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Betrayal: Historical Stories by [Judith Arnopp, Cryssa Bazos, Anna Belfrage, Derek Birks, Helen Hollick, Amy Maroney, Alison Morton, Charlene Newcomb, Tony Riches, Mercedes Rochelle, Annie Whitehead, Elizabeth St.John]

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Judith Arnopp

Cryssa Bazos

Betrayal: Historical Stories Kindle Edition

by Judith Arnopp (Author), Cryssa Bazos (Author), Anna Belfrage (Author), Format: Kindle Edition

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"Loyalty breaks as easily as a silken thread."

Misplaced trust, power hunger, emotional blackmail, and greed haunt twelve characters from post-Roman Britain to the present day. And betrayal by family, lover, comrade can be even more devastating.

Read twelve tales by twelve accomplished writers who explore these historical yet timeless challenges.

AD455—Roman leader Ambrosius is caught in a whirlpool of shifting allegiances
AD940—Alyeva and cleric Dunstan navigate the dangers of the Anglo Saxon court
1185—Knight Stephan fights for comradeship, duty, and honour. But what about love?
1330—The powerful Edmund of Kent enters a tangled web of intrigue
1403—Thomas Percy must decide whether to betray his sovereign or his family
1457—Estelle is invited to the King of Cyprus’s court, but deception awaits
1483—Has Elysabeth made the right decision to bring Prince Edward to London?
1484—Margaret Beaufort contemplates the path to treason
1577—Francis Drake contends with disloyalty at sea
1650—Can James Hart, Royalist highwayman, stop a nemesis destroying his friend?
1718—Pirate Annie Bonny, her lover Calico Jack, and a pirate hunter. Who will win?
1849/present—Carina must discover her ancestor’s betrayer in Italy or face ruin.

“I read this anthology from start to finish in a matter of days…. Each story is gripping.”– Discovering Diamonds Reviews

Print length

436 pages
Language

English
Publication date

November 13, 2020
File size

931 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a wonderful anthology of 12 short stories exploring the concept of betrayal, either of country, family or lovers... The remarkable diversity of the stories make this anthology a gripping read." --Sharon Bennett Connolly of History the Interesting Bits
"Every snippet of a story was a smash hit, but collectively as a whole, this anthology was a triumph. To take twelve different tales that don't have much in common and to join them in a common theme, such as betrayal, is extraordinary." --Adventures of a Tudor Nerd

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NGJXM6L
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Historical Fictioneers (November 13, 2020)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 13, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 931 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 436 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #4,879 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1 in British Literature Anthologies
- #2 in Historical Biographical Fiction
- #6 in British Short Stories

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96 ratings

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alias11

Historical short stories

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2020

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I really enjoyed this anthology of historical short stories focused on betrayal. It provided a delicious amount of suspense knowing there is a betrayal in the works somewhere, and trying to guess who is the betrayer, who the victim, and where, what, and how it will happen. Some of the forwards gave a pretty good hint, but some left you guessing. Needless to say, there is plenty of back-stabbing, twists, turns, and surprises. Sometimes the hero or heroine thinks they are doing the right thing only to find out they have played right into someone else's schemes. Friends betray friends, lovers betray lovers, family members betray parents, children, brothers, nephews, siblings. etc. No one is immune. The historical aspect provided a fantastic backdrop. The political machinations of men (and sometimes women) scrabbling for power, money, influence, or a crown made my head spin. I am so glad not to have lived in that time. I was particularly fascinated by the way loyalties changed, and how losing didn't necessarily mean death, and the way changing power structures could mean allies today were enemies tomorrow, then allies again the next day. The stories themselves were intriguing snapshots, some were poignant, some were sad. Not really any HEAs. The narrator of each story usually ends up getting the short end of things. I loved the characters and how sometimes fate didn't give them much choice in their decisions. Many of the stories made me want to look for the author's related books to learn more.

4 people found this helpful

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Historical fans, rejoice! Meet 12 authors you will love!

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2020

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Betrayal runs rampant at all levels of society, but most significantly among royalty and politicians. "Trust no one" (among the characters presented) as you read this book!

I am a long-time fan of Alison Morton's ROMA NOVA mystery / thrillers, set in a fictional "modern Rome," so it's not surprising that her story is my favorite in this anthology. However, the 11 other stories introduced me to some "new" authors (new to me) that I will now want to explore.

ENJOY this excellent collection of novellas exploring the theme of "betrayal" and don't forget to write a review!

