The Price of Loyalty – Serving Adela of Blois
Malve von Hassell
Type: ARC
Genre: Historical fiction
Word count: 97,740
The life of Adela of Blois, daughter of William the Conqueror, portrayed through the eyes of Cerdic, a man born in England and loyal knight in her service, and Giselle, a French woman. The story is framed by several key events, the consecration of Bayeux Cathedral in 1077, the first crusades, and the White Ship disaster in 1120.
What’s this?
“Loyalty should have been emblazoned on his crest.” Cerdic is trapped between two worlds. Will loyalty prove to be his downfall? Born in England, he came to Normandy as a child. He owes his allegiance to the Norman king who conquered his homeland. He is bound in service to the king’s daughter Adela, his first friend in a strange land, and her husband Count Stephen-Henry of Blois. He is torn between Adela whom he has loved for years and Giselle whom he weds in an arranged marriage. Giselle is in love with the tall knight with the odd name; she even goes so far as to join him on the crusade of 1101. Will Cerdic learn where his true feelings lie before it is too late?
The story is framed by several key events, the consecration of Bayeux Cathedral in 1077, the first crusade in 1096-1098, the crusade of 1101, and the White Ship disaster in 1120. Cerdic’s life journey is inextricably linked to that of Adela, Countess of Blois, who ruled her husband’s domains with a firm hand during his absence while he was on crusade and for another decade upon his death.
Malve von Hassell is a writer, researcher, and translator. Born in Italy, she spent part of her childhood in Belgium and Germany before moving to the United States. Her works include the children’s picture book, Letters from the Tooth Fairy, written in response to her son’s letters to the tooth fairy; The Falconer’s Apprentice, her first historical fiction novel for young readers; and The Amber Crane, a historical fiction novel set in Germany in the 17th century.
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