Owen, growing up in a silent house, hearing whispers from a long dead centurion, knows more than is healthy for a fifteen year old boy, yet perhaps just enough to save himself and his family when he finds that there are those who have been awaiting his arrival; the child with the memories, the child who hears the whispers. With his hometown in Wales under siege, pursued by an unseen enemy, Owen uses his borrowed memories to trace the centurions perilous journey back into the heart of Egypt, only to discover that this was just the beginning. Owen must use the knowledge and skills of this deadly, renegade centurion to survive a relentless pursuit to the birthplace of an ancient mystery.
Barely escaping the Pharm with their lives, the three fugitives must now do the unthinkable; return to save the child donors. Lord Henry, Chloe the Great, and Hana, realizing that nowhere will ever be safe for them as long as they live within the shadow of the Pharm, enter the walls one last time. Just as all seems lost, allies are found in an unexpected quarter. The fiercely independent Freeborn, who have been hunted within the Pharm walls for generations, join the fugitives to settle an ancient score. Driven by the nightmares they have all experienced at the hands of the savage institution, for the fugitives and the Freeborn, redemption will only ever be found within the burning rubble of the Pharm.
Perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Cathy Sharp, this is the moving second instalment of The Cordwainers series by bestselling author Iris Gower. READERS ARE LOVING THE CORDWAINERS! "I have really enjoyed reading this whole series...I would recommend the reading of any of the books by this author." - 5 STARS "Loved these books [-] definitely recommend this series: once you start you will want to read them all" - 5 STARS "Read it in one sitting..." - 5 STARS "Couldn't put the book down." - 5 STARS "You finish one book and you just have to start the next one." - 5 STARS ****************************************************************** CAN SHE CLING ON TO HER HOPES FOR THE FUTURE? When her father dies, Emmeline Powell finds herself married to fisherman Joe Harries - rough, stoic, sturdy and many years her senior. But the other fishermen's wives are unwelcoming and she soon finds herself lonely, isolated and trapped in an ill-matched marriage. But then she meets Will Davies, who teaches her things about herself and about love that she never knew. As tragedy and feuding erupt in the village, will the promise of a new life still be open to her? The Oyster Catchers is the second title in Iris Gower's Cordwainers series. Have you read The Shoemaker's Daughter, the first book in the series?
'A very promising historical adventure' - THE TIMES 'A terrific novel' - HISTORIA MAGAZINE *** '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. *** 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' *****
Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, this is the emotional third instalment in The Cordwainers series by bestselling author Iris Gower. READERS ARE LOVING THE CORDWAINERS! "I have really enjoyed reading this whole series...I would recommend the reading of any of the books by this author." - 5 STARS "Loved these books [-] definitely recommend this series: once you start you will want to read them all" - 5 STARS "One not to miss..." - 5 STARS "Yet another brilliant Iris Gower book..."-5 STARS "You finish one book and you just have to start the next one." - 5 STARS ************************************************************* CAN SHE OVERCOME THE PERILS FACING HER AND WIN THE HEART OF THE MAN SHE LOVES? Fon Parks isn't surprised when farmer Jamie O'Conner asked her to marry him - he trusted her and could rely on her: she had nursed his wife until her death and knew his son and the ways of Honey's Farm. She adores Jamie, but her love is unrequited. When the future of the farm is threated by people who want to destroy Jamie and his wife, she determines, with the support of her friend Eline Harries, to take action, stand strong against the dangers confronting her and earn the love of her husband. Honey's Farm is the third title in Iris Gower's Cordwainers series. Have you read The Shoemaker's Daughter and The Oyster Catchers, the previous two books?
Descriptions of the unique characteristics that set the Welsh faeries, tylwyth teg, apart from the rest of the faery folk of Britain- issues such as their speech, their appearance, their music and their links to trees and mines. It examines every aspect of their lives: their food, clothing, homes, livestock, pastimes and- even- their funerals. Close attention is paid to the temperament and character of the tylwyth teg and the ways in which they interact with the human population of Wales. Sometimes these relationships can be harmonious- leading to marriages and gifts of money; on other occasions there can be antagonism and the need for magical protection. Two important points should also be stressed. Firstly, this is written for adults. The traditional Welsh faery is frequently selfish, antagonistic and cruel and, over the centuries, the Welsh population have found it necessary to respond in kind. Accounts of the tylwyth teg are definitely not children’s faery tales.
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.
