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Tales of the Lawless Land #1
The Lawless Land
First in a fast-paced Templar Knight adventure series from New York Times-bestselling author Boyd Morrison and expert art historian Beth Morrison.
Canterbury, 1351.
Excommunicated knight Gerard Fox is a battle-hardened warrior whose ancestral home was unjustly taken from him. Now, he roams across the known world of Europe looking for work as a man-at-arms. Equipped with only his Damascus-steel sword and war bow, Fox takes out tyrannical and dishonorable men in a land still blighted by the Black Death.
In his ongoing crusade to deliver justice, Fox comes to the aid of Lady Isabel, who is fleeing from her brutal betrothed. But she hasn't told him the whole story. Isabel is guarding a priceless holy relic. One many men would kill for.
Fox and Isabel soon find they are being chased across the continent and try to evade those who seek the relic. But as more assassins close in, Fox realizes they will stop at nothing to possess the sacred treasure that Isabel has sworn to protect...
Canterbury, 1351.
Excommunicated knight Gerard Fox is a battle-hardened warrior whose ancestral home was unjustly taken from him. Now, he roams across the known world of Europe looking for work as a man-at-arms. Equipped with only his Damascus-steel sword and war bow, Fox takes out tyrannical and dishonorable men in a land still blighted by the Black Death.
In his ongoing crusade to deliver justice, Fox comes to the aid of Lady Isabel, who is fleeing from her brutal betrothed. But she hasn't told him the whole story. Isabel is guarding a priceless holy relic. One many men would kill for.
Fox and Isabel soon find they are being chased across the continent and try to evade those who seek the relic. But as more assassins close in, Fox realizes they will stop at nothing to possess the sacred treasure that Isabel has sworn to protect...
480 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2022
346 people are currently reading
5846 people want to read
About the author
Boyd Morrison
32 books458 followersBoyd 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
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January 6, 2023Full disclosure: I know the author, who is a fellow member of Seattle7 and who has read applications for the Elizabeth George Foundation. That said, I wouldn't be reviewing the book if I didn't like it. I would just let it go. BUT: I loved this book. It's got everything to make it both fascinating and enjoyable. There are terrific good guys and despicable bad guys. There is a MacGuffin. There is a damsel who starts out in distress but certainly doesn't end that way. There is the hero, a knight who has been excommunicated from the cultural and social touchstone of the time period: the Catholic Church. The time period is the 1300s, just at the end of the Black Death. The story involves the damsel attempting to deliver a religious icon into the hands of an abbess whose location is unknown. But the icon is wanted desperately by a corrupt cardinal and an even more corrupt English nobleman. The book is heavily researched by the authors--Boyd and Beth Morrison--and everything in it seems authentic. The jousting scenes are nail-biting. The climax is a literal page turner. It's simply a great read that you can lose yourself in, which makes the novel a balm in these trying times.
May 14, 2022
Thrilling medieval novel set just after the battle of Crecy years!
A knight looking to right wrongs and avenge his mother, a lady guarding a sacred item handed down from the women of the family over generations, an avaricious Monsignor who would be Pope, a lord looking to become a King. All these machinations play out across England and France, from Canterbury to Mont-Saint-Michel, to Avignon and beyond.
A tale of ideals, of friendship, and a condemnation against the might that corrupts, the unyielding power that kings and church can wield.
Can a single knight and a desperate woman change the outcome?
A gripping epic adventure written with finesse, upheld by an historian’s rigour.
A Head of Zeus ARC via NetGalley
A knight looking to right wrongs and avenge his mother, a lady guarding a sacred item handed down from the women of the family over generations, an avaricious Monsignor who would be Pope, a lord looking to become a King. All these machinations play out across England and France, from Canterbury to Mont-Saint-Michel, to Avignon and beyond.
A tale of ideals, of friendship, and a condemnation against the might that corrupts, the unyielding power that kings and church can wield.
Can a single knight and a desperate woman change the outcome?
A gripping epic adventure written with finesse, upheld by an historian’s rigour.
A Head of Zeus ARC via NetGalley
May 13, 2022
This was a Net Galley freebie for a return review. I had hopes for this, but not to be. I did not finish. Made it to about 40%.
Cookie cutter good guys versus bad guys. The only thing historical about it is it is set in 1351 England and France. Corrupt Earl. Corrupt Cardinal. During the papal split at Avignon, corruption in the church was rampant. Weak plot. Future happenings are telegraphed by the authors. Predictable.
Too bad.
Cookie cutter good guys versus bad guys. The only thing historical about it is it is set in 1351 England and France. Corrupt Earl. Corrupt Cardinal. During the papal split at Avignon, corruption in the church was rampant. Weak plot. Future happenings are telegraphed by the authors. Predictable.
Too bad.
April 12, 2022
I do love a good historical fiction novel, but "The Lawless Land" knocked my socks off. It has absolutely everything - and a lot of it feels very light-hearted, making this an incredibly engaging and fast read. I enjoyed the writing, the setting, the characters. The story though! I'm so glad this is the first of a series - and I hope it's a long series!
My thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
July 18, 2022
Is it possible that all the people reviewing this book are the author's friends?
I got it because of their hyperbolic reviews and -- $0.99 on Kindle daily deal.
DNF at 10% - which took ~20 min to get through - the thoughts/ page make it the least dense book I have read - including children's books - in a long time!
It is pure pap. Research is basically the use of a few Latin words and terms like "coffret". Here from the horse's mouth to give an idea - the main character's found a woman just killed in a carriage:
"It was a woman, almost as beautiful as Isabel, with a similar pert nose and high cheekbones, but having a squarer jaw and a small dimple in her chin. She had thick blonde hair elaborately plaited"...
Yeah and he's WASHING the living lady's (blonde) tresses 2 seconds later, maybe supposed to be promisingly erotic, with 6 people lying dead around them?
Pure drivel. I'm embarrassed that I fell for the fake reviews. Doing my part to set things straight.
I got it because of their hyperbolic reviews and -- $0.99 on Kindle daily deal.
DNF at 10% - which took ~20 min to get through - the thoughts/ page make it the least dense book I have read - including children's books - in a long time!
It is pure pap. Research is basically the use of a few Latin words and terms like "coffret". Here from the horse's mouth to give an idea - the main character's found a woman just killed in a carriage:
"It was a woman, almost as beautiful as Isabel, with a similar pert nose and high cheekbones, but having a squarer jaw and a small dimple in her chin. She had thick blonde hair elaborately plaited"...
Yeah and he's WASHING the living lady's (blonde) tresses 2 seconds later, maybe supposed to be promisingly erotic, with 6 people lying dead around them?
Pure drivel. I'm embarrassed that I fell for the fake reviews. Doing my part to set things straight.
May 10, 2022
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I really found it interesting and a good historical fiction blend of adventure and romance. I definitely want to read more in this series. It includes the Black Death in Europe which feels a lot like current events in the United States as they recover from pestilence.
I really found it interesting and a good historical fiction blend of adventure and romance. I definitely want to read more in this series. It includes the Black Death in Europe which feels a lot like current events in the United States as they recover from pestilence.
May 28, 2022
Medieval fiction? Count me in! The Lawless Land by Boyd & Beth Morrison is a thrilling historical fiction that was clearly well researched. This feels authentic and real, and that is one of the things I think is very important in historical fiction.
Love the characters. The good guys are definitely good, with flaws and back stories that make them feel real. The bad guys are vile and convincing. I was very invested in the characters and what would happen to them.
Thrilling and action packed, this kept me thoroughly entertained as I read. I love the fight scenes. It was so easy to see the scenes in my head, making me feel as though I was actually there.
Overall, The Lawless Land was an excellent read. I enjoyed the adventure and the action. I loved the medieval time period and the authentic writing. Check it out!
Thank you to the authors and publisher for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Love the characters. The good guys are definitely good, with flaws and back stories that make them feel real. The bad guys are vile and convincing. I was very invested in the characters and what would happen to them.
Thrilling and action packed, this kept me thoroughly entertained as I read. I love the fight scenes. It was so easy to see the scenes in my head, making me feel as though I was actually there.
Overall, The Lawless Land was an excellent read. I enjoyed the adventure and the action. I loved the medieval time period and the authentic writing. Check it out!
Thank you to the authors and publisher for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
December 6, 2024
The Lawless Land by Boyd Morrison; Beth Morrison was coauthored and well written. Adventure started almost immediately and continues throughout the novel. I felt like it was historically accurate I just wish there had been more romance for me. If you like this time period and all of its history then I think you’ll enjoy it.
Thanks Head of Zeus via NetGalley.
Thanks Head of Zeus via NetGalley.
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May 9, 2022A thoroughly enjoyable late-night read. It's been a while since I've attempted a new historical novel, as so many seem to have made the change into dark-and-gritty, with an extra helping of grime.
This is more of a YA read, reminding me a bit of Rosemary Sutcliff, except that her blend of period and modern language was perhaps closer to the ideal. The good guys are good, the villains are utter rotters, and there are plenty of fights, which are the book's high point--here the authors really knew their stuff.
I also appreciated that the authors made a praiseworthy effort to get into period headspace--not all our heroes were hip 21st century nihilists. The language is a little too modern for my tastes, but that's mostly due to unexamined expressions, like "looks that speak volumes" centuries before books were issued in volumes, and suchlike. That's a pretty small quibble.
Overall a fun, adventuresome read, which was just what I was in the mood for during late night insomnia.
Copy provided by NetGalley
This is more of a YA read, reminding me a bit of Rosemary Sutcliff, except that her blend of period and modern language was perhaps closer to the ideal. The good guys are good, the villains are utter rotters, and there are plenty of fights, which are the book's high point--here the authors really knew their stuff.
I also appreciated that the authors made a praiseworthy effort to get into period headspace--not all our heroes were hip 21st century nihilists. The language is a little too modern for my tastes, but that's mostly due to unexamined expressions, like "looks that speak volumes" centuries before books were issued in volumes, and suchlike. That's a pretty small quibble.
