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The Bruce Trilogy #1
The Crown in the Heather
An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here.
In 1290, Scotland is without a king. Two families - the Bruces and the Balliols - vie for the throne.
Robert the Bruce is in love with Elizabeth de Burgh, the daughter of an adherent of the ruthless Longshanks, King of England. In order to marry her and not give up his chances of someday becoming King of Scots, Robert must abandon his rebel ways and bide his time as Longshanks' vassal.
But Edward, Longshanks' heir, doesn't trust the opportunistic Scotsman and vows to one day destroy him. While quietly plotting his rebellion, Robert is betrayed by one of his own and must flee Longshanks' vengeance.
Aided by the unlikely brilliance of the soft-spoken young nobleman, James Douglas, Robert battles for his throne. Victory, though, is never certain and Robert soon learns that keeping his crown may mean giving up that which he loves most-his beloved Elizabeth.
In 1290, Scotland is without a king. Two families - the Bruces and the Balliols - vie for the throne.
Robert the Bruce is in love with Elizabeth de Burgh, the daughter of an adherent of the ruthless Longshanks, King of England. In order to marry her and not give up his chances of someday becoming King of Scots, Robert must abandon his rebel ways and bide his time as Longshanks' vassal.
But Edward, Longshanks' heir, doesn't trust the opportunistic Scotsman and vows to one day destroy him. While quietly plotting his rebellion, Robert is betrayed by one of his own and must flee Longshanks' vengeance.
Aided by the unlikely brilliance of the soft-spoken young nobleman, James Douglas, Robert battles for his throne. Victory, though, is never certain and Robert soon learns that keeping his crown may mean giving up that which he loves most-his beloved Elizabeth.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2010
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About the author
N. Gemini Sasson
20 books176 followersFormer teacher and track coach. Runner, gardener, dog lover and sometimes farmer. Author of medieval historical fiction: The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy: Book I), Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy: Book II) and Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
November 10, 2011
Unfortunately, Braveheart has ruined me for Scottish historical fiction.
Despite Mel Gibson taking a drunken header off my “favorite actor” list after his MANY bigoted, “I’ve got anger issues” rants that proclaimed to the world his extreme ASSholiness, Braveheart is pure gore-dripping, cinematic gold. A wonderfully delicious combo of testosterone-drenched, violent war-porn accompanied by a symphony of heartstring-tugging, tear-producing melodrama sure to warm the cockles.
All that, plus face paint...heaven. I loved it and it’s a hard act to follow for anyone not sporting a brand new form of awesome.
Thus, despite this being a well-written, well delivered story that many have viewed with more favor, I can’t say I enjoyed it enough to go beyond three stars. Crown in the Heather is the first book in the Bruce Trilogy that retells the story of the First War of Scottish Independence (1296-1328) and how Robert the Bruce united the warring clans of Scotland and won independence for his people from the English.
This novel covers the period from 1290-1306 and the narrative alternates between 3 different viewpoints: (1) Robert the Bruce, (2) James Douglas (Bruce’s lieutenant and friend) and (3) Edward, Prince of Wales (son of King Edward “Longshanks”). I found it unusual that each of the narratives is told in the first person. I also found it a bit jarring during the beginning of the book.
More troubling for me was that I only found myself truly engaged during the portions narrated by Robert. Much of this is the result of the great job Sasson does with Robert’s character. He is very well drawn and comes to life for the reader as we share in his struggle with his vanity, his personal desires and his love for his country.
On the other hand, Edward’s portions were good, but less interesting than those tracking Robert. Plus, I couldn’t get the image of the girly, sniveling, space-waster from the movie out of my head.
Finally, the segments with James Douglas were just distracting and I really found my attention wondering. Part of this is likely due to my unfamiliarity with Douglas’ contributions to Scottish Independence and part was just that his character was less impactful to the story. These parts just came across as dry and scratchy.
Another source of expectation let down was that the story ends before most of the major battles begin between Bruce’s forces and the English (most notably Bannockburn). Those that do occur are glossed over and mentioned mostly in passing. Far more attention is focused on the growing love between Robert and his second wife Elizabeth and how he arranges things the political landscape to be able to court her. Don’t get me wrong, this was my favorite part of the story as the romance between the two is very well done and you truly come to care about both of them. Still, I would have preferred a tad more facepaint and a lot more
…to go along with it.
In sum, this is good historical fiction about a subject matter that I am very interested in, but whose execution was not tailored to fit me as well as I might have liked. I do intend to read the next installment as I think the story is poised to get very good and I think I will enjoy it.
I just have to get used to the fact that it won't include Hamish…
...or Murron and Isabelle
...or Patrick “the Prisoner himself” McGoohan as “Longshanks”
My apologies to Ms. Sasson for my admitted bias.
Despite Mel Gibson taking a drunken header off my “favorite actor” list after his MANY bigoted, “I’ve got anger issues” rants that proclaimed to the world his extreme ASSholiness, Braveheart is pure gore-dripping, cinematic gold. A wonderfully delicious combo of testosterone-drenched, violent war-porn accompanied by a symphony of heartstring-tugging, tear-producing melodrama sure to warm the cockles.
All that, plus face paint...heaven. I loved it and it’s a hard act to follow for anyone not sporting a brand new form of awesome.
