The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

N. Gemini Sasson (Author)

Book Description

(THE BRUCE TRILOGY: BOOK I)

In 1290, Scotland is without a king. Two families - the Bruces and the Balliols - vie for the throne.

Robert the Bruce is in love with Elizabeth de Burgh, the daughter of an adherent of the ruthless Longshanks, King of England. In order to marry her and not give up his chances of someday becoming King of Scots, Robert must abandon his rebel ways and bide his time as Longshanks' vassal.

But Edward, Longshanks' heir, doesn't trust the opportunistic Scotsman and vows to one day destroy him. While quietly plotting his rebellion, Robert is betrayed by one of his own and must flee Longshanks' vengeance.

Aided by the unlikely brilliance of the soft-spoken young nobleman, James Douglas, Robert battles for his throne. Victory, though, is never certain and Robert soon learns that keeping his crown may mean giving up that which he loves most-his beloved Elizabeth.
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Other books by N. Gemini Sasson:
Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr
Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy: Book II)
The Honor Due a King (The Bruce Trilogy: Book III)
Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer
The King Must Die, Murder and revenge in the time of Edward III

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The author brilliantly connects the reader with the characters. The story is told from three different points of view, and it makes the history of Scotland come to life. Well researched and well written, The Crown in the Heather is breathtaking. I can't wait to read the rest of this fascinating trilogy." - Historical Novels Review Online

From the Author

Books by N. Gemini Sasson:

The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy: Book I)
Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy: Book II)
The Honor Due a King (The Bruce Trilogy: Book III)
Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer
The King Must Die, Murder and revenge in the time of Edward III
Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 456 KB
• Print Length: 301 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0982715803
• Publisher: Cader Idris Press (July 4, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003V5X9N6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,618 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #27 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Biographical
  • #34 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Biographical
  • #45 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Men's Adventure

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Storytelling June 10, 2010

By Paul Reid

Format:Paperback

"The Crown in the Heather" is an exceptionally well-written novel, brought to life particularly by the stunning scenery of Scotland and the writer's wonderful talent for enacting human drama. It's a story of both triumph and despair, of courage and fear, with prose that is infused with irresistable touches of imagery and pace. Such is the writer's ability to engage the reader that I found this nigh-on impossible to put down.

The story chronicles the struggles and challenges of Robert the Bruce in an increasingly unstable Scotland with the brutal Longshanks, King of England, shadowing everything. Robert aims to secure the crown of Scotland but he faces many enemies in his quest, and his problems are only compounded by his love for Elizabeth, daughter of one of Longshanks's allies. The English king is callous and untrustworthy, and Robert is forced into flight by a cruel betrayal. Torn from his wife and daughter, he must make a stand against a ruthless foe if he is to achieve all that his heart desires.

The central character, Robert the Bruce, is a very strong individual who can both fight and love with equally passionate intensity. The unfolding of Scotland's history in the 13/14th centuries is delivered with an expert hand, allowing us to meet all the pivotal players in a way that is both informative and superbly entertaining. The style is absorbing, the tension is ever-mounting. A truly unforgettable novel, I can't recommend nor praise this highly enough.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical fiction at its finest June 12, 2010

By Ms. G. van der Rol

Format:Paperback

"The autumn wind was murderous cold. Small gray clouds raced like mountain hares above a drab and muddy billowing of land. Leafless limbs clattered in complaint against the onslaught of wind."

The wonderful use of evocative language is just one of the things that sets Gemini Sasson's novel `The Crown in the Heather' apart. The first book of a trilogy about the life of Robert the Bruce, this novel covers the years from 1290 to 1306. The author takes the reader on a journey that encompasses the length and breadth of England and Scotland and as far as Paris, chronicling the complex politics, back-stabbing and double-dealing as men fought for the Scottish Crown. It is a dark and raw story, written of a turbulent, violent time. What impressed me most was that Sasson chose the difficult path of writing her story from the different view points of three people - all in first person. And it works. Robert the Bruce, James Douglas and Edward, crown prince of England all come across as distinct individuals, each with his own voice, each with his own motivations. The secondary characters - people like Edward's brutal father, Edward I also known as Longshanks, Robert's wife Elizabeth and the towering William Wallace are clearly drawn. Sasson has done her homework and the settings and the details are vivid. This is a marvellous book. I look forward to the second volume.

51 of 60 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Did I Read the Same Book? February 1, 2011

By Barb Mechalke VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

All the positively glowing reviews I've read about this book had me eagerly awaiting its delivery and excitedly anticipating sinking my teeth into some wonderfully detailed Scottish history.

Now that I have finished the book I'm scratching my head and wondering if this can possibly be the same book? I'm sad to say that I can not offer any glowing praise for this book except to say thank goodness it wasn't any longer than it was. Could it have been worse...absolutely. Could it have been better...much.

The author attempts to tell the story of Robert the Bruce but in my honest opinion does not succeed very well in her attempt. One of many problems I had with this novel was the narration. I know it's all the rage to have multiple narrators these days and I have read many books that employ that technique and I can see the benefits to using it. Unfortunately here it serves only to detract from the story and the fluidness of the narration itself. There is very little character development and far too much telling the reader rather than showing the reader.

Never did I feel Robert the Bruce's burning desire to lead Scotland. In fact it seems he more often speaks of being a coward and feeling sorrow for the hard choices he's had to make. He doesn't feel authentic to me, nor do the other characters. At one point Robert makes it know how important it is to him to tuck his daughter into bed at night. That is such a contemporary measure of fatherhood that it felt completely out of place in this medieval novel.

There were a few scenes that I enjoyed but generally they were immediately followed by a shift in narration or setting so that I was left wanting more. I did not find this to be a satisfying read and I will not be looking for the next book in this series.

More About the Author

N. Gemini Sasson is the author of six historical novels set in 14th and 15th century Scotland, England and Wales, including The Bruce Trilogy and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist in Historical Fiction). Her latest release is Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr. Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella, Sasson learned she is a descendant of both.

If you'd like to learn more about N. Gemini Sasson's books or how to stalk her on Facebook, Twitter or via her blog, just go to www.ngeminisasson.com.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#72 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical

#72 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical