Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07DPVC1JC. It is the dawn of the Renaissance, a time when new ideas are just beginning to emerge. Alfred—the eponymous second son—comes of age in the enlightened court of his grandfather. Alfred is convinced that his life will be unremarkable, spent in diligent but mundane service to king and kingdom. His grandfather, however, foresees for him a special destiny. It is also a time when peace and stability are tenuous, and threats can arise from unexpected quarters. Taken captive while on a mission for the king, Alfred is held for ransom and taken ever farther away from his home. With his prospects dwindling, he must find a way to survive if he is ever to fulfill that mysterious destiny. Available as paperback, eBook, Kindle Edition, and audiobook.

Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B07SMW3C7F. It was inevitable that the new king would be very different from his father. What no one could foresee was where his penchant for action would lead. It was equally inevitable that Alfred’s brother, John, would do something outrageous. What no one would have predicted is just how far he would exceed the bounds of royal decorum. At a time when the world is changing faster than anyone expected, Alfred must try to create a role for himself that lives up to his grandfather’s vision of his destiny. And Ralf is still out there, knowing that his plan for Alfred’s death has failed and that vengeance for his father has yet to be achieved.

At the dawn of the Renaissance, Alfred - the eponymous second son - must discover the special destiny foreseen for him by his grandfather. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Alfred’s brother is king. And it isn’t long before everyone’s worst fears are realized. Traditional allegiances are shattered under a style of rule unknown since the grand bargain that formed the kingdom was struck over two hundred years ago. These will be the most dangerous years of Alfred’s life, forcing him to re-examine his duty to personal honor and to the kingdom, while the threats posed by his brother constantly remind him of his father’s final words of advice. What choices will he have to make to try to protect the things he holds most dear?

Coming to his senses in a place he's never seen before, Alfred discovers he has survived the deadly sickness sweeping the land and has also managed, quite by accident, to find his family. But he’s also a traitor to the Crown for desertion on the field of battle, so he and his family must live in complete seclusion in a remote corner of Gwen’s homeland. Avoiding all contact with the outside world lest the king's spies discover their whereabouts, they have no idea what is happening with the war, if the king has turned on the lords for dissolving the kingdom, or if they will ever be able to return home. When horsemen are spotted in the forest one wintry morning, the chill that runs through the cottage has nothing to do with the temperature outside.

Isabella wants to come home - a rather innocuous request - unless you're the king and Isabella is the aunt whose mental instability led her own father to banish her from the kingdom. Her arrival, unbidden, on the steps of the castle opens old wounds and forces Alfred to examine his grandfather's decision. As diplomacy with former enemies begins to bear fruit, new dangers loom on the horizon. The bellicose Teutons, discord among the nobles in the Kingdom Across the Southern Sea, and Isabella's continuing machinations all conspire to threaten the peace and security of the realm. Alfred's mettle will be tested as never before. And a startling revelation will lead him first to troublesome doubts and eventually to a deeper understanding of what it means to be a king.

" The Weight of the Crown represents Historical Fiction at its pinnacle." – Pacific Book Review Now that the destructive force of black powder has been unleashed, Alfred must reinforce his alliances in a world where the nature of conflict has been changed for all time. Against this backdrop, he faces the daunting task of finding a suitable match for his eldest daughter, knowing he must balance the needs of the kingdom against his vow to ensure the happiness of the child whose anticipated arrival kept him alive during his ordeal in captivity. When the Teutons take advantage of the ongoing civil war in the Kingdom Across the Southern Sea by seizing its southeastern province, the stakes are ratcheted up yet again. Does Alfred hold the trump card to subdue the ambitions of the Teutons and find a new equilibrium in a constantly changing world?

"Taylor creates a tale redolent of the best of political drama, alliances, annexation, betrayal, and intrigue." – Pacific Book Review After three long years of war and disruptions, Alfred hopes for a time of peace and tranquility. A time to devote his energy to bettering the lives of his people, to focus on what the future holds for his children, to nurture his alliances, and to see his previous endeavors bear fruit. But even the home front has bumps in the road. The campaign to suppress Teuton aggression has been costly, Lord Meriden's threat to disrupt the kingdom shows no sign of abating, and Nerrick's growing negativity casts a shadow over the mutual defense plans with the Territories. Against this domestic backdrop, Alfred can't forget his obligation to support the fledgling reign of young King Denis, whose kingdom is an essential buffer against Teuton ambitions. The threat to peace and tranquility, when it comes, arises from an entirely unexpected quarter and puts Alfred in the unfamiliar position of being completely dependent on others to find a resolution. Could his grandfather have been wrong about his special destiny?

Geoffrey, Alfred's heir, and Denis, King of the Kingdom Across the Southern Sea. Two young men soon to come of age. One, having doubts as he comes to grips with the enormity of what his future holds; the other, eager to end the regency and rule in his own right. Both relying on Alfred's guidance as each birthday marks another milestone in the lives they're destined to lead. Meanwhile, as Alfred's commanders wrestle with the inadequacy of traditional defenses against cannon warfare, they must also solidify their plans to support King Denis if he comes under attack from the Teutons. But daily life goes on, even as a long-forgotten person reappears in the kingdom, and the peace holds for now. So why can't Alfred shake the visceral feeling that something ominous lurks just out of sight?

"The King has summoned you," for the Second Son Chronicles book #9, The Burden of Choice, from International Bestselling author Pamela Taylor. Convinced that the prizes in his long game-the riches of Aleffe Province and King Denis' great port on the Southern Sea-are now within his grasp, the Teuton king has finally shown his cards. He's confident Denis' youth and inexperience mean he'll be no match for the might of the Teuton army, especially if he can be isolated. To that end, the Teuton has already taken steps to prevent Denis' ally in the south from joining the fray. All that's left is to neutralize Alfred-and the Teuton is certain he's found the perfect way to do that. Refusing to be lured into a false choice, Alfred must nonetheless defend his realm. But as the number of lives lost in the conflict continues to mount, he finds himself troubled by the senselessness of the sacrifices brought on by one man's ambition. And he faces excruciating decisions about how to preserve his legacy and how to end the bloodshed. Will the Teuton king's strategy turn out to be brilliant or a serious miscalculation?