Synopsis
A young man finds himself unexpectedly on the throne of an 8th century Anglo Saxon kingdom. Untried, he must prove himself in the doing, and supported by his closest supporters, including his beautiful young bride, he is tried and true. Nevertheless, his reign is beset with incursions from the great kingdom of Mercia and from a band of mercenaries who take over the wueen's homelandwith her behind enemy lines. Involved in both trials is a darkly sensual Breton mercenary who has decided the queen will be his. Dramatic, romantic, humorous events and colorful characters, including two Irish bards and menacing villains help tell the tale of true love and faith supported by friendship and loyalty all the while meeting with betrayal and tragedy.
All this was based on stories written in the 1960s by the author and her best friend while in their teens and picked up again by Hawthorne in 2006 as stories posted on the collaborative writing group, Ghostletters. The result is the sweeping tale, the novel An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon England by Nan Hawthorne. See many of the stories from the 60s and from Ghostletters at An Involuntary King: The Stories.
Reviews
AN INVOLUNTARY KING is not only a novel, but a story whose premise grew from the seeds of the author’s childhood imagination. Nan Hawthorne has spent a lifetime creating and bringing to life the beloved characters contained within the pages of this medieval saga.
During the 8th century in a land called Críslicland, tragedy forces the unlikely hero, Lawrence upon the throne of the kingdom. His struggle to gather the wisdom, honor, and self-confidence to be a good king is the underlying catalyst that drives this rich tale forward. Undying love, humorous characters, treachery, and intrigue either grace or plague his life as he struggles to vanquish his many foes and return to the bosom of his loving family.
The characters gush with integrity, endearing themselves to the reader. The prose is vibrant and the battle scenes so authentic that I found myself drawn inextricably into the ever-developing, engaging story. Nan Hawthorne’s passion for the medieval era is skillfully weaved into a tapestry of enchantment in this engrossing story. A must read for medieval enthusiasts.
From Historical Novel Review
AN INVOLUNTARY KING is a timeless tale, a rich and exciting saga of Anglo Saxon England, populated by a vibrant cast of characters who seem to leap right off the page and latch onto the reader's imagination.
A king never meant to be a king struggles to prove himself and quash his own self-doubts, and become not just a good king but a great king. While his queen, Josephine, is cursed by her own beauty, which draws admirers as honey does flies, and sparks passions that put not only herself but king and country in jeopardy.
From the first page to the last, AN INVOLUNTARY KING is a stirring story of love in its many guises in which kings, queens, warriors, and roving minstrels all play a part; bloody battles and hard-won victories; and the real and heart-wrenching conflicts that arise between hope, loyalty, desire, duty, and honor. It is a book that once read will not be forgotten.
Brandy Purdy, author of The Confession of Piers Gaveston and The Boleyn Wife.
Where To Get It
Amazon.com -- new and used and Kindle!
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Alternate formats
Smashwords - e-book
Bookshare.org -- e-text -- members only