Overall a fun, adventuresome read, which was just what I was in the mood for during late night insomnia.
Copy provided by NetGalley
August 21, 2022
I can't take it anymore!! I NEVER quit once I'm well into a book and I am the perfect audience for this one. but the plot is so stupid, the characters so unbelievably 2 dimensional and the dialog so painfully contrived that not even the curator of medieval manuscripts at The Getty can save it.
I am marking it "read" as a small compensation for having suffered through 175 of its pages.
I am marking it "read" as a small compensation for having suffered through 175 of its pages.
September 6, 2022
I received a copy of The Lawless Land from Bloomsbury Australia to review.
Get ready for one of the most thrilling historical adventures of 2022 with the wildly entertaining and deeply captivating medieval fiction novel, The Lawless Land, by the outstanding team of Boyd and Beth Morrison.
In 1351, Europe is in utter chaos as the Hundred Years’ War rages in France and the Pestilence ravages the countryside, depopulating towns and devastating cities. These are dark days indeed, and only the desperate and the foolish can be found traversing the roads. Unfortunately, this includes skilled knight Gerard Fox, whose lands and titles have been taken from him as punishment for a crime against the church, and who is now forced to wander the world by himself, desperate to reclaim his family’s honour.
Journeying towards the castle of Lord Tonbridge, the one man who may be able to prove his innocence, Gerard witnesses a band of armed men waylaying a noblewoman. Impulsively jumping into action, Gerard saves the women, slaughtering her attackers and forever changing his life. The young woman, Lady Isabel, is Lord Tonbridge’s betrothed, who has fled from her future husband, taking with her a sacred relic she is sworn to protect. Forced to abandon his own quest, Gerard agrees to escort Isabel to safety, however, he is unaware of the chaos that is about to be unleashed upon him.
Tonbridge had promised Isabel’s relic to an ambitious Cardinal in Paris, one who is determined to rise to the station of Pope. Desperate to reclaim the relic and use it to cement his position, the Cardinal and his pawn, Tonbridge, unleash their substantial forces to hunt down Gerard and Isabel. Fleeing their pursuers, Gerard and Isabel traverse the breadth of England and France to find safe harbour for the relic. Forced to contend with dangerous foes around every corner, Gerard, Isabel, and their faithful companions will face the worse that medieval Europe has to offer and more. But worse lies in wait for Gerard, as he bears a dark connection with his pursuers that will ensure they will never stop hunting him.
Wow, now this was a really cool historical fiction novel. The exceptional writing team behind The Lawless Land have produced an outstanding novel that is extremely exciting, action-packed, and character driven, while also being heavy on the historical detail and accuracy. This results in an exceptional and epic historical thriller read that I had an absolute blast getting through and which gets a well-deserved five-star rating from me.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/08/04/...
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 28 July 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/09/06/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Get ready for one of the most thrilling historical adventures of 2022 with the wildly entertaining and deeply captivating medieval fiction novel, The Lawless Land, by the outstanding team of Boyd and Beth Morrison.
In 1351, Europe is in utter chaos as the Hundred Years’ War rages in France and the Pestilence ravages the countryside, depopulating towns and devastating cities. These are dark days indeed, and only the desperate and the foolish can be found traversing the roads. Unfortunately, this includes skilled knight Gerard Fox, whose lands and titles have been taken from him as punishment for a crime against the church, and who is now forced to wander the world by himself, desperate to reclaim his family’s honour.
Journeying towards the castle of Lord Tonbridge, the one man who may be able to prove his innocence, Gerard witnesses a band of armed men waylaying a noblewoman. Impulsively jumping into action, Gerard saves the women, slaughtering her attackers and forever changing his life. The young woman, Lady Isabel, is Lord Tonbridge’s betrothed, who has fled from her future husband, taking with her a sacred relic she is sworn to protect. Forced to abandon his own quest, Gerard agrees to escort Isabel to safety, however, he is unaware of the chaos that is about to be unleashed upon him.
Tonbridge had promised Isabel’s relic to an ambitious Cardinal in Paris, one who is determined to rise to the station of Pope. Desperate to reclaim the relic and use it to cement his position, the Cardinal and his pawn, Tonbridge, unleash their substantial forces to hunt down Gerard and Isabel. Fleeing their pursuers, Gerard and Isabel traverse the breadth of England and France to find safe harbour for the relic. Forced to contend with dangerous foes around every corner, Gerard, Isabel, and their faithful companions will face the worse that medieval Europe has to offer and more. But worse lies in wait for Gerard, as he bears a dark connection with his pursuers that will ensure they will never stop hunting him.
Wow, now this was a really cool historical fiction novel. The exceptional writing team behind The Lawless Land have produced an outstanding novel that is extremely exciting, action-packed, and character driven, while also being heavy on the historical detail and accuracy. This results in an exceptional and epic historical thriller read that I had an absolute blast getting through and which gets a well-deserved five-star rating from me.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/08/04/...
