King

Richard the Lionheart #3

by Ben Kane

The thrilling third instalment in the epic LIONHEART series from Sunday Times Bestselling author, Ben Kane.

Warleader
Autumn 1192. With Jerusalem still in the Saracens' hands, and a peace treaty agreed with their leader Saladin, Richard the Lionheart is free at last to travel back to his strife-ridden kingdom. By his side at every turn is the loyal knight Ferdia, also known as Rufus. Together they will face not just Richard's archenemy Philippe Capet of France, but also the king's treacherous younger brother, John.

Captive
Shipwrecked on the Italian coast, the king and his small group of companions are forced into a perilous journey through lands controlled by their enemies. Shortly before Christmas 1192, Richard is taken prisoner near Vienna by Duke Leopold of Austria. Kept prisoner for several months, the king is then handed over to Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. His captivity lasts for another year, fanning the flames of unrest in his territories in England and beyond.

Negotiator
Talks between Richard's mother Queen Alienor and Henry VI last for months, but finally reach a bitter agreement. The extortionate sum demanded to free the king will empty the treasury and bleed England dry. Philippe Capet and Richard's brother John collude, offering vast sums to see the king kept captive for longer. Their efforts are in vain, leading Philippe to pen a letter to John including the famous 'Look to yourself, the devil is loose.'

King
Crowned for a second time to wash away the shame of his captivity, Richard restores order in England, forgiving John his shameful behaviour. His next task is to recover territories lost to Philippe Capet, and to re-establish his dominance over the French king. Forging clever alliances, building strategic castles and when obliged, waging war, the Lionheart carves a unique path into history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Medieval

432 pages, Paperback

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

Ben Kane is a bestselling Roman author and former veterinarian. He was born in Kenya and grew up in Ireland (where his parents are from). He has traveled widely and is a lifelong student of military history in general, and Roman history in particular. He lives in North Somerset, England, with his family.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third and final episode of the "Lionheart" trilogy is a most tremendous and exceptional read.

Storytelling is immaculate, all characters, whether they are real historical or wonderful fictional, come vividly to life in a world of politicking and warfare, and the enemies and hardships King Richard the Lionheart had to overcome are superbly described and pictured in this amazing historical tale.

At the beginning of the book you'll find two well-drawn maps, one of the Regions in France with some held by King Richard I of England and some by King Phillippe II of France, and one of the Holy Roman Empire with at its head, Emperor Heinrich, who's also King of Germany, while at the back you'll notice an Author's Note, where the historical details are very well documented and explained by the author.

This book is divided into three parts and it encompasses the years AD 1192 until AD 1199.

This final outing will tell the tale of King Richard I of England about his return from Outremer, his subsequent capture by Duke Leopold of Austria and later on by Emperor Heinrich, his humiliation by being used as trade in a world of dirty politics, and finally his freedom and his return to life on the battlefields, with Philippe Capet, King of France, as his main enemy.

In between King Richard's achievements, there's also the tale of our two main fictional characters, King Richard's main supporter and fighter, Ferdia Ó Cathain/Rufus O'Kane and his squire and friend the Welshman, Rhys, and they will have their own adventures, especially against their nemesis and traitor to King Richard, a man called Robert FitzAldelm, and that animosity will finally end in a most appropriate and satisfied fashion.

What is to follow is a fantastic and engaging historical tale, which is told with verve by the author, and this book is filled with all human emotions, with tears of love and joy as well as tears of hate and sorrow, and it contains human actions and reactions, whenever it is about fighting ferocious battles, or its about daily human life in between and honourable death in the end.

Highly recommended, for this is historical fiction at its very best, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Fabulous Regal Ending"!

[William Gwynne]

I was so glad to be reading King, the final instalment of Richard the Lionheart, and back with our central protagonist Ferdia, or Rufus as many know him. The first two instalments in this series were brilliant, and I had very high hopes for the conclusion. This is the first series I have read by the renowned Ben Kane, but after this it will certainly not be the last!

King holds up against its predecessors and delivers the political intrigue, the epic story, the action and also the more intimate and emotionally engaging moments. A great mix that Ben Kane did a really great job in balancing. A very satisfying conclusion to a really unique and insightful trilogy!

Full Review to Come

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic end to the trilogy. I’ve always enjoyed Ben’s Roman historical fiction novels so picked this up in our local library just for something to read.
It’s the sign of a great author that this book works as a stand alone saga. The previous two books not being available. Now I can experiment and read the trilogy in reverse chronology perhaps giving it a happy ending!!

