Author: Jay Kristoff
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1250245346
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 726
Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the much-anticipated sequel to the #1 international bestselling sensation EMPIRE OF THE VAMPIRE. From holy cup comes holy light; The faithful hands sets world aright. And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight, Mere man shall end this endless night. Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani, and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone. But the Last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by terrors of the Blood Voss, drawn into warfare between the Blood Dyvok and duskdancers of the frozen Highlands, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the Grail learn her truth. And that truth may be too awful for any to imagine.
Empress Of Rome 1: Den Of Wolves
Author: Luke Devenish
Publisher: Random House Australia
ISBN: 1864715901
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 611
Book Description
Sex, murder, corruption and intrigue at the dawning of the Roman Empire. It is 44 BC and the rival powers of Rome are driving the republic to a violent end. A soothsayer foretells that the young Tiberius Nero, if he is wed to his cousin, the darkly beautiful Livia Drusilla, will sire four kings of Rome. Fuelled by ambition, Livia devotes her life to fulfilling the prophecy. No crime is too great when destiny beckons. So begins a murderous saga of sex, corruption and obsession at the dawning of the age of emperors. Narrated by the 100-year-old slave Iphicles, Den of Wolves brings to life the great women of imperial Rome – Livia, Julia, Antonia and Agrippina – women who relied on their ambition, instincts and cunning to prosper. In this first book of the dramatic new series Empress of Rome, Luke Devenish superbly recreates these outstanding women who lived in such monstrous times.
Publisher: Random House Australia
ISBN: 1864715901
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 611
Book Description
Sex, murder, corruption and intrigue at the dawning of the Roman Empire. It is 44 BC and the rival powers of Rome are driving the republic to a violent end. A soothsayer foretells that the young Tiberius Nero, if he is wed to his cousin, the darkly beautiful Livia Drusilla, will sire four kings of Rome. Fuelled by ambition, Livia devotes her life to fulfilling the prophecy. No crime is too great when destiny beckons. So begins a murderous saga of sex, corruption and obsession at the dawning of the age of emperors. Narrated by the 100-year-old slave Iphicles, Den of Wolves brings to life the great women of imperial Rome – Livia, Julia, Antonia and Agrippina – women who relied on their ambition, instincts and cunning to prosper. In this first book of the dramatic new series Empress of Rome, Luke Devenish superbly recreates these outstanding women who lived in such monstrous times.
She-Wolves
Author: Helen Castor
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062065785
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 490
Book Description
“Helen Castor has an exhilarating narrative gift. . . . Readers will love this book, finding it wholly absorbing and rewarding.” —Hilary Mantel, Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall In the tradition of Antonia Fraser, David Starkey, and Alison Weir, prize-winning historian Helen Castor delivers a compelling, eye-opening examination of women and power in England, witnessed through the lives of six women who exercised power against all odds—and one who never got the chance. With the death of Edward VI in 1553, England, for the first time, would have a reigning queen. The question was: Who? Four women stood upon the crest of history: Katherine of Aragon’s daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Lady Jane Grey. But over the centuries, other exceptional women had struggled to push the boundaries of their authority and influence—and been vilified as “she-wolves” for their ambitions. Revealed in vivid detail, the stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and the Empress Matilda expose the paradox that England’s next female leaders would confront as the Tudor throne lay before them—man ruled woman, but these women sought to rule a nation.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062065785
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 490
Book Description
“Helen Castor has an exhilarating narrative gift. . . . Readers will love this book, finding it wholly absorbing and rewarding.” —Hilary Mantel, Booker Prize-winning author of Wolf Hall In the tradition of Antonia Fraser, David Starkey, and Alison Weir, prize-winning historian Helen Castor delivers a compelling, eye-opening examination of women and power in England, witnessed through the lives of six women who exercised power against all odds—and one who never got the chance. With the death of Edward VI in 1553, England, for the first time, would have a reigning queen. The question was: Who? Four women stood upon the crest of history: Katherine of Aragon’s daughter, Mary; Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth; Mary, Queen of Scots; and Lady Jane Grey. But over the centuries, other exceptional women had struggled to push the boundaries of their authority and influence—and been vilified as “she-wolves” for their ambitions. Revealed in vivid detail, the stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France, Margaret of Anjou, and the Empress Matilda expose the paradox that England’s next female leaders would confront as the Tudor throne lay before them—man ruled woman, but these women sought to rule a nation.
