Book Blurb:
C. V. Lee’s compelling work is a must-read if you love historical novels… a magnificent piece of work and an awesome first installment in the series. I am looking forward to the follow-up. ★★★★★ Readers’ Favorite Review
Disillusioned by war, Sir Philippe de Carteret returns home to Jersey to hang up his sword, embrace his duty as seigneur of the island’s most powerful manor, and raise his son in peace and safety.
His plans go awry when the impregnable Mont Orgueil castle falls to the French. De Carteret suspects betrayal from within. To protect the family legacy for his son, he pledges his allegiance to the new lord who governs through terror and oppression, kidnapping and murdering the island’s citizens.
Surrounded by danger, de Carteret and his family are forced to flee their ancestral home. Uncertain of who he can trust, will de Carteret take up his sword again and risk everything to free his homeland?
Based on real people and true events, “TOKEN OF BETRAYAL is an enthralling historical novel you shouldn’t miss out on…This fascinating tale…keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.” ~ Readers’ Favorite review
I loved how Lee developed an amazing cast by boldly bringing out their qualities. This, coupled with the profound depth of emotion, made it easy for me to connect and empathize with the characters. ★★★★★Keith Mbuya for Readers’ Favorite
This gripping tale blended fact and fiction and introduced depth to an otherwise forgotten historical event.
★★★★★Jennifer Ibiam for Readers’ Favorite
Set during the War of the Roses, Token of Betrayal is … a genuine treat for history buffs and medieval warfare aficionados. Every character has an agency that drives their motives and actions, and it makes for some compelling character drama that is delicious to consume.
★★★★★Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/tokenofbetrayal
Author Bio:
C.V. Lee writes historical biographical fiction and is currently writing her Roses & Rebels series, a family saga set in the late 15th and early 16th centuries during the time of the Wars of the Roses, the Renaissance, and the Reformation. Her goal in writing is to bring to life forgotten heroes and heroines of the past.
Born in Texas, raised in Washington state, C.V. lived most of her adult life in California, with a brief stint in Colorado. She grew up east of Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington. After graduation, she moved to California, first to the beaches of the Los Angeles South Bay, then to wine country in the San Francisco Bay Area, and later to the farm country of the Sacramento Valley. Recently, she returned home to Washington state and taken up residence on an island.
Her favorite hobbies include reading, cooking, and traveling.
Editorial Review:
Back then, he’d had a heart for battle, fighting for King Henry VI and the glory of England. At sixteen, the prospect of war had been alluring, a way to prove his manhood. Every day had been an adventure, spying on the enemy or engaging in combat. Nights had been spent in fellowship with friends, exchanging japes and sleeping under the stars. At the age of one and twenty, his bravery and prowess had earned him the honor of knighthood and the rank of captain. That day, his heart had overflowed with pride.
He had soon discovered there was no glory in the conflict. After five years of suffering defeat after defeat by the French forces, his zeal for war had dampened. He had yearned for the serenity of his home on Jersey. At night in his tent, he had often dreamed of the lush green fields, the sheep grazing on the hillside, and riding along the narrow, winding lanes shaded by tall oak trees or along the craggy cliffs of the north coast.
Token of Betrayal by C.V.Lee takes its placing in the 15th century in the isle of Jersey. Protagonist Sir Philippe de Carteret has a change of heart whilst fighting, he decides to hang up his weapons and go back to his manor and rolling islandic hills. With this decision, he decides to focus his heart and talents for fighting on something more worthwhile to him, his family and raising his son.
However, his whole world is turned on its head. With each passing day, De Carteret finds new dangers lurking in the dark corners of St. Ouen's Manor, his home that has been passed on for generations. Now, De Carteret finds himself making onerous decisions as he attempts to figure out whom among his people may be suspect of breaching his trust.
Philippe nodded, a serious look on his face. “I am not a child anymore.”
“No, you are not. But you are not yet a man either. I must ask for your discretion. You must not repeat anything you heard today.”
“As you wish. I can keep secrets.” Philippe shifted in his saddle. “But why? It is just talk.” “Some deem any words critical of those in power as treasonous. Repeating such sentiments may prove dangerous. Do you understand?” Philippe shook his head. “People die merely for the words they speak?”
“Enemies are ever vigilant and eager to twist the words of an adversary to their advantage. Sometimes, it is hard to distinguish friend from foe, and spies may lurk in plain sight. Therefore, we must always be cautious of the words we speak and the words we repeat.”
Philippe held up his right hand. “By my troth, Father, I shall not breathe a word.”
Token of Betrayal is a must read for fans of historical fiction, especially if you love stories of medieval warfare and political intrigue.
One of the many things that sets this story apart from others is the sheer and obvious amount of time, effort and research that author Lee has put into creating this story. The War of the Roses is an event that is not often enough talked about, let alone written about. Lee does an extraordinary job pulling together all of the facts that she gathered, blending them into fiction to make a story that is difficult to put down.
In addition to the incredible detail and world-building, the characters have a way of pulling the reader into the pages and taking them along for the adventures and perils. Each and every character to grace the pages of this book have clear intention and emotion giving them that extra kick in making feel alive. One might also say this story doubles as a coming-to-age story for young Phillippe, the son of De Carteret as we see him grow from the age of nine to the stories ending when he is sixteen. The amount of character development in this young man alone with astonishing!
On the ride home, de Carteret reflected on the day’s events. Hopefully, Reverend Thomas and Lempriere had not fallen for such an obvious ploy. The purpose puzzled him. What had the captain hoped to achieve? Hareford had told Reverend Thomas he had been sent to stir up opposition to the French. If that were true, surely Carbonnel must be ignorant of that fact. It would make no sense for him to buoy his own demise.
The group rode toward St. Ouen mostly in silence. James rode up beside de Carteret and Philippe when they neared the manor.
“Beautiful sunset,” James said.
“I did not notice,” Philippe replied. It was a few minutes before he spoke again. “James, they paroled the English prisoner. How do I tell Thomasse?
Another thing worth mentioning are the final pages of the book where Lee outlines each of the characters with the real people they are based on, and a map of which the story takes place. Once more this reminds the reader these events, while some may be fictitious, are based from real people, places, and happenings.
Token of Betrayal by C.V. Lee is something of a masterpiece as one can immediate tell that her heart and soul has been poured onto these pages. The story is well-written, the characters are easy to related to and resonated with, and it perfectly blends real world events with fiction that pulls you in from beginning too end.
*****
Token of Betrayal by C.V. Lee receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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