Promotional Information

Supernatural action and adventure meets brilliantly researched historical fiction in the second novel in the mould-breaking Swords of Albion trilogy.

About the Author

A two-time winner of the British Fantasy Award, Mark Chadbourn was raised in the mining communities of South Derbyshire, and studied at Leeds University before becoming a journalist. Now a screenwriter for BBC TV drama, he has also run an independent record company, managed rock bands, worked on a production line and as an engineer's 'mate'. Mark Chadbourn lives in a forest in the Midlands. To find out more about him and his writing, visit www.markchadbourn.net

Reviews

The Black Death scours 16th-century England, Elizabeth I seems strangely distant from her country's troubles, and someone is killing the spies who keep information about England's enemies flowing to the palace. When Will Swyfte, England's most notorious spy, learns of the death of his friend, the playwright and spy Christopher Marlowe, he vows to pursue the murderer even if the trail leads to the Unseelie Court, the nation's most dangerous foe. Swyfte's (The Silver Skull) second adventure not only explores court schemes but also draws a poignant portrait of a man whose plays once rivaled those of Shakespeare and whose literary career ended in a senseless tragedy. VERDICT Meticulous attention to detail and a seamless blend of magic and intrigue make this sequel essential for alternate history aficionados and period history buffs. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.