[Nick Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in Ben Kane’s excellent trilogy about Richard the Lionheart. You know it will be good because Ben Kane doesn’t have a weak book in him, this is the usual blend of properly researched history with strong characterisations and plenty of political intrigue and battlefield action.
The trilogy is told from the perspective of one of Richard’s knights, Irishman Ferdia. This allows for the book and story to flow, especially in this one where Richard spends a fair bit of time imprisoned.
Seen as an iconic English king, Richard wasn’t that interested in England, he was a warrior always looking for a fight and also looking to protect his lands in Europe.
Obviously the author gets the balance just right, with a pacey story that lets you embrace the history and the times. Ferdia is a great character and his activities take the pressure off the times when Richard is sitting in a cell.
Historical fiction at its best.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent and highly entertaining historical fiction and I liked this final instalment.
It's well plotted, well told, and the historical background is vivid.
An excellent end.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Juliano Dutra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Shane Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful series to wrap up such a horrific year! Highly recommend! 5+⭐️

[Daniel Kelly]

The king is dead, long live the king

Ben Kane demonstrates once again why he is a master of his craft. I had doubted the wisdom of leaving the Roman world, especially for a king who, as an Irishman, is hard to love, but the skill with which he weaves the story has you rooting for Richard and Rufus throughout, hanging on the next word. Highly recommend

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fantastic read, the final book in the series about Richard the Lionheart. The first two Lionheart and Crusader are equally as good. Wonderfully researched and exciting to read. This was my first experience with Ben Kane writing and I will be reading much more. Looking forward to his next book 1812 about Napoleon, Emperor of France, Master of Europe!!

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

King by Ben Kane is the third and final installment in his epic Lionheart trilogy, and worth it’s a proper historical adventure with all the grit, drama, and intensity you’d expect from a story about Richard the Lionheart. Kane dives deep into the turbulent period following the Crusades, where Richard is shipwrecked, taken prisoner, and thrust into a web of political betrayal, ransom negotiations, and warfare. The stakes are high, and the tension doesn’t let up.

The book kicks off with Richard and his loyal knight Rufus (Ferdia) stranded in enemy territory, forced to travel incognito. Things go from bad to worse when Richard is captured near Vienna by Duke Leopold, leading to a brutal 14-month captivity under the Holy Roman Emperor. Kane doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of imprisonment, and the dynamics between characters Rufus, Richard, and even the scheming John and King Philippe of France keep the story emotionally charged. There’s also a love subplot with Rufus, which adds a softer layer amidst all the chaos.

One of the standout aspects is Kane’s ability to bring history to life. The political maneuvering, the extortionate ransom negotiations, and the sheer audacity of Richard’s eventual comeback to reclaim lost territories all of it feels visceral and gripping. Kane’s attention to historical detail is on point, but he never bogs the narrative down with too much exposition. There’s plenty of action, from tense escapes to castle sieges, and Richard remains the larger-than-life figure you’d hope for: bold, flawed, and utterly compelling.

It’s a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy, blending meticulous historical research with dynamic storytelling. If you’re into medieval politics, battle strategy, and characters that leap off the page, this one’s for you. The only drawback might be that some moments feel a bit predictable if you’re familiar with Richard’s history but that’s a minor nitpick. Definitely worth the read if you love historical fiction!

[MrKPOT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Возвращение домой
1192 год. Пережив ужасы сражений на Ближнем Востоке, Ричарда Львиное Сердце и его рыцарей ждут новые испытания уже на полях Европы.

«Король» Бена Кейна — книга неоднозначная. С одной стороны, она не уступает первым двум частям трилогии: здесь и битвы, и заговоры, и отвага, и преданность — всё то, за что мы полюбили цикл. Более того, роман вполне добротно справляется с задачей заключительной части истории о Руфусе де Кене, рыцаре при Ричарде Львиное Сердце. Но вот называть книгу именно «Король» — решение опрометчивое.

Главная слабость — историческая достоверность.
Как и можно было ожидать, Ричард Львиное Сердце вошёл в историю не как выдающийся монарх, а как легенда Крестового похода. Мы знаем, почему он отправился в поход, отлично задокументирован сам ход кампании, и нам известны её последствия — в частности, почти двухлетний путь домой. Брешь начинается именно после возвращения: о его реальном правлении в Англии известно немного, и эта пустота чувствуется в сюжете.