4 people found this helpful

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A Reader

Duplicity on the menu here

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2020

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How many ways are there to double-cross someone? This collection of short stories from a dozen historical novelists covers more than a few of them. Of course, there are one or two pirates involved, more than a few competitors for thrones, loves won and lost, and the impetuous making careless choices. Life lessons from these stories include: keep your plans quiet, think carefully before you act, and choose your friends wisely.

Fans of historical fiction will find that every one of these stories is a well-told window to a different era, some with historical figures, others with fictional characters. I enjoyed them all tremendously, but one that filled out my knowledge of English history was Anna Belfrage's story of Edmund, the son of Edward I, who was the Earl of Kent. His betrayal and execution would have been momentous at the time, although he's just a footnote in the history books now.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that every one of these stories is well worth reading.

2 people found this helpful

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Valmarp

A great collection of themed stories

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2021

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I've dipped into these stories over recent weeks, reading them between my other books. They've made great escapes on the train or when stuck in a traffic jam too. The lineup of authors is terrific and I've enjoyed all the different takes on history through the ages. I particularly enjoyed the early stories that covered the period from the end of the Romans to the middle ages. One of my favourites was Annie Whitehead's, whose historical knowledge and authentic settings are backed up by years of academic research. I also enjoyed Anna Belfrage’s and Judith Arnopp’s. Highly recommended quick reads that will take you to another world. These authors really know their history and give the reader a marvellous sense of time and place.

2 people found this helpful

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Karen Heenan

A tasting menu of great writers

Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2020

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If I have one complaint about Betrayal, it would be the brevity of its chapters. I know they are individual short stories - or parts of longer works - but they were intriguing and left me wanting more.

3 people found this helpful

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Inge H. Borg

No Betrayal to the Reader Here

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2021

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The title of this multi-author anthology should have prepared me as I found myself with “Oh, please, no!” at the end of each chapter; my investment in the main characters was that deep, the storytellers are that good.
I enjoyed the almost lyrical cadence of these historical fiction stories where language and settings are so appropriate to the chosen era; something only achieved through painstaking research and love of subject. Despite each story’s brevity, the authors skillfully transport the reader into their fictional realm where, alas, murder, mayhem and Betrayal reign.
Kudos to all.
So, why “only” four stars? Four is excellent for an anthology.
I highly recommend you now check out these twelve five-star authors and their works.

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Kathleen Ingram

Enjoyable!

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2021

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A nice collection of short stories by a variety of authors. The price was surely right. it was free!
Judith Arnopp is a favorite author. ( and the others were great too!) Wishing many of them were longer. Maybe six authors next time?

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Kindle Customer

Give it a read

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021

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Some of the stores were really good. An others were just dead pan. They had no ending. Not a bad read.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Terry Tyler

4.5* - A Journey Through Time

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2020

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This is a fine collection—it is rare to find an anthology by many authors without a weak moment here and there, but this is such. The stories follow on through time, chronologically, starting with Death At Feet of Venus, set in Roman times, by Derek Birks, and ending with a modern day story featuring alternative history, The Idealist by Alison Morton.

The stories you like best will depend on your preferences for writing style and the periods that interest you most; my favourites were House Arrest by Judith Arnopp, about Margaret Beaufort, who is one of my historical heroes—I highly recommend Ms Arnopp's series about her, incidentally—and Love to Hatred Turn'd by Annie Whitehead, set in the 10th century; Ms Whitehead has that knack of making you feel as though you are sitting within the king's great hall in the kingdom of Wessex, as you are reading. I also very much liked All Those Tangled Webs by Anna Belfrage, which covers the time in 1330 just after Edward II had died, and Road to The Tower by Elizabeth St. John, about the lead up to the imprisonment of Princes Edward and Richard, who famously disappeared from the Tower of London.

I bow with respect to all involved. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Michael Bully

Wonderful collection of historical fiction looking at betrayal in myriad forms

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2020

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Impressed by the high standard of the collection and don't feel that there were any 'fillers' amongst them. All the writers are accomplished and already published, and whilst I appreciated some stories more than others, gained a great deal from reading them. Decided to take one story each evening and felt a bit sad when reached the end.