Empire of the Damned
Author: Jay Kristoff
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1250245346
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 726
Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the much-anticipated sequel to the #1 international bestselling sensation EMPIRE OF THE VAMPIRE. From holy cup comes holy light; The faithful hands sets world aright. And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight, Mere man shall end this endless night. Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani, and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone. But the Last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by terrors of the Blood Voss, drawn into warfare between the Blood Dyvok and duskdancers of the frozen Highlands, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the Grail learn her truth. And that truth may be too awful for any to imagine.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 1250245346
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 726
Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the much-anticipated sequel to the #1 international bestselling sensation EMPIRE OF THE VAMPIRE. From holy cup comes holy light; The faithful hands sets world aright. And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight, Mere man shall end this endless night. Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani, and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone. But the Last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by terrors of the Blood Voss, drawn into warfare between the Blood Dyvok and duskdancers of the frozen Highlands, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the Grail learn her truth. And that truth may be too awful for any to imagine.
Empire of the Vampire
Author: Jay Kristoff
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 125024529X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 794
Book Description
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER From New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga. From holy cup comes holy light; The faithful hand sets world aright. And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight, Mere man shall end this endless night. It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness. Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains. Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope: The Holy Grail.
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 125024529X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 794
Book Description
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER From New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga. From holy cup comes holy light; The faithful hand sets world aright. And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight, Mere man shall end this endless night. It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness. Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains. Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope: The Holy Grail.
She Wolves
Author: Elizabeth Norton
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0752469215
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 340
Book Description
She Wolves is a history of the 'bad girls' of England's medieval royal dynasties - the queens who earned themselves the reputation of being somehow notorious. Some of them are well known and have been the subject of biographies - Eleanor of Aquitaine, Emma of Normandy, Isabella of France and Anne Boleyn, for example - while others have not been written about outside academic journals. The appeal of these notorious queens, apart from their shared taste for witchcraft, murder, adultery and incest, is that, because they were notorious, they attracted a great deal of attention during their lifetimes. She Wolves reveals much about the role of the medieval queen and the evolution of the role that led, ultimately, to the reign of Elizabeth I, and a new concept of queenship.
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0752469215
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 340
Book Description
She Wolves is a history of the 'bad girls' of England's medieval royal dynasties - the queens who earned themselves the reputation of being somehow notorious. Some of them are well known and have been the subject of biographies - Eleanor of Aquitaine, Emma of Normandy, Isabella of France and Anne Boleyn, for example - while others have not been written about outside academic journals. The appeal of these notorious queens, apart from their shared taste for witchcraft, murder, adultery and incest, is that, because they were notorious, they attracted a great deal of attention during their lifetimes. She Wolves reveals much about the role of the medieval queen and the evolution of the role that led, ultimately, to the reign of Elizabeth I, and a new concept of queenship.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune
Author: Nghi Vo
Publisher: Tordotcom
ISBN: 1250750296
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 75
Book Description