Thus, despite this being a well-written, well delivered story that many have viewed with more favor, I can’t say I enjoyed it enough to go beyond three stars. Crown in the Heather is the first book in the Bruce Trilogy that retells the story of the First War of Scottish Independence (1296-1328) and how Robert the Bruce united the warring clans of Scotland and won independence for his people from the English.
This novel covers the period from 1290-1306 and the narrative alternates between 3 different viewpoints: (1) Robert the Bruce, (2) James Douglas (Bruce’s lieutenant and friend) and (3) Edward, Prince of Wales (son of King Edward “Longshanks”). I found it unusual that each of the narratives is told in the first person. I also found it a bit jarring during the beginning of the book.
More troubling for me was that I only found myself truly engaged during the portions narrated by Robert. Much of this is the result of the great job Sasson does with Robert’s character. He is very well drawn and comes to life for the reader as we share in his struggle with his vanity, his personal desires and his love for his country.
On the other hand, Edward’s portions were good, but less interesting than those tracking Robert. Plus, I couldn’t get the image of the girly, sniveling, space-waster from the movie out of my head.
Finally, the segments with James Douglas were just distracting and I really found my attention wondering. Part of this is likely due to my unfamiliarity with Douglas’ contributions to Scottish Independence and part was just that his character was less impactful to the story. These parts just came across as dry and scratchy.
Another source of expectation let down was that the story ends before most of the major battles begin between Bruce’s forces and the English (most notably Bannockburn). Those that do occur are glossed over and mentioned mostly in passing. Far more attention is focused on the growing love between Robert and his second wife Elizabeth and how he arranges things the political landscape to be able to court her. Don’t get me wrong, this was my favorite part of the story as the romance between the two is very well done and you truly come to care about both of them. Still, I would have preferred a tad more facepaint and a lot more
…to go along with it.
In sum, this is good historical fiction about a subject matter that I am very interested in, but whose execution was not tailored to fit me as well as I might have liked. I do intend to read the next installment as I think the story is poised to get very good and I think I will enjoy it.
I just have to get used to the fact that it won't include Hamish…
...or Murron and Isabelle
...or Patrick “the Prisoner himself” McGoohan as “Longshanks”
My apologies to Ms. Sasson for my admitted bias.
February 1, 2011
All the positively glowing reviews I've read about this book had me eagerly awaiting its delivery and excitedly anticipating sinking my teeth into some wonderfully detailed Scottish history.
Now that I have finished the book I'm scratching my head and wondering if this can possibly be the same book? I'm sad to say that I can not offer any glowing praise for this book except to say thank goodness it wasn't any longer than it was. Could it have been worse...absolutely. Could it have been better...much.
The author attempts to tell the story of Robert the Bruce but in my honest opinion does not succeed very well in her attempt. One of many problems I had with this novel was the narration. I know it's all the rage to have multiple narrators these days and I have read many books that employ that technique and I can see the benefits to using it. Unfortunately here it serves only to detract from the story and the fluidness of the narration itself. There is very little character development and far too much telling the reader rather than showing the reader.
Never did I feel Robert the Bruce's burning desire to lead Scotland. In fact it seems he more often speaks of being a coward and feeling sorrow for the hard choices he's had to make. He doesn't feel authentic to me, nor do the other characters. At one point Robert makes it know how important it is to him to tuck his daughter into bed at night. That is such a contemporary measure of fatherhood that it felt completely out of place in this medieval novel.
There were a few scenes that I enjoyed but generally they were immediately followed by a shift in narration or setting so that I was left wanting more. I did not find this to be a satisfying read and I will not be looking for the next book in this series.
Now that I have finished the book I'm scratching my head and wondering if this can possibly be the same book? I'm sad to say that I can not offer any glowing praise for this book except to say thank goodness it wasn't any longer than it was. Could it have been worse...absolutely. Could it have been better...much.
The author attempts to tell the story of Robert the Bruce but in my honest opinion does not succeed very well in her attempt. One of many problems I had with this novel was the narration. I know it's all the rage to have multiple narrators these days and I have read many books that employ that technique and I can see the benefits to using it. Unfortunately here it serves only to detract from the story and the fluidness of the narration itself. There is very little character development and far too much telling the reader rather than showing the reader.
Never did I feel Robert the Bruce's burning desire to lead Scotland. In fact it seems he more often speaks of being a coward and feeling sorrow for the hard choices he's had to make. He doesn't feel authentic to me, nor do the other characters. At one point Robert makes it know how important it is to him to tuck his daughter into bed at night. That is such a contemporary measure of fatherhood that it felt completely out of place in this medieval novel.
There were a few scenes that I enjoyed but generally they were immediately followed by a shift in narration or setting so that I was left wanting more. I did not find this to be a satisfying read and I will not be looking for the next book in this series.
June 11, 2010
"The Crown in the Heather" is an exceptionally well-written novel, brought to life particularly by the stunning scenery of Scotland and the writer's wonderful talent for enacting human drama. It's a story of both triumph and despair, of courage and fear, with prose that is infused with irresistable touches of imagery and pace. Such is the writer's ability to engage the reader that I found this nigh-on impossible to put down.
The story chronicles the struggles and challenges of Robert the Bruce in an increasingly unstable Scotland with the brutal Longshanks, King of England, shadowing everything. Robert aims to secure the crown of Scotland but he faces many enemies in his quest, and his problems are only compounded by his love for Elizabeth, daughter of one of Longshanks's allies. The English king is callous and untrustworthy, and Robert is forced into flight by a cruel betrayal. Torn from his wife and daughter, he must make a stand against a ruthless foe if he is to achieve all that his heart desires.
