The Castilians

Gripping Scottish Historical Fiction - The Siege of St. Andrews Castle (The Seton Chronicles, Book 1)

By: VEH Masters

Narrated by: Beverley Wright

It's 1546, and Scotland is under attack from Henry VIII, determined to marry his son to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots. A few among the Scottish lairds are eager for this alliance, too. They kill Cardinal Beaton, who is Mary’s great protector, and take St. Andrews Castle, expecting rescue any day from England.

Local lad Will is among them, fighting for the Protestant cause. His treasonous activities place his family in grave danger, forcing his sister, Bethia, into an unwelcome alliance. As the long siege unravels, Bethia and Will struggle over where their loyalties lie and the choices they each must make - to save their family, or stay true to their beliefs and follow their hearts.

This debut novel closely follows the historical events of the siege of St. Andrews Castle, and its dramatic re-taking.

©2020 V E H Masters (P)2021 V E H Masters

voice acting

well this isn't the type of book I would have sought out on my own I'm really glad that my book club recommended it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Difficult to get into

I gave up halfway through. While the Scots accent seemed authentic, it made it harder to understand & I wasn’t clear on who was who & why they were doing things. Might have been better read than listened to.

A Scottish tale of intrigue and desperation.

This book does bring to life the individuals, especially the everyday people during this event. With the constant state regulations and religious domination, the people of Scotland have little ability to change the fate of their lives. In this moment a conspiratorial few rise up to challenge their situation. Thus this book explores their efforts and the price they pay for their actions.

Enjoyable Read!

I was along for the ride! As an American I really enjoyed all the Scottish-isms and was glad to have it read to me!