Conquest (Aitcheson)

January, 1069: Less than three years after the Battle of Hastings, two thousand Normans march to subdue the troublesome province of Northumbria. Tancred a Dinant, a loyal and ambitious knight, is among them, hungry for battle, honor, silver, and land. But at Durham, the Normans are ambushed by English rebels, and Tancred's revered lord Robert de Commines is slain. Badly wounded and bitterly determined to exact vengeance, Tancred uncovers a plot that harks back to the day of Hastings itself. If successful, it threatens to destroy the entire conquest-and change the course of history. James Aitcheson's stunning debut sweeps readers into a ruthless world, where violent warriors seek honor in holy places and holy men seek glory in dark deeds. As the two opposing forces battle for conquest, the fate of England hangs in the balance.

"Full of thrills, battles, adventures, turns and twists, and great characters that are true to the mind-set of their period." -Historical Novels Review "Aitcheson skillfully blends history and fiction... Those who enjoy Bernard Cornwell's books will also revel in the historical details and derring-do." -Library Journal Autumn 1071. Five bloody years after the Battle of Hastings, only a desperate band of rebels in the marshes of eastern England stands between the Normans and absolute conquest. But the campaign is stalling as the Normans, under King William, are thwarted in their efforts to assault the insurgents' island stronghold. With morale collapsing, the king turns to Tancred, a proud and ambitious knight and an experienced leader of men, to deliver him the victory that will crush the rebellions once and for all. For Tancred, this is the opportunity he has been waiting for: a chance to restore his dwindling fortunes and to make his name. Fulfilling his duty to the king, however, may cost him everything he has fought so hard to gain. The gripping third novel in James Aitcheson's Conquest series, Knights of the Hawk is a lightning-paced tale of battle and betrayal, vengeance and redemption, set amid the fury and the chaos of the Norman Conquest of England.

The brilliant second novel in James Aitcheson's trilogy of the Norman Conquest of England. Summer, 1070. Renowned for his valor in the battle for York, Tancred a Dinant is now a lord in his own right, with knights of his own to command and a manor to call home in the turbulent Welsh borderlands. But his hard-fought gains are soon threatened, as a coalition of enemies both old and new prepares to march against King William. With English, Welsh and Viking forces gathering, and war looming, the Normans are forced to make common cause with some unlikely allies in defence of their newly conquered realm. For Tancred, meanwhile, there are also enemies closer to home: Norman barons envious of his fame, who regard him as a threat to their own power and who are only too eager to see him brought low. Amidst the turmoil, Tancred is chosen to spearhead a perilous expedition into the heart of Wales. Success will bring him glory beyond his dreams. Failure will mean the ruin of the reputation that he has worked so hard to forge. As shield-walls clash and the kingdom burns, not only is his destiny at stake, but also that of England itself. A gripping tale of battle, honor, and vengeance, The Splintered Kingdom is an epic saga of the struggle for England-and through it, the western world.