The Scottish Masters Uprising - Book 1

1286. Scotland experienced the worst winter in its history.

Some even believed that the Day of Judgment had arrived...

King Alexander III is assassinated, leaving the Scottish throne without an heir. Immediately, two noble Scottish families vie for his succession, bringing the country to the brink of civil war.

What these claimants to the throne don't know is that a third man is preparing in the shadows. A formidable adversary, King Edward I of England himself, called in as a mediator.

Having partially subdued Ireland and Wales, he dreams of subjugating Scotland. For nearly two decades, he has been plotting a conquest inspired by a very ancient prophecy believed to forever transfigure the face of England: the prophecy of Merlin...
But fate seems to have decided otherwise.

At the heart of these internecine wars, a young nobleman will rise to challenge the greatest king of England. His name is Robert Bruce. And his story begins in Insurrection.

"An excellent new novel by Robyn Young and the promising start to an exciting new trilogy." Canberra Times

"Perfectly researched and carefully written [...] The battle scenes are sensational." The Telegraph

Review from La Librairie du Grimoire Ancien

With Insurrection, the first volume of the Masters of Scotland trilogy, Robyn Young establishes herself as one of the major voices in contemporary historical fiction. The author, already recognized for her Knights Templar saga, here unfolds a masterful epic fresco around the figure of Robert Bruce, Scottish national hero and formidable adversary of Edward I of England.

What distinguishes this novel is the historical rigor of its documentation — praised by The Telegraph — combined with a gripping narrative that never sacrifices political complexity for the sake of action. Young masters the art of the great medieval novel: court intrigues, spectacular battles, Arthurian prophecies, and power plays intertwine with remarkable fluidity.

The integration of Merlin's prophecy as a narrative engine gives the plot a mythical dimension that resonates perfectly with the identity of Grimoire Ancien. Published by Fleuve Éditions and translated by Maxime Berrée, this first volume lays the foundations for an ambitious saga that will delight fans of Ken Follett, Bernard Cornwell, or Conn Iggulden.

— La Librairie du Grimoire Ancien