Customer Reviews

The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"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.

"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.

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.

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.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely buy the next one. I enjoy books of Scotland and of this period, and this one prompted me look up more details of the history of the time. I even rented the History Channel documentary they made regarding the movie Braveheart. I think the book might be a little dry for someone looking for a romantic novel simply placed in a historical time frame. This book is about real people and although there is love and romance in it, it is about the struggles of the times, how people lived, and a look into what prompted them to do the things they did. I think that last part was the best for me - what did they really experience to cause them do do the incredible things that were accomplished in this difficult period of history?

I will never see Scotland's turbulent Bruce/Wallace era in the same way. Gemini Sasson's impeccable research (or former-life recollection?)paints a vivid picture of the times down to the minutest--but most informative and enjoyable--details. Historical characters, such as the heartless Edward I and his disappointment of a son, and a conflicted Robert Bruce and a come-of-age James Douglas,become human in a way they fail to in the history books, and believably so. These were real people and real events, and the reader knows it after having been there. The choice of modern-day voices over rough period-dialect made "Crown" an easy and pleasant read. I eagerly await part two.

This is one book I highly recommend. I love medieval, it's one of my favourite genres to read. I am not a fan of first person, which this book is, but the writing was so good, so involving that I was soon, within the first three pages, absolutely hooked.

The story of Robert the Bruce, the English dominance and Scotland's struggles for Independence is told through the eyes of Robert the Bruce, Prince Edward of England and a Scottish lesser nobleman, James Douglas. When reading from each person's point of view you are taken into their world with such deft writing that is so well craft and absorbing that you forget the world around you, at least I did.

The Crown in Heather by N. Gemini Sasson is an outstanding read and the author should be widely praised for her portrayal of a turbulent time in Scotland's history. The detailed research is richly woven into a magnificent story that blends seamlessly between the facts as we know them and authoritative fiction.

Do yourself a favour and buy this book. It is a keeper for me on my Kindle and one I will also buy in paperback.

With the wonderful speed of Kindle I am buying the sequel, Worth Dying For. I believe there is a third book to be written.

This book was actually listed on Amazon as a suggestion for me, and the price was right so I ordered it through my Kindle. I am definitely glad that I did! It has everything I love about the historical fiction genre, and is the best novel I've read in quite awhile. There is betrayal, war, love affairs, death, and amazing descriptions of the beautiful scenery that Scotland provides.
I'm not sure how historically accurate this novel is, because I'm more of an "expert" on the Tudor era, rather than the time of Longshanks and The Bruce, but the writing was so fabulous that I believed everything that was written!


This was my first time reading Sasson, and I'm happy that I was introduced to this author's works. I'm already a quarter of the way through the second novel in the trilogy, WORTH DYING FOR, and it's only getting better. The excitement in both novels keeps me on the edge of my seat, because I have not read much about this time period, so it's all pretty much new to me! Plus, the imagery she uses when describing battle scenes or describing the castles, is just awesome. Her novels are easy to get lost in, and there is nothing I love more than a novel that I can lose myself in.
I don't think the third book in The Bruce Trilogy is out yet? I could be wrong, but when I was searching for it so that I could buy it, I was unable to find it. As soon as it comes out, I will definitely own it!


I really have nothing negative to say about this trilogy thus far, other than I wish the novels were longer! I have no problem giving THE CROWN IN THE HEATHER 5 out of 5 stars, and for anyone who enjoys historical fiction this is a must read.

As a passionate reader of the medieval era, I had the pleasure of stumbling upon the novel, The Crown and the Heather, long before it was published, while it was still a work in progress posted to an on-line critique group for authors of historical fiction. That was several years ago. I fell in love with the story then and have waited patiently for it's release ever since. The Crown in the Heather is the first book of a trilogy about Robert the Bruce. It is historically accurate, a story beautifully told with rich prose and lovely descriptions throughout that bring to life medieval Scotland. Male and female readers alike will appreciate the battles so aptly described and the realistic interactions between Robert the Bruce, his wife Elizabeth de Burg and his enemy James Douglas. Although not one of the main characters, William Wallace's story is also included to bring to the forefront a complete picture of this period in history. Above all, it is a story of betrayal and faith, of ambition and a man's love for his country and his beautiful wife, Elizabeth de Burg. I particularly enjoyed reading about Elizabeth de Burg and the deep and abiding love that existed between them; a love so profound that Bruce would do anything to make her his wife. I cannot say enough good things about how much I enjoyed this novel. The author has just released another novel, Isabeau, a novel about Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer. Definitely one that I will buy based on how good The Crown in the Heather was.

"Whenever we want something, we must weigh the cost of getting it. A farthing is a fair price for a loaf of bread. Two shillings for a yard of wool. But what price will a man pay to be his own master?"

This question is at the heart of N. Gemini Sasson's debut, The Crown in the Heather - The Bruce Trilogy: Book I, and it is the primary concern driving the central character of Robert the Bruce. Heir to the earldom of Carrick, Robert grows up headstrong and impulsive. Under the tutelage of his grandfather and father, he learns to negotiate the politics of thirteenth-century Scotland. Yet he yearns to be more than one among many Scots held in the sway of the English King. Robert wants to be the ruler of a county free from the severity and abuses of its nominal leaders. His ambition is a direct threat to England and several of the Scottish nobles, who refuse to rally around his claim.

As Gemi says in her Author's Note, folklore sometimes defines the truth of what we know about a character. Robert the Bruce has taken on an almost mythical status over the centuries, like that of King Arthur. I enjoyed so much of Gemi's portrayal, but foremost is that her Robert is a devoted son and brother, a loving husband and father. He is also a king passionately dedicated to the preservation of his people and their country. Where he wavers in his devotion, is when his own ambitions endanger the lives of those whom he loves most, particularly his wife Elizabeth and daughter Marjorie. I could feel the struggle inside of him, thanks to Gemi's skill. He became so real to me, conflicted by his desires, wanting the stewardship of his nation despite an easy temptation to capitulate and surrender the burden. His quest for the crown of Scotland almost guarantees that he will never have the comforts of home. Moments of joy with his wife and daughter are fleeting, snatched in brief interludes before threats arise. Robert's passion for Elizabeth, like everything else about him, is larger than life. Varied historical figures complete the cast of the Crown in the Heather, most notably William Wallace of Braveheart fame; the nemesis of the Scots, King Edward I of England and his beleaguered heir, Edward of Caernarvon; John the Red Comyn, a one-time Guardian of Scotland like Wallace, and a host of other characters.

One among them truly stands out: James Douglas, whose story parallels Robert's own. He is in danger of eclipsing Robert as the hero of this story. James suffers losses early on, followed by a cruel exile in Paris. His experiences toughen him, but his innate goodness defies his otherwise wily behavior and a tendency to rush to confront his enemies. If I can liken the Bruce to King Arthur, then James Douglas is his Lancelot. It is only in the latter half of the book that James becomes one of the more trusted members of Robert's retinue, but he easily proves himself a capable fighter and constant companion. His portrayal left me so captivated that I promised Gemi I would just wait for Book II, rather than rushing off to learn more about him and his ultimate fate.

I have had the pleasure of working with Gemi for a few years through critique groups, and from the start, she amazed me with her natural ability to convey human emotions, as deftly as a professional artist sketches landscapes. Her characters are vibrant and resonate beyond the pages of the book. Gemi has earned my respect and admiration for her enthusiasm and dedication to perfecting her work. It was a tremendous honor and pleasure to read the final version of The Crown in the Heather. I eagerly look forward to more on Robert the Bruce and his faithful cohort, James Douglas, in Book II.