The bleeding land

The bestselling historical novelist Giles Kristian begins an epic new trilogy, set against the tumultuous backdrop of the bloody war that divided a nation and tore families apart.

 

England. 1642. War is coming. The rift between King and Parliament has widened and armies muster, ready to fight for their religious and political ideals. Nothing is so destructive as civil war, and for the Rivers family, the raising of the King's standard heralds a conflict that threatens to tear them apart.

 

As a knight and friend of King Charles, Sir Francis Rivers' loyalty is beyond question, and so should be that of his family. However another Royalist, Lord Henry Denton, imprisons a suspected Catholic priest and in so doing makes an enemy of Sir Francis's youngest son, Tom. As horrific events transpire, Tom eventually makes his way to London where he falls in with a crowd of men eager to fight for Parliament for, in the prospect of war, Tom sees his chance for vengeance.

 

But Sir Francis Rivers' eldest son, Mun, is for the king, and joins a troop of horse commanded by the dashing Prince Rupert. Sir Francis rides in the King's Lifeguards as the first battle of the war looms. But whilst men fight and die at Edgehill, the Rivers women, Lady Mary and her daughter, Bess, must also fight to survive as the family home, Shear House, is besieged.

 

A novel of honour, vengeance, courage and love, The Bleeding Land brings England's civil war to life in all its terrible glory.

Inspired by both his family history and his storytelling heroes, Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden, GILES KRISTIAN began writing the action-packed story of an outsider's coming of age amongst a band of Viking warriors from across the seas. Raven: Blood Eye was published to great acclaim and two further Raven adventures followed -- Sons of Thunder and Odin's Wolves. Giles lives in Leicestershire where he writes full-time.