The central character, Robert the Bruce, is a very strong individual who can both fight and love with equally passionate intensity. The unfolding of Scotland's history in the 14th century is protrayed with an expert hand, allowing us to meet all the pivotal players in a way that is both informative and superbly entertaining. The style is absorbing, the tension is ever-mounting. A truly unforgettable novel, I can't recommend nor praise this highly enough.
The story chronicles the struggles and challenges of Robert the Bruce in an increasingly unstable Scotland with the brutal Longshanks, King of England, shadowing everything. Robert aims to secure the crown of Scotland but he faces many enemies in his quest, and his problems are only compounded by his love for Elizabeth, daughter of one of Longshanks's allies. The English king is callous and untrustworthy, and Robert is forced into flight by a cruel betrayal. Torn from his wife and daughter, he must make a stand against a ruthless foe if he is to achieve all that his heart desires.
The central character, Robert the Bruce, is a very strong individual who can both fight and love with equally passionate intensity. The unfolding of Scotland's history in the 14th century is protrayed with an expert hand, allowing us to meet all the pivotal players in a way that is both informative and superbly entertaining. The style is absorbing, the tension is ever-mounting. A truly unforgettable novel, I can't recommend nor praise this highly enough.
April 29, 2015
I started this book with the expectation of reading a good historical about Robert the Bruce. What I found was a story full of Mary Sues and Marty Stus with modern-day sentimentalities that have no business being in a historical novel. Apart from the incredibly slow pace, the author chose to skip over those times in history that defined these very real people and concentrated the story on the boring parts. My advice when writing a historical, don't be afraid to show your subjects for who they were, include the good and the bad, and stop worrying about the readers liking them. This is part of what makes historical novels based on real people in history so fun to read.
July 16, 2010
“Whenever we want something, we must weigh the cost of getting it. A farthing is a fair price for a loaf of bread. Two shillings for a yard of wool. But what price will a man pay to be his own master?”
This question is at the heart of N. Gemini Sasson’s debut, The Crown in the Heather – The Bruce Trilogy: Book I, and it is the primary concern driving the central character of Robert the Bruce. Heir to the earldom of Carrick, Robert grows up headstrong and impulsive. Under the tutelage of his grandfather and father, he learns to negotiate the politics of thirteenth-century Scotland. Yet he yearns to be more than one among many Scots held in the sway of the English King. Robert wants to be the ruler of a county free from the severity and abuses of its nominal leaders. His ambition is a direct threat to England and several of the Scottish nobles, who refuse to rally around his claim.
As Gemi says in her Author’s Note, folklore sometimes defines the truth of what we know about a character. Robert the Bruce has taken on an almost mythical status over the centuries, like that of King Arthur. I enjoyed so much of Gemi’s portrayal, but foremost is that her Robert is a devoted son and brother, a loving husband and father. He is also a king passionately dedicated to the preservation of his people and their country. Where he wavers in his devotion, is when his own ambitions endanger the lives of those whom he loves most, particularly his wife Elizabeth and daughter Marjorie. I could feel the struggle inside of him, thanks to Gemi’s skill. He became so real to me, conflicted by his desires, wanting the stewardship of his nation despite an easy temptation to capitulate and surrender the burden. His quest for the crown of Scotland almost guarantees that he will never have the comforts of home. Moments of joy with his wife and daughter are fleeting, snatched in brief interludes before threats arise. Robert’s passion for Elizabeth, like everything else about him, is larger than life. Varied historical figures complete the cast of the Crown in the Heather, most notably William Wallace of Braveheart fame; the nemesis of the Scots, King Edward I of England and his beleaguered heir, Edward of Caernarvon; John the Red Comyn, a one-time Guardian of Scotland like Wallace, and a host of other characters.
One among them truly stands out: James Douglas, whose story parallels Robert’s own. He is in danger of eclipsing Robert as the hero of this story. James suffers losses early on, followed by a cruel exile in Paris. His experiences toughen him, but his innate goodness defies his otherwise wily behavior and a tendency to rush to confront his enemies. If I can liken the Bruce to King Arthur, then James Douglas is his Lancelot. It is only in the latter half of the book that James becomes one of the more trusted members of Robert’s retinue, but he easily proves himself a capable fighter and constant companion. His portrayal left me so captivated that I promised Gemi I would just wait for Book II, rather than rushing off to learn more about him and his ultimate fate.
I have had the pleasure of working with Gemi for a few years through critique groups, and from the start, she amazed me with her natural ability to convey human emotions, as deftly as a professional artist sketches landscapes. Her characters are vibrant and resonate beyond the pages of the book. Gemi has earned my respect and admiration for her enthusiasm and dedication to perfecting her work. It was a tremendous honor and pleasure to read the final version of The Crown in the Heather. I eagerly look forward to more on Robert the Bruce and his faithful cohort, James Douglas, in Book II.
