NBtM Virtual Tour and Giveaway: Princes & Kings (A Rose in a Thorn Bush #1) by Sydney Williams

Welcome to the NBtM virtual tour for Princes & Kings by Sydney Williams. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a fantastic guest post from the author. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!

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Title: Princes & Kings

Series: A Rose in a Thorn Bush #1

Author: Sydney Williams

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Publication Date: August 13th 2021

Print Length: 266 pages

Genre: Historical Fantasy

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In the year 1240 AD, the land of Gwynedd Wales found themselves without a leader when their king, Llywelyn the Great, died at a ripe old age. The natural successor to the king was his son Dafydd, who took on the job of ruler after his death. Soon after taking on the job he was forced to sign a treaty with the king of England and send his brother Gruffudd and his nephew Owain to England to be imprisoned in the Tower of London in exchange for keeping his land and title. His other nephew, Llywelyn, became the new head warrior after his father's imprisonment, travelling the country and patrolling the borders to the north and the south.

After four years imprisonment in the Tower of London, Gruffudd died while attempting to escape from his tower cell, and his son Owain was released by the king himself. He wanted Owain to help him start a civil war in Gwynedd. Meanwhile, after finding out about his brother's death from a letter sent by his nephew Owain, Dafydd declared war on England, prompting Owain to escape Winchester Castle, where he had been recovering from his time in prison to find his brother Llywelyn and help him in the war between England and Gwynedd. During the course of the war, Dafydd was killed in battle, leaving the Welsh army without a leader. Being the brave and noble man that he was, Llywelyn called the men to him and, with his leadership, they managed to send the English packing.

With the new weight of responsibility thrust upon his shoulders, Llywelyn rode home at the head of the army to find that his world had changed. Now not only was his father gone but his mother as well, and the land of Gwynedd was once again without a leader. It became clear that the best man for the job was Llywelyn himself, and he decided that there was nothing else to do but become the new ruler. He would do anything to keep his people safe, even if that meant taking on a responsibility that he felt he was too young for. He would never abandon his people for anything and let the English take everything from him.

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EXCERPT:

Chapter 1: A Funeral to Remember

The town of Aberfraw Castle in the Valley of Clwyd Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales in the year 1240 AD

As the royal party moved through the streets, one of the young street urchins darted up to Lord Owain, the eldest son of Lord Gruffudd, and attempted to slip his hand into his pocket. Owain quickly grabbed the boy and shook him roughly. “Have some respect,” he snapped.

Hearing the altercation, Gruffudd turned his head and smiled at the boy. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin, tossing it to the boy.

“Run along now and remember to have more respect for your superiors in the future,” he said, giving him a cuff to the arm. The boy, red-faced nodded his head in thanks and ran back into the crowd.

“Why did you do that?” Owain asked.

“Because now he will go on his way and not bother us again,” Gruffudd explained.

Owain simply shook his head in disgust, and with a surly look towards the crowd, rubbed his hands on his tunic. The boy’s clothing had been so filthy that he could feel the dirt coating his fingers.

His brother, Llywelyn, Gruffudd’s second eldest son turned to his brother Owain and cuffed him on the shoulder. “Lighten up,” he said with a smile.

Owain gave him a dirty look. “Will you ever grow up and act your age?” he asked grumpily.

“I think I am doing just fine. Why don’t you grow up?” Llywelyn said, giving his brother a playful shove. Owain shrugged and shoved him back, causing Gruffudd to turn his head and look at his two sons.

“That is enough from the two of you! This funeral procession is not a party,” he scolded and turned his head around to the front once more. Sanena squeezed her husband’s fingers lightly and smiled at him with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

“They are just getting out their nerves,” she said calmly. “Remember they were both very close to their grandfather.”

“I know that,” Gruffudd said. “But that doesn’t mean they are allowed to act like a couple of children.”

“You need to relax,” she said, giving his fingers another light squeeze. “Everyone is a little tense right now. I am sure, after the funeral, we will all feel much better.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sydney Williams has a big imagination and has been writing and performing from a young age. After going blind from Leukemia at the age of three, she found release from the medical part of her life through her music and her writing. In high school she excelled in English and history and after she left school she continued to write and to create her music. She formed her band, The Undercurrents with her best friend and drummer, Alex Nacci at the age of 22 and has been playing music with the band ever since.

Her book, Princes and Kings, is her first professional novel and it is book one of the historical fiction series she is writing titled, A Rose in A Thorn Bush about the last king of Wales. She was introduced to her main character in high school and with the encouragement of her Business Abilities coach she finely decided to write his story. Splitting the story into three books. Sydney has always enjoyed reading historical fiction and has found it an interesting genre to write in. After her series is finished she plans to continue writing about different historical British characters for as long as she can. Being Welsh on her father's side and Scottish and English on her mother's Britain is a place that interests her greatly and she has enjoyed writing about one of its characters. Giving her a chance to explore her heritage in a fun and exciting way and she looks forward to sharing her passion for the genre and the history of the British Isles with the world.

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GUEST POST:

- If you could time travel to any other era in time, which one would you choose and why?

If I had a time machine and I could go visit anywhere in time I think I would want to go back to 13th century Wales when my main character, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was alive. To meet the man and talk to him would be amazing. Back then they spoke in a very ancient form of Welsh. Over the years Welsh has evolved to what it is today. I have been taking a course in the language and I think if I had a chance to go back and talk to Llywelyn in Welsh it would be something I would never forget. But alass we don’t have time machines and so I can only get to know the man through my writing. It has been so wonderful writing about the man and his life and I am so happy I finely decided to do it. I do wonder sometimes what it must have been like to rule back then. I can only imagine as an author what it must have been like to have all that weight of everyone counting on you to make the right decisions and do the right thing. The Middle Ages was such a turbulent time in history with different countries and kingdoms at each other’s throats