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 28 July 2022:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2022/09/06/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
May 18, 2022
I have come to love historical fiction. This book takes place a few years after the Crecy Wars. It's set in the 14th century.
There was so much to enjoy about 'The Lawless Land'. First and foremost, it was well written. With it being well written, it kept my attention. I felt as if I was right there in the 1350's. Second, the characters. They were well developed. Morrison's let the characters develop throughout the book. I saw them grow and become better or worse depending on the character. Third, there was action galore. Something always happening, from a chase, fight or whatever. I never got bored. Finally, it's the first in a series and I can't wait to see what the Morrisons' have in store.
If you enjoy historical fiction, don't miss this one. It published on May 12, 2022.
Thanks to Netgalley, Head of Zeus, and the Morrisons'for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There was so much to enjoy about 'The Lawless Land'. First and foremost, it was well written. With it being well written, it kept my attention. I felt as if I was right there in the 1350's. Second, the characters. They were well developed. Morrison's let the characters develop throughout the book. I saw them grow and become better or worse depending on the character. Third, there was action galore. Something always happening, from a chase, fight or whatever. I never got bored. Finally, it's the first in a series and I can't wait to see what the Morrisons' have in store.
If you enjoy historical fiction, don't miss this one. It published on May 12, 2022.
Thanks to Netgalley, Head of Zeus, and the Morrisons'for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 12, 2022
Solid Middle Ages Tale Told With Modern Storytelling Structures. This is a tale where the Middle Ages comes alive in a manner very consistent with how it is portrayed in fictional tales of the era such as The Canterbury Tales (and yes, Canterbury itself features in this tale) and The Decameron. As a potential series starter, it really could go the direction of either of those historical books, though the setup for a Decameron type series is less clear here (but I could still see the ultimate direction being to do a modern version of each of the ten tales therein). There is not one thing inauthentic to the period that I was aware of, though it is possible an actual Middle Ages historian may claim that X didn't happen until some period later or some such. Still, with Beth Morrison herself being an actual Middle Ages historian... it becomes quite clear just how authentic the siblings tried to make this book. And yet even with the Middle Ages trappings re: customs and available weaponry, the actual story here, of a soldier intent on vengeance who suddenly becomes the protector of a woman and her secrets, could well be told in *any* time period and ultimately reads with a 21st century flair for storytelling even while telling a Middle Ages tale. Truly excellently done, and very much recommended.
May 27, 2022
One of my favorite genres is medieval history and this book does it very well. The authors did their homework here. The locations are real world places and much of the action is compelling.
I especially enjoyed the tournament portion of the book. The authors painted a very accurate picture of jousting and melees. It kept my interest throughout.
I hope there will be more books in this series. I want more of Fox and Willa.
I especially enjoyed the tournament portion of the book. The authors painted a very accurate picture of jousting and melees. It kept my interest throughout.
I hope there will be more books in this series. I want more of Fox and Willa.
June 18, 2024
I give this a 3.5, I always round up for Goodreads.
This book read like if a James Patterson novel just happened to be set in 1350s Europe. I really liked both the MMC and the FMC as their own characters but the romance between them could have been done much better, especially considering there was a male and female author. There was a lot of “she’s not like the other girls” energy in the beginning which was followed up with “he’s not like the other knights” in the end. They seemed like buddies to me and then suddenly they’re kissing. I get that was not the focus so it’s fine.
The action was great, villains were great, the side characters were great. I’ve been to a lot of the locations that were written about so it was an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
I did listen to this on Hoopla and the narrator is a bit extra with his French accents so be warned.
This book read like if a James Patterson novel just happened to be set in 1350s Europe. I really liked both the MMC and the FMC as their own characters but the romance between them could have been done much better, especially considering there was a male and female author. There was a lot of “she’s not like the other girls” energy in the beginning which was followed up with “he’s not like the other knights” in the end. They seemed like buddies to me and then suddenly they’re kissing. I get that was not the focus so it’s fine.
The action was great, villains were great, the side characters were great. I’ve been to a lot of the locations that were written about so it was an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
I did listen to this on Hoopla and the narrator is a bit extra with his French accents so be warned.
February 11, 2023
A very good medieval tale set in the mid 1300's starting out in England. A tale centered on the hypocrisy of the Catholic church and the power it had at that time.
Sir Gerard Fox, a knight who fought in the battle of Cerce and had everything taken from him by a corrupt cardinal who wanted his family's lands.
Fox saves an fleeing Lady Isabel, on the run from her betrothed, leading to an attempt to escape tale that takes them across many miles.
I really enjoyed this story, well researched and written.
Sir Gerard Fox, a knight who fought in the battle of Cerce and had everything taken from him by a corrupt cardinal who wanted his family's lands.
Fox saves an fleeing Lady Isabel, on the run from her betrothed, leading to an attempt to escape tale that takes them across many miles.
I really enjoyed this story, well researched and written.
