionheart restored to his rightful throne.


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[ Published as The September Queen in the US] Set against the volatile backdrop of the English Civil War dive into this enthralling tale of danger bravery & a woman who would do anything for the man she loved. It's 1651 & Jane Lane leads a privileged life inside the walls of her family's home. At 25 years old her parents are keen to see her settled but Jane dreams of a union that goes beyond the advantageous match her father desires. Her quiet world is shattered when Royalists fighting to restore the crown to King Charles II arrive at their door imploring Jane & her family for help. They have been hiding the king but Cromwell's forces are close behind them baying for Charles' blood
- & the blood of anyone who seeks to help him. Putting herself in mortal danger Jane must help the king escape to safety by disguising him as her manservant. With the shadow of the gallows dogging their every step Jane finds herself falling in love with the gallant young Charles. But will Jane surrender to a passion that could change her life
- & the course of history
- forever? The unforgettable true story of Charles II's escape & the love & bravery of the woman who made it possible. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory & Elizabeth Chadwick.


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