A Sword Among Ravens

In a grave, on the edge of a Roman battlefield, an ancient sword has been discovered. Legend claims it belonged to King David of Israel and carries a curse—those who wield it will tragically die—but not the chosen. AD 455. Arria Felix and her husband, Garic the Frank, have safely delivered a sacred relic to Emperor Marcian in Constantinople. But now, Arria and Garic will accept a new mission. The emperor has asked them to carry the sword of King David of Israel to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem where Arria will dedicate it in her murdered father’s memory. As Arria and Garic travel into the heart of the Holy Land, they face many challenges and dangers. A brutal killer stalks their path. Their young daughter is missing then found in the company of a strange and suspicious old monk. And a band of cold-blooded thieves is determined to steal the sword for their own gains. But when Arria confronts the question of where the sword should truly rest—old friendships, loyalties, and her duty are put to the test like never before. At every turn, Arria and Garic find themselves caught in a treacherous mission wrapped in mystery, murder, and A Sword Among Ravens.

In Raven's blood will destiny bathe, to bring forth what must come... Laurence had a happy childhood. He’d often dreamed of becoming a hero, just like his father. Unfortunately, just as his dreams were about to become reality… tragedy struck and set him on a journey of revenge that would unravel everything he knew about the world. The Kingdom of Arkhania is under siege by the machinations of an ancient being, and he is caught in their sinister plot. Forbidden magic breathes life to untold evils, and with it... death follows. As Arkhania crumbles around him, and threats appear at every turn, he must fight to save all he holds dear. Will he rise up and defeat his family’s greatest foe? Will he save the kingdom from malevolent forces? Is he simply a pawn in a grander scheme which he cannot understand? "Bathed in the Blood of Ravens weaves a tale of conquest, revenge, love, loss and forbidden magic that will leave you on the edge of your seat!" ~ J. Veneziano "Even though this is R.L. Parker's debut novel, it's clear he has been telling stories for a very long time, especially with how everything has a rhyme or reason." ~ C. Mallory

The explosive conclusion of A Crow Among Ravens "Strapped to Little Olin's back, I can feel the beating of his heart through my scabbard. He's excited. Ready for the fray. Primed for action. You've no doubt heard of the calm before the storm? Well, ever one to buck against tradition, this is the storm before The Calm." Can the Krau-Y-Kree and his rag-tag band of ne'er do wells really take down the whole might of the mythic Red Skulls? Either way, it's gonna be beautifully bloody. What? I'm a sword! In my defence, this is what I was made to do.

This study concerns the importance of the sword in Anglo-Saxon and Viking society, with reference to surviving swords and literary sources, especially Beowulf.

It is the tail-end of the first millennium, and there is something very rotten in the heart of Jorvik. A mad, Saxon earl perches precariously atop the throne of the old Viking king, barely controlling a court of predatory schemers hellbent on tearing whatever strips of power they can from the dying corpse of the city. Yet there is something far, far worse than Machiavellian politicians stalking the back alleys and byways of the once great capital of the north. Persuaded out of his self-imposed exile to find a missing bridegroom, Olin Odinson is thrown into a sinister world of cannibals, Satanists, demons, and witches. Yet, as he struggles to come to terms with the altered nature of the city he once called home, it is the unavoidable meeting with his abandoned sister that fills Olin's heart with dread. Languishing in the British Royal Armouries, Olin's sword reminisces about the good old days, spinning an anachronistic adventure mystery, that effortlessly blends old and new with startling results.

In two volumes. Volume I: 601 pages including a 522 page index of family names, in alphabetical order, describing the crest of every name listed and where to find an illustration in the volume of plates; a glossary of heraldic terms and other words; and nearly seventy pages of family mottoes with translations of those in Latin, French or other foreign languages. Volume II: contains 130 plates, each depicting 15 family crests in b&w and a further 18 plates illustrating regalia, insignia, crowns, flags, monograms, arms of principal cities etc. also in b&w. There is a key to all the plates which, in the case of the crests, shows which families have which crest.

The first in the “powerful” (SFFWorld.com) New York Times bestselling fantasy series. Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order to be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate and dangerous life of a warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order. Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the Unified Realm—and Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright knows no bounds. Even his cherished memories of his mother are soon challenged by what he learns within the Order. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the Realm but the world.

If you like Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and David Gemmell, you will love this spellbinding Viking adventure, packed with battles, blood and gore, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lancelot, Giles Kristian. "An unabashed carnival of bloodletting and betrayal...Kristian has a knack for writing real blokes living their lives, not reciting their author's research." -- DAILY TELEGRAPH "A gripping tale of action and treachery which splendidly conjures up the sounds, sights and smells of Dark Age Britain..." - HARRY SIDEBOTTOM "A powerful, lightning-paced tale of the Norsemen in England..." - BERNARD CORNWELL "I have been thoroughly overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance of Kristian's writing style, depth and colour of story, meaningful characters and clever humour. I have been most definitely impressed and have almost finished the 3rd book in the series. Time to return to the beginning and read again." -- ***** Reader review ********************************************* SOME CALLED THEM WOLVES OF THE SEA. OTHERS SIMPLY CALLED THEM VIKINGS. For two years Osric has lived a simple life, though he is feared and shunned for his mysterious past and blood-red eye. When raiders from across the sea ransack his village, Osric finds himself taken prisoner by their chief, Sigurd the Lucky. Immersed in the Norsemen's world and driven by their lust for adventure, Osric proves a natural warrior and forges a deep bond with Sigurd, who renames him Raven. But the Norsemen's world is a savage one, where loyalty is often repaid in blood, and a young man must become a killer to survive... Raven: Blood Eye is the first title in the Raven trilogy. The story continues in Raven: Sons of Thunder.