Kingmaker: Divided Souls

Once again Toby Clements knocks it out of the park … the characters and the writing is first class, there are no holes or weaknesses in the plot of this book that just powers along, holding the reader remorselessly in its grip * Parmenion Books *
Prepare to be immersed in a brutal, mesmerising tale. * The Times *
Toby Clements’ Kingmaker saga has become one of my favourite historical series and without doubt Divided Souls is my favourite so far and, considering how fantastic Winter Pilgrims is, that’s quite an achievement … This is such a well-written series. * For Winter Nights *
Toby Clements has just given enough time for our finger nails to grow before making us chew them down again … Toby comes at us with twists and shocks that keep the pages turning. * The Bookbag *
Brilliant, vividly real and fast moving … Historical novel writing at its best * Lancaster Guardian *
Prepare to be immersed in a brutal, mesmerising tale * The Times *
This fine series reaches new heights in Divided Souls, an exhilarating, thrilling read, splattered with blood and gore. * Daily Express *
A bubo erupting with malice. * Sunday Telegraph *
Toby Clements has just given enough time for our finger nails to grow before making us chew them down again … Toby comes at us with twists and shocks that keep the pages turning. * The Bookbag *
Divided Souls is such a rich and exciting novel…it’s seamless, and it’s convincing. It’s surprising how many historical novelists fail to imagine a pre-photograph world where you don’t know what great men look like, any more than you know what a dragon looks like, and you can’t be sure if they’re real or not… Get the pollaxe back, and proceed. – Hilary Mantel

Toby Clements was inspired to write the Kingmaker series after becoming obsessed with the Wars of the Roses, following a school trip to Tewkesbury Abbey. There, the Lancastrian claim to the English throne was extinguished in a bloody battle in 1471.

Since then, he has devoured extensive research and spent many weekends at re-enactment fairs. He has learned to use the longbow, fight with a pollaxe, and start a fire using flint, steel, and baked linen. He even participated in tanning a piece of leather, an experience he describes as disgusting due to the use of urine and dog feces.

Clements’s interest shifted from the dealings of royalty to the lives of common people in the 15th Century. He became fascinated by how they lived, loved, fought, and died, marveling at their toughness, resourcefulness, resilience, and cleverness. The Kingmaker series is, in large part, a tribute to them.

He lives in London with his wife and three children. This is his second novel.

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