N. Gemini Sasson
Author of The Crown in the Heather
About the Author
Image credit: via author's homepage
Series
Works by N. Gemini Sasson
Associated Works
25 Mysteries To Die For — Contributor — 3 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Sasson, N. Gemini
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Wright State University (M.S.|Biology)
- Occupations
- aquatic toxicologist
environmental engineer
teacher
cross country coach - Short biography
- N. Gemini Sasson holds an M.S. in Biology from Wright State University where she ran cross country on athletic scholarship. She has worked as an aquatic toxicologist, an environmental engineer, a teacher and a cross country coach. A longtime breeder of Australian Shepherds, her articles on bobtail genetics have been translated into seven languages. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband, two nearly grown children and an ever-changing number of animals.
Long after writing about Robert the Bruce and Queen Isabella (consort of Edward II of England), Sasson learned she is a descendent of both historical figures. [from Kindle ed. of Uneasy Lies the Crown (2012)] - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Ohio, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Ohio, USA
Members
Reviews
The Honor Due a King is the final bittersweet installment of N Gemini Sasson's The Bruce Trilogy. After defeating England, Scotland is finally free. Robert is now able to be the King he dreamed of being. With his family returned to his side, he begins to rebuild Scotland. But there are problems plaguing Robert that can't be solved on a battlefield. Elizabeth shirks from Robert, and Marjorie is in love with someone other than her betrothed. Will the Scottish Crown ever be rid of its problems? show more
As one of Scotland's premier knights, James must obey and serve his king. But what if his heart leads him in other directions?After losing his love and his will to live, James throws himself into the service of Scotland and her king. But will James ever be free of the soldier's life?
England's peace with Scotland brought no peace for Edward II and his beloved one, Hugh Despenser. The wolves seem to be circling his heels, with the pack being led by the infamous she-wolf, Isabella. As his life unravels, Edward tries to protect not only himself, but Hugh, while bringing revenge on the heads' of his enemies.
This final book takes the heartbreak and tragedy from books one and two and delivers a haunting conclusion. Though the characters are older and wiser, they are all feeling the effect of their arduous battles. While I loved the maturity of all three narrators, I in particularly fell in love with James. Loyal to the end, he makes a perfect anti-hero.
Within the first few pages of this wonderful book, I was balling. The emotionally charged reunion will bring even the toughest of hearts to tears. Like the first two books, this book is wonderfully written, with descriptive prose and an eye for historical detail. The fever pitch action in book two slows, but the book is still fast paced. I loved not only the book, but the series. I plan on purchasing the last two books in the series in paperback so I can proudly display these books on my shelves! show less
As one of Scotland's premier knights, James must obey and serve his king. But what if his heart leads him in other directions?After losing his love and his will to live, James throws himself into the service of Scotland and her king. But will James ever be free of the soldier's life?
England's peace with Scotland brought no peace for Edward II and his beloved one, Hugh Despenser. The wolves seem to be circling his heels, with the pack being led by the infamous she-wolf, Isabella. As his life unravels, Edward tries to protect not only himself, but Hugh, while bringing revenge on the heads' of his enemies.
This final book takes the heartbreak and tragedy from books one and two and delivers a haunting conclusion. Though the characters are older and wiser, they are all feeling the effect of their arduous battles. While I loved the maturity of all three narrators, I in particularly fell in love with James. Loyal to the end, he makes a perfect anti-hero.
Within the first few pages of this wonderful book, I was balling. The emotionally charged reunion will bring even the toughest of hearts to tears. Like the first two books, this book is wonderfully written, with descriptive prose and an eye for historical detail. The fever pitch action in book two slows, but the book is still fast paced. I loved not only the book, but the series. I plan on purchasing the last two books in the series in paperback so I can proudly display these books on my shelves! show less
A captivating sequel! I appreciated this book even more than the first, which I very much enjoyed. "Worth Dying For" takes the reader deeper into the characters, to the point where I felt I knew them all intimately. Not just Robert, ("A sliver of the devil danced upon his tongue...") but James, his most loyal and fierce warrior, "The Black Douglas," Edward (I always want to write "poor Edward,") Piers, Isabella, Thomas Randolph, Elizabeth, Aithin, Robert's brother Edward, Christiania, the show more seductive yet sad character who seems to know she has no power but what men afford her, and, with just a few perfectly chosen words, the exquisite Lady Rosalind, whom I desperately want to see more of. The scene where Elizabeth is prisoner to Longshanks is chilling. Every one of these characters (and Scotland itself) becomes unforgettable, larger than life, in these pages.
Again and again I marveled at the descriptions and beautiful word choices, which encompass humans, nature, character, love, hatred, and the singular, magical land of Scotland.
Book two is darker than book one. It must have been hard to write of the suffering of both men and beasts, but the author does not flinch away from it. Reading her account, I was left wondering why men follow others into war and I defy the reader to not feel the wretchedness of these men and thus all men who go to war. What makes it "worth dying for." And that is the crux of this book. We see the two sides--the vast army Edward commands by force, threat, fear, and the smaller army commanded by Robert, consisting of men who follow willingly, out of love and honor, who face their deaths knowing it means something.