Winner of the 2020 Crawford Award! Winner of the 2021 Hugo Award! A Hugo Award-Winning Series! A 2021 Locus Award Finalist A 2021 Ignyte Award Finalist A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist "Dangerous, subtle, unexpected and familiar, angry and ferocious and hopeful... The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a remarkable accomplishment of storytelling."—NPR A 2020 ALA Booklist Top Ten SF/F Debut | A Book Riot Must-Read Fantasy of 2020 | A Paste Most Anticipated Novel of 2020 | A Library Journal Debut of the Month | A Buzzfeed Must-Read Fantasy Novel of Spring 2020 | A Washington Post Best SFF of the Year So Far Pick Named Book Riot's Best Book Cover of 2020 Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR | Library Journal | NYPL | Chicago Public Library | The Austen Chronicle | Autostraddle With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama, Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women. A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for. At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, this evocative debut follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece. The Singing Hills Cycle The Empress of Salt and Fortune When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain Into the Riverlands The novellas of The Singing Hills Cycle are linked by the cleric Chih, but may be read in any order, with each story serving as an entrypoint. Praise for The Empress of Salt and Fortune “An elegant gut-punch, a puzzle box that unwinds itself in its own way and in its own time. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Gorgeous. Cruel. Perfect. I didn't know I needed to read this until I did.”—Seanan McGuire "A tale of rebellion and fealty that feels both classic and fresh, The Empress of Salt and Fortune is elegantly told, strongly felt, and brimming with rich detail. An epic in miniature, beautifully realised."—Zen Cho "Nghi Vo's gracefully told debut . . . resides in the intimate margins of its (beautifully imagined) world's history, portraying how the marginalized may yet shape those narratives and harness the power of stories."—Indrapramit Das At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Publisher: Tordotcom
ISBN: 1250750296
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 75
Book Description
Winner of the 2020 Crawford Award! Winner of the 2021 Hugo Award! A Hugo Award-Winning Series! A 2021 Locus Award Finalist A 2021 Ignyte Award Finalist A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist "Dangerous, subtle, unexpected and familiar, angry and ferocious and hopeful... The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a remarkable accomplishment of storytelling."—NPR A 2020 ALA Booklist Top Ten SF/F Debut | A Book Riot Must-Read Fantasy of 2020 | A Paste Most Anticipated Novel of 2020 | A Library Journal Debut of the Month | A Buzzfeed Must-Read Fantasy Novel of Spring 2020 | A Washington Post Best SFF of the Year So Far Pick Named Book Riot's Best Book Cover of 2020 Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR | Library Journal | NYPL | Chicago Public Library | The Austen Chronicle | Autostraddle With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama, Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women. A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for. At once feminist high fantasy and an indictment of monarchy, this evocative debut follows the rise of the empress In-yo, who has few resources and fewer friends. She's a northern daughter in a mage-made summer exile, but she will bend history to her will and bring down her enemies, piece by piece. The Singing Hills Cycle The Empress of Salt and Fortune When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain Into the Riverlands The novellas of The Singing Hills Cycle are linked by the cleric Chih, but may be read in any order, with each story serving as an entrypoint. Praise for The Empress of Salt and Fortune “An elegant gut-punch, a puzzle box that unwinds itself in its own way and in its own time. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Gorgeous. Cruel. Perfect. I didn't know I needed to read this until I did.”—Seanan McGuire "A tale of rebellion and fealty that feels both classic and fresh, The Empress of Salt and Fortune is elegantly told, strongly felt, and brimming with rich detail. An epic in miniature, beautifully realised."—Zen Cho "Nghi Vo's gracefully told debut . . . resides in the intimate margins of its (beautifully imagined) world's history, portraying how the marginalized may yet shape those narratives and harness the power of stories."—Indrapramit Das At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Empress of Wolves
Author: J. Aislynn D'merricksson
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781533423719
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 146
Book Description
Kalla has claimed the third and final aspect of the waking wolf goddess. Now, she and her magister must take the Quill to Ganysha so the Elephant Lord may recreate the binding, and they must find Grael's Fang before they can face the Nagali. And if that wasn't enough, there are still lands to be freed. Meanwhile, darker troubles are brewing. Grosso, at the Nagali's behest, has begun to corrupt the Emperor of Argoth, fomenting war amongst the normally peaceful Argosians. If the Fleet is mobilized to attack, there will be none to stand in the way of its military might. A return visit to the skycontinent of Argoth has unprecedented repercussions, not just for Kalla, but for her entire pack. Finding the Fang will be no easy task either. They must brave the tropics of Su Ramerides and the dragons that live among the dense jungle and volcanic mountains. New friends will be found and new enemies made. Redemption and forgiveness abound for those who choose to look. And the most unexpected is yet to come.
