Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Siege Winter: A Novel
    The Siege Winter: A Novel
    The Siege Winter: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Siege Winter: A Novel

    Written by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman

    Narrated by Kate Reading

    4.5/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    A powerful historical novel by the late Ariana Franklin and her daughter Samantha Norman, The Siege Winter is a tour de force mystery and murder, adventure and intrigue, a battle for a crown, told by two courageous young women whose fates are intertwined in twelfth century England’s devastating civil war.

    1141. England is engulfed in war as King Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda, vie for the crown. In this dangerous world, not even Emma, an eleven-year-old peasant, is safe. A depraved monk obsessed with redheads kidnaps the ginger-haired girl from her village and leaves her for dead. When an archer for hire named Gwyl finds her, she has no memory of her previous life. Unable to abandon her, Gwyl takes the girl with him, dressing her as a boy, giving her a new name—Penda—and teaching her to use a bow. But Gwyn knows that the man who hurt Penda roams free, and that a scrap of evidence she possesses could be very valuable.

    Gwyl and Penda make their way to Kenilworth, a small but strategically important fortress that belongs to fifteen-year-old Maud. Newly wedded to a boorish and much older husband after her father’s death, the fierce and determined young chatelaine tempts fate and Stephen’s murderous wrath when she gives shelter to the empress.

    Aided by a garrison of mercenaries, including Gwyl and his odd red-headed apprentice, Maud will stave off Stephen’s siege for a long, brutal winter that will bring a host of visitors to Kenilworth—kings, soldiers . . . and a sinister monk with deadly business to finish.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateFeb 24, 2015
    ISBN9780062373632
    Author

    Ariana Franklin

    Ariana Franklin was the award-winning author of Mistress of the Art of Death and the critically acclaimed, bestselling medieval thriller series of the same name, as well as the twentieth-century thriller City of Shadows. She died in 2011, while writing The Siege Winter.

    Related to The Siege Winter

    Related audiobooks

    Thrillers For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Controversial King

      Jan 7, 2022

      The Controversial King
      5 min read

    • Article

      Queen Elizabeth I

      Aug 2, 2023

      Queen Elizabeth I
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Modest Man

      Oct 17, 2019

      The Modest Man
      5 min read

    • Article

      Letters

      Dec 28, 2022

      I was intrigued by the short story in the November issue's Anniversaries section regarding the peaceful transfer of power from Henry III to his son Edward I –the first such occasion in English history. I wanted to know more about why this particular

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Petulant King

      Nov 12, 2022

      The Petulant King
      8 min read

    • Article

      Nemesis Of The Normans

      Oct 28, 2021

      Nemesis Of The Normans
      8 min read

    • Article

      Return To The Falklands

      Jun 25, 2021

      Return To The Falklands
      8 min read

    • Article

      Æthelred the Unready

      Dec 15, 2021

      Æthelred the Unready
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Last Of The English

      Aug 19, 2021

      The Last Of The English
      7 min read

    • Article

      Queen Anne

      May 2, 2019

      Queen Anne
      6 min read

    • Article

      Giving Lincolnshire Its Due

      Jun 29, 2022

      MAY we play a word-association game? I say ‘Lincolnshire’ and you reply... Yes, you might struggle to find anything to say about the ancient shire of that name. Perhaps ‘cathedral’ and ‘cabbages’ will float up through the mist of memory. I doubt many

      5 min read

    • Article

      Apocalypse, No?

      Apr 16, 2020

      “Wheresoever men tilled, the earth bare no corn, for the land was all ruined by such deeds; and they said openly that Christ and his saints were asleep. Such and more than we can say we endured 19 winters for our sins.” The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle pain

      9 min read

    • Article

      The Loyal rebel

      Feb 8, 2020

      The Loyal rebel
      17 min read

    • Article

      Grace Period

      Jun 9, 2022

      Grace Period
      9 min read

    • Article

      An Utterly Uncivil War

      May 18, 2022

      ( HOW lucky we are in these green and pleasant lands not to have had a savage constitutional crisis for the past 350 years. The spectre of violent constitutional turmoil does not haunt us (save perhaps in Northern Ireland), whereas almost every count

      5 min read

    • Article

      NOVELS, NOVELTIES & MORE

      Apr 9, 2021

      NOVELS, NOVELTIES & MORE
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Death Of Chivalry

      Nov 26, 2020

      The Death Of Chivalry
      10 min read

    • Article

      Peace Comes With A Smile

      Nov 11, 2019

      Peace Comes With A Smile
      8 min read

    • Article

      Raising The Standard

      Feb 21, 2020

      Raising The Standard
      4 min read

    • Article

      Michael Wood On…

      Oct 26, 2023

      Michael Wood On…
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Queen Behind The Veil

