1402: After leaving war-torn Wales, Sir Harry Percy, Hotspur, faces fresh threats at home. King Henry IV again fails to fund defense needs and the Scots invade. Nonetheless, at Homildon Hill, Harry triumphs and the Scots lose nearly all their army to death or capture, including their wounded leader, Douglas. Yet, in London, Henry berates Harry for not relinquishing the prisoners: Violating chivalric-military ethics, Henry wants the captives’ ransoms for himself. When Harry objects, Henry tries to stab him, labeling him a traitor.

Back in Northumberland, Harry and Douglas become friends and create a plan for peace on the northern border, while increasing England’s territory. Supported by his sweetheart, Ciarry, and others, from all social ranks, Harry also renews calls for royal reform. Fuming, Henry schemes to destroy him, as Harry ponders troubling questions:

EDITORIAL REVIEW by Victoria Chatham

To Tread on Kings – Book III in the Epic of Hotspur trilogy by Liz Sevchuk-Armstrong

In this final book of Armstrong’s Hotspur trilogy, the pace established in the previous two volumes remains relentless. Sir Harry Percy’s doubts about the actions – or lack thereof – of King Henry IV grow increasingly intense with each erratic decision or breach of trust by the monarch. As king, Henry demonstrates that he is as unscrupulous and selfish as his cousin, King Richard II, and the man whose throne he seized.

While Richard was never a skilled politician, Henry had the ability to win people over, including the Percy family. However, after Henry became king, many of the issues evident during Richard’s reign surfaced again in Henry’s rule, to the point that Harry could no longer trust or support him.

Still a man of honour, Harry tries his best to avoid battle with Henry at Shrewsbury, but once again, the king proves his treachery. This was the first battle fought on English soil where the renowned longbowmen faced each other, and Armstrong’s battle scenes clearly depict the blood, brutality, and bravery of war.

There is no secret that Harry loses his life at Shrewsbury, but what follows reveals how deeply Henry hated and feared the one man who was bold enough in his convictions to challenge him. Armstrong has crafted another outstanding retelling of a part of English history to conclude the story of Hotspur.

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