Quest for New England Series by Anna Chant

After the defeat at Hastings, The failure of rebellions, And the devastation of the North, England desperately needs a new hero. Siward of Gloucester cannot be that man. Tortured by the disasters of the previous years, most of all he is haunted by the dying eyes of the man who saved his life. Oswyth is one of the orphaned heiresses of Hastings. Resigned to the fate of marrying one of the conquerors, her hatred is focussed on Siward – the man she blames for her father’s death... moreAfter the defeat at Hastings, The failure of rebellions, And the devastation of the North, England desperately needs a new hero. Siward of Gloucester cannot be that man. Tortured by the disasters of the previous years, most of all he is haunted by the dying eyes of the man who saved his life. Oswyth is one of the orphaned heiresses of Hastings. Resigned to the fate of marrying one of the conquerors, her hatred is focussed on Siward – the man she blames for her father’s death. However, when Oswyth’s Norman husband arrives, her grandfather has other ideas. In a desperate attempt to keep his only remaining kin out of the hands of the hated invaders, he throws Oswyth and Siward together in an awkward marriage. As Oswyth begins her new life, her contempt for her husband grows. Despite the warm welcome she receives from Siward’s eccentric mother, she struggles to overcome her feelings, torn between her duty as a wife and her loyalty to her dead father. Siward has other matters on his mind. He has learnt the Atheling, Edgar is returning to claim the throne. Filled with new hope, he rides north accompanied by trusty friends to pledge his allegiance to the one he considers the true King of England. If he fails, the price for his loyalty will be a heavy one. But with the spirit of the English rapidly fading, Siward struggles to defeat his torments. Can he find the strength to build a new England from the wreckage of the old? less

The English exiles, under the command of Siward of Gloucester, sail into the Mediterranean, where there are wonders awaiting them and treasures ripe for the taking. Braving storms and Saracens, they sail on undaunted, their spirits higher than ever. But as they settle on the Island of Sicily, they find their old enemies, the Normans are already there and discover the wounds of the past are not as healed as they had hoped... moreThe English exiles, under the command of Siward of Gloucester, sail into the Mediterranean, where there are wonders awaiting them and treasures ripe for the taking. Braving storms and Saracens, they sail on undaunted, their spirits higher than ever. But as they settle on the Island of Sicily, they find their old enemies, the Normans are already there and discover the wounds of the past are not as healed as they had hoped. When Siward realises the ghosts he thought he had left in England are waiting for him on the island, his fear of failure returns with a vengeance. Consumed by terror, he struggles to maintain authority over his men, finding even his old friends, Bridwin and Frebern no longer support him. With his behaviour spiralling out of control, Oswyth tries desperately to help her husband until their love too is stretched to breaking point. With Siward no longer appearing to care if he drives everyone away, she is left broken-hearted, convinced her marriage is in tatters. As it seems Siward will lose both the leadership and everyone he loves, he draws strength from a surprising source. But with Bridwin preparing to take command, has that help come too late to save either his marriage or his friendships? And as the Norman threat lingers, will Siward’s quest for New England end as just one more broken dream? less

An epic voyage concludes…All the wonders of the Mediterranean have not prepared the English for the splendours of Constantinople. As Siward of Gloucester settles into the city, he is grateful to have finally found what he was looking for: A fine god fearing lord he is proud to serve and a safe place where he and Oswyth can await the birth of their child.But as the months pass, doubts creep in. Emperor Michael proves to be a weak ruler, continually threatened with rebellion... moreAn epic voyage concludes…All the wonders of the Mediterranean have not prepared the English for the splendours of Constantinople. As Siward of Gloucester settles into the city, he is grateful to have finally found what he was looking for: A fine god fearing lord he is proud to serve and a safe place where he and Oswyth can await the birth of their child.But as the months pass, doubts creep in. Emperor Michael proves to be a weak ruler, continually threatened with rebellion. Determined to keep the English army close to him, his promises of reward grow increasingly vague.With the tension in Constantinople rising, Siward and his friends are caught up in the power struggle. While Bridwin maintains his loyalty to the Emperor and Siward continues to trust in the friendship of the cunning Alexios Komnenos, Frebern grows close to John Bryennios, a man whose ambitions may include the imperial throne itself. With the friends drawn in different directions, Siward fears they could find themselves fighting on opposing sides.Desperate to escape, he renews his efforts to find the home the English have so long craved. But the beauty of Constantinople conceals dangers which go far beyond Siward’s fears as sordid secrets and ruthless betrayal stalk the lives of those he holds dear.As the English prepare for battle yet again, will Siward’s quest for New England end in heart-breaking tragedy? less