Read
December 4, 2023The research these two sibling authors put into this series is exceptional. The note from Beth at the end explains how they traveled to different areas of the globe and crafted this novel. It has a lot of chapters, but the chapters are short and you really become invested in Gerard Fox and all the other characters. While I found some scenes to be dry, I thought other scenes were really interesting and fast-paced. As a whole, this book is great.
May 10, 2022
Entertaining pursuit tale that educates about the 14th century as you read it. I enjoyed the flawed characters and their ability to evolve and there are a few surprises along the way. Well worth the read.
January 7, 2023
The authors were discussing this book on a medieval podcast I listen to so I decided to read it. Formulaic and predictable, but knowing that one of the coauthors is a medievalist made it a fun read from that perspective. A generous 2 stars for sheer enjoyment alone.
June 21, 2022
WOW. I did not want this book to end, I loved every single second of it. These characters were amazing. Full review to come!
August 22, 2022
Fast paced. Easy read.
February 25, 2023
I love a good knight errant/damsel in distress story but this was not it. The writing is so poor, the dialogue almost painful to read. And my biggest pet peeve; the authors felt they had to explain every detail. I felt like the book would never end.
December 4, 2023
Trop de retours en arrière.
August 17, 2024
DNF - Stopped 49 pages in. I'm so sorry to be a hater but this was unreadable
August 19, 2025
Excellently written. It's amazing how the authors were able to bring an old world to us, in such an engaging read. Their research shows clearly. The story is fascinating and there was a key moment (the very first big one, won't spoil it but you know what I'm talking about) when right then, I just couldn't put it down! Greatly enjoyed it at many levels.
May 24, 2022
The Lawless Land was a fast-paced historical adventure. Things moved quickly from the first page. I do feel like some of the “adventure” could have been left out and other situations could have been more fleshed out. After a while it started to feel like “well what else can happen?!” The story started to feel rushed and shallow. On the other hand, I liked that there was a solid villain and solid side characters. Overall it was a fun read.
Thanks NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2024
This book is historical fiction set in England and France in the 1300’s. There is a fair amount of action and good character development. It has a happy ending. I liked it.
Isabel was engaged to Lord Tonbridge but did not want to marry him despite the wishes of her father. A few days before the wedding, Isabel decided to escape from Tonbridge’s castle by feigning a carriage ride and visit to Tonbridge’s mother. Isabel and Willa were childhood friends, and even though Willa was Isabel’s servant, Willa was educated and polished. To disguise their escape plot, Willa dressed as a noblewoman and Isabel as a lady in waiting. Lord Tonbridge caught wind of the planned escape and had his men pursue the two women’s carriage. The henchmen accidentally killed Isabel.
Willa continued to try to escape by carriage. An itinerant knight happened to be on the same country road. Sir Gerard Fox intervened, fought off the henchmen, and rescued Willa. Willa continued to pose as a noblewoman named Lady Isabel because she thought aristocratic Fox would abandon her if he knew she was a servant.
Tonbridge was dishonest and greedy. Tonbridge’s primary objective in wanting to marry Isabel was to obtain her dowry, which included the Icon of the Virgin Mary, a valuable relic passed down for generations to the female members of Isabel’s family. Tonbridge planned to give the Icon to Cardinal Molyneux in Paris with the expectation that Molyneux would grant Tonbridge a royal title such as King of the Vatican. Molyneux planned to use the Icon as a way to buy his way into being the next Pope..
Isabel had two sisters, Claire in Paris and Catherine, a nun somewhere in France. Once Isabel was killed, Willa (going under the assumed name of Isabel) had the goal of delivering the Icon to Isabel’s sister Claire so she could keep it out of the hands of Tonbridge.
Gerard Fox was a noble English knight who lost his family’s lands and inheritance when he and his father were excommunicated by Cardinal Molyneux, a dishonest avaricious man who wanted money and a papal title.
Willa (posing as Isabel) and Fox traveled across England and France pursued by Tonbridge. Willa was unusual in having long blonde hair, just like Isabel. Fox was unusual in having a pale horse he had recently inherited from his deceased brother.
Since Molyneux wanted the Icon, Molyneux plotted with Tonbridge and had Molyneux’s illegitimate son Basquin also pursue Isabel and Fox. They knew they were looking for a blonde woman with long hair and accompanied by a noble man riding a pale horse. They bribed and threatened people along the way to give them information on where the couple were headed.
The book jumps back and forth in time. The reader learned that long ago Molyneux had kidnapped Fox’s mother from her French summer home when Fox’s father was away. Molyneux forced marriage on the woman he had coveted since childhood. Fox’s mother gave birth to Basquin but died in childbirth. Molyneux did not treat his illegitimate son well. Basquin was an evil and violent man who was always trying to curry favor with Molyneux so that he could be formally recognized and share in his father’s wealth.
Basquin was not as smart as his half-brother Fox, but he was a skilled fighter.
