The Blood of Kings (Tintagel Book I)

Book excerpt: Honour, ambition and greed determine the fate of Roman Britain... Flavius Magnus Maximus has cast his eyes on the throne of the Emperor of Rome and nothing will stand in his way... The Blood of Kings, part one of the Tintagel trilogy, is the perfect read for fans of George R.R. Martin and Simon Scarrow. 'Hume deftly navigates the Arthurian legends, populating them with likable and despicable characters, and casting them in a fully realized historical setting' - Publishers Weekly The fate of Roman Britain is sealed when Caradoc, King of the Dumnonii tribe in Tintagel, meets Flavius Magnus Maximus, one of the most influential Roman officers in Britannia. Their unlikely friendship leads to an ambitious plan to unite the tribal leaders and, once crowned the first High King of the Britons, Maximus casts his eyes on the throne of the Western Roman Empire. Leading a force of brave warriors to Gaul, Maximus is victorious in battle. But it is not long after his return to Britain that hubris gnaws at him once again. Despite Caradoc's pleas to exercise caution, Maximus is determined to march on Rome itself. But who will pay the price for his bloodthirsty quest for power? What readers are saying about The Blood of Kings: 'A gripping story with bloody battles and with great interaction, brought to us in a most exciting fashion' 'M.K. Hume brings not only her characters to life but also the sights and sounds of battle' 'Well written, has cracking prose and of course a storyline that is hard to put down'