1262 A.D.I n the dusty heat of French fields, knights battle for supremacy in a fierce tournament. At its violent heart is Edward of England, who leads his men under the banner of the dragon, a potent reference to the legendary King Arthur.
As heir to the throne, Edward has a vision for his future kingdom ' a vision sprung from the words of an ancient prophecy written in the time of Arthur himself ' that will change the face of Britain forever.
1286 A.D.Scotland is in the grip of the worst winter in living memory. Some say the Day of Judgement has come. The king of Scotland rides out from Edinburgh into the stormy dark. On the road he is murdered by one of his own men, leaving the succession to the throne wide open.
The king's death is as a stone thrown into a pool, the ripples spreading far and wide. Civil war threatens as powerful Scottish families jostle for power, not knowing that Edward, now king of England, has set his own plans in motion. But all is not destined to go Edward's way. Through the ashes of war, through blood feuds and divided loyalties, a young squire will rise to defy England's greatest king.
His name is Robert the Bruce. And his story begins in Insurrection.
About the Author
Robyn Young was born in Oxford and grew up in the Midlands and Devon. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Sussex and lives and writes in Brighton full-time.
Industry Reviews
Immaculately researched and carefully written, evoking a very particular - and largely unexplored - time and place. The fights are sensational. -- Daily Telegraph Young's fans will not be disappointed as she meticulously ploughs through the sweep of history and brings to life one of its most enigmatic characters -- Daily Mail It is so graphic you can immediately put yourself there, imagining the faces and the clash of weapons. It also elaborates on the historical context and fleshes out the characters. It draws you in and is a compelling novel you cannot put down. So much research must have gone into the book; the detail is incredible. I enjoyed it so much. -- The BBC Radio 2 Simon Mayo Book Club Richly worked and captivating ... an epic story of war, intrigue and heroism -- Good Book Guide on BRETHREN The fast and furious start to a majestic new trilogy -- Women and Home Leads you in swiftly and doesn't let you go -- Australian Women's Weekly This tale captures the struggles of a tumultuous time -- Australian Daily Telegraph another fine novel by Young and a promising start to an exciting new series -- Canberra Times This is a big book, and the trilogy a huge project to undertake. From the evidence so far, Young's fans will not be disappointed as she meticulously ploughs through the sweep of history and brings to life one of its most enigmatic characters -- Daily Mail Action-packed historical novel about Robert The Bruce. A fighting start to a new trilogy. -- Sun Ideal for anyone who loves historical fiction and anyone else who wants a well written and intricate read -- Sentinel (Staffordshire) A cracking plot and charismatic characters are set against the convincingly researched background of the violent, gory Anglo-Scottish civil wars -- Saga Given the events are fixed in historical fiction, the trick is to find supplementary reasons for actions, and Young's conceit - that Edward I is trying to capture four relics (one of which is the Stone of Destiny) - gives a great ulterior motivation. The learning is never cumbersome, a deft trick when describing medieval warfare in all its clunking barbarism. -- Scotsman Young writes with remarkable accuracy, action-packed efficiency and gut-wrenching violence -- The Times on REQUIEM An outstanding contemporary writer -- Kate Mosse on Robyn Young A sweeping historical adventure as well as a cracking sequel -- Financial Times on CRUSADE One of the best historical debuts in recent memory. Exciting and enthralling. -- John Connolly on BRETHREN Wonderful ... loaded with atmosphere, action, and intrigue -- Steve Berry on BRETHREN Like Young's other historical novels, INSURRECTION is meticulously researched ... a treat for any fans of the Scottish Wars of Independence. -- Historical Novel Review
