Winter Siege
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  • Published: 1 May 2015
  • ISBN: 9780857501479
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 448
  • RRP: $29.99

Winter Siege

Formats & editions
EBook
9 Oct 2014
Audiobook
13 Nov 2014
Paperback
1 May 2015
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One child holds the key to peace. One man will stop at nothing to silence her . . .

Ariana Franklin's final, brilliant standalone novel, left incomplete at the time of her death, now finished by her daughter.

'An absorbing re-creation of the 12th Century . . . this is a fast-moving story of humbler folk caught up in cruel battles' The Independent

‘Original, atmospheric and genuinely moving . . . captures the imagination and does not let go’ Giles Kristian

It’s 1141 and freezing cold.

Gwil, a battle-hardened mercenary, is horrified to stumble across a little girl close to death. She has been attacked, just one more victim in a winter of atrocities. Clutching a sliver of parchment, she is terrified – but Gwil knows what he must do. He will bring her back to life. He will train her to fight. And together, they will hunt down the man who did this to her.

But danger looms wherever they turn. As castle after castle falls victim to siege, the icy Fens ring with rumours of a madman, of murder – and of a small piece of parchment with a terrible secret to tell, the cost of which none of them could have imagined . . .
  • Published: 1 May 2015
  • ISBN: 9780857501479
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 448
  • RRP: $29.99
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About the author

Ariana Franklin

Ariana Franklin was born in Devon and, like her father, became a journalist. Having invaded Wales dressed in combat uniform with the Royal Marines for one of their military exercises, accompanied the Queen on a royal visit, missed her own twenty-first birthday party because she had to cover a murder, she married, almost inevitably, another journalist. At this point she decided that staying married was a good idea so she abandoned her career in national newspapers and settled down in the country to bring up two daughters, study medieval history and write. Ariana was the author of the acclaimed, award-winning Mistress of the Art of Death series. She passed away in 2011.

portrait photo of Ariana Franklin

Also by Ariana Franklin

Mistress Of The Art Of Death
The Assassin's Prayer
Relics of the Dead
The Death Maze
See all

Praise for Winter Siege

Winter Siege is a thrilling novel infused with the haunting spirit of the Cambridgeshire Fens, at turns rousing and chilling. Recommended.

James Wilde, author of the bestselling Hereward

Original, atmospheric and genuinely moving . . . [this] heartfelt story of survival and redemption captures the imagination and does not let go.

Giles Kristian, author of God of Vengeance and the Raven trilogy

An absorbing re-creation of the 12th Century . . . this is a fast-moving story of humbler folk caught up in cruel battles.

The Independent

Told with colloquial vigour, a gripping narrative.

Sunday Times

Strong female characters dominate this involving tale of medieval warfare . . . Compelling

The Big Issue

A superb and fitting last novel that will have you gripped on every page

Crimesquad

A chilling and thrilling novel for wintery nights by the fire

Living North Magazine

A strongly flavoured tale, thoroughly researched and well imagined, and the siege itself is magnificently vivid and exciting

Guardian

This gripping tale of survival and redemption is beautifully written and acutely observed

Crime Review

A great story, beautifully written, with engaging and distinctive characters

Sharon Bolton
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