      Nov 23, 2023

      The Queen Behind The Veil
      6 min read

    • Article

      Anne Boleyn’s Final Battle

      Sep 3, 2020

      Anne Boleyn’s Final Battle
      8 min read

    • Article

      Carningli

      Mar 22, 2024

      Carningli
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Special Relationship

      Mar 20, 2024

      A Special Relationship
      5 min read

    • Article

      Right Royal Blunders

      Apr 5, 2023

      Right Royal Blunders
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Battle That Made Spain

      Jul 14, 2021

      The Battle That Made Spain
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Siege Winter

    4.5/5

    24 ratings16 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed all of Arianna Franklin's books and was very sorry to learn of her passing. It is really a very special gift to her mother that Samantha completed her mother's last novel - what a special gesture of love while at the same time being a perfect tribute and gift to her readers. It took me a while to get into the flow of this book - I guess I kind of expected another story revolving around forensic science in the middle ages. Once the "hook" was set I really enjoyed the story - excellent character development, fast paced action, a rich historical backdrop, and a very engaging story. Very Well Done !
    • 5/5
      In 1180 AD, an abbot lays dying. He has a story to tell before he goes, though, and calls a young scribe to take dictation. His story takes place in the early 1140s in an England torn apart by the war for the throne between Empress Matilda and King Stephen. Stolen from her family while gathering fuel in the fenlands, an 11 year old, red haired girl is found by an archer, Gwil: she has been raped, is nearly dead and is without any memory. He nurses her to health, names her ‘Penda’, disguises her as a boy, and teaches her to shoot both long and cross bows- to great success. Meanwhile, Lady Maud, possessor of Kenniford castle, is married at knifepoint to a monstrous man who is in it for the money. He rapes her, while his none too stable mistress is installed upstairs in Maud’s castle. His men take over the castle; eating, drinking, and making free with the women. When the Empress Matilda shows up on their doorstep, Maud immediately makes her welcome. It makes no difference to her husband’s men; they’ll all fight for whoever pays them best. Meanwhile, Gwil and Penda have been hired into the Empress’s small force. There is a siege, along with battles, plotting, discoveries of secrets, and a second plot running in parallel with the siege. There isn’t a dull moment. The plotting is well done, especially the way the two plots finally merge. Things are described in a realistic manner- nothing is sugar coated here! There are several strong women in this book: the Empress, Lady Maud, Penda, and Maud’s serving woman. These women do not wait for a handsome knight to ride in and save them- although it’s certainly nice when one does. They take charge. They are self-sufficient, as women would have had to have been in an era when the men could be gone for months or years. This historical fiction is a far cry from much of what was written in the past, when the women existed to be rescued. I’m so happy that this kind of historical is being written now. Sad that this is the last we’ll ever seek from Ariana Franklin, but based on this book I hope her daughter is inspired to continue writing as she has finished up her mother’s story very, very well. A new ‘Mistress of the Art of Death’ book from her would be excellent!
    • 1/5
      I'm putting myself out of my misery with this one. It started out with a lot of "as you know Bob's," which, while I didn't care for, I could forgive and proceed. Then I got to the "willy-nilly" on page 14. Nope. Not gonna do it. Fortunately this means I just made the cutoff to return the book!
    • 4/5
      Very readable, engaging novel set in the 12th century civil war in England between Matilda and Stephen for the throne. A dying abbot relates the events of the novel to a scribe. The story involves a young girl, Emma, rescued after violation by an evil monk and left for dead, by a mercenary soldier, Gwil. She is disguised as a boy for protection, given the name Penda, and the two travel together. He teaches her archery and she becomes proficient. Matilda joins them and they make their way to the castle of Lady Maud, unwilling wife of an absolute boor. Then begins a winter-long siege by Stephen's forces. What is the meaning of a mysterious parchment in a quill case that Gwil picks up when he finds Emma? Who is the monk and what is his importance?I didn't pick up any obvious 21st century slang, but there were a few modern-day idioms, e.g., "cut no ice". I did wonder how much of the history was accurate except the barebones of the conflict between the two contenders for the throne. I thought the ending of the novel most satisfactory.
    • 4/5
      You know the book is good when you don't want it to end, but it's too intense to finish. Fell in love with Ariana Franklin's novel of the war between Empress Matilda and King Stephen. Although parts are formulaic, the book is still enchanting and thrilling.Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      If you like historic fiction, this is a fantastic book. This is a final manuscript by Ariana Franklin, the author of the amazing, Mistress of the Art of Death series. It was completed by her daughter, Samantha Norman, so there is hope that there will be more books like this. This story is set in the late 1100's during the civil war between King Stephen and his cousin the Empress Mathilda. Although both royals appear, this story is more about the people caught in the cross hairs (or in this case, the cross bow) of a civil war. They don't really care who is the ruler, but they get caught up supplying arms, food, and lives for each side. As with her other books, Ms. Franklin created a vivid description of that period and some very captivating characters. This book has some great female characters - strong and feisty. Definitely recommended!
    • 5/5
      Winter Siege by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman is a great read!!!! I couldn't put it down!A complex tale of the 1100s that you won't soon forget!One of my "Musts" of a fantastic book is if the story lingers long after I have finished reading it....and Winter Siege has lingered with me for months!!I received this book for free to review. I am a member of Library Thing, Net Galley, Good Reads, Word Press and the Penguin Book club.D. Bettenson
    • 5/5
      I didn't want it to end so abruptly... would love more about Pen and her companions!!
    • 3/5
      Set in the time of the war between Stephen and Empress Matilda over the English crown, the story of Gwil and Penda tracking down an evil monk, is told by an abbot on his death bed to his scribe. Enjoyable read
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this book. It’s got everything wrapped up in a single book; laughter, watery eyes, a little mystery, a few battles, a little romance, villains and heroes.
    • 3/5
      The 12th century is drawing to a close and a dying abbot feels the need to tell a story in order to cleanse his soul. Dictated to a young scribe his story is the accounting of the 1141 battle between Matilda and Stephen over who should rightly wear the crown. As in any civil war there are always secrets that must be kept, terrible tragedies on all sides, heroes are made, innocent victims suffer, villains plot and mercenaries sell their services to the highest bidder.