"The new mash of fighters melts into a blur as crazed and complete as a swarm of locusts devouring a field of grain."
One of the things I like least about historical fiction are the descriptions of battles. I expected this to be no different. But it was. I was propelled along, seeing it all so gruesomely vivid in my mind it was like I was there. Especially at Bannockburn. The horror, the gore, the death, the suffering. I could almost smell the blood, and I was able to follow along with what was happening, the ebb and flow of battle. I often get lost in the details other authors employ (The Last of the Amazons, in particular) and come to a point where I simply don't care. I just want to get through it. This never happened, not for a second, in "Worth Dying For."
Love is not forgotten, nor glossed over, either. The author explores Robert's love for his wife and daughter, which one might expect, but she also "lays bare" the expert seduction Christiana mets out and the uncontrollable passion Robert feels for Aithin, the love of his childhood.
James, "The Black Douglas," is again an irresistible persona. He exudes magnetism.
I was impressed with the knowledge this author brings to these stories. I can't imagine the amount of research it took to become so intimately comfortable with all these characters.
"As I looked out on a sea of faces--their eyes set on the thin strand of tomorrow, their heartbeats echoing with the rhythm of all their yesterdays--I thought surely I looked upon all the sons of Scotland of all the ages there in one place at one time, ready to fight for the very fistful of dirt they were each standing on. And in that I never saw more truth...than to truly live, was to have something worth dying for." show less
Again and again I marveled at the descriptions and beautiful word choices, which encompass humans, nature, character, love, hatred, and the singular, magical land of Scotland.
Book two is darker than book one. It must have been hard to write of the suffering of both men and beasts, but the author does not flinch away from it. Reading her account, I was left wondering why men follow others into war and I defy the reader to not feel the wretchedness of these men and thus all men who go to war. What makes it "worth dying for." And that is the crux of this book. We see the two sides--the vast army Edward commands by force, threat, fear, and the smaller army commanded by Robert, consisting of men who follow willingly, out of love and honor, who face their deaths knowing it means something.
"The new mash of fighters melts into a blur as crazed and complete as a swarm of locusts devouring a field of grain."
One of the things I like least about historical fiction are the descriptions of battles. I expected this to be no different. But it was. I was propelled along, seeing it all so gruesomely vivid in my mind it was like I was there. Especially at Bannockburn. The horror, the gore, the death, the suffering. I could almost smell the blood, and I was able to follow along with what was happening, the ebb and flow of battle. I often get lost in the details other authors employ (The Last of the Amazons, in particular) and come to a point where I simply don't care. I just want to get through it. This never happened, not for a second, in "Worth Dying For."
Love is not forgotten, nor glossed over, either. The author explores Robert's love for his wife and daughter, which one might expect, but she also "lays bare" the expert seduction Christiana mets out and the uncontrollable passion Robert feels for Aithin, the love of his childhood.
James, "The Black Douglas," is again an irresistible persona. He exudes magnetism.
I was impressed with the knowledge this author brings to these stories. I can't imagine the amount of research it took to become so intimately comfortable with all these characters.
"As I looked out on a sea of faces--their eyes set on the thin strand of tomorrow, their heartbeats echoing with the rhythm of all their yesterdays--I thought surely I looked upon all the sons of Scotland of all the ages there in one place at one time, ready to fight for the very fistful of dirt they were each standing on. And in that I never saw more truth...than to truly live, was to have something worth dying for." show less
The She-Wolf, Isabella of France is the height of her power. Her husband, Edward II, has given up the throne in favor of his young son, Edward III. England's sovereignty is shaky due to Edward II's incapable rule, but Isabella is determined that her son will one day rule both England and France. Isabella relies on her lover, Roger Mortimer to guide her son and ensure her will is followed. After Edward II is found dead in his cell, Isabella and Mortimer are the prime suspects. Isabella faces show more a looming civil war, a distrustful son, an isolated lover and ghosts of her past transgressions.
N Gemini Sasson returns to the rule of Edward II, focusing this time on the English viewpoint. Isabella, known as the vicious She-Wolf, springs off the pages and to life. She rules England in all but name and is a survivor. Risen from the ashes to rule, she knows what is is like to have no power, and she knows what it is like to have all the power. She is an excellent judge of character, and even has the ability to see the flaws in those that she loves. However, she chooses to ignore these flaws, which endangers her. I loved the ability to see into her mind and understand the reasoning behind her actions.
I loved how Sasson lets the reader see the politics as well. The story features both politics with France and Scotland. James Douglas (!!!) even makes an appearance.
I loved this book. Whether or not you like Isabella, you have to admire her courage and resilience. show less
N Gemini Sasson returns to the rule of Edward II, focusing this time on the English viewpoint. Isabella, known as the vicious She-Wolf, springs off the pages and to life. She rules England in all but name and is a survivor. Risen from the ashes to rule, she knows what is is like to have no power, and she knows what it is like to have all the power. She is an excellent judge of character, and even has the ability to see the flaws in those that she loves. However, she chooses to ignore these flaws, which endangers her. I loved the ability to see into her mind and understand the reasoning behind her actions.