В результате книга, охватывающая период 1192–1198 годов, выглядит примерно так:
• 1192 год: Ричард пытается добраться домой, но вынужден задержаться в Европе на неопределённый срок.
• 1193–1194 годы: пока король пинает детородные органы в Европе Руфус развлекается в Нормандии, сражаясь с французами и привычно сталкиваясь со своим личным врагом.
• 1194 год: Ричард наконец достигает Англии.
• Далее — уже скачок к 1199 году.

И всё. Если вам хотелось узнать, каким королём был Ричард Львиное Сердце, то придётся разочароваться: книга под названием «Король» почти ничего не говорит о его правлении.

Из-за этого и возникает лёгкое послевкусие разочарования. Автор, кажется, сделал всё возможное в рамках исторических данных, но до уровня второй части трилогии роман всё же не дотягивает.

Финальная оценка: 3,5 из 5.

[All the King's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent finish to the Richard-trilogy. Richard spends a lot of time in captivity in this book, and Kane decided to focus more on the personal development of Rufus/Ferdia, which was very welcome as until now, despite being the main character, I never really could connect with him much.

We're shown the volatile quagmire that politics in 12th century Western Europe was and how unpredictable and instable that made society, with all its consequences. Kings and Monarchs play around, but it's the common man that carries the burden of paying the taxes that go towards paying the ransom.

Last but not least you can not feel a sense of waste and futility, reading about the demise of Richard the Lionheart. There was potential there, especially regarding the fate of Angevin territories and possibly even the Holy Land. Despite his flaws, which Kane did not shy away from portraying, and which coincidentally also lead to his imprisonment and ultimately his death, he was a great commander who always seemed to manage to motivate his troops. The world today might have looked different if he had reigned 20 years more.

[Jake Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great conclusion to a great series! As usual Ben Kane nails the ending….and beginning and middle! Ferdia is such a great character and his relationship with King Richard is brilliant to read! Would highly recommend this to anyone, but especially anyone with a taste for the Plantagenets and the crusades

[Joris Deweerdt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars for this book, 4 stars for the trilogy.

The first book was by far the least interesting one. While still enjoyable, it's a bit too slow-paced and long. Book 2 and especially book 3 pick up the pace considerably and are much more enjoyable and exciting.

The amount of detail and historical accuracy is incredible, a lot of research went into writing this story and it's very noticable. I also really liked the point of view from which we're reading the story, the main character is very close to king Richard so it feels like you're with him every step of the journey.

An easy recommendation for anyone looking for some solid historical fiction.

[Kevin Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great trilogy.

This was a superbly actioned packed trilogy about Richard the Lionheart. Ben Kane knows how to tell a story and this is a series not to be missed by any one who loves historical fiction. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Raqual Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. words just cannot express how good this whole series is! My heart broke at the end but we knew it was coming i guess.
it would be great to see a Ferdia book come out now.

[Tim Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong ending to a fantastic trilogy of books telling the story of Richard Lionheart. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book as I do will all Ben Kane novels. Highly recommended

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Richard the Lionheart series has us returning from Outremer, as the king and his followers are stranded somewhere up the Adriatic, hundreds of miles from Saxony and a safe harbor. They have no choice but to travel incognito through enemy territory, but the inevitable happens and King Richard is captured. And so begins a fourteen month captivity under his old antagonist Duke Leopold’s inhospitable care—especially grueling for our Rufus, who is thrown into a dungeon along with his friend William. Ultimately, their difficulties became less stringent as Richard’s rank could not be ignored forever, and an exorbitant ransom was demanded. By then, King Philip and Prince John complicated matters by trying to outdo the highest bidder and keep the king imprisoned forever. Even so, Richard holds the King of France in the highest contempt:

‘Philippe stooped even lower, though, in his letter to me. All bonds between us are severed, he wrote. I was to take his message as a declaration of war. War? What does that coward know of that? He could not leave Outremer fast enough after we took Acre. God’s legs, but what I would give to be at the head of an army, in the Vexin! I would sweep all before me, not stopping until the very gates of Paris!’
‘Philip would soil himself, sire,’ said William, droll as ever.
‘He would too!’ Richard threw back his head and guffawed, the one that came from his belly, the very core of his being.

The king’s release takes its inevitable course and Richard proceeds to retake the castles that the perfidious Philip has captured during his imprisonment. Rufus stays with Richard every bit of the way, more than slightly distracted by the love interest he has rekindled with the lovely Alienor. Has it become time for him to settle down? We really care what happens to him and the king, although we know through history that the magnificent King of England is doomed.

[Dominic Audy · Rating 5 out of 5]

King is an epic, emotional and very satisfying final act to what turned out to be a really excellent trilogy following a (fictional) knight of the royal household through the (historical) adult life of Richard Coeur de Lion, Duke of Aquitaine, King of England.