After leaving England, Fox and Willa/Isabel stopped at Mont. St. Michel on a peninsula off the coast of France. There they encountered two old friends of Fox: Henri and Youssef. Those two men and Fox shared the experience of previously being wronged and imprisoned by Molyneux. Tonbridge was in hot pursuit and arrived at Mont St. Michel. Henri and Youssef agreed to help Fox and Isabel try to deliver the Icon to Isabel’s sister and her husband who lived on the outskirts of Paris. The four of them successfully got out of Mont St. Michel with the Icon.
Molyneux had the home of Claire and her husband under surveillance because he and Tonbridge knew that Isabel might try to give the Icon to Claire. Claire’s husband was in debt to Molyneux and was in danger of losing everything to Molyneux. The home was in the countryside outside Paris. The husband had a business mining limestone.
Fox and Willa/ Isabel managed to sneak into Claire’s home. Claire immediately recognized that “Isabel” was not actually her sister but was in fact the servant Willa. Claire was initially skeptical about Willa’s motivations, but then she realized that Willa was just trying to protect the Icon. (Fox was not particularly surprised to learn that the woman posing as Isabel was actually a servant.). They decided that the Icon should be delivered to the third sister, Catherine, an abbess. Catherine knew the address.
Claire’s husband walked in on their conversation and was not happy about defying Molyneux. However, they all made a deal that Fox would compete in a jousting tournament, win a big prize, and pay off the husband’s debt to Molyneux. Fox would enter the tournament under an assumed name. Claire’s husband agreed to keep Fox’s whereabouts a secret and go along with the lie that Willa was Isabel.
Fox won the tournament, won the trophy, and paid off to Molyneux the debt of Claire’s husband.
At the jousting tournament Basquin managed to get Henri alone and kill him.
Fox, Willa and Youssef then tried to find Isabel’s remaining sister Catherine, a nun/abbess. They knew that Molyneux as a cardinal would also be able to locate Catherine.
At some point Fox and Basquin fought and Fox killed his half-brother.
Fox and Willa headed to the outskirts of Avignon where Catherine was an abbess. They were pursued by Tonbridge and Molyneux, who managed to capture Fox in Avignon.
At some point Tonbridge saw Isabel/Willa and realized that she although blonde was not his betrothed. Willa told him that Tonbridge’s henchmen had killed Isabel.
Willa by now was in love with Fox. Willa made a deal to trade the Icon packaged in Isabel’s old family manuscript in exchange for Fox. They agreed the trade would take place in the middle of a bridge over a river outside Avignon. Willa placed the manuscript (without the Icon) on the railing of the bridge with a string attached to it. As soon as Fox was released to her, Willa pulled the string and the manuscript fell down towards the river. Willa hoped the manuscript would sink and be irretrievably lost so that Tonbridge would believe the Icon was lost or destroyed and stop hounding them. Unfortunately, the manuscript landed on an abandoned boat of dead pestilence victims.
Tonbridge retrieved the manuscript and wrapped it in a blanket from the ship. He triumphantly presented the manuscript to Molyneux. Molyneux unwrapped the blanket, opened the manuscript, and discovered that the Icon was not inside. Molyneux got bit by a flea from the blanket, contracted the plague, and died.
Willa and Fox made it to Avignon to meet up with Catherine who recognized Willa and accepted the Icon.
Tonbridge arrived with five henchmen with the goal of grabbing the Icon, killing Fox and raping and killing Willa. Tonbridge threatened to kill Catherine. Fox killed Tonbridge’s soldiers, possibly with the help of Youssef. Just as Fox was about to be killed, Willa drew an arrow and killed Tonbridge. The Icon was now safe.
Fox proposed marriage to Willa, whom he had come to love. Willa declined, saying that she would stay at the convent with Catherine. Youssef went his own way. As Fox rode off away from the Abbey, Willa hurriedly approached on horse. She had decided to join Fox in his lifestyle as an itinerant knight who did good deeds. Up until this point they had a very proper nonsexual relationship.
This book was interesting historical fiction. I wanted to know whether Fox and Willa would succeed in protecting the Icon and whether they would become a romantic couple.
At time the book was choppy as it jumped decades of time spans, locations, and characters’ points of view (Fox, Willa, Isabel, Molyneux, Basquin, Tonbridge, Fox’s father).
Beth Morrison, the co-author, likely wanted to demonstrate her knowledge of medieval costume, custom and history. At times the medieval terminology got cumbersome and overly detailed, but it added historical color.
Isabel was engaged to Lord Tonbridge but did not want to marry him despite the wishes of her father. A few days before the wedding, Isabel decided to escape from Tonbridge’s castle by feigning a carriage ride and visit to Tonbridge’s mother. Isabel and Willa were childhood friends, and even though Willa was Isabel’s servant, Willa was educated and polished. To disguise their escape plot, Willa dressed as a noblewoman and Isabel as a lady in waiting. Lord Tonbridge caught wind of the planned escape and had his men pursue the two women’s carriage. The henchmen accidentally killed Isabel.