This question is at the heart of N. Gemini Sasson’s debut, The Crown in the Heather – The Bruce Trilogy: Book I, and it is the primary concern driving the central character of Robert the Bruce. Heir to the earldom of Carrick, Robert grows up headstrong and impulsive. Under the tutelage of his grandfather and father, he learns to negotiate the politics of thirteenth-century Scotland. Yet he yearns to be more than one among many Scots held in the sway of the English King. Robert wants to be the ruler of a county free from the severity and abuses of its nominal leaders. His ambition is a direct threat to England and several of the Scottish nobles, who refuse to rally around his claim.
As Gemi says in her Author’s Note, folklore sometimes defines the truth of what we know about a character. Robert the Bruce has taken on an almost mythical status over the centuries, like that of King Arthur. I enjoyed so much of Gemi’s portrayal, but foremost is that her Robert is a devoted son and brother, a loving husband and father. He is also a king passionately dedicated to the preservation of his people and their country. Where he wavers in his devotion, is when his own ambitions endanger the lives of those whom he loves most, particularly his wife Elizabeth and daughter Marjorie. I could feel the struggle inside of him, thanks to Gemi’s skill. He became so real to me, conflicted by his desires, wanting the stewardship of his nation despite an easy temptation to capitulate and surrender the burden. His quest for the crown of Scotland almost guarantees that he will never have the comforts of home. Moments of joy with his wife and daughter are fleeting, snatched in brief interludes before threats arise. Robert’s passion for Elizabeth, like everything else about him, is larger than life. Varied historical figures complete the cast of the Crown in the Heather, most notably William Wallace of Braveheart fame; the nemesis of the Scots, King Edward I of England and his beleaguered heir, Edward of Caernarvon; John the Red Comyn, a one-time Guardian of Scotland like Wallace, and a host of other characters.
One among them truly stands out: James Douglas, whose story parallels Robert’s own. He is in danger of eclipsing Robert as the hero of this story. James suffers losses early on, followed by a cruel exile in Paris. His experiences toughen him, but his innate goodness defies his otherwise wily behavior and a tendency to rush to confront his enemies. If I can liken the Bruce to King Arthur, then James Douglas is his Lancelot. It is only in the latter half of the book that James becomes one of the more trusted members of Robert’s retinue, but he easily proves himself a capable fighter and constant companion. His portrayal left me so captivated that I promised Gemi I would just wait for Book II, rather than rushing off to learn more about him and his ultimate fate.
I have had the pleasure of working with Gemi for a few years through critique groups, and from the start, she amazed me with her natural ability to convey human emotions, as deftly as a professional artist sketches landscapes. Her characters are vibrant and resonate beyond the pages of the book. Gemi has earned my respect and admiration for her enthusiasm and dedication to perfecting her work. It was a tremendous honor and pleasure to read the final version of The Crown in the Heather. I eagerly look forward to more on Robert the Bruce and his faithful cohort, James Douglas, in Book II.
June 16, 2012
4.5 stars
If you're expecting romance, like the sneak-peek video implies, you may be disappointed. There is a wee bit of romance, but mainly it's historical fiction, telling the story of Robert the Bruce. It's written with three narratives with the chapter title telling the reader whose voice they're listening to - Robert the Bruce, James Douglas and Edward II. I've read Sasson's 'Isabeau: A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer and it's written in the same style. It's well done and gives the reader a more well-rounded view of events and a chance to see into the main character's heads and hearts.
Sasson, in her Author's Note, said that she combined both folklore and recorded history and tried to stay true but had to do some condensing of events. That's understandable but at times I felt it was a tad too condensed. I would rather have a lengthier story with a bit more detail and that's the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars. Otherwise, I loved 'The Crown in the Heather' and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
If you're expecting romance, like the sneak-peek video implies, you may be disappointed. There is a wee bit of romance, but mainly it's historical fiction, telling the story of Robert the Bruce. It's written with three narratives with the chapter title telling the reader whose voice they're listening to - Robert the Bruce, James Douglas and Edward II. I've read Sasson's 'Isabeau: A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer and it's written in the same style. It's well done and gives the reader a more well-rounded view of events and a chance to see into the main character's heads and hearts.
Sasson, in her Author's Note, said that she combined both folklore and recorded history and tried to stay true but had to do some condensing of events. That's understandable but at times I felt it was a tad too condensed. I would rather have a lengthier story with a bit more detail and that's the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars. Otherwise, I loved 'The Crown in the Heather' and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
September 10, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. I would have to say that if you are not interested in Scottish history it might be a little dry for you. Since I love reading about these times I thoroughly enjoyed it. For those not familiar it is during the time period the movie Brave Heart was done although Brave Heart is not strictly historically correct. During my read I rented the History Channel documentary about Brave Heart and the real history of the late 1200's and early 1300's. This book brought life to Robert the Bruce and James Douglas and how their stories connected. William Wallace is part of the story because he was part of the times, but it goes past the time that he lived. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the times and what might have been the feelings and thoughts of these heroic men. The love Robert the Bruce had for his wife and what the times did to people like that is just incredible. It was a good read and I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.
April 17, 2015
Complex to the point of confusion.
I liked the way the culture of the time was illuminated. But I had a terrible time sorting out the characters. Would have appreciated a link between chapters connecting them a bit more firmly. Maybe the author presumes a better understanding of history on the part of the reader.
I liked the way the culture of the time was illuminated. But I had a terrible time sorting out the characters. Would have appreciated a link between chapters connecting them a bit more firmly. Maybe the author presumes a better understanding of history on the part of the reader.
May 5, 2011
Check out this review and others on my blog: http://historicalfictionobsession.blo...
