The White Fortress

Tales of the Lawless Land #3

by Boyd Morrison, Beth Morrison

The thrilling new historical adventure in the Tales of the Lawless Land series from New York Times bestselling author Boyd Morrison and expert medievalist Beth Morrison.

Croatia, 1351. Daring knight Gerard Fox and his adventurous wife Willa, fresh from a dangerous quest across Italy and Greece, soon find themselves embroiled in a new intrigue as they sail toward the walled city of Dubrovnik.

Having inadvertently hindered a rescue mission, Fox and Willa make amends by helping a desperate Croatian couple forced into a terrible either they betray their hometown to a treacherous nobleman and the brutal warlord he serves, or their abducted child will be murdered.

A century-old prophecy and a lost codex written by fabled explorer Marco Polo are key to stopping the warlord's conquest, which could spark a devastating war along the entire Adriatic coast. Fox and Willa race against time to devise a plan for saving a child, a town, and a country – knowing it could cost them everything if they fail...

Reviews for the TALES OF THE LAWLESS LAND series

'The Morrisons bring the Middle Ages to life in vivid detail.' Graham Brown
'Full of both authenticity and thrills.' Mark Greaney
'Complete with mysteries, secrets, and adventure, rich in detail, delivering exactly what a reader craves.' Steve Berry
'Action galore. What a ride!' Elizabeth George

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Medieval

432 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2025

About the author

Boyd Morrison is an author, actor, engineer, and Jeopardy! champion. He started his career working on NASA's space station project at Johnson Space Center, where he got the opportunity to fly on the Vomit Comet, the same plane used to train astronauts for zero gravity. After earning a PhD in engineering from Virginia Tech, he used his training to develop eleven US patents at Thomson/RCA. Boyd then managed a video game testing group in Microsoft's Xbox division before becoming a full-time writer. For non-fiction thrills, he enjoys white water rafting, skiing, scuba diving, and bungee jumping. Boyd is also a professional actor, appearing in films, commercials, and stage plays. In 2003 he fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a Jeopardy! champion. He currently lives in Seattle with his wife.