It's no spoiler that historically Richard's untimely and even banal and anticlimactic demise while still in his prime is no grand apotheosis to his reign, that it wasn't preceded by any closure politically, militarily or even emotionally. Turning this part of the story into a poignant and exciting conclusion that feels like an ending while staying true to History is the tour de force Ben Kane has accomplished in King.

The third novel again shows all the qualities of its two predecessors: very endearing and well developed fictional protagonists that are integrated seamlessly in the entourage of the historical characters, great historical research and the skills to guide the reader through the often meandering developments and the myriad of historical figures, a prose style and well written dialogue that make you forget these people are not speaking English but (old) French, notably by using a lot of vocabulary (and the occasional archaic one) that entered the English language through Normand French (and as a native French speaker myself, much more used to read about these people in French history books, I found it quite well done and unobtrusive), a truly evocative rendition of the period, great writing of the military action, fast pacing that isn't afraid to skip what might otherwise feel monotonous or repetitive after a while.

This great finale turns the whole trilogy into a success, well worth the read.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Kane's King dramatizes the last years of King Richard’s life. It opens with his return from the Crusades to a largely hostile Europe, where every road leading home routes through territories of men who would be eager to capture the King to hold him to ransom. Despite his best efforts, Richard and a few of his most faithful men are indeed captured. With Richard’s blessing, his knight (and our viewpoint character) Rufus effects an escape, and on his orders returns to Normandy to investigate the damage that Richard’s perfidious brother John has done in his absence. Many of Richard’s possessions in Europe have been promised or directly surrendered to the French dog Phillip Capet, and “Johnny’s” treachery is made worse when Rufus realizes his suspicions about one of Richard’s men, FitzAldelm, were true: the man is an agent of the French court! As Richard’s nobles work to secure his release, Rufus attempts to fulfill his long-burning war against FitzAldem (a man who has tried to kill him numerous times) and disarm one of the Frenchies’ agents at the same time. Rufus also has personal struggles to contend with: his love for Princess Joanna, who can never be his own, even though Richard recognizes their bond and is gratified for the happiness that they brought to one another in Outremer. Even once Richard is released, the war against the weasel Capet continues, and brings the novel to its predestined, tragic end.

[Christina Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very nearly ended this book in tears. What an emotional account of the death of a mighty King. But, back to the whole book. I do enjoy the way Ben Kane writes. You can really feel the emotions, fear, rage and excitement of this period in history. Through the journey he takes you, there lies devotion to a magnificent King, and the pure hate of another Knight, who plagues our hero, Rufus, until the final combat. The battle scenes are gruesome and, the reader can feel the agony. I enjoyed this book immensely. A clear 10/10

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Ben Kane fan!! I love the depth of his research, the details of his plots, the believable characters: historical & fictional and the authentic sense of time and place!!!

His HF novels are always a great read. KING, the 3rd in his Lionheart trilogy, was everything I expected!!

[Richard West · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third and final installment in Ben Kane's trilogy about Richard The Lionheart. Compared to the other two which preceded it, this one tends to be a bit disappointing. Too much time - close to 100 pages - is spent on the activities of the narrator, Ferdie/Ferdia/Rufus (whatever name you wish to use) than it is on Richard during the time Richard was a prisoner being held for ransom. God knows there's plenty of information that could have been sourced to have told how Richard was faring, what he did to gain a certain amount of freedom while being held prisoner, but this is all ignored in favor of the activities of Ferdie so that the book is more about him than it is about Richard.

It seems however, that in the interest of keeping the book at less than 400 pages, a great deal of that information about Richard was eliminated. Major disappointment. What was Richard up to? What was he doing? For a book about the Lionheart, that should have been included.

One other item and that relates to Richard's death: every source I have ever seen and read - and that's plenty because Richard is one of my favorite historical characters - when he is shot with what proves to be the deadly crossbow quarrel, he is on horseback. However, in this version, he's walking. No big deal, but the question is whether or not it's historically accurate and Ben Kane's books are meticulously researched and accurate. So, was Richard riding or walking when the fatal shot strikes?

OK, so much for complaints. As is usual for a Ben Kane book, this one is rife with bloodshed, is well-written and is an enjoyable read. I have read and own real copies (as opposed to electronic ones) of every Kane book - he has his own shelf in a bookcase and is now moving on to shelf 2 - so it's not like this was a first-time read. It's just that it seems so much was left out that should have been included - hey Ben, it's OK to go over 400, even 500 pages!!! - that in comparison to his other works, this concluding volume proved to be somewhat of a disappointment.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I know, the listing says this book isn't out yet, but my library here in the UK has it, so it's at least out over here).

