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"Picking up an Elizabeth Chadwick novel is like having a Bentley draw up at your door: you know you are in for a sumptuous ride."—*Daily Telegraph* **A Deadly Rival. An Ancient Family Dispute. An Impossible Love.** He should have known better than to fight with the future King John. Ruthless and feared, John is not one to forget or forgive. But Fulke FitzWarin couldn't help himself, and now the vindictive John has insured that Fulke will never become lord of the castle he loves. Instead of accepting his fate, Fulke rebels. He begins an affair with Maude Walter, the wealthy widow desired by John himself. Negotiating a maze of deceit, treachery, and shifting alliances, Fulke's route to success is blocked at every turn. And when the turmoil of the Magna Carta rebellion combines with a shocking tragedy, everything Fulke has fought for is thrown into the path of destruction. "A star back in Britain, Elizabeth Chadwick is finally getting the attention she deserves here."—*USA Today* "The best writer of medieval fiction currently around."—Richard Lee, founder and publisher, Historical Novel Society ** ### From Booklist Best-selling historical novelist Chadwick crafts another medieval tale, the sequel to her immensely popular Shadows and Strongholds (2013). Once again, she provides readers with everything they look forward to in a modern variation on classic ancient myths: family angst, deadly enemies, and, of course, impossible, can’t-live-without-each-other love. Fulke FitzWarin gets into a wicked dispute with Prince John while playing a game of chess. Such a silly thing, one might think, but when it turns out that this petty squabble actually prevents Fulke from becoming the Lord of Whittington Castle, chaos breaks loose, and everything Chadwick’s characters rely on comes undone. As though this disruption isn’t enough, Fulke enters into a new, forbidden love affair with a rich widow Prince John is interested in, causing even more mayhem. In fact, Fulke finds himself in constant turmoil as every aspect of his life is upended before his very eyes in the midst of historic change as the Magna Carta rebellion turns tragic. --Carissa Chesanek ### Review "The 12th century comes to life as Chadwick weaves a tale of betrayal, deceit and intrigue as well as captures the pageantry of King John's court and serves up a banquet for medieval fiction fans." - *** RT Book Reviews***