This book was actually listed on Amazon as a suggestion for me, and the price was right so I ordered it through my Kindle. I am definitely glad that I did! It has everything I love about the historical fiction genre, and is the best novel I've read in quite awhile. There is betrayal, war, love affairs, death, and amazing descriptions of the beautiful scenery that Scotland provides.
I'm not sure how historically accurate this novel is, because I'm more of an "expert" on the Tudor era, rather than the time of Longshanks and The Bruce, but the writing was so fabulous that I believed everything that was written!
This was my first time reading Sasson, and I'm happy that I was introduced to this author's works. I'm already a quarter of the way through the second novel in the trilogy, WORTH DYING FOR, and it's only getting better. The excitement in both novels keeps me on the edge of my seat, because I have not read much about this time period, so it's all pretty much new to me! Plus, the imagery she uses when describing battle scenes or describing the castles, is just awesome. Her novels are easy to get lost in, and there is nothing I love more than a novel that I can lose myself in.
I don't think the third book in The Bruce Trilogy is out yet? I could be wrong, but when I was searching for it so that I could buy it, I was unable to find it. As soon as it comes out, I will definitely own it!
I really have nothing negative to say about this trilogy thus far, other than I wish the novels were longer! I have no problem giving THE CROWN IN THE HEATHER 5 out of 5 stars, and for anyone who enjoys historical fiction this is a must read.
This book was actually listed on Amazon as a suggestion for me, and the price was right so I ordered it through my Kindle. I am definitely glad that I did! It has everything I love about the historical fiction genre, and is the best novel I've read in quite awhile. There is betrayal, war, love affairs, death, and amazing descriptions of the beautiful scenery that Scotland provides.
I'm not sure how historically accurate this novel is, because I'm more of an "expert" on the Tudor era, rather than the time of Longshanks and The Bruce, but the writing was so fabulous that I believed everything that was written!
This was my first time reading Sasson, and I'm happy that I was introduced to this author's works. I'm already a quarter of the way through the second novel in the trilogy, WORTH DYING FOR, and it's only getting better. The excitement in both novels keeps me on the edge of my seat, because I have not read much about this time period, so it's all pretty much new to me! Plus, the imagery she uses when describing battle scenes or describing the castles, is just awesome. Her novels are easy to get lost in, and there is nothing I love more than a novel that I can lose myself in.
I don't think the third book in The Bruce Trilogy is out yet? I could be wrong, but when I was searching for it so that I could buy it, I was unable to find it. As soon as it comes out, I will definitely own it!
I really have nothing negative to say about this trilogy thus far, other than I wish the novels were longer! I have no problem giving THE CROWN IN THE HEATHER 5 out of 5 stars, and for anyone who enjoys historical fiction this is a must read.
September 1, 2012
Sasson does a good job of immersing us in the conflict between England the Scots during the time of Edward the First and Robert, the Bruce. Sympathies naturally lie more with the Scots than the English whose brutal attrocities perpetrated on Scottish nobles and towns continue to resound through history. Robert, the Bruce is a heroic but tragic figure doomed to either bow to the English crown or flee through the forests. Sasson tells the tale from multiple viewpoints, some of which are English and some Scots. This change from chapter to chapter more than once disoriented me, but I'm sure gave a more balanced picture of the times.
Overall, I found it helpful in giving historic background, and an interesting read.
Overall, I found it helpful in giving historic background, and an interesting read.
October 14, 2020
It's been a long while since I read historical fiction set in Scotland, although it is a favorite region. This book shows us the beginnings of Robert the Bruce's rule, taking us right up through the Battle of Methven and hinting at what will come of his friendship with James, the Black Douglas.
Here we see Robert as the classic middle son, not favored by his father and struggling for recognition. The heartbreak of losing his first wife in childbirth, the love he finds with Elizabeth de Burgh, and the political intrigue that surrounds every move he makes are on plain display. The complicated dance between Robert and Edward I is never far from the reader's awareness.
It's clear that author N. Gemini Sasson has done her homework. She doesn't show us a clean and tidy 14th century, but one filled with mud, disease, and battlefield gore. She understands both the English and Scottish sides of the picture and shows us flawed but believable people who all believe themselves to be in the right.
The book does leave readers on a bit of a cliffhanger (unless you know the history and thus what's going to happen) because it's part of a trilogy. Still, an enjoyable read and recommended for those with an interest in the era and the region.
Here we see Robert as the classic middle son, not favored by his father and struggling for recognition. The heartbreak of losing his first wife in childbirth, the love he finds with Elizabeth de Burgh, and the political intrigue that surrounds every move he makes are on plain display. The complicated dance between Robert and Edward I is never far from the reader's awareness.
It's clear that author N. Gemini Sasson has done her homework. She doesn't show us a clean and tidy 14th century, but one filled with mud, disease, and battlefield gore. She understands both the English and Scottish sides of the picture and shows us flawed but believable people who all believe themselves to be in the right.
The book does leave readers on a bit of a cliffhanger (unless you know the history and thus what's going to happen) because it's part of a trilogy. Still, an enjoyable read and recommended for those with an interest in the era and the region.
