Liberation of Lystra

The Annals of Lystra #3

by Robin Hardy

Secure on the throne of Lystra, Roman, the Chataine’s former guardian, heeds a warning that a nearby ruler is amassing power to strike. Roman decides to answer the threat himself. But his willful wife Deirdre, now ruling beside him, persuades him to let her go with him. Leaving their young son in the care of a nursemaid, they travel to Corona to confront the supernatural evil growing there. During their absence, a usurper attempts to seize power at West-ford, so Roman must attack his own capital to regain control. With each success, challenges multiply. The crisis point comes when all Lystra believes Roman is dead, and the fate of the province lies in the hands of a young teenage girl. The Annals of Lystra begin with Chataine’s Guardian, continue in Stone of Help, and conclude with Liberation of Lystra. The story then picks up 100 years later with Nicole of Prie Book One of the Latter Annals of Lystra.

Genres: Christian, Fiction, Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance, Adventure

268 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

I've written a new series! It's a distant sequel to The Annals of Lystra (begun in Chataine's Guardian) and The Latter Annals (begun in Nicole of Prie Mer). This is where it begins:

Thirty-five years after the assassination of Henry, Surchatain of Lystra, the province is no more and its capital Westford a shadow of its medieval greatness. With the fever now ravaging the palace, the army, and the town, a new Surchatain has ascended the throne of Westford, requiring a loyalty oath for all his subjects and soldiers.

Efran, Captain of the Red Regiment of the Army of Westford, is Polonti—a member of the brown-skinned, black-haired race generally regarded with contempt by Southerners on the Continent, including many in Westford. Knowing of the loyalty oath required on pain of death, Efran lays plans to leave once he has recovered from the fever himself.

But Efran is hindered by entanglements with the Surchatain’s two daughters—one who despises him and one who adores him.

He is appointed guardian of one Chataine. When the palace begins crumbling on its foundations, Efran takes his charge and a street urchin to an abandoned fortress south of Westford in the midst of wolf territory. While he gathers more homeless children at the fortress, the other Chataine prepares to lead an army against him for the legendary treasure hidden in the desolate Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea.

The Stories of the Abbey of St. Benedict on the Sea comprise 36 novellas, each around 50,000 words, that make for one continuous story from the beginning to a definite end. ​To introduce this series, I'm offering free pdf and epub downloads of all the stories. Each pdf includes links, pronunciations, maps, and an illustration with notes.  (The epubs  contain all of the above except maps.)

Reviews

[Alicia Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

The longest volume so far, yet you'll wish it'd never end. The plot is just wonderfully and phenomenally constructed to show the hand of God at work.

[Taryn Spearey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic conclusion to this trilogy.

Deirdre and Roman are now living a content life with their tow-year-old son, Ariel. When an uprising is predicted, Ronan decides to travel to stop it. This causes Deirdre to make the decision to follow her husband and leave their son with his nursemaid.

I found that Roman was so brave to want to go and attempt to defend his kingdom by killing the evil and ridding the kingdom of it.

I didn't like Basil. He was trying to take over the palace, thinking that Roman was dead. When Roman returns, I loved seeing him reclaim what was his.

This was an overall fantastic trilogy, and I highly recommend it!!

[Ranger]

This is clean romance.

[Jamey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and concluding novel in the "Annals of Lystra." Robin Hardy holds true to the writing style her readers have known and loved, and God is glorified above all others as the "High Lord of Lystra."
It is difficult to define the storyline in this novel, for it simply follows the life of Lystra's Surchataines (King and Queen). We see how Roman and Deirdre work as a team, the trials God puts them through in order to teach them, attacks on the kingdom, confrontations with sorcery, and much more. It is an inspirational (not at all corny) novel that I'd recommend to those in love with the medieval era.
I couldn't say which of the series was my favorite, for they all taught valuable lessons and were a feast for the imagination. All I can say is: enjoy!

[Marcia Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good in the beginning but lost me in the middle to end. I won't be continuing the series.