Duel of Beasts: a thrilling historical adventure set in medieval Spain

by Boyd Morrison, Beth Morrison

Savage beasts, fabulous treasures, perilous duels, and deadly treachery abound in this thrilling adventure novel set in medieval Spain.

Málaga, Spain, 1352. Knight-errant Gerard Fox and his daring wife Willa seek young noblewoman Madelena to deliver news of her brother's an innocuous mission, yet one that plunges the couple into a fight for their lives against their most dangerous adversaries yet.

Madelena's sister-in-law Helvira desires two things that Madalena now a considerable inheritance, and a letter that provides grounds for Helvira's execution in both the Christian and Muslim worlds. With everything at stake, Helvira will stop at nothing to seize both.

Fox and Willa soon find themselves in a desperate battle to survive on a journey that will take them from the royal court at Seville to the mighty complex of the Alhambra Palace. To save Madelena and reveal the truth, the duo must outwit Helvira and her allies at every turn – and escape the ferocious creatures of Helvira's deadly menagerie.

The unmissable new novel in the Tales of the Lawless Land series, combining thrilling historical action and clever puzzles, from New York Times bestselling author Boyd and expert medievalist Beth Morrison.

Reviews for Boyd and Beth Morrison

'This duo knows all the right chords to touch' Steve Berry
'Will dazzle fans of The Da Vinci Code' Lee Goldberg
'Full of authenticity and thrills' Mark Greaney

Genres: Historical

464 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

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

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story picks up a few months after the previous book. Spain 1352, While it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading the earlier books first so you can fully appreciate Gerard and Willa’s journey and everything they have already been through. I have no doubt that if you start with this one, you’ll want to go back and read the previous three books.

Excommunicated Knight Templar Gerard Fox and his wife Willa are travelling to Spain in the hope of finding the priest who may hold the key to Gerard reclaiming his title and lands. If they succeed, they can finally return to England and begin the settled life they dream of. Before continuing their journey, they agree to personally deliver a letter from Christoval to his sister, Madelena Arrazola. Unfortunately, things quickly go wrong when they are arrested on a false charge of blasphemy. Their unexpected release leads them into a web of deception after they unknowingly deliver the letter to the wrong Señora Arrazola, setting off a thrilling chain of events.

When they finally meet the real Madelena, it becomes clear that powerful people want her silenced before the truth can come out. Gerard, Willa, and Madelena soon find themselves fighting for their lives as danger lurks around every corner.

I was completely engrossed from beginning to end. The setting of medieval Spain was vividly brought to life, and I loved the addition of Nayar’s extraordinary collection of animals, including hippopotamuses, crocodiles, bears, and wolves, which added even more tension to an already gripping story.

It was also lovely to learn a little more about Willa’s past with the introduction of Darras, whose arrival immediately sparks Gerard’s suspicions. Their relationship continues to be one of the highlights of the series, and I really enjoy seeing how they face each new challenge together.

This is a fast-paced historical adventure packed with action, intrigue, danger, and just the right amount of humour. From daring escapes and deadly plots to bullfights and encounters with dangerous animals, there was never a dull moment. I found it impossible to put down and loved every page.

This series just keeps getting better, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you enjoy historical fiction filled with adventure, memorable characters, and plenty of suspense, this is definitely a series you should be reading.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This genre is not normally something I go for…HOWEVER, I enjoyed every single one of these books, each one takes you on a thrilling adventure with so many twists and turns which keep it so exciting! I adore Gerrard and Willa, and my love for them continued to grow throughout the series! 💗

Duel of Beasts was amazing! I enjoyed it from start to finish, it was a fast paced, thrilling book. I love the different vibe involving the beasts, I love the amount of times it made me sit there shocked and just absorbing what’s actually happened🤣 I highly recommend reading this whole series, it was amazing!⭐️