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

White Fortress
The title refers to Dubrovnik where the main characters are talking about its history with the parents of a young boy who was kidnapped. Niko is their son and was abducted by Lord Vitomir . The talk that is going around is that he killed Drazhan and he’s betraying his city and the Venetian Republic to help the Serbs do it . The small town is valuable because the Venetian Republic owns all of the Dalmatian coast controlled by its powerful army.Petra the father of the boy kidnapped is the harvest master of salt pans and this is where the harvest master discovered a way to treble the salt production. They call it white gold and this harvest is valuable because it provides a third of income for Dubrovnik and the increased production would make them the most valuable place in the Venetian Republic.
It gets more intense when Gerard understands why they took the son and the bishop threatened to have Petra excommunicated. Then the prophecy that explains it all to them in one way but the opposite side has their own interpretation. Then his wife Jelena explains the prophecy and we begin to understand the significance of its meaning and why both Willa and Gerald answer the second one.
Read pages 17-20 to learn more as the authors seeing Bogun who is the mastermind behind the other side and who Vitomir works for and then the rational behind Bogun and his beliefs regarding the Orthodox Serbians.
Let’s go back to the prologue and Marco Polo and a lost codex he wrote and a century old prophecy both the key to stopping the warlord’s and spare a terrible war along the Atlantic coast as the prologue leaves us wondering which of the two that worked for Polo will succeed. One took a small paddle boat and wanted to get to the other side and the other having a valuable book or books that would describe codex and it’s value but he’d have to swim fir his life to get to land. This is the first cliffhanger the authors have given us leaving us wanting to move ahead and read more.
The authors take us back to when Vitomir finds out the Drazhan was meeting with the rector and thought he was going to betray him as you read Dubrovnik October 1351 and witness it all. Then Petra realizes he has to get back on the ship and hoping to get the codex before Vitomir who is on the way to do the same gets his hands on it. Willa joined him on the ship and and created a plan to make use of being strangers.
A book or codex that would cost a life as Willa had to create a diversion with the help of a young girl that tried to steal from them and a way for Petra to switch the codex with another written by Marco Polo. Events get tense and Bogun meets Ulfo and he flips when he sees Bogun and what he says he did to his village. But Ulfo spoke too soon and did not see it coming as his words about Bogun and the betrayal of Vitomir were more than his downfall. Then we move to the four having dinner but the book he had did not mention salt or weapons shooting flames. The book was not the right one but what happens next changes it all as Jelena taunts Vitomir and Gerard comes to save him from a supposed attacker and Willa sees he is inside Vitomir’s house and now the surprise about the Marco Polo’s book and a reading from it. The dinner conversation leads to many uncomfortable topics and Gerard even lets Bogun hold his sword and then the fable about salt and the value of the salt mines and what they hope to accomplish.
Just when Gerard hoped to release Niko the scenes in the next chapters keep him moving and fighting with Bogun, Vitomir and he problems staying alive, Niko falling over the parapet and now the hidden secrets held by Bogan and what is the hidden secret about Niko? Niko/Nika meets with Gerard as they plan what’s next and Bogan has his strife with Cedozar and Milos is captured and let go but it’s far from over.
Then Niko and Gerard want to find someone to help and but you won’t believe the reasons why this person joins them.
The murders and carnage in Split in chapter 34 are chilling and Lorenzo wanted to search for anyone that might be alive. Read pages 212-218 and find out that danger is right there in front of Cristoval and more. Aston is where Willa learns about the salt pans and Petra explains but there is a history that is very important and you the reader learn why the codex that Polo wrote focuses on how they can triple the salt business and more then a miracle and the codex is found. Moving to Gerard.
Events move to different towns, adding more that have interests in the salt pans plus Bogan wants revenge and will not be humiliated again as the authors described in his past.
The chapters leading up to Hellfire bring us an understanding of just how far all sides will go to win the wars and the salt pans plus rule Mali Ston and any other land that both Bogan and his men if soldiers take.
Significance of bat droppings, the Mali Ston attack, the prophecy dealing with hellfire and could they rain hellfire with rockets upon them but let’s not forget Bogan.
Bogan spotted along with Vitomir and Cedozar a Venetian watch ship. How will they proceed? You won’t believe the end result. Chapter 45 we meet Radislav and his encounter with Gerard then find out what Bogan wants of him.
The bulk of this story takes place in Croatia as Gerard Fox and Willa find themselves hunting down a codex written my Marco Polo sailing across Italy but why are they helping the couple that have not been able to get the hospitality to get them an audience to help find their son. How could they betray their hometown plays a large part as they along with Willa have to battle Bogan and hope their son survives but as you learned Niko is smart and clever so where will this all end?
Then Radoskav meets Tino and Niko they are going to Hvar. Then truths come out and history about murders as the killer shrugs it off and the end of the chapter will make you smile. It’s far from over more sailing, more battles and then the final scenes The ridge wall of Ston, Sacrifice is next .
Willa and Gerard unite and the battles come fast as Bogan didn’t wait for his men on the ladders to open the gates the key to success. Willa needs to trust Cristoval as Gerard cannot help her as there is more to come and Bogan threatens but who?
Then more dead and wounded plus what could they do with the hellfire rockets? More about Bogan and his men and insults and the dust sprayed in the air. Kohlar vs Nameless and will the wrong side find the codex?
Then the rockets are made and the true leader is revealed as kindness and honor win out and a miracle happens and a new leader to show the way to liberation. Last paragraph page 369 sums it up. What is wrong now and the first Serbian drew a weapon and Tino is hurt but what will that into Bogun?
Will the gates open for Bogan and his men? Fox and Cristoval running from a fight! But what’s true and what’s bait?
Some endings are typical but not this one was more than tragic as loyalty did not win in an unfortunate way. Then Nika was at the mercy of Vitomir will she listen to his demands? Vitomir got hold of the Marco Polo books and wow. Bogun never saw it coming and some duels well you decide the winner but the main attraction has yet to be unleashed. What did the people of Ston really have? Just how was the prophecy fulfilled you have to witness it for yourself the ingenious way Willa and her team manipulated the weapon so to speak. Rockets and one thing the enemy did not expect.
Read the final chapter and learn the final outcomes for Jelena and Petra and Ston. What about the books and what did Willa do with them to learn more. Nina what is her final role and what will happen next and why is Nika so special as you learn just how a four part prophecy gets fulfilled in a unique and exciting adventure. White Fortress a special name for Willa and Gerard’s home . Lives lost and enemies all around but authors Boyd and Elizabeth Morrison take us back in time and researched the time period as we join Willa and Gerard on their quest to help Jelena and Petra. What’s next and will Gerard finally get absolution and reinstated in his former position? Find out when they oen their next adventure.
The strength behind both Willa and Gerard and the kindness, caring and willingness to sacrifice their goals to help bring safety to Kiki and hope to his family is inspiring. Then authors kept my interest and passion to read this inspiring and hopeful book letting the world know we need to bring back Kindness, honesty and love.
Fran Lewis just reviews

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into The White Fortress without realizing it was part of a series, which, in hindsight, might have enriched my reading experience. There were moments where I could sense the depth of backstory that I was missing—established character dynamics, relationships that had clearly evolved over multiple books—but despite this, I still found myself engaged. The historical detail is impeccable, immersing me in 14th-century Croatia, a time and place I knew little about. The sense of place is so vividly drawn that I could almost hear the crashing waves against Dubrovnik’s walls, feel the tension simmering in the streets, and taste the salt in the air.