The awkward part with novels based on well-known historical figures is that you often already know how their life ended, which takes away an element of surprise. But, in this case, it also made the story feel quite poignant as the reader knows more than the character does - we know when his end is getting near.

It was particularly interesting to explore Richard's time in captivity. I knew he'd been captured and held for ransom, but didn't know the details of it. This novel goes into the wrangling around that - and again, the factional politics that have been rumbling throughout the series have a lot to do with it. Our main character Ferdia/Rufus continues to be there to witness everything, as well as having his own sub-plots, which will be familiar to those who have read the previous two books in the series.

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the trilogy - and have enjoyed all three of them. It's not easy to put a fresh perspective on such a well-known figure, but Kane has succeeded in doing so with this series.

[Amzon_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Perfect Conclusion To A Fantastic Trilogy!

The credentials of the author are most impeccable in a market saturated with writers looking to cash in on history.

The books we read by Mr Kane are not only great writing, they are the ‘real deal’ in every possible sense. The efforts that go into the work are phenomenal; it’s rare to find attention to historic details of this calibre.

The speculation of how the peoples, places and activities would have actually been in the period, are what truly makes his writing what it is. The ‘believe-ability’ of his books is 10/10 every time - bravo!

I enjoyed the whole trilogy through the era, characters and the unique ability of the author to take you through and across the whole spectrum of emotions whilst reading the tales and stories. 100% top craft.

[Cody Engdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a gripping conclusion to a fascinating ride along one of England's most legendary kings. Through the eyes of Richard's faithful companion Ferdia, Ben Kane takes you on a romp of a ride of Richard the Lionheart's last hurrah.

The novel picks up Richard's odyssey as he tries to make his way home from the Crusades. Ferdia must protect his king from vengeful German nobility, the French King, rebel noblemen, and even RIchard's treacherous brother, John of Lackland, all while navigating his own romantic adventures and drive for revenge against his hated archnemesis, FitzAldelm.

I've always been fascinated with Richard's story. Kane did a fascinating job of presenting it in this three-book series. Mount up your horse, draw your sword, and charge into glory with Richard the Lionheart!

[Max Bravery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, a thoroughly enjoyable book that I struggled to put down. It was a fitting end to the trilogy. But I couldn't help but be disappointed in the fact that this could have been a much longer series of 6-7 books, subsequently going into much further detail of Richard's life and achievements. Too much of this book concentrated on Richard's capture and imprisonment and not long enough spent detailing the enthralling struggling with Phillipe for power in France. However, I feel this is due to my own preferences of medieval history fact-fiction books being centered of warfare. This was still a fantastic trilogy, I only wish more had been made of it, such as Robert Fabbri done with his Vespasian series.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After concluding peace with Saladin, Richard endeavours to return to England but he is captured by his Teutonic enemies. Held to ransom, England must raise huge amounts of silver before Richard's enemy Philippe Capet can persuade the Holy Roman Emperor to let him have the prisoner. By Richard's side is his loyal friend Rufus who is sent to Normandy to try to prevent Philippe and Richard's brother John destroying Richard's holding there.
This is the third part of a trilogy and is a great conclusion. There is more politicking and slightly less violence than previous books however the pace is excellent. I admire Kane's research in the field, it is accurate and directs the narrative well.

[Scott Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fitting Finale for an absorbing trilogy.

Fantastic book and part of a brilliant trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed my first delving into the world of the Lionheart. My only criticism is that a trilogy is not enough. With so many battles and skirmishes being missed out I can't help feel this could have been a 5 book series....perhaps the author could revisit and insert books 1.5 and 2.5....at least to my great joy.
Thrilling battles, medieval politics and a level of intrigue provide a fast moving book that is easy to read and a rather emotional ending.
I still want more and may have to revisit the authors Roman escapades to get my fix.

[Rob Drysdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual it is with sadness that I finish one of Ben Kane’s books as I know it will be several months before the next one is published. The Lionheart (well actually Ferdia) trilogy ends with King and ultimately the death by gangrene and blood poisoning of Richard I following a stray crossbow quarrel hit. The storytelling is, as you would expect from Ben, compelling whilst the writing lets the reader feel involved in along with the accuracy of the tale. Well worth taking the to read. Thanks and looking forward to 1812 now all the more.