Bastard – Mostecký Jaroslav (2023)

TO SURVIVE, THE KING'S BASTARD MUST PLAY A GAME THAT COULD COST HIM MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE THRONE... Brittany in the early 9th century resembles a disturbed wasp nest. While the Celtic inhabitants long for independence, the Frankish Empire led by Charlemagne is unwilling to lose its westernmost stronghold. The rebellious lord Judaël has sacrificed everything for the dream of freedom, even the safety of his family and subjects. At a time when he seeks help from the earl of Ashford with his most loyal companions, Frankish soldiers are landing on the Breton coast, and bloodshed is imminent. Only Judaël's illegitimate son Yannig, who hides in the nearby rocks to avoid being taken as an honorable hostage to Charlemagne's court, knows that everything is different and that the Franks landed only after a Viking longship wrecked in the bay. Without knowing whom he can trust, he must play a game for his own life, because the enemy could be anyone – even his half-brother. The bastard Yannig will soon learn that the price for a chance to one day sit on his father's throne is not counted in round gold coins, but in the lives of friends and family. And as if that weren't enough, an ancient evil is awakening in the rocks, waiting for its opportunity since the boy's birth... ___ A gripping historical novel about the clash...