Starting with 5th century England ,Derek Birks' ' Death at the Feet of Venus', a tale unfolding amongst the ruins left behind by the Romans. And ends with Alison Morton creator of the 'Roma Nova' series with ' The Idealist', set partly in the 19th century and also in the future, concerning a small Roman republic that survives and changes throughout the centuries. The collection also takes in Elizabeth St John's chilling 'Road to the Tower' , the seizure of power by Richard Duke of Gloucester in 1485, from the point of view Edward V's godmother, Lady Elysabeth Scrape, an ancestor of the author. Cryssa Bazos 'Honour of Thieves, a tale of a Royalist during the English Commonwealth is another highlight, and I could easily review each of the stories on offer. Will be exploring a lot more of these writers' individual works.

2 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

A wonderful collection, perfect for your morning coffee break!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2020

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Death at the Feet of Venus by Derek Birks

Death at the Feet of Venus demonstrates the crucial need to have allies and soldiers that a leader can trust with their life. Despite the outcome of the negotiations he attends, in his desperate bid for a strong alliance, Ambrositus should be able to trust the people around him, right?

Matters of the heart, while coming second in importance, are not overlooked. For, even though his heart belonged to Inga, he was taking his trip to the negotiations with the lovely Lurotriga. Having such a beautiful woman so close by, despite his loyalty to Inga, cause certain passionate thoughts to make their way into Ambrositus’ head...

Ambrositus is a wonderfully strong main character and the battle scenes were depicted so masterfully that I practically saw the action happening in front of me – the sound of the blows, the colour of the blood, the betrayal. I highly enjoyed reading Death at the Feet of Venus and the time flew by all too quickly as the pages turned themselves and I was sucked into the story.

Love To Hatred Turn’d by Annie Whitehead

Scandal, plots and loss, Love To Hatred Turn’d follows life at court during the reign of Edmund I, from the perspective of an outsider woman. A woman who, despite being related to noblemen, is caught up in rumours that may ruin her reputation forever. Alyeva was a character that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Her motherly instincts towards, not only her own children but also Prince Edgar, made her incredibly likeable. She is a loving and caring woman, despite what people say about her.

I wouldn’t say I liked Dunstan nearly as much as I liked Alyeva from the start, for Alyeva seemed to be putting all the effort into their friendship, whereas he didn’t pay her as much attention as I felt like she deserved. Likewise, there were men who wanted her hand in marriage due to her relations, but those who asked didn’t deserve her.

The narrative was woven beautifully into the history. Although I don’t know much about this era, I didn’t find myself being pulled away from the story in confusion. The descriptions were beautifully written and I fell more in love with the story as I read it.

A Knight’s Tale by Charlene Newcomb

A chivalrous knight whose preference is for men is not something that is often depicted in Medieval historical fiction, but this is a theme that Newcomb has explored. Stephen is a very conflicted but wonderful character although not without flaws. This short-story did bemuse me ever so slightly, as Stephen was very open about his tastes and I am not sure if that would have been the case in the 12th Century?

Stephen’s relationship with Geoffrey was fascinating. The bond between the two men was penned beautifully, from their friendship to their more intimate moments. I came to care deeply for them both as I read, wanting more than anything for their relationship to solidify itself into what it was pretending not to be – love. The time seemed to fly by as I read and the pages simply couldn’t turn fast enough.

All Those Tangled Webs by Anna Belfrage

Edward III, Ned, may be the King of England, but he is young and power remains with the Regents, Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer. After Edward’s father abdicated, he was never heard of again. When Ned’s uncle, Thomas, hears a rumour that his brother may still be alive, he doesn’t hesitate to hatch a plan, to write a letter to his brother in the hopes that it won’t fall into the wrong hands. Despite his concerns for his brother, I thought this was incredibly selfish of him, as the safety of Margaret, their three children and their unborn child were not the priority to Thomas.

Thomas’ wife, Margaret, was one of my favourite characters in this story. She was incredibly loyal to her husband, though his actions posed a threat to her family. Her emotions were penned beautifully, as she worries for Thomas and comes across conversations outside of her family that may pose a threat to his plan.

All Those Tangled Webs tells a story of the fickleness of family, for Thomas only wants to save his brother, reunite Ned with his father, and return the rightful king to the throne. However, by attempting to save his brother, he puts his wife and children in danger, not to mention himself. The story was gripping and I couldn’t put the book down as I rooted for Thomas, hoping that his plan would go through without a hitch so that Margaret and her children would remain safe.

Family Or Fealty by Mercedes Rochelle

Thomas Percy has two choices – join his nephew, Henry (Harry Hotspur) Perry in a rebellion against the king, or risk facing the family member he loved so very dearly in battle. Thomas had already found himself in trouble, finding himself on the wrong side of a battle, but he had gotten away with it before. Now, however, King Henry IV was going against his promises and Harry wasn’t going to sit on the side-lines and watch.

