In
a world where...
- cutting edge
technology is wind and steam power.
- Women's liberation
means a woman dressed in man's clothing
is tolerated, and hardly ever beaten.
- Successful trade
routes and trade languages mean that
there is little use for large armies,
- and even a large
trade city like Praha has fewer
than 300 militia and guardsmen.
- Charismatic Kings,
Generals and Pundits who want more,
wealthy governors and trades-masters who
take sides, and even a few armies that
recruit by force.
Istvan Goldenwolf was raised by the Magyar,
horseman-warriors of the Hills and Plains, but he
always knew he was a foundling. He could master
the fighting-arts of his adopted people, but they
would never be his people in his heart. The
Goldenwolf medallion that was his birthright
called to him, and the Vienese army
would give him pay and travel. But something
happened when he saw the killing on the front
line. This was not defense, this was not right.
His masters chose their targets for the sake of
goods. This greed and slaughter would not lead to
greatness, and Istvan needs to find a way to
leave the army without anyone else being punished
for his actions.
Istvan finds his chance
during the invasion of Praha. The city
burns and Riza
Paprikosh uses
the confusion to hurl herself onto the back of
the Istvan's horse with all the strength her
small, wiry body can muster: her goal the sack of
coins tied to Istvan's waist. Xandar, a womanizing poet and mage from
the far islands of Britannia, uses the
city's alarm to escape from the mayor's sister, Lady
Maryam, who wishes to ensnare him in
marriage. Xandar slips out a window and lands in
an alleyway where Istvan has turned his horse in
an attempt to shake off the irritation on his
backside (Riza). City guardsmen close in on
Istvan as his horse rears in front of Xandar.
Istvan and Riza are thrown to the ground and the
three flee together from the city guardsmen...
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Co-written with Roberta Rogow author of "The
Problem of the Missing Miss," "The Problem of
the Spiteful Spiritualist," "The Problem of the
Evil Editor," and her most recent historical mystery
"The Problem of the Surly Servant" published by
St. Martins Press for the U.S. and Canada.. All four novels in
this series were published in England, Three of them in
Japan, and two (so far) in Germany.
Follow
this link at amazon.com
,
and then search for Roberta Rogow. As they
occasionally re-arrange the listings, I found a direct
page link did not hold up over time.
Some of
Roberta's historical fiction mysteries have received 4
star reviews. Check them out!
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