      The unlikely heroes in this story are an 11 year-old girl named Emma – cruelly raped and tortured, then left for dead by a godless monk with a fetish for red hair, Maud, the 15 year-old chatelaine of Kenilworth – the castle that could provide Stephen with his much needed access across the Thames and Gwil – the mercenary reluctantly taking on the mantle of hero in the hopes that his past sins will be forgiven. The villain is so wicked you can almost picture him twirling his moustache (if he had one to twirl) in anticipation of his next dastardly act. Their paths cross at Kenilworth.

      This book is rich in historical detail; particularly what life in a castle must have been like from the dungeons below and the drafty walls in the living area to the archers on the turrets and the steam in the kitchens. Ms. Franklin began the manuscript before her death then rather than leave it unfinished her daughter, Samantha Norman, a feature writer, columnist and film critic took up the pen (as it were) and finished the story. While reading I could discern no obvious transition from one writer to the other. I am glad she finished the story because she completed a very good book. This book is definitely self-standing with a more than satisfactory ending but I understand that it may be the first in a series. I am a fan of Ms. Franklin’s “Mistress in the Art of Death” series, in which the last book left the readers hanging a bit, so I cannot help but wonder if Ms. Norman has plans to tie up that series as well? I hope so, because she has certainly proven herself up for the task.
    • 5/5
      Evil, love, fear, revenge, friendship, war, loyalty, all while the war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda rages across the English countryside. A monk dictates a story to a young, naïve scribe, about a mercenary who finds a young girl with brilliant red hair, mutilated to within an inch of her life, and gently nurses her back to life. Whoever did this to her left evidence gripped in her hand and Gwil knows the monk who did this to her would be back to finish the job. He disguises her as a boy and trains her to be an extraordinary archer. They join a traveling troop of entertainers who give a show at the castle of Kenniford.What follows is a story that never fails to carry the reader onward through days of people living through tumultuous events. Tossed around like flotsam, the waves caused by two people trying to gain supremacy for themselves and their heirs.Fans of historical fiction will find themselves totally invested in the lives and futures of these characters.
    • 3/5
      An old abbot lies dying and, with the end near, he wants to lighten his burden and tell a story of murder and treachery, courage and love. One of the abbey's scribes will take notes to commit the tale to posterity.In England during the Anarchy, with the population supporting either King Stephen or Empress Matilda, a bloody civil war rages, and the effects are being felt all over the country, by rich and poor, with events being set in motion that will see a young noblewoman from a castle in Oxfordshire and a wildfowler's daughter from the Cambridgeshire fenlands cross paths in the most unusual circumstances.The novel is set in the twelfth century when Empress Matilda was fighting her cousin King Stephen for her right to sit on the throne of England after her father Henry I's death. It is set out as a frame narrative, with the narration alternating between the abbot of an unnamed abbey and the events nearly half a century before, while the action (at the beginning of the 1140s) changes between the viewpoints of Maud of Kenniford on one hand and Penda, a young girl from the fenlands, and the mercenary Gwil on the other.The historic setting is flawless, and the harsh realities of a winter in the fenlands, with most of the men gone to build castles for this lord or the other, or a castle under siege were brought home to great effect. In contrast, the characterisation remains a little too bland for my taste, with the exception of Penda and Gwil (and possibly William), and the villain is so out-and-out evil that he appears almost as a caricature of himself.Additionally, for most of the time the book uses time-appropriate language relating to features of the castle or an aspect of weaponry or armour, and then out of the blue more modern terms (such as "managerial", "gave up the ghost", "immune" and "willy-nilly"), unknown at the time the novel is set, appear, with specific characters being addressed as "Milly" and "Girly", respectively. Ahhh! Each time I flinched as the use is so incongruous and jars terribly.When I picked up the book I was taken in by the tagline on the front cover: "One child holds the key to peace"; imagine my surprise when this "key" plays hardly any role in the plot at all! As a result, despite multiple sieges, murder, rape and betrayal, the pace rarely alters and there is little tension, while I remained detached from most of the characters. Ariana Franklin would be turning in her grave.