Willa continued to try to escape by carriage. An itinerant knight happened to be on the same country road. Sir Gerard Fox intervened, fought off the henchmen, and rescued Willa. Willa continued to pose as a noblewoman named Lady Isabel because she thought aristocratic Fox would abandon her if he knew she was a servant.
Tonbridge was dishonest and greedy. Tonbridge’s primary objective in wanting to marry Isabel was to obtain her dowry, which included the Icon of the Virgin Mary, a valuable relic passed down for generations to the female members of Isabel’s family. Tonbridge planned to give the Icon to Cardinal Molyneux in Paris with the expectation that Molyneux would grant Tonbridge a royal title such as King of the Vatican. Molyneux planned to use the Icon as a way to buy his way into being the next Pope..
Isabel had two sisters, Claire in Paris and Catherine, a nun somewhere in France. Once Isabel was killed, Willa (going under the assumed name of Isabel) had the goal of delivering the Icon to Isabel’s sister Claire so she could keep it out of the hands of Tonbridge.
Gerard Fox was a noble English knight who lost his family’s lands and inheritance when he and his father were excommunicated by Cardinal Molyneux, a dishonest avaricious man who wanted money and a papal title.
Willa (posing as Isabel) and Fox traveled across England and France pursued by Tonbridge. Willa was unusual in having long blonde hair, just like Isabel. Fox was unusual in having a pale horse he had recently inherited from his deceased brother.
Since Molyneux wanted the Icon, Molyneux plotted with Tonbridge and had Molyneux’s illegitimate son Basquin also pursue Isabel and Fox. They knew they were looking for a blonde woman with long hair and accompanied by a noble man riding a pale horse. They bribed and threatened people along the way to give them information on where the couple were headed.
The book jumps back and forth in time. The reader learned that long ago Molyneux had kidnapped Fox’s mother from her French summer home when Fox’s father was away. Molyneux forced marriage on the woman he had coveted since childhood. Fox’s mother gave birth to Basquin but died in childbirth. Molyneux did not treat his illegitimate son well. Basquin was an evil and violent man who was always trying to curry favor with Molyneux so that he could be formally recognized and share in his father’s wealth.
Basquin was not as smart as his half-brother Fox, but he was a skilled fighter.
After leaving England, Fox and Willa/Isabel stopped at Mont. St. Michel on a peninsula off the coast of France. There they encountered two old friends of Fox: Henri and Youssef. Those two men and Fox shared the experience of previously being wronged and imprisoned by Molyneux. Tonbridge was in hot pursuit and arrived at Mont St. Michel. Henri and Youssef agreed to help Fox and Isabel try to deliver the Icon to Isabel’s sister and her husband who lived on the outskirts of Paris. The four of them successfully got out of Mont St. Michel with the Icon.
Molyneux had the home of Claire and her husband under surveillance because he and Tonbridge knew that Isabel might try to give the Icon to Claire. Claire’s husband was in debt to Molyneux and was in danger of losing everything to Molyneux. The home was in the countryside outside Paris. The husband had a business mining limestone.
Fox and Willa/ Isabel managed to sneak into Claire’s home. Claire immediately recognized that “Isabel” was not actually her sister but was in fact the servant Willa. Claire was initially skeptical about Willa’s motivations, but then she realized that Willa was just trying to protect the Icon. (Fox was not particularly surprised to learn that the woman posing as Isabel was actually a servant.). They decided that the Icon should be delivered to the third sister, Catherine, an abbess. Catherine knew the address.
Claire’s husband walked in on their conversation and was not happy about defying Molyneux. However, they all made a deal that Fox would compete in a jousting tournament, win a big prize, and pay off the husband’s debt to Molyneux. Fox would enter the tournament under an assumed name. Claire’s husband agreed to keep Fox’s whereabouts a secret and go along with the lie that Willa was Isabel.
Fox won the tournament, won the trophy, and paid off to Molyneux the debt of Claire’s husband.
At the jousting tournament Basquin managed to get Henri alone and kill him.
Fox, Willa and Youssef then tried to find Isabel’s remaining sister Catherine, a nun/abbess. They knew that Molyneux as a cardinal would also be able to locate Catherine.
At some point Fox and Basquin fought and Fox killed his half-brother.
Fox and Willa headed to the outskirts of Avignon where Catherine was an abbess. They were pursued by Tonbridge and Molyneux, who managed to capture Fox in Avignon.
At some point Tonbridge saw Isabel/Willa and realized that she although blonde was not his betrothed. Willa told him that Tonbridge’s henchmen had killed Isabel.
Willa by now was in love with Fox. Willa made a deal to trade the Icon packaged in Isabel’s old family manuscript in exchange for Fox. They agreed the trade would take place in the middle of a bridge over a river outside Avignon. Willa placed the manuscript (without the Icon) on the railing of the bridge with a string attached to it. As soon as Fox was released to her, Willa pulled the string and the manuscript fell down towards the river. Willa hoped the manuscript would sink and be irretrievably lost so that Tonbridge would believe the Icon was lost or destroyed and stop hounding them. Unfortunately, the manuscript landed on an abandoned boat of dead pestilence victims.
