Description
As the 14th century dawns, Scotland's survival hangs by a spider's thread. While the clans scrap for the empty throne, Edward Longshanks of England schemes to annex the ancient northern kingdom. But one dark-skinned lad stands in the brutal monarch's path. James Douglas is cherished by his fellow Scots as the Good Sir James. Yet his daring raids across the border inflict such havoc that the English brand him the Black Douglas and nearly bankrupt their treasury to capture him. As a boy, James falls in love with the ravishing Isabelle MacDuff, whose clan for centuries has inaugurated Scottish monarchs on the hallowed Stone of Destiny. Yet their world is upturned when James befriends Robert Bruce, a bitter enemy of the MacDuffs. Forced to choose between love and clan loyalty, James and Isabelle make a fateful decision that draws the armies to the bloody field of Bannockburn. Here is the little-known story of Scotland's War of Independence and the remarkable events that followed the execution of William Wallace, whose legend was portrayed in the movie Braveheart. At last, James Douglas takes his rightful place with Wallace and Bruce in the pantheon of Scottish heroes. This thrilling epic leads us to the miraculous Stone of Destiny, to the famous Spider in the Cave, to the excommunicated Knights Templar and Freemasons, to the suppressed Culdee Church, to the initiation of Christ in Britain, and to the unprecedented Declaration of Arbroath, which inspired the American Declaration of Independence four hundred years later. The Spider and the Stone is the unforgettable saga of the star-crossed love, spiritual intrigue, and heroic sacrifice that saved Scotland.
About the Author
Glen Craney holds graduate degrees from Indiana University School of Law and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He practiced trial law before joining the Washington, D.C. press corps to cover national politics and the Iran-contra trial for Congressional Quarterly magazine. The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences awarded him the Nicholl Fellowship prize for best new screenwriting. He is a Chaucer Award First-Place Winner and a three-time finalist for Foreword Reviews Book-of-the-Year Award. His debut historical novel, The Fire and the Light, was honored as Best New Fiction by the National Indie Excellence Awards. His books have taken readers to Occitania during the Albigensian Crusade, to the Scotland of Robert Bruce, to Portugal during the Age of Discovery, to the trenches of France during World War I, and to the American Hoovervilles of the Great Depression.
Reviews
Chaucer Award First-Place Category Historical Fiction Foreword Magazine Book-of-the-Year Award Finalist indieBRAG Medallion Honoree BTS Readers Choice Award Honorable Mention "The best book I've read this year. ... [It] touched my Scottish-American warrior's heart." -- JOHN GRAHAM, Seneschal of the Society of Creative Anachronism "The battle scenes are detailed and vivid, giving the reader a ringside seat at Scotland's desperate fight for freedom. ... 'Spider' will hold readers in suspense." -- IND'TALE MAGAZINE "[B]est historical fiction I have read in years. From the beginning to the end there is not a dull moment. If I could give this book 10 willies I would. But alas I can only give 5 and I do." -- TO READ, OR NOT TO READ REVIEWS "[Craney] has woven a well-crafted, interesting tale." -- HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY "One of the three best reads of 2014." -- CYNTHIA ROBERTSON, historical novelist "As a fan of the works of Bernard Cornwell and Robert Low, I am very spoiled when it comes to novels of this genre. I was not disappointed in the least....Well written and it is fun stuff!" -- AMAZON REVIEWER "A well-written, enthralling adventure." --BTS MAGAZINE READERS CHOICE "If you like Conn Iggulden, you will love this novel." -- GOODREADS REVIEWER "[A] memorable, well-researched, and thoroughly enjoyable work of historical fiction! Great read that is highly recommended!" -- CRYSTAL BOOK REVIEWS "[A] gripping read...I'd highly recommend this book, it has everything you could want, war, love, death, betrayal, patriotism and some awesome dogs." --DAVID BAIRD BOOK BLURG "[A] brilliant novel that has taken my breath away and has become one read I sorely wish I enjoyed sooner." -- AS THE FINAL PAGE TURNS REVIEWS "A fun read" with a "collection of magnificently despicable characters." -- C.P. LESLEY, historical novelist "Exciting and gripping story...I found it to be an entertaining, interesting and engrossing book to read, and I am looking forward to more of Mr. Craney's works." -- D. ANDREW MCCHESNEY, historical novelist
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