This story is laid out so that you read what happened after it has already happened. You know the outcome, you know how things will end up, but still, I couldn’t help but hope against hope that Thomas would figure out a way to make things right. That maybe, just maybe, Harry and Thomas wouldn’t end up where they do.

The relationship between Thomas and Harry is penned beautifully – Thomas loves Harry and will do anything for him, let him do anything, and try to protect him as he does. The outcome is heart-breaking, but the journey is one that I greatly enjoyed. One that made me want to know more about these people and how they got to where they did, for Thomas is someone who has been in many difficult situations and always seems to have figured it out before. His downfall is that he can’t turn his back on his family, which makes him all the more likeable and exciting to read about.

Heart Of A Falcon by Amy Maroney

Estelle is a young Frenchwoman, living in Rhodes Town with her family. Her parents long to return to France, but her father must stay and remain in service to the Grand Master, in his position as master falconer. Besides, their funds are too insufficient to be able to get to France. When a letter arrives, offering Estelle a place in the court of the King of Cyprus, her parents jump at the chance. Who dared refuse a king? Especially one offering them gold.

Estelle is a wonderful young woman who is caring, brave and smart. She looks after her siblings, taking over the role her mother doesn’t fill, and they look up to her, for good reason. She is not only the one teaching them French, but she can understand the languages spoken in Rhodes Town and speak them well, if not nearly fluently. I admired Estelle as I followed her from her family, from safety, into the unknown. Across a treacherous sea, into a new and unfamiliar land, so very different from the one she was used to. She is like one of the falcons her father looks after – she is strong, powerful, and deadly. If her family cannot achieve it, she will get them back to France, for she has courage and will stand her ground against those who would wish to deceive her. Estelle is penned as a beautiful soul, a loving woman I couldn’t help but like as I wished for her fortune to take a turn for the better, into a better life than the one she was stuck in.

Road To The Tower by Elizabeth St.John

King Edward IV is dead and his son, the soon to be Edward V, must be taken to London for his coronation. However, he is with the Woodvilles and not with Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who was declared Protector Of The Realm.

Lady Elysabeth Scrope is the young king’s Godmother, a role that makes her family, and Gloucester calls upon her help to provide Edward with his spiritual welfare. Elysabeth wholeheartedly believes in sovereynté, the right of women to make their own decisions, without being influenced or controlled by their menfolk. Despite being faced with possibly the most difficult decisions of her life, with every choice she makes having an effect on the future of the country, Elysabeth stands steadfast in her beliefs, a woman strong in herself. The grief she puts up with from her sister, Margaret Beaufort, and from Harry Stafford shows her patience and tolerance, as well as signifying how much she will put up with to protect her beloved Edward.

I, like most people, know the story of the princes in the Tower, but to read a story showing the events that prelude the Tower was interesting and gripping. Despite knowing the outcome, one cannot help but hope that, somehow, the princes never saw the inside of the Tower and history, as is documented, never came to pass.

House Arrest by Judith Arnopp

Allegiance can be a fickle thing, especially when your own interests are more important to you than loyalty. Margaret Beaufort cares only for her son, Henry, and his return from exile. Before his untimely death, Edward IV had been arranging Henry’s return, but when he died, Henry was forgotten.

Margaret is often depicted as a cold-hearted woman, thinking only of herself and her son, but this story shone a light on Margaret that I haven’t seen before. The Margaret who is guilty of treason and is lucky to be alive, the Margaret who suffers loneliness under house arrest and wishes for human companionship. The Margaret who cares for the safety of the princes in the Tower and is distraught when she hears the rumour that they are both dead. It was interesting to see this side of Margaret, the side that doesn’t just care about her son, but whose motherly instincts extend outside of her own family. Her grievances and joyfulness are depicted beautifully and the pages were practically turning themselves as I read.

Drake – Tudor Corsair by Tony Riches

The English want revenge on the Spanish – too much damage has been caused. When Queen Elizabeth summons Francis Drake, away from court and anyone who might overhear their conversation, Drake is given his commands. He is to sail the Spanish trade routes and take their gold, for the English are building a navy and the Spanish gold would pay for it. Drake is a lenient man, whose station is seriously undermined at sea by those who can only be described as jealous of him. When faced with enemy sailors, or native islanders, Drake is kind and considerate, for while these people are expecting the worst, Drake does not want to take slaves or, if he can help it, kill anyone. Drake truly becomes a pirate, plundering Spanish ships, or taking them as his own. This is a story of adventure, for while there is a mission at hand, who can help but to refer to such a journey as one?