September 4, 2019
“The Crown in the Heather” is Book #1 in a trilogy, but I’m not sure I’ll read the other two, as I found this one hard to follow. I read Sason’s book about the Welsh rebel, Owen Glendyr, set a few years earlier so knew the writing style feels disjointed, esp in this one, where we jump between years and first-person narrators from chapter to chapter. I just never felt really engaged. I like the character of James “Black Douglas” Douglas from another book I’ve read, “The Spider and the Stone,” but he’s a child or young man in this book. I just never felt engaged in this story of Robert the Bruce trying to keep Scotland as independent as possible from the autocracy of Edward I of England, who is always an unlikeable character. I only really enjoyed Robert’s interactions w/ his two wives, his daughter, and William Wallace. I guess I just don’t much like Robert, ever since “Braveheart” the movie painted him as craven and self-serving in his quest for the Scottish crown. I would rate it in the high three stars which rounds up to four.
April 8, 2018
Wonderful book
This book talks about Robert the Bruce’s rise to kingship and the early battles he and his followers have to fight to free Scotland from England.
This book talks about Robert the Bruce’s rise to kingship and the early battles he and his followers have to fight to free Scotland from England.
August 14, 2023
Sasson deftly describes this time of turmoil and perfidy through the voices of three narrators: Black Douglas, Longshanks and the Bruce himself.
An excellent writer, an outstanding read.
An excellent writer, an outstanding read.
October 13, 2012
This novel is written in first person with alternating points of view among Robert the Bruce, James Douglas, and Longshank’s son Prince Edward (Edward II). I feel like a broken record but I’m still not a fan of this - I believe that if you’re writing in first person, you should stick to one point of view. If you want multiple points of view, write in third person. But with it’s growing popularity, I’ve kind of had to put my feelings on it aside.
Even so, there were things I really liked about this book and things I didn’t. I will try to mark spoilers where appropriate.
First, the bad.
Early on in the novel Robert has come to join those fighting the English and he is not trusted. Soon after, he is accepted among them as expected (which is why I won’t mark this as a spoiler) but the reader never really gets to see how, when, or why that happens. One minute he’s an outcast, the next, he’s fighting with them.
Similarly,
Lastly, I thought it was a bit ridiculous when Robert and his squire were discussing what he should wear to a feast like a fashion-challenge modern man and his wife might do today. In fact, Robert even makes a joke about not needing a wife with his squire around to criticize his fashion sense. It just all seemed a bit unrealistic for a pair of medieval Scotsmen. I realize that the right attire could be important at court regardless of the time period but the dialogue just seemed hokey.
Now for the good.
The characters were well fleshed out, the dialogue was realistic (with one exception as detailed above), the plot kept me interested, and it was easy to read but not simplistic.
I have read another novel featuring James Douglas, A Kingdom's Cost by J.R. Tomlin, but I felt like Sasson gives us a better understanding of why James was so loyal to the Scottish cause by detailing more of his childhood and his family’s suffering at the hands of the English. And with Robert and Edward’s points of view as well (Robert’s being most prominent), Sasson also shows us what is going on in Scotland and England on a bigger scale even while James is still only a child. So we also get a better understanding of the political setting James was stepping into when he returned from France. Definitely different approaches and I preferred Sasson’s in many ways.
So there’s good and bad to this, which I usually figure averages out to 3 stars. I felt it was worth reading but then, I have not read much else on Scotland so don’t have much to compare it to.
Even so, there were things I really liked about this book and things I didn’t. I will try to mark spoilers where appropriate.
First, the bad.
Early on in the novel Robert has come to join those fighting the English and he is not trusted. Soon after, he is accepted among them as expected (which is why I won’t mark this as a spoiler) but the reader never really gets to see how, when, or why that happens. One minute he’s an outcast, the next, he’s fighting with them.
Similarly,
Lastly, I thought it was a bit ridiculous when Robert and his squire were discussing what he should wear to a feast like a fashion-challenge modern man and his wife might do today. In fact, Robert even makes a joke about not needing a wife with his squire around to criticize his fashion sense. It just all seemed a bit unrealistic for a pair of medieval Scotsmen. I realize that the right attire could be important at court regardless of the time period but the dialogue just seemed hokey.
Now for the good.
The characters were well fleshed out, the dialogue was realistic (with one exception as detailed above), the plot kept me interested, and it was easy to read but not simplistic.
I have read another novel featuring James Douglas, A Kingdom's Cost by J.R. Tomlin, but I felt like Sasson gives us a better understanding of why James was so loyal to the Scottish cause by detailing more of his childhood and his family’s suffering at the hands of the English. And with Robert and Edward’s points of view as well (Robert’s being most prominent), Sasson also shows us what is going on in Scotland and England on a bigger scale even while James is still only a child. So we also get a better understanding of the political setting James was stepping into when he returned from France. Definitely different approaches and I preferred Sasson’s in many ways.
So there’s good and bad to this, which I usually figure averages out to 3 stars. I felt it was worth reading but then, I have not read much else on Scotland so don’t have much to compare it to.
July 5, 2012
The medieval struggle of the Scots for independence from England is told through the voices of 3 narrators: James Stewart, Prince Edward (to become Edward II of England) and Robert the Bruce himself. In a time of turmoil and perfidy, Robert attempts to bring together the pugnacious Scots in a cobbled alliance against the English King Edward Longshanks. Young James Stewart develops a deep respect and loyalty toward the Bruce, while the perverse Prince Edward impatiently awaits his father’s death for many reasons, not the least of which is to indulge his thirst for vengeance against Robert.
