Hearts of Darkness
By Marjorie Bowen
Three of Marjorie Bowen’s evocative historical tales of royal treachery are collected here for the first time.
THE SWORD DECIDES
Queen Giovanna of Naples will stop at nothing to hold the throne of Naples in her own right – even if that means disposing of King Andreas. Plotting with Raymond de Cabane, it’s not long before Giovanna finds herself caught in a tangled web of lies and political pressures that leads to armies clashing in the streets of Naples.
Only one can emerge victorious – may the sword decide!
The Sword Decides is a thrilling historical romance filled with twists and political intrigue to entertain every reader.
THE VIPER OF MILAN
1360, Lombardy, Italy.
There’s only one man who can stop the tyrant Duke of Milan from ruthlessly employing treachery and murder in his desperation to maintain his power: the dispossessed Duke of Verona, Mastino della Scala. Will Verona tarnish his morality and turn away from honesty in the fight against Milan?
The Viper of Milan takes us to the colourful and violent world of fourteenth-century Italy where success seems to be doomed and the pendulum of power can swing both ways.
DICKON
Despite a growing sense of foreboding, Britain’s most controversial king, Richard III, has become a powerful and honourable ruler.
But following betrayals from his own flesh and blood and the constant threat of treason, he is forced to shield his devoted wife, Anne Neville, from his vicious enemies.
Dickon is a story of conflict, violence and heartache. From his lonely childhood, to happier moments with Anne and the glory of victory, to his fateful death on Bosworth Field, the life of Richard III is written in the blood of those he most loved.
Marjorie Bowen was born in 1885 and often wrote under the pseudonym Margaret Gabrielle Vere Campbell Long. She was one of Britain’s most prolific authors of the twentieth century. Writing was more than just a hobby: her works were the primary source of financial support for her family. Between 1906 and her death in 1952, Bowen wrote over 150 books, garnering much acclaim for her popular histories and historical and Gothic romances. Alongside masterful descriptions and concise, efficient prose, she deftly rendered larger-than-life subjects in the minds of her readers. To this day, aficionados of the genres covet Bowen’s work. Her other titles include The Sword Decided, Mary Queen of Scots, The Queen’s Caprice, The Governor of England, Mistress Nell Gwyn and Dickon.