Drake is a likeable character, who one can root for. The people who attempt to challenge him seem almost petty in their actions, for Drake may be lenient, but his tolerance can only stretch so far and mutiny is a serious matter. I was immersed in this story, sailing the seas alongside Drake, facing storms and defiance, and it was incredibly interesting to read about Drake and how such a sea voyage would have played out.

Honour Of Thieves by Cryssa Bazos

A royalist highwayman in a Parliamentarian England, James Hart lives a double life. Working at the Chequer gives him a home and friends, while the highway through Moot Hill allows him to build up an account for the prince, for when he returns to claim his father’s throne. However, when an old nemesis returns, with the intent to take the Chequer from its landlord, Henry Grant, James jumps into action. He can’t let his friend lose his inn anymore than he can lose his home. After all, he has a debt to settle with William Gardner and this gives him an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. I greatly admired James for, despite his stealing and general disregard for the law, he is loyal to the Royalist prince and would do anything for his friends. While Gardner has the law on his side, James has past grievances with him that push him forward in his plans. Even when everything starts falling apart, James doesn’t lose face in his ability to break into an impenetrable castle. This story had me on the edge of my seat with the fast-paced narrative and the action-packed heist that James arranges. It seems, not every highwayman breaks the law for himself and sometimes a little bribery goes a long way.

A Not So Bonny Betrayal by Helen Hollick

A normal life can be long, fruitful, with love, children and a home. However, Calico Jack Rackham much prefers life as a pirate, with a ship, adventure and fighting. Besides, who’s to say that life on the sea can’t involve love?

The meeting of Jack and Anne Bonny started as a simple night together, then a few more, but that is all it could be for she had a husband and he was a pirate!

A story of adventure, love and avoiding those who seek to rid the world of pirates, I really couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as I delved into the lives of Jack and Anne.

While the historical details about their lives are scant, this allowed Hollick a blank slate to add characters, such as Jesamiah Acorne, a pirate who does not have the same outlook to such a profession as Jack does. While Jesamiah is sensible, Jack is high-spirited and eager to find his own way in the world he lives in. A ship – that is what Jack desires, a captaincy of his own. He was a joy to read about, although I’m not certain the same can be said for Anne. If sleeping around to pay the rent while she was married was an indicator for anything, it’s that her love is fickle and she is only loyal when she has no other choice, or if it suits her needs. For Jack, his love for a woman that he cannot fully appease is his downfall.

Both sea-bound and on land, this story captured my attention from start to finish and my curiosity was certainly piqued about the lives of Calico Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny, and what truth really lies behind the names that are so well known.

The Idealist by Alison Morton

The Roman Empire crumbled. However, Roma Nova did not. The difference? Roma Nova was ruled by women!

A mystery in the 21st century, alongside alleged treason in the 1840s, this alternative historical fiction story was a conundrum from start to end. The idea that a modern society of Romans still exists is an interesting concept and the women are strong enough to keep it running, instead of backing down and letting the menfolk take over when times get rough. Both Statia and Carina are beguiling characters and I felt strongly for Statia as Carina solves the mystery of the past. Full of twists, turns and deception, I was captivated from start to finish in the idea of a nation that didn’t fall, but prospered.

This was a fabulous short-story to end the anthology with.

In conclusion, this is a great book, filled with fascinating stories that explored the concept of Betrayal. Perfect for your morning coffee break.

One person found this helpful

Highlander

No betrayal

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2020

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I certainly don't feel betrayed by the authors of.this book. Whilst one or two were not, perhaps, quite my cup of tea, I can honestly say every one was well written. Whatever era is your favourite, you're bound to find plenty of entertainment between the pages of this excellent collection. There is something to suit everyone including a few by some of my favouite authors.

3 people found this helpful

BarbaraL

Well-written collection of historical short stories

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2021

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Inevitably, in a collection of short stories by different writers set in a wide range of historical periods, I found some more interesting than others. Many of the authors publish independently and I was familiar with a number of them and so was interested to see what they made of the short story format. On the whole they were well-written, although in some cases the endings were abrupt and unsatisfactory. Nevertheless this was an enjoyable collection and I'll be looking out for more writing from some of the authors.