The three points of view relieved the book from the danger of excess sentimentality and allowed the focus on Robert’s affectionate familial ties to avoid becoming overweening. It is, after all, a historical novel, not a romance. The protagonists as well as the secondary characters are well drawn, and Scotland is vividly enough presented to become an additional entity, harsh but beautiful and worthy of the dedication it inspired.
The three points of view relieved the book from the danger of excess sentimentality and allowed the focus on Robert’s affectionate familial ties to avoid becoming overweening. It is, after all, a historical novel, not a romance. The protagonists as well as the secondary characters are well drawn, and Scotland is vividly enough presented to become an additional entity, harsh but beautiful and worthy of the dedication it inspired.
December 28, 2020
Sasson writes a sympathetic portrayal of Robert Bruce from his teen years through the disastrous events of late 1306. Her research is is mostly faithful to the available facts and embroiders it with pure legend like the cave and the spider. She chooses to tell her story from various points of view in the first person—Robert Bruce, the future Edward II of England and James ‘the Black’ Douglas—emphasizing that Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots, was not only merciless with his enemies but with his son. Writing historical fiction means not only interpreting but filling in a lot of blanks. I was especially impressed with her version of what happened in Greyfriars Kirk the day John ‘Red’ Comyn died violently. While Sasson’s version of events paints Bruce positively for the most part, her version of the fateful meeting between Comyn and Bruce addresses questions historians raise about Bruce’s judgment given that killing Comyn was the most damaging thing he could have done in his drive to be king. I would have enjoyed a bit more complexity, but it was an enjoyable read.
July 12, 2012
I wasn't wild about this book - Sasson is a good author, but I wouldn't call her a great author. She attempts to tell the story of Robert the Bruce through the eyes of Robert and two other characters. Sections of the book are told from one character's perspective, then she switches and tells another section from another character's perspective. The only problem is that she is unsuccessful at changing the style of narrative when switching the character. To me, the voice of each section sounds just like the others. I would have hoped that the way the story was told would change so that it 'sounded' like someone else was telling the story. Bruce sounded just like Edward II who sounded just like James. Oh well - not a deal breaker. I will keep reading the series as I have always wanted to read historical fiction centered on Scotland and I've always wanted to know more about the history of Robert the Bruce.
January 17, 2012
So, to start with, this is historical fiction featuring a romance, not historical romance. If your appreciation for Scottish history begins and ends with "Hot Highland Hunks," this book is not for you. The author attempted, and was successful at, DEromantacizing the Scots battle for independence and the major players therin. This book is about the painful, gritty reality of fighting an empire bent on destroying a culture.
That said, it was just a little boring. There were so many people mentioned that keeping them straight became a challenge. Sometimes history just doesn't work as fiction, and the greats know exactly how to make minor tweaks to fact to make good fiction without distorting it overmuch. The characters were somewhat bland and there just wasn't enough development to pull in the reader.
That said, it was just a little boring. There were so many people mentioned that keeping them straight became a challenge. Sometimes history just doesn't work as fiction, and the greats know exactly how to make minor tweaks to fact to make good fiction without distorting it overmuch. The characters were somewhat bland and there just wasn't enough development to pull in the reader.
May 9, 2017
I quite enjoyed this tale of Scottish history but it suffers from the fact that it's the first in a trilogy. It isn't self-contained in that it aims get you to read the next one so doesn't come to a satisfactory ending of its own. I think it also suffers slightly from being written by an American as some of the turns of phrase (e.g. someone says to Robert Bruce that they're sure he could use some wine) would be jarring for a novel set in modern Scotland let alone in a period piece like this. The historical facts are all there and the true story is exciting enough to warrant the book being written, but the structure of different narrators takes a little getting used to. All in all I felt it was solid but had expected to enjoy it more.
February 26, 2011
Read on my Kindle. Great story and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
June 20, 2015
interesting style where each chapter is a character speaking in first person
dnf
November 30, 2016I wasn't feeling this at all.
March 11, 2021
Most people, even those that are not so well versed in Scottish history know of Robert The Bruce and Sir William Wallace’s tales, or at least know them from Braveheart, that however was not an accurate portrayal of these two historical figures, it was and still is an excellent work of fiction. If like me you can never get enough of Scottish history and/or just history, this is a read for you. If you are a curious reader that wishes to learn more about Robert The Bruce and the First War Of Scottish Independence, then this series will satisfy that need through some skillfully woven fiction. Fiction! Remember, this is not just history but also a work of fiction. That’s what historical fiction is all about: giving voice and color to the past. It comes down to the reader’s common sense to know what is accurate and what is fictional. If you are wondering about the fictional bits in the Author’s Note Sasson explains just what type of material, besides true historical facts, she has drawn from to write this book. In this beautiful retelling of Bruce’s life, Gemini Sasson keeps the reader captivated with elegant prose, striking descriptions and plausible characters, all while taking the reader back to the First War of Scottish Independence and following Robert the Bruce as he leads the people of Scotland against the English rule. The story is told from three different first person POVs, that of Robert the Bruce, James Douglas and Edward II. We are inside the minds of these three historical figures exploiting their fears, longings, and personal struggles in the harsh, hot, political mess that was 13th century Scotland. I loved exploring the story from three unique perspectives, and the character’s personalities felt realistic, relatable, and distinct. Gemini’s storytelling ability is impressive, not only she offers beautiful descriptions, but she has a knack for drama and great dialogues. This was a pleasant and satisfying read by a skilled storyteller. My wish was to travel to Robert The Bruce and Sir William Wallace’s Scotland and thanks to Gemini Sasson I did. I will definitely read the next two books in the series, and I know they will not disappoint.