Gerard Fox and Willa make for a compelling duo, and while I wished for more emotional depth in their characterization, the book compensates with relentless action and intrigue. The political machinations surrounding Dubrovnik’s salt trade, the hunt for Marco Polo’s lost codex, and the ominous prophecy woven throughout add layers of suspense that kept the pages turning. There’s no shortage of peril—kidnappings, duels, betrayals, and grand battles. The action sequences are well-crafted and cinematic, making this an undeniably entertaining read.

Where the book fell a little short for me was in its character work. I never quite felt like I got under the skin of the protagonists. While their motivations were clear, their inner lives felt somewhat elusive, and I found myself craving more emotional complexity. This was especially noticeable in the quieter moments, where the book had the potential to explore personal stakes more deeply but instead kept the focus on the overarching plot.

That said, if you’re looking for a fast-paced historical adventure with rich world-building and a gripping sense of time and place, The White Fortress delivers. It’s a thrilling dive into a fascinating period of history, packed with action, intrigue, and high-stakes drama. While I would recommend starting with the earlier books in the series to fully appreciate the characters’ arcs, even as a standalone, it was an enjoyable and immersive read.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the third volume in a medieval historical fiction series that I have enjoyed. The White Fortress was the weakest of the trio. I loved the setting - 14th century Croatia, with Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, and Korčula featured (which was so fun for me since I've visited all those places). The characters are still good - Gerard and Willa Fox have such interesting backstories, and I want to see them get back to France and England and address Gerard's lost inheritance and wrongful excommunication.

So this volume just felt like stalling. Instead of moving forward, Gerard and Willa get side-tracked on their journey home and end up leading the defense of the salt-producing city Ston against a group of rogue Serbians. Absolutely nothing new developed in the overall story arc. Someone reading the series could skip volume 3 and never know they had missed a thing.

Anyway, 3.5 stars.

[Clay Yearsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Rousing Adventure

This 3rd entry in the “The Tales of the Lawless Land” series doesn’t disappoint. Gerard and Willa find themselves near the Dalmatian coast. Another rousing tale of good vs evil breaks out. As in the prior book, there’s a puzzle involved that serves as a plot outline, but which only becomes clear as the story progresses. I don’t know if the Morrison siblings can keep that up, but it’s an enjoyable device. The book isn’t perfect (there are a few passages exploring the thoughts of a character that is unaware of something the reader knows, which are distracting), but for what it is, it’s darn good.
Highly recommended!

[Martin Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Medieval Adventure

In this third book of the series the duo are joined by three others in an effort to save a small town threatened by a large band of rogue Serbian soldiers. Stirring stuff

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fabulous historical fiction full of adventures and learning history of Croatia. I very much enjoy the travels of Fox and Willa. I am just going to have to wait for the next book by these two. Highly recommend.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest in the acclaimed historical fiction series to feature Gerard and Willa Fox, it has a slightly different feel to the previous books as this is set in 14th century Croatia.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, pure escapism into a world of adventure

What starts out as a simple hunt to return a kidnapped boy leads to a complex and thrilling adventure.

A read rich in character and storytelling, a joy to read, it’s just lets you transport yourself back in time, the way the book is written you can feel yourself there with the characters. You get a terrific sense of place and time, a real feel for the period, the geography and the people. Bringing the middle ages to life in glorious detail

The characters are wonderfully fleshed out, you get a sense of the turbulent and hardened times in which they lived, the writing shrouds a lot of the characters in mystery so that your not quite sure who you can trust. Gerard and Willa have this overriding sense to see right done event at their own persoanl risk. As the villains of the piece Vitomir and Bogun stand out

A read which packs plenty in, the hunt for Marco Polos lost codex, political machinations surrounding the salt trade.

There are plenty of actions scenes superbly drawn out. The book shows what a precious commoditiy salt was and the lengths that some would go to protect its trade

I loved the way that the authors bring the landscape to life, it’s add real depth to the story

The authors create a feeling of human emotion into the characters which turns this into more than just an adventurous ride

The book is packed with plenty of tension and suspense in a fast paced race against time adventure. There are plenty of twist and heart stopping moments written into the narrative

Historical adventure fiction at its finest, forget about life for a while and just wallow in the quality of the storytelling, one to recommend. Can’t wait to read more.