The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy) [Paperback]

N Gemini Sasson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

(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.

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

About the Author

N. Gemini Sasson is the author of 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) and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist in Historical Fiction). She holds a M.S. in Biology from Wright State University where she ran cross country on athletic scholarship. She has worked as an aquatic toxicologist, an environmental engineer, a teacher and a track and cross country coach. A longtime breeder of Australian Shepherds, her articles on bobtail genetics have been translated into seven languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Cader Idris Press (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982715803
• ISBN-13: 978-0982715802
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

N. Gemini Sasson is the author of 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) and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist for Historical Fiction). She holds a M.S. in Biology from Wright State University where she ran cross country on athletic scholarship. She has worked as an aquatic toxicologist, an environmental engineer, a teacher and a track and cross country coach. A longtime breeder of Australian Shepherds, her articles on bobtail genetics have been translated into seven languages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Storytelling, June 10, 2010

By 

Paul Reid (Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy) (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.

21 of 22 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 "Greta van der Rol" (Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy) (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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting read for fans of medieval intrigue fiction, October 9, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy) (Paperback)

To be the ruler of the land was the ultimate prize of nobility. "The Crown in the Heather" is the first book of the Bruce trilogy, following the Bruce family as they are embroiled in the British Isles noble affairs at the end of the thirteenth century. Robert the Bruce is split between the crown and love, as must compete with not only his family's rivals in Scotland, but the clan of the King of England. "The Crown in the Heather" is a riveting read for fans of medieval intrigue fiction.