Insurrection by Robyn Young, Hodder & Stoughton, $32.99
Set during the period of the Wars of Scottish Independence, this historical fiction leads you in swiftly and doesn’t let you go. It starts in 1286 with the death of Alexander, King of Scotland, who is murdered by one of his own men as he rides home to his new wife on a dangerously stormy night. He leaves no heirs and the fight for the throne ensues.
Blood is quickly shed as the powerful ruling families of Scotland, rife with resentments and questionable allegiances, hunger for ultimate power. Unbeknownst to them, Edward, King of England, wants to claim Scotland for himself. It is Robert the Bruce, also a claimant to the Scottish throne, who unites the Scots through purpose and pride, and leads the insurrection against Edward.
Although there’s a lot of history to digest this enjoyable page-turner is written with a light touch. Be warned, the female characters in this novel don’t rate highly but the detail of the men’s business – descriptions of battles, marches, strategy meetings – definitely do.
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