Karen Maitland

Midsummer's Day, 1348. On this day of ill omen, plague makes its entrance. Within weeks, swathes of England will be darkened by death's shadow as towns and villages burn to the ringing of church bells. While panic and suspicion flood the land, a small band of travellers comes together to outrun the breakdown in law and order. But when one of their number is found hanging from a tree, the chilling discovery confirms that something more sinister than plague is in their midst. And as the runes warn of treachery, it appears no one is quite what they seem, least of all the child rune reader, who mercilessly compels each of her companions to tell their stories. And face the consequences. Take a leap of imagination and embark on an unforgettable journey through the ravaged countryside... with only a scarred trader in holy relics, a conjuror, two musicians and a deformed storyteller for company.

England, 1321. Deep in the heart of countryside lies an isolated village governed by a sinister regime of Owl Masters - theirs is a pagan world of terror and blackmail, where neighbour denounces neighbour and sin is punishable by murder. This dark status quo is disturbed by the arrival of a house of religious women, who establish a community outside the village. Why do their crops succeed when village crops fail; their cattle survive despite the plague? But petty jealousy turns deadly when the women give refuge to a young martyr. For she dies a gruesome death after spitting the sacramental host into flames that can't burn it - what magic is this? Or is the martyr now a saint and the host a holy relic? Accusations of witchcraft and heresy run rife while the Owl Masters rain down hellfire and torment on the women, who must look to their faith to save them from the lengthening shadow of Evil...a shadow with predatory, terrifying talons.

The year is 1348 and the first plague victim has reached English shores. Panic erupts around the country and a small band of travellers comes together to outrun the deadly disease, unaware that something far more deadly is -in fact - travelling with them. The ill-assorted company - a scarred trader in holy relics, a conjurer, two musicians, a healer and a deformed storyteller - are all concealing secrets and lies. And at their heart is the strange, cold child - Narigorm - who reads the runes.

England 1321: Deep in the heart of the countryside lies an isolated village governed by a sinister regime of Owl Masters.

he Raven's Head by Karen Maitland, author of the bestselling and much-loved Company of Liars, will delight fans of Kate Mosse or Deborah Harkness seeking a new, dark fix. 'A compelling blend of historical grit and supernatural twists' Daily Mail on The Falcons of Fire and Ice Vincent is an apprentice librarian who stumbles upon a secret powerful enough to destroy his master. With the foolish arrogance of youth, he attempts blackmail but the attempt fails and Vincent finds himself on the run and in possession of an intricately carved silver raven's head. Any attempt to sell the head fails ...until Vincent tries to palm it off on the intimidating Lord Sylvain - unbeknown to Vincent, a powerful Alchemist with an all-consuming quest. Once more Vincent's life is in danger because Sylvain and his neighbours, the menacing White Canons, consider him a predestined sacrifice in their shocking experiment. Chilling and with compelling hints of the supernatural, The Raven's Head is a triumph for Karen Maitland, Queen of the Dark Ages.

The thirteenth-century is just begun and King John has fallen out with the Pope, leaving babies to lie unbaptized in their cradles and corpses in unconsecrated ground Across a fear-ravaged England, t

Inglaterra, 1348. La peste hace acto de presencia. En escasas semanas grandes regiones del país quedarán oscurecidas por la sombra de la Muerte Negra, y pueblos y aldeas arderán mientras las campanas repican con ominosos sones de tragedia. Mientras el terror y la sospecha arrasan por doquier, una pequeña banda de extraños viajeros, cada uno con su secreto a cuestas, intenta huir en medio de un país conmocionado. El juglar veneciano Rodrigo y su inseparable aprendiz Jofre. El mago Zophiel, que dice llevar consigo el cadáver disecado de un bebé de sirena. Osmond y su mujer, la embarazada Adela, quienes han sido repudiados por su familia. La misteriosa curandera Pleasance, y Cygnus, contador de historias que nació con un brazo en forma de ala de cisne. Al frente de todos ellos se encuentra Camelot, un vendedor ambulante de reliquias falsas. Y, en la retaguardia, la misteriosa Narigorm, una niña de mirada gélida con el don de conocer el futuro a través de las piedras.Pero cuando uno de ellos aparece ahorcado, empiezan a sospechar que hay un traidor entre el grupo y que ninguno es realmente quien dice ser. Y entre oscuros presagios, y las inquietantes historias que circulan en los pueblos sobre brujas, vampiros y hombres-lobo, los sobrevivientes de la comitiva tendrán que enfrentarse a dos amenazas mucho más terribles: la Verdad y la Muerte.Con Comitiva de embusteros, Karen Maitland nos ofrece un retrato prodigioso de la Edad Media, unaépoca de enfermedad y oscurantismo que también estuvo plagada de personajes tan peculiares como entrañables.

