Want to become more thoughtful and creative? Subscribe to Rehan’s newsletter.
Sign up to Rehan’s insights on the future-of-work and the craft of storytelling delivered to your inbox monthly.
A KING’S ARMOUR
Available on:
Writing a sequel, after the success of A Tudor Turk, was going to be particularly challenging, but I was determined to make Book Two in the Chronicles, better than the first one in the series. By all accounts – everyone who has read it, has told me it is.
My novels are often set in parts of the world where I’ve the opportunity to travel to. So, it was the case in A King’s Armour, where I dug up old memories of places I had been to, experiences I had, people with whom I had met, and was fortunate enough to pull all of this together into a coherent narrative.
One element which weighed heavy on my mind, as I began the design process for A King’s Armour, was whether or not to introduce a supernatural element to an otherwise historic fiction. After much consideration and the trajectory of the plot I choose to shine a brief light on the metaphysical dimension. Once more reader feedback was extremely positive and much to my surprise people wanted to see more of this.
This novel picks up from the next moment the previous one ends, and in keeping with the cliffhanger style of structure, I’ve tried to keep a brisk pace A King’s Armour, whilst also building in moments of reflection for both the characters and you the reader. I do hope you enjoy the continuation of the adventure, as we hurtle towards the final book in the series.
FROM THE BACK COVER
Istanbul, 1592- the arrival of a mysterious manuscript at the court of Sultan Murad III, the most powerful man in the world, claiming to know the location of the fabled Armour of King David, sends the Sultan into a frenzied desire to track it down. Never having commanded his armies into battle, he desperately seeks the protection of the legendary breastplate before he takes the field.
Following the daring recovery of the Staff of Moses by the elite Ruzgär unit, it is to them the Sultan turns once more to locate the Armour. Amongst the poisoned atmosphere of his court, the Ruzgär shine as exemplars under the valiant Commander Konjic for a mission which appears impossible. Konjic takes his diverse unit on a journey to recover the Armour craved by the Sultan. The voyage will change their lives forever and from which not all will return. In seeking to please the Sultan, they must avoid formidable enemies at court and more fierce adversaries on the road.
Meanwhile, Awa of the Songhai has established an admirable reputation within the Ruzgär, yet grows despondent with the duplicity she encounters in Istanbul between the rulers and the ruled. Will, has developed an infatuation with a love beyond his reach, as his comradeship with the gregarious Gurkan sours over a question of loyalty to the Commander.
Wider afield, sinister forces seek to destabilise the Ottoman Empire, including rogue English Earls and a new threat from the East. The usefulness and indeed survival of the Ruzgär depends upon their recovery of the Armour of King David. Yet unbeknown to the Ruzgär their journey will take them into the lair of a man known only by friend and foe alike as the Lord of the Two Serpents…
BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: HopeRoad (16 Mar. 2020)
ISBN-10: 1916467172
ISBN-13: 978-1916467170
REVIEWS
“A fantastic fast-paced adventure, with lots of plot twists, excitement and particularly strong historical detail, this story is perfect reading” - Children’s Books Ireland’s Recommended Reads.
“An area of history which is endlessly fascinating, readers who love Assassin’s Creed will enjoy this” - BookTrust, The Books We Love.
“A great story, full of derring-do, thrills and spills” - Margaret McCulloch-Keeble, Orchard Academy.
“Three huzzahs for this scintillating new take on the late-Tudor period” - Naomi Foyle, author, The
Gaia Chronicles.
‘A thoroughly researched, fantastic feat of imagination. Incredibly engaging and a rollicking read. More please!’ Pete Kalu, author, Silent Striker, Zombie Xl and Being Me.
“Totally unique and amazingly intriguing” - Read It Daddy.
“Even more thrills, intrigue and adventure. A Kings Armour was another thrilling faced paced adventure, which seems like the author’s hallmark. The story literally takes off just where the last book, A Tudor Turk, had ended. There is little time to catch your breath as the characters travel across great historic locations in pursuit of the legendary Kings Armour. The characters are vivid, strong and bold and we see a world and a period of history that is not usually accessible in such a genre. This series just needs to be made into a movie!” – Amazon Customer (Amazon review).
“Fun historical fiction for young (and older) adults. This was a really fun, engaging and educational read. I would recommend it for you and older adults. I don’t usually finish books quickly but this one (and the first part) were hard to put down so that I finished it within record time for me! There are many twists and turns in the plot, character development, interesting historical facts plus some light philosophical lines that make you pause and reflect. I look forward to part 3!” – LME (Amazon review).
“Great book. This, like A Tudor Turk, ends in a cliffhanger. It is well-written and is a great book. I am dying for the next book” - Amazon Customer (Amazon review).
“Great follow up. Another action-packed thriller continuing the team’s journey. Plenty of plot twists, adventures and new missions taking the reader deeper into the fascinating labyrinth of the medieval world. Look forward to the next instalment!” - Mr Atif Rahman (Amazon review).