A riveting tale of romance, treachery and heartbreak, set in 15th century Scotland: the story of Mary Stewart, eldest sister of James III of Scotland and her part in making Orkney and Shetland part of Scotland.
After young James the Third's accession to the Scottish throne, the ambitious Boyd family of Kilmarnock seized power in a bloodless coup. Mary Stewart, James' eldest sister, was at first unwilling to marry Thomas Boyd, future Earl of Arran - but she had now choice.
Eventually, however, she learned to love him, and when he was sent to the Danish court to negotiate with King Christian, she discovered a unique talent for diplomacy. In exchange for Princess Margaret of Denmark marrying her brother, Princess Mary at length persuaded the Danes to hand over the islands of Orkney and Shetland to Scottish dominion.
But when the fortunes of the all-powerful Boyd family took a turn for the worse, Mary was to find herself in an extremely awkward and dangerous position . . . .
'Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes' Scotland on Sunday
He has an amazingly broad grip of Scottish history - Daily Telegraph
Nigel Tranter's enjoyment of his own creation is infectious - Allan Massie, The Scotsman
One of Scotland's most prolific and respected writers - The Times
An accomplished writer of compelling and unforgettable historical novels - She magazine
Tranter's popularity lies in his knack of making historical events immediate and exciting - Historical Novels Review
Through his imaginative dialogue, he provides a voice for Scotland's heroes - Scotland on Sunday
He treats history with respect - Financial Times