Thursday, January 24, 2013

Blurb and Excerpt for "Uneasy Lies the Crown" by N. Gemini Sasson


I'm excited to host a Blurb Blitz Tour Stop today to get the word out about historical fiction writer, N. Gemini Sasson's new book, Uneasy Lies the Crown , a historical novel about the Welsh king and freedom fighter, Owain Glyndowr.

For centuries, the bards have sung of King Arthur’s return, but is this reluctant warrior prince the answer to those prophecies?


In the year 1399, Welsh nobleman Owain Glyndwr is living out a peaceful gentleman’s life in the Dee Valley of Wales with his wife Margaret and their eleven children. But when Henry of Bolingbroke, the Duke of Lancaster, usurps the throne of England from his cousin Richard II, that tranquility is forever shattered. What starts as a feud with a neighboring English lord over a strip of land evolves into something greater—a fight for the very independence of Wales.

Leading his crude army of Welshmen against armor-clad columns of English, Owain wins key victories over his enemies. After a harrowing encounter on the misty slopes of Cadair Idris, the English knight Harry Hotspur offers Owain a pact he cannot resist.

Peace, however, comes with a price. As tragedies mount, Owain questions whether he can find the strength within himself not only to challenge the most powerful monarch of his time, but to fulfill the prophecies and lead his people to freedom without destroying those around him.


And now an excerpt from the novel!

Lord Reginald de Grey of Ruthin leered at his discovery. Swarming around him was a full corps of fifteen huntsmen, lesser lords eager to impress. One rushed in and rammed a spear into the deer, although it was a task that need not have been done.

“Aha! My gratitude, good men, for bringing down my prize,” Grey proclaimed.

“Your prize?” Owain started forward. “These are my lands you’re on. And well you know it. You are beyond your bounds. Parliament has upheld my claims on Croesau.”

“Richard’s parliament.” Grey clucked his tongue in admonishment. “’Tis a hard task to wield influence from a dungeon.”

Owain’s arms were locked stiffly at his side, though they had the strength to heave the dripping, dog-shredded carcass at Grey’s head. “Take it. Take the hide and the meat and the bloody set of antlers. But don’t come back. This land is not yours.”

“I’ll come as often as I please. These are my lands now, everything you see. The Welsh sympathizer is not long to wear the crown and Bolingbroke owes me a good turn.” One hand upon his hip, he flexed the gloved fingers of his other hand and nodded with satisfaction. “This hunting ground will do, littered though it is with Welsh beggars. Incidentally, I took liberty to evict some troublesome peasants of yours in the next valley.”

Owain sprang forward. “You have no right!”

“Yes, yes... hmmm. We shall see who has rights. Anyway, they were a little, shall we say, obstinate. A torched roof is very convincing. It has a tendency to make people into believers.”


About the Author




N. Gemini Sasson is the author of six historical novels set in 14th and 15th century Scotland, England and Wales, including The Bruce Trilogy and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer (2011 IPPY Silver Medalist in Historical Fiction). Her latest release is Uneasy Lies the Crown, A Novel of Owain Glyndwr. Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella, Sasson learned she is a descendant of both.


Where you can find N. Gemini Sasson and purchase a copy of Uneasy Lies the Crown :







Smashwords – 







N. Gemini will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift certificate to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Comment and leave your email to enter!

16 comments:

  1. I've read a couple of novels with Owen Glendower in them, as a bit part... I'd like more focus on him. A hero of mine since the Shakespeare. Always on his side - no question.

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  2. Hallo Gemini, thank you for the fun blog tour, I'm halfway through my copy of The King must die and I'm loving the book, Uneasy lies the Crown is next on my list.

    Best,
    Gala

    galaschick78 at gmail dot com

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  3. I'm looking forward to not only reading UNEASY LIES THE CROWN, but all of your works.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  4. Hallo Gemini, thank you for the fun blog tour, I'm halfway through my copy of The King must die and I'm loving the book, Uneasy lies the Crown is next on my list.

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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  5. Thanks a million, Hazel, for hosting this final stop on my blog tour today! And good luck to everyone in the giveaway.

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    Replies
    1. My pleasure =) I'm very excited to get a chance to read this one.

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  6. This was a great tour to follow. Everyday I was reminded more and more of this promising read. I cannot wait!

    chrysrawr@yahoo.com

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  7. Great tour for a very interesting read.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

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  8. Great tour, I love to discover new books, with digital publishing it's hard to keep up with all the new releases and finding out what's good.

    shadowrunner1987(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  9. Reading the excerpt, i was as angry as as Owen.

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  10. This looks like one I'll have to add to my to-reads list; it sounds awesome!

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  11. I love this excerpt and am looking forward to read more about Owains adventures.

    emiliana25(at)web(dot)de

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  12. Best of luck for your future projects! I'm going to enjoy reading my copy and find out what happened between Owain and Margaret.

    moonsurfer123 at gmail dot com

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  13. It sounds like a great book and I've read good thing about it, I'll add it to my tbr list.

    lyra.lucky7 AT gmail DOT com

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  14. It sounds like there's some testosterone feuding going on there.
    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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  15. Sounds like a nice read.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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