Tonbridge retrieved the manuscript and wrapped it in a blanket from the ship. He triumphantly presented the manuscript to Molyneux. Molyneux unwrapped the blanket, opened the manuscript, and discovered that the Icon was not inside. Molyneux got bit by a flea from the blanket, contracted the plague, and died.
Willa and Fox made it to Avignon to meet up with Catherine who recognized Willa and accepted the Icon.
Tonbridge arrived with five henchmen with the goal of grabbing the Icon, killing Fox and raping and killing Willa. Tonbridge threatened to kill Catherine. Fox killed Tonbridge’s soldiers, possibly with the help of Youssef. Just as Fox was about to be killed, Willa drew an arrow and killed Tonbridge. The Icon was now safe.
Fox proposed marriage to Willa, whom he had come to love. Willa declined, saying that she would stay at the convent with Catherine. Youssef went his own way. As Fox rode off away from the Abbey, Willa hurriedly approached on horse. She had decided to join Fox in his lifestyle as an itinerant knight who did good deeds. Up until this point they had a very proper nonsexual relationship.
This book was interesting historical fiction. I wanted to know whether Fox and Willa would succeed in protecting the Icon and whether they would become a romantic couple.
At time the book was choppy as it jumped decades of time spans, locations, and characters’ points of view (Fox, Willa, Isabel, Molyneux, Basquin, Tonbridge, Fox’s father).
Beth Morrison, the co-author, likely wanted to demonstrate her knowledge of medieval costume, custom and history. At times the medieval terminology got cumbersome and overly detailed, but it added historical color.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2022
The premise: a Knight Templar, a damsel in distress, a priceless relic, a pursuit, a villain, redemption. All of which make for an entertaining read.
It is the late 14th century - France and England are in the midst of what is referred to as The Hundred Years War; the deathly spectre of plague walks the land; and no-one is safe from landless marauders returning from the war. Into this we find Gerard Fox on his own personal mission, when confronted by a runaway carriage, being hotly pursued - should he interfere or not. Well, of course he does!
From this point onward, Gerard's own mission takes a back seat as he puts all his energy into ensuring this luckless lady achieves her end by placing a priceless relic, kept safe through a long female custodial chain, in the hands of one of the links. Along the way, Gerard and the lady are pursued by a shady French Cardinal and his agent, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the relic, whilst the lady's erstwhile and rather dangerous, jilted fiance is also in hot pursuit with his own agenda. Gerard enlists the aid of old friends as the Templar and lady make their way from England over to France. There are captures and escapes aplenty, tournaments, disguises, deceptions and impersonations, which culminates in a trial by combat between hunter and hunted.
The tension builds as we travel ever closer to our destination, and the narrative takes the reader along for a most exciting ride. A well researched story that captures and holds the imagination and attention of the reader. A series ...... one is left wondering.
It is the late 14th century - France and England are in the midst of what is referred to as The Hundred Years War; the deathly spectre of plague walks the land; and no-one is safe from landless marauders returning from the war. Into this we find Gerard Fox on his own personal mission, when confronted by a runaway carriage, being hotly pursued - should he interfere or not. Well, of course he does!
From this point onward, Gerard's own mission takes a back seat as he puts all his energy into ensuring this luckless lady achieves her end by placing a priceless relic, kept safe through a long female custodial chain, in the hands of one of the links. Along the way, Gerard and the lady are pursued by a shady French Cardinal and his agent, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the relic, whilst the lady's erstwhile and rather dangerous, jilted fiance is also in hot pursuit with his own agenda. Gerard enlists the aid of old friends as the Templar and lady make their way from England over to France. There are captures and escapes aplenty, tournaments, disguises, deceptions and impersonations, which culminates in a trial by combat between hunter and hunted.
The tension builds as we travel ever closer to our destination, and the narrative takes the reader along for a most exciting ride. A well researched story that captures and holds the imagination and attention of the reader. A series ...... one is left wondering.
May 7, 2022
The Lawless Land by Boyd Morrison & Beth Morrison is an epic full length saga that is absolutely fascinating, steeped in historically accurate historical detail and set in the Middle Ages. The premise of the tale is that a treasured manuscript, handed down through generations of women via a handmaiden, is coveted by a man who would use it to gain power for himself. Gerard Fox and Lady Willa know how important it is to keep such a holy object out of the hands of those who would do evil with it. Fox, an English knight, helps Willa escape with the treasure. They flee in search of a safe guardian for the relic. Their travels take them through the English countryside, detailing their stop at Canterbury cathedral, picturesque France, including the city of Paris and the cathedral of Notre Dame, the tidal island of Mont-Saint-Michel, and the monastery La Sacra di San Michele in the northern Italy. The settings are richly detailed and awe inspiring. The characters are complex and profound. The Morrisons are masterful story tellers who weave together a fascinating tale of family dynamics, the Plague, religious tyranny, justice and love. It is an exceptionally well written, engaging tale of medieval proportions.
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