    • 4/5
      Once I got over my disappointment that the last book Ariana Franklin was writing when she died (which was finished by her daughter) was not a resolution to the cliffhanger in the "Mistress of the Art of Death" series, I was able to settle in and enjoy this one. Good historical fiction, sans bodice ripper element.
    • 4/5
      What fans of good historical fiction mysteries weren’t devastated to hear about the death of the writer Ariana Franklin (pen name of Diana Norman) in 2011? She did leave us a wonderful gift, however: a final novel, completed by her daughter Samantha Norman, and it is a very good work indeed.This book is not part of the series featuring the medical examiner Adelia Aguilar but is a standalone novel in the same time period, i.e., the mid-12th Century, and also set in England. During this era, England was torn by a civil war between supporters of Stephen (grandson of William the Conqueror), and his cousin, the Empress Matilda, for the throne of England. Occupants of cathedrals as well as castles were forced to take sides. One stronghold in particular, the fictional Kenniford Castle, is desired by both sides in this story, because it is on the site of a key Thames crossing. The castle’s mistress is 16-year-old Maud, a ward of King Stephen. We first meet her when she is being forced to marry the much older, crass and barbaric John of Tewing, who arrived at the castle for the wedding with both his son and his mistress.In alternate chapters, we also follow the fate of a young girl from the Fens who had gone out fetching fuel with her family. She was caught by a group of men led by a sadistic rapist and killer (also a monk), who had a penchant for red-headed children. Little Em was left for dead, but was found by Gwilherm de Vannes, a mercenary who had his horse stolen by the very men who ravaged Em. Gwil nurses the girl back to health. She remembers nothing of the trauma that almost killed her, nor of her life before it, nor even her name. Gwil calls her Penda after a Pagan warlord. They cut her hair and disguise her as a boy, and Gwil teaches her to defend herself with a bow. The two travel through the countryside earning money by giving archery exhibitions. What Gwil doesn’t share with Penda is his determination to track down and destroy the monk who brutalized her. In addition, he suspects the monk may not be done yet with Penda, because when Gwil found her, she was clutching a valuable parchment that the monk would want to recover.Events take a turn when Mathilda and two protectors, Alan and Christopher, stumble upon Gwil and Penda during a snowstorm, and take shelter with them. They beseech Gwil and Penda to help them get Mathilda to safety, and the five of them end up at Maud’s castle. Before long, the castle is besieged by the much larger and better armed forces of Stephen. Discussion: The depiction of life in the 12th Century, especially the daily concerns of a castle chatelaine, is excellent. The growing relationship between Gwil and Penda is something you will want to hold onto; it is incredibly touching, as are the relationships between Maud and those she comes to love.Evaluation: There is plenty of action and suspense in this book; a lot of good period background; and marvelous characterizations. Stock up on kleenex.
    • 5/5
      After the synopsis above, there is not a lot left to tell you about the plot of this novel. To my mind it is much more a historical novel than a crime fiction one, although certainly it does have mysteries. It is set in a fascinating period of English history when the country is torn apart by civil war, King Stephen vs his cousin the Empress Matilda. And the portrayal of this period has a real feeling of authenticity to it. It was a brutal time when nobility seem to have swapped sides readily, once they could see which way the wind was blowing.The structure of the novel is interesting: at Perton Abbey the abbot is dying.He has something important to do. he has to record a tale of treachery and murder, also a story of courage and love, before he too twirls off life's tree; yet he is too ill, too weak to write it himself.And so he is assigned a young scribe to write it for him.Samantha Norman completed this novel in tribute to her mother Ariana Franklin who unfortunately died in 2011.