The Rivals of Rollo

<p>Where Oaths Outweigh Axes Rollo Lives On</p><p>Born Hrólfr in the stormy fjords of Møre a second son too large for a horse and too proud for silence Rollo of Normandy carved his name into the bones of Europe. <em>The Rivals of Rollo</em> is a sweeping blood-rich journey from the windswept islands of Scotland to the gilded courts of Frankish kings. Cast into exile after the murder of his brother Rollo forges a path through raiding rebellion uneasy alliances and reluctant crowns.</p><p>From the siege of Paris to the forging of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte this vivid tale explores Rollo's defiance the fire-forged relationships with Poppa and Gisela his dream-haunted baptism and the uneasy birth of a new people-the Normans. As Duke warrior father and symbol of uneasy peace Rollo walked between gods and kings shadow and state.</p><p>Drawing from near-contemporary chronicles this novel unearths the raw humanity behind the myth. <em>The Rivals of Rollo</em> is not just the story of how a Viking became a duke-but how a man became a legacy.</p><p>Includes a detailed historical timeline at the end to help separate fact from legend.<br><br><strong>A stunning and muscular work of historical fiction. You feel the axe in your hands and the weight of a crown on your brow. Sherman Hutchinson Literary Critic</strong></p>