The Twisted Sword

In Cornwall in 1815, Demelza sees a horseman riding down the valley and senses disruption to the domestic contentment she has fought so hard to achieve. Ross has little option but to accept the summons—and travel to Paris with his family, as an "observer" of the French armed forces. Parisian life begins well, but the return of Napoleon brings separation, distrust, and danger to the Poldarks—and always for Demelza there is the shadow of the secret she does not even share with Ross.

Captain Vidarian Rulorat's great-grandfather gave up an imperial commission to commit social catastrophe by marrying a fire priestess. For love, he unwittingly doomed his family to generations of a rare genetic disease that follows families who cross elemental boundaries. Now Vidarian, the last surviving member of the Rulorat family, struggles to uphold his family legacy, and finds himself chained to a task as a result of the bride price his great-grandfather paid: The priestess Endera has called upon Vidarian to fulfill his family's obligation by transporting a young fire priestess named Ariadel to a water temple far to the south, through dangerous pirate-controlled territory. Vidarian finds himself at the intersection not only of the world's most volatile elements, but of the ancient and alien powers that lurk between them...

From the award-winning author of Swordspoint comes a witty, wicked coming-of-age story that is both edgy and timeless. . . . Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the city’s labyrinth of streets and ballrooms, theatres and brothels, boudoirs and salons. Into this alluring and alarming world walks a bright young woman ready to take it on and make her fortune. A well-bred country girl, Katherine knows all the rules of conventional society. Her biggest mistake is thinking they apply. Katherine’s host and uncle, Alec Campion, the capricious and decadent Mad Duke Tremontaine, is in charge here—and to him, rules are made to be broken. When he decides it would be far more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to ballroom and husband, her world changes forever. And there’s no going back. Blade in hand, it’s up to Katherine to find her own way through a maze of secrets and betrayals, nobles and scoundrels—and to gain the power, respect, and self-discovery that come to those who master. . . . “Unholy fun, and wholly fun . . . an elegant riposte, dazzlingly executed.”—Gregory Maguire, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked

Bella Poldark is the twelfth and final novel in Winston Graham's hugely popular Poldark series, and continues the story after the fifth TV series, which has become a television phenomenon starring Aidan Turner. The enchanting saga of Ross, Demelza and the Poldark family concludes in this, the last book in the epic series. Bella, the Poldarks’ youngest daughter, is a precociously talented singer and is encouraged to pursue a career by her old flame and by a distinguished French conductor who has more in mind than Bella’s music . . . Meanwhile, Valentine Warleggan, whose existence keeps open the old wounds of the feud between Ross and George, leads an increasingly wayward existence. And Clowance, the Poldarks’ widowed daughter, is considering remarrying to one of two rival suitors. But a cloud hangs over Cornwall, as a murderer stalks the villages looking for new victims . . . 'From the incomparable Winston Graham . . . who has everything that anyone else has, and then a whole lot more. - Guardian

The Twisted Sword is the eleventh novel in Winston Graham's hugely popular Poldark series, and continues the story after the fifth TV series, which has become a television phenomenon starring Aidan Turner. Cornwall 1815. Demelza sees a horseman riding down the valley and senses disruption to the domestic contentment she has fought so hard to achieve. For Ross has little option but to accept the summons – and travel to Paris with his family, as an 'observer' of the French armed forces. Parisian life begins well with an exhilarating round of balls and parties. But the return of Napoleon brings separation, distrust and danger to the Poldarks . . . and always for Demelza there is the shadow of the secret she does not even share with Ross. The Twisted Sword is followed by the twelfth book in the Poldark series, Bella Poldark.