The tale of a journey that will shape the world for centuries to come...

France, 1096. Crowds gather in Sens to hear the man known as the Hermit speak. He talks of a great pilgrimage to Jerusalem, a quest filled with promise for those Christian soldiers who march with him.

Sybille knows the perils of the road ahead, but follow it she must. Her husband is a reckless gambler, easily swayed by the Hermit's words.

For Odo, the pilgrimage provides the chance to demonstrate his unshakeable piety, while his brother Fulk craves adventure and excitement.

Jeanne and Guillemette have been mistreated by the men in their life but this is their chance for redemption and a brighter future. But life on the road for two women alone will be full of perils...

As the lines between love and hate, virtue and sin, good and evil become blurred, each must survive as best they can. Who will live to reach the holy city, and will the sacrifices they make to get there be worth the price they all must pay?

The first instalment in a scintillating new series on the crusades, ideal for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden.

'This will delight existing fans and bring many more to the fold' Manda Scott

'Classic Jecks – and that's as good as it gets' Susanna Gregory

'Vivid imagination and gripping prose' Anthony Riches