'A compelling blend of historical grit and supernatural twists' Daily Mail on The Falcons of Fire and IceVincent is an apprentice librarian who stumbles upon a secret powerful enough to destroy his master. With the foolish arrogance of youth, he attempts blackmail but the attempt fails and Vincent finds himself on the run and in possession of an intricately carved silver raven's head.Any attempt to sell the head fails ... until Vincent tries to palm it off on the intimidating Lord Sylvain - unbeknown to Vincent, a powerful Alchemist with an all-consuming quest. Once more Vincent's life is in danger because Sylvain and his neighbours, the menacing White Canons, consider him a predestined sacrifice in their shocking experiment.Chilling and with compelling hints of the supernatural, The Raven's Head is a triumph for Karen Maitland, Queen of the Dark Ages.

The Vanishing Witch by Karen Maitland, author of the hugely popular Company of Liars will thrill fans of CJ Sansom and Kate Mosse with its chilling recreation of the Peasants' Revolt. It offers an intelligent, beautifully researched glimpse of a more deadly, superstitious era ...'A compelling blend of historical grit and supernatural twists' Daily Mail on The Falcons of Fire and Ice The reign of Richard II is troubled, the poor are about to become poorer still and landowners are lining their pockets. It's a case of every man for himself, whatever his status or wealth. But in a world where nothing can be taken at face value, who can you trust? The dour wool merchant? His impulsive son? The stepdaughter with the hypnotic eyes? Or the raven-haired widow clutching her necklace of bloodstones? And when people start dying unnatural deaths and the peasants decide it's time to fight back, it's all too easy to spy witchcraft at every turn.

Inglaterra, 1348. La peste hace acto de presencia. En escasas semanas grandes regiones del país quedarán oscurecidas por la sombra de la Muerte Negra, y pueblos y aldeas arderán mientras las campanas repican con ominosos sones de tragedia. Mientras el terror y la sospecha arrasan por doquier, una pequeña banda de extraños viajeros, cada uno con su secreto a cuestas, intenta huir en medio de un pais conmocionado. El juglar veneciano Rodrigo y su inseparable aprendiz Jofre. El mago Zophiel, que dice llevar consigo el cadaver disecado de un bebe de sirena. Osmond y su mujer, la embarazada Adela, quienes han sido repudiados por su familia. La misteriosa curandera Pleasance, y Cygnus, contador de historias que nacio con un brazo en forma de ala de cisne. Al frente de todos ellos se encuentra Camelot, un vendedor ambulante de reliquias falsas. Y, en la retaguardia, la misteriosa Narigorm, una niña de mirada gelida con el don de conocer el futuro a traves de las piedras. Pero cuando uno de ellos aparece ahorcado, empiezan a sospechar que hay un traidor entre el grupo y que ninguno es realmente quien dice ser. Y entre oscuros presagios, y las inquietantes historias que circulan en los pueblos sobre brujas, vampiros y hombres-lobo, los sobrevivientes de la comitiva tendran que enfrentarse a dos amenazas mucho mas terribles: la Verdad y la Muerte. Con Comitiva de embusteros, Karen Maitland nos ofrece un retrato prodigioso de la Edad Media, una epoca de enfermedad y oscurantismo que tambien estuvo plagada de personajes tan peculiares como entrañables.