London, 1437 Though Alys longs to paint like the artists who created the beautiful paintings at St Michael’s Church, Queenhithe, she knows it is an impossible dream because she is poor, her mother is sick, and her brother has gone off to sea, leaving her to struggle to provide for her mother. It isn’t until a trick of fate sends her sprawling under a noblewoman’s horse that her life takes a different turn. But is it for the best or is she being pulled into a web of intrigue and lies? A prequel to the Imp of Eye, it will appeal to fans of Dorothy Dunnett’s gripping and intrigue filled plots. This novella begins the Renaissance Sojourner Series. A wonderfully spun gem of a story of 15th century London, beautifully brought to life by the reigning queens of historical fiction. Real magic! C.M.T. Stibbe, author of Chasing Pharaohs.

London 1440 A youth and a Duchess caught in a web of royal intrigue and witchcraft. While the storm clouds of the Wars of the Roses gather in fifteenth century London, Barnabas, a streetwise thirteen year-old orphan, dreams of sailing away to foreign countries. His mistress, Margery Jourdemayne, the Witch of Eye, and his guardian, CanonThomas Southwell, plot to use his clairvoyant talents to further their ambitions. Vain and ambitious Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, turns to the Witch of Eye to conceive a child to secure her position as the wife of the heir to the throne, but her husband’s enemies are determined to use her actions to bring about his downfall. Can this young imp, Barnabas, steer a safe path through the dangerous web of intrigue and suspicion that surrounds him? Will his ‘sight’ save him from burning in the flames of a witch’s pyre? And will Eleanor conceive a child, or will her follies prove her undoing? Rich with historical detail and suspense, this novel captures the imagination. "Fast-paced and moving, ‘The Imp of Eye’ is the memorable story of real events told in the distinctive voice of a unique and loveable character." – Karen Charlton, author of The Detective Lavender Mysteries "A jewel of a story, set among the royal courts and the dark alleys of medieval London, where intrigue, betrayal and witchcraft are woven into a poisoned web to trap the innocent. The characters are so compelling that I was struggling to breathe as the net tightened around them. This is story-telling at its best."- Karen Maitland, author of 'Company of Liars'

England 1445 After four years, the threat of arrest for witchcraft still hangs over Barnabas and he dare not return to England for his childhood sweetheart, Alys, as promised. Still under the tutelage of Mustapha al Qali and posing as Giacomo, he is taken across Christendom in search of a mysterious manuscript. Barnabas grows more resentful of al Qali's tight control and secretly tries to create his own enterprise that will eventually free him. But al Qali has other plans that take them both into danger. Alys, attendant to the disgraced and exiled Duchess of Gloucester, finds herself dismissed with nowhere to go. Her only hope is to find Barnabas, but her journey leads her into perils that change her circumstances irrevocably in ways she could never have imagined. If she finds Barnabas will he recognise who she has become, and will he still want her? Kristin Gleeson authentic historical fiction is filled with adventure, vibrant and colourful characters and intense storylines.

Venice/Africa 1446 Only revenge can make Barnabas whole again. Dependent on opium and driven by anger over his former mentor’s appalling treachery, Barnabas leaves his beloved Alys in Venice and sets out for Africa on a quest to find the lost Kingdom of Prester John and ultimately, the man who deceived him. When the expedition takes a deadly twist and loyalties are questioned, he realizes that Alys is the only one who can help him. Angry and devastated over Barnabas’s recent betrayal, Alys finds comfort in her painting but as the few securities of her confined life crumble around her she faces a desperate choice. Saving Barnabas becomes the greatest test of her life. The Quest of Hope is a vividly portrayed historical romantic adventure that will keep you turning the pages to the very end. If you like tensely plotted historical novels filled with intrigue then you’ll love the Renaissance Sojourner Series.