This review only covers the first book in the trilogy, and I promise I will review the others. A 5 Stars read!
This review only covers the first book in the trilogy, and I promise I will review the others. A 5 Stars read!
July 11, 2019
THE CROWN IN THE HEATHER is the first of a trilogy by N. Gemini Sasson around the life of Robert the Bruce, the first king of Scotland, and covers the time period from about 1290 to 1310. While a work of fiction, it is well-placed within its political, social, historical, and geographical context. Confession: I am a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce (I always wondered about the frequency of the name "Bruce" within our family.....it is my middle name), now 730 years later. This may help to account for my affinity for Scottish-themed novels, especially of the medieval period.
Robert and his major rival to the throne both have hereditary claims. To strengthen his claim, Robert agrees to serve the ruthless King Edward I of England, known as Longshanks, and his son and heir, Edward II, despised by most Scots for their heavy and violent subjugation and control of Scotland. Robert must battle his rival, Longshanks, and Scottish nobility loyal to England. Robert the Bruce succeeded in becoming the first king of Scotland, with more to come in volumes 2 & 3 of Sasson's work. Four out of five stars.
Robert and his major rival to the throne both have hereditary claims. To strengthen his claim, Robert agrees to serve the ruthless King Edward I of England, known as Longshanks, and his son and heir, Edward II, despised by most Scots for their heavy and violent subjugation and control of Scotland. Robert must battle his rival, Longshanks, and Scottish nobility loyal to England. Robert the Bruce succeeded in becoming the first king of Scotland, with more to come in volumes 2 & 3 of Sasson's work. Four out of five stars.
March 28, 2020
A very fine book if you're into historical fiction
It was hard for me to give this a four star rating as I normally give books either five, three or one. I can't say this was fantastic enough to give it five stars only in that I felt the story a bit truncated between chapters and it lacked some details between chapters that would have really made me engrossed in the book more. And yet it was one of the finest self published books I've read in a long time and couldn't give it three stars. Anyway, my critique about the pace of the book maybe other people's preference, as the story does move along and builds up with excitement and tension. I haven't watched braveheart and only know about the Scottish independence through history, so I don't know how this compares to all that. But it felt.solid enough. I plan on reading the next two books for sure, and this would make for an awesome streaming/TV series.
It was hard for me to give this a four star rating as I normally give books either five, three or one. I can't say this was fantastic enough to give it five stars only in that I felt the story a bit truncated between chapters and it lacked some details between chapters that would have really made me engrossed in the book more. And yet it was one of the finest self published books I've read in a long time and couldn't give it three stars. Anyway, my critique about the pace of the book maybe other people's preference, as the story does move along and builds up with excitement and tension. I haven't watched braveheart and only know about the Scottish independence through history, so I don't know how this compares to all that. But it felt.solid enough. I plan on reading the next two books for sure, and this would make for an awesome streaming/TV series.
April 26, 2020
I think I liked this mostly because the story of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce is already historically interesting- it's a good one to write about. However the narration could have been improved to make the recounting of this period in history much better. To take on the saga of politics, battles, and Scottish in fighting I thought there would be a lot more descriptive speeches by Robert of his passion for Scotland and needing its freedom. The characterisation of Robert fell a little flat. I felt like the author was telling us rather than showing us. I did enjoy the chapters of James Douglas, the motives behind his character were more clearly shown to the reader and his love for Scotland and hatred for the English is much more clearly shown.
February 8, 2022
This novel is the first in a trilogy. The legend of Robert the Bruce and the spider refusing to give up trying to weave a web touched my imagination as a boy, and I never forgot it. This book covers the end of the 13th. century and the beginning of the 14th., and Robert the Bruce is fighting to drive the invading English out of Scotland. Although it is fiction, the book follows what is historically known of the period. Well researched and well written, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will read the other two in the trilogy. It is exciting and enthralling, a truly entertaining read for anyone who is interested in the history of Scotland or just wants a novel to dive into and lose oneself.
March 6, 2019
Three separate narrators and three separate points of view are a lot to manage in historical fiction. I’ve seen other authors in other genres do it - Kevin Hearne in the Iron Druid series for one - but in this instance, combined with the gaps in the timeline, it leaves the central characters a bit muddled. As for other reviews dealing with either the accuracy or the grittiness, having not read of this time period in either fiction or non-fiction, I can’t say. But i never did feel any compelling reason to care about any of these characters. There are depths here that could have been explored more deeply.
November 29, 2022
Like many books, the author attempts to weave the story from several perspectives. Sometimes, as in the case of King Edward, he succeeds. Other times, such as in the head of James Douglas, the story is too like the voice of The Bruce to feel different. The story also suffers from great lurches in time, passing over the parts of the story (like the Battles of Stirling or Falkirk) most worth telling. It is frustrating to spend so much time building up to pass right by an important event. I hope this improves.
Overall frustrated with book one but i’ll continue to book two out of sheer stubborness.
Overall frustrated with book one but i’ll continue to book two out of sheer stubborness.
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