The Never - Ending Book: HFVBT - Presents E.M. Powell's The Blood of the Fifth Knight

Thursday, February 5, 2015

HFVBT - Presents E.M. Powell's The Blood of the Fifth Knight - Blog Tour- January 1- February 6

Please join E.M.Powell as she tours the blogosphere with H F Virtual Books Tours for The Blood of the Fifth Knight from, January 1- February 6

Publication Date: January 1, 2015

Thomas & Mercer

Formats: eBook, Paperback

Pages: 368p

Genre: Historical Thriller

A triumphant sequel to Powell’s acclaimed historical thriller The Fifth Knight. A desperate king trusts a lone knight to unravel a web of murder.

England, 1176. King Henry II has imprisoned his rebellious Queen for her failed attempt to overthrow him. But with her conspirators still at large and a failed assassination attempt on his beautiful mistress, Rosamund Clifford, the King must take action to preserve his reign.

Desperate, Henry turns to the only man he trusts: a man whose skills have saved him once before. Sir Benedict Palmer answers the call, mistakenly believing that his family will remain safe while he attends to his King.

As Palmer races to secure his King’s throne, neither man senses the hand of a brilliant schemer, a mystery figure loyal to Henry’s traitorous Queen who will stop at nothing to see the King defeated.

vThe Blood of the Fifth Knight is an intricate medieval murder mystery and worthy sequel to E.M. Powell’s acclaimed historical thriller The Fifth Knight.

Review Praise for The Fifth Knight

“Powell does a masterful job. Highly recommended.” Historical Novels Review

My Review :

I have thoroughly enjoyed this story. It has been quite some time since I had not read such a medieval masterpiece full of crimes, mystery, intrigues, and judgements against witch hunts...All in all, a very well written and beautiful masterpiece.

This is my review and personal trip to the court of Henry II in one of my favorite historical periods. Unfortunately, although I would love to write about all I read, I won’t because I can’t share with you the conclusion of this great adventure…I will only share a few interesting parts of the story, along with some of its key players, in the hope that you’ll have as much fun as I did reading this story.

The story unfolds in 1176 AD England, during the time in which King Henry II and his Queen Consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine occupied the English throne. The plot of this novel begins four years after the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket, when King Henry II does penance on the streets of Canterbury, because he was a key suspect in the archbishop’s death.

While the king does his penance, Queen Eleanor takes advantage of the situation and plots with her uncle, Raoul de Faye, to dethrone the king. Even though the king later found out about the plot and locked his queen in a castle, Queen Eleanor continued plotting against her king while in confinement. Unfortunately for the king, Henry II was surrounded by people whom he could not fully know if they were trustworthy or not.

He also had a lover, Rosamund Clifford, whom the queen and her uncle wanted to “eliminate”.

Realizing that his lover was in danger, the king immediately summonses his most faithful and loyal knight, Sir Benedict Palmer, to protect and serve as a covert bodyguard to Rosamund. Without Rosemund’s knowledge, he then asks Sir Benedict to act as just another courtier and to satisfy Rosamund’s desire for the construction of a labyrinth she wants for herself.

Aside from Rosamund’s care, the king also has Geoffrey’s, (who happens to be the king’s illegitimate son) as well as Hugo’s, who is one of the king’s aids. The reason for the king’s protection of all these characters is because he must leave court and travel to another location.

When Sir Benedict Palmer receives the King’s summons, he worries because he won’t be able to take his wife Theodosia, who also happens to be an illegitimate daughter to Henry II. Theodosia and Sir Benedict have two children, a boy and a girl.

A day before Sir Benedict’s departure to court, one of his sisters (Joan) appears in town under very strange circumstances. Apparently, Sir Benedict had not met his sister before, because he had left his parents’ house when she was every young. Nonetheless, Joan was very well received by her brother. He could now travel to King Henry II’s court without worries because his wife and children would be in the company of his newly met sister.

During Sir Benedict’s absence, strange things linked to witchcraft begin to take place in the town he left behind; but as soon as Sir Benedict reaches the king’s court, Henry II explains everything to him and gives him specific instructions to follow.

And so it is that this story unfolds, in a rare and unusual way, where we’ll see all kinds of characters, twists and turns appear and take place unexpectedly.

What is going to happen to Rosamund Clifford?

Who are the key characters behind the plots against Rosamund?

Will Sir Benedict, alongside Geoffrey and Hugo, be able to protect Rosamund from the claws of death?

What turns will this story take with King Henry II, Sir Benedict, Geoffrey, Hugo, the queen and her uncle?

What fate is awaiting Theodosia and her children, with that strange sister-in-law, when she finally realizes that something bad is taking shape?

I’ll invite all of you who enjoy medieval mystery, assassination and witch hunt plots in this beautifully written story…It will have a totally unexpected ending!!!

BRAVO, EM Powel !!!

About the Author

E.M. Powell is the author of medieval thriller THE FIFTH KNIGHT which was a #1 Amazon Bestseller. Born and raised in the Republic of Ireland into the family of Michael Collins (the legendary revolutionary and founder of the Irish Free State) she now lives in the north west of England with her husband and daughter and a Facebook-friendly dog. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She is a reviewer of fiction and non-fiction for the HNS. Find out more by visiting www.empowell.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.