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HQ Digital 8 May 2025 My thanks to the publisher for the copy of this book |
The Hundred Years' War comes to life in this spellbinding tale of love, betrayal and conspiracy …
A quest born on the battlefield will change a young boy’s destiny…
Rafi Dubois is five years old when his mother is murdered after the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Alone and lost, Rafi is given a token by the dying Englishman who tried to save his mother’s life: a half-broken family seal which he urges Rafi to return one day to Winchester.
Years later, when Rafi saves a wealthy merchant’s wife from a brutal robbery, he is rewarded with the chance to travel to England, taking the seal with him.
But when he reaches Winchester, Rafi finds himself in a turbulent world full of long-held allegiances, secrets and treachery. His path is fraught with danger and with powerful enemies working against him, Rafi falls in love with Edith, a market apothecary. But in doing so, Rafi unleashes a deadly chain of events which threatens to overwhelm them both…
πMy Review..
In the aftermath of the battle of CrΓ©cy five year old, Rafi Dubois not only witnesses the disappearance of his mother but also the death of an English soldier. Just prior to his death the soldier entrusts Rafi with his family seal which he entreats the young boy to return to his family in England. Years later, as a twenty year old, Rafi finally has the opportunity to travel from Ghent to Winchester, and his quest to return the seal finally begins. This is a task not without risk and Rafi soon discovers that he is faced with more questions than there are answers plus there is also an assortment of people who seem intent to do him harm. His ambitious search for the owners of the seal will bring Rafi into contact with a powerful Winchester merchant, and it is this connection which will lead him into great danger.
With impeccable research medieval Winchester springs to life, its dark and dangerous corners are filled with malice, its mean and moody streets are littered with the detritus of daily life and the sights, sounds and scents of a medieval town are described in realistic detail. That there is trouble ahead for Rafi is evident from the start however, the characters he meets, some inherently good, some downright evil, all add a realistic edge to this beautifully written story of family, friendship and the ultimate need to fulfil a duty promised.
The Herb Knot gives us a fascinating glimpse into a medieval world which is filled with intrigue and danger, whilst at the same time offering shreds of hope and love in a compelling story which lingers long after the last page is turned.
About the Author
Jane Loftus studied 16th Century European history before taking a postgraduate degree in modern political history. As a lone parent, she worked in Winchester Waterstones before taking a job in IT. This novel was written in the evenings while she was raising her son. Hugely passionate about the Middle Ages, she drew inspiration for this novel from the medieval layout of Winchester which has been painstakingly documented.
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