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781533423719
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 146
Book Description
Kalla has claimed the third and final aspect of the waking wolf goddess. Now, she and her magister must take the Quill to Ganysha so the Elephant Lord may recreate the binding, and they must find Grael's Fang before they can face the Nagali. And if that wasn't enough, there are still lands to be freed. Meanwhile, darker troubles are brewing. Grosso, at the Nagali's behest, has begun to corrupt the Emperor of Argoth, fomenting war amongst the normally peaceful Argosians. If the Fleet is mobilized to attack, there will be none to stand in the way of its military might. A return visit to the skycontinent of Argoth has unprecedented repercussions, not just for Kalla, but for her entire pack. Finding the Fang will be no easy task either. They must brave the tropics of Su Ramerides and the dragons that live among the dense jungle and volcanic mountains. New friends will be found and new enemies made. Redemption and forgiveness abound for those who choose to look. And the most unexpected is yet to come.
Fang & Claw - Tooth & Nail
Author: Douglas Christian Larsen
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1257149997
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 258
Book Description
Rodolphus and Larsen, together in one book for the very first time. Although very different writers, these two storytellers stir emotions, produce chills, and introduce people we soon know and love (and sometimes hate and fear). Collected here are such singular works as Fearsweat, wherein a supernatural stalker threatens an entire town. In My Father: The Killer, we meet a young man who has always believed the worst about his father, a famed terrorist. Interstate Chimes accompanies twins completing their separate destinies outside of time and space. We enter an amazing little girl's creative genius in Four-Leaf Clovers. And for a dark laugh (and scream) we ride along with The Dread Cowboy. Included herein is the unfinished Rodolphus master-work, the novella Contest Darkly which taps into the incredible world of Larsen's Vanya Song (a novel 40 years in the making). Rodolphus and Larsen, like coffee and cream, or hemlock and wine, we experience a world incredibly dark, yet vividly bright.
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1257149997
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 258
Book Description
Rodolphus and Larsen, together in one book for the very first time. Although very different writers, these two storytellers stir emotions, produce chills, and introduce people we soon know and love (and sometimes hate and fear). Collected here are such singular works as Fearsweat, wherein a supernatural stalker threatens an entire town. In My Father: The Killer, we meet a young man who has always believed the worst about his father, a famed terrorist. Interstate Chimes accompanies twins completing their separate destinies outside of time and space. We enter an amazing little girl's creative genius in Four-Leaf Clovers. And for a dark laugh (and scream) we ride along with The Dread Cowboy. Included herein is the unfinished Rodolphus master-work, the novella Contest Darkly which taps into the incredible world of Larsen's Vanya Song (a novel 40 years in the making). Rodolphus and Larsen, like coffee and cream, or hemlock and wine, we experience a world incredibly dark, yet vividly bright.
Evalyce - Worldshaper - Books 1-3
Author: J. Aislynn d'Merricksson
Publisher: Next Chapter
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 600
Book Description
The first three books in the Evalyce - Worldshaper series of arcanepunk novels by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson, now available in one volume. This collection also contains the novella, Obsidian Alcatraz, as a bonus! Mother Of Wolves: In a world full of magic and blended technology, a year of awakening awaits Kalla kyl’Solidor. With the future of the realm at stake, Kalla and her magister embark on a journey that will shake the foundations of De Sikkari. Lady Of Wolves: In the second book in the series, Kalla will learn more of who she is, and of the role she is to play in the future. From Arkaddia, the group travels deep into Dashmar to challenge another of Al'dhumarna's pawns. An estranged family will be reunited, but not without considerable strife. World-shaping changes await the land of Evalyce and the whole world of De Sikkari. Empress Of Wolves: Trouble is brewing in De Sikkari. Grosso has begun to corrupt the Emperor of Argoth, fomenting war amongst the peaceful Argosians. Kalla's visit to the skycontinent of Argoth has unprecedented repercussions for her entire pack. Soon, they must brave the tropics of Su Ramerides and the dragons that live among the dense jungle. New friends will be found and new enemies made, and the most unexpected is yet to come.
Publisher: Next Chapter
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 600
Book Description
The first three books in the Evalyce - Worldshaper series of arcanepunk novels by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson, now available in one volume. This collection also contains the novella, Obsidian Alcatraz, as a bonus! Mother Of Wolves: In a world full of magic and blended technology, a year of awakening awaits Kalla kyl’Solidor. With the future of the realm at stake, Kalla and her magister embark on a journey that will shake the foundations of De Sikkari. Lady Of Wolves: In the second book in the series, Kalla will learn more of who she is, and of the role she is to play in the future. From Arkaddia, the group travels deep into Dashmar to challenge another of Al'dhumarna's pawns. An estranged family will be reunited, but not without considerable strife. World-shaping changes await the land of Evalyce and the whole world of De Sikkari. Empress Of Wolves: Trouble is brewing in De Sikkari. Grosso has begun to corrupt the Emperor of Argoth, fomenting war amongst the peaceful Argosians. Kalla's visit to the skycontinent of Argoth has unprecedented repercussions for her entire pack. Soon, they must brave the tropics of Su Ramerides and the dragons that live among the dense jungle. New friends will be found and new enemies made, and the most unexpected is yet to come.
Usurpers, A New Look at Medieval Kings
Author: Michele Morrical
Publisher: Pen and Sword History
ISBN: 152677951X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 348
Book Description
This examination of six usurper kings of England, and the people and circumstances surrounding them, is “a masterpiece of academic scholarship” (Midwest Book Review). In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy—and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England’s reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper, or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers? This book examines the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances that brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper. Along the way readers will hear stories of some of the most fascinating people of medieval Europe, including Empress Matilda, the woman who nearly succeeded at becoming the first ruling Queen of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of both France and England, who stirred her own sons to rebel against their father, Henry II; Richard II, whose cruel and vengeful reign caused his own family to overthrow him; Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard of York, and Edward IV, who struggled for power during the Wars of the Roses; the notorious Richard III and his monstrous reputation as a child-killer; and Henry VII, who rose from relative obscurity to establish the most famous royal family of all time: the Tudors.
Publisher: Pen and Sword History
ISBN: 152677951X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 348
Book Description
This examination of six usurper kings of England, and the people and circumstances surrounding them, is “a masterpiece of academic scholarship” (Midwest Book Review). In the Middle Ages, England had to contend with a string of usurpers who disrupted the British monarchy—and ultimately changed the course of European history by deposing England’s reigning kings and seizing power for themselves. Some of the most infamous usurper kings to come out of medieval England include William the Conqueror, Stephen of Blois, Henry Bolingbroke, Edward IV, Richard III, and Henry Tudor. Did these kings really deserve the title of usurper, or were they unfairly vilified by royal propaganda and biased chroniclers? This book examines the lives of these six medieval kings, the circumstances that brought each of them to power, and whether or not they deserve the title of usurper. Along the way readers will hear stories of some of the most fascinating people of medieval Europe, including Empress Matilda, the woman who nearly succeeded at becoming the first ruling Queen of England; Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of both France and England, who stirred her own sons to rebel against their father, Henry II; Richard II, whose cruel and vengeful reign caused his own family to overthrow him; Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard of York, and Edward IV, who struggled for power during the Wars of the Roses; the notorious Richard III and his monstrous reputation as a child-killer; and Henry VII, who rose from relative obscurity to establish the most famous royal family of all time: the Tudors.