I loved how Sasson lets the reader see the politics as well. The story features both politics with France and Scotland. James Douglas (!!!) even makes an appearance.
I loved this book. Whether or not you like Isabella, you have to admire her courage and resilience. show less
"Each night when I lie down, bathed in the rank sweat of a day's pressed march, I am so weary I neither stir nor dream in my sleep. For weeks, I have felt neither the cushion of a pillow beneath my cheek, nor the caress of a blanket upon my shoulders."
This is how The Crown in the Heather begins, with engrossing imagery and immediate sympathy. And for me, it never let up. With each chapter, I not only learned more of this era of Scottish history, one in which I am most interested, but I grew show more to know the characters intimately, to feel their loves, their pains, their doubts, their fears, their horror, their resolve.
Using the "observer-narrator" viewpoint in several chapters, the author masterfully deepened not only the viewpoint character but the others as well, the ones being observed. One of my favorite lines in the entire book, in James Douglas's viewpoint, is of Robert:
"For weeks now, Robert had waited for them to come. Day after day, rising before dawn, he climbed to the same high hill and watched from his rocky eyrie. Every evening the same again. But day after day went by and nothing. No one. He did not pace or fret or fray away with worry. He simply waited. His eyes as hard and fixed as chips of stone, gazing above the treetops, surveying along the river's course."
And also in James's viewpoint, told as he watches the reunion of Robert with his beloved Elizabeth, James, who has fallen in love with her himself, observes: "As he reached her, Robert sprang from his horse and wrapped her in the circle of his strong arms like a giant cupping a dove between the palms of his hands--gently and fiercely all in one."
The author also brings to life the character of Prince Edward, Longshanks' son. I never really thought much about this boy before reading this book, but Sasson brings him to clear-cut, fleshed-out life. Insightful--no, inspired writing delves deep into this abused young man.
Beautiful and evocative, this book was no dry account of an event in history. It brought to magnificent life the people who lived, died and endured the awful rape of their country and tradition, and their determination, in the face of terrible odds, to fight back, to free themselves, to rule themselves, no matter the cost.
I think one of the reasons so many people across the world are so in love with Scotland is because of its rich history, the stunning beauty of its country (which Sasson describes with great skill) and the way the people, in dire straits for so much of the time, continued to soldier on with ramrod spines: the Scots never relent. They never give up. They never surrender. We can't help but love that sort of courage. All of this comes through clearly in The Crown in the Heather.
I also want to compliment the author for clearly delineating the order of the books. I hate it when I buy a new book, not knowing much about it, only to discover at the end that I've just read the third book in a trilogy or something. No wonder I was so confused! And now it's too late to go back and begin at the beginning. I much prefer a trilogy or series to be clearly indicated, and to know which book in the series I'm reading. show less
This is how The Crown in the Heather begins, with engrossing imagery and immediate sympathy. And for me, it never let up. With each chapter, I not only learned more of this era of Scottish history, one in which I am most interested, but I grew show more to know the characters intimately, to feel their loves, their pains, their doubts, their fears, their horror, their resolve.
Using the "observer-narrator" viewpoint in several chapters, the author masterfully deepened not only the viewpoint character but the others as well, the ones being observed. One of my favorite lines in the entire book, in James Douglas's viewpoint, is of Robert:
"For weeks now, Robert had waited for them to come. Day after day, rising before dawn, he climbed to the same high hill and watched from his rocky eyrie. Every evening the same again. But day after day went by and nothing. No one. He did not pace or fret or fray away with worry. He simply waited. His eyes as hard and fixed as chips of stone, gazing above the treetops, surveying along the river's course."
And also in James's viewpoint, told as he watches the reunion of Robert with his beloved Elizabeth, James, who has fallen in love with her himself, observes: "As he reached her, Robert sprang from his horse and wrapped her in the circle of his strong arms like a giant cupping a dove between the palms of his hands--gently and fiercely all in one."
The author also brings to life the character of Prince Edward, Longshanks' son. I never really thought much about this boy before reading this book, but Sasson brings him to clear-cut, fleshed-out life. Insightful--no, inspired writing delves deep into this abused young man.
Beautiful and evocative, this book was no dry account of an event in history. It brought to magnificent life the people who lived, died and endured the awful rape of their country and tradition, and their determination, in the face of terrible odds, to fight back, to free themselves, to rule themselves, no matter the cost.
I think one of the reasons so many people across the world are so in love with Scotland is because of its rich history, the stunning beauty of its country (which Sasson describes with great skill) and the way the people, in dire straits for so much of the time, continued to soldier on with ramrod spines: the Scots never relent. They never give up. They never surrender. We can't help but love that sort of courage. All of this comes through clearly in The Crown in the Heather.
I also want to compliment the author for clearly delineating the order of the books. I hate it when I buy a new book, not knowing much about it, only to discover at the end that I've just read the third book in a trilogy or something. No wonder I was so confused! And now it's too late to go back and begin at the beginning. I much prefer a trilogy or series to be clearly indicated, and to know which book in the series I'm reading. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 19
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 508
- Popularity
- #48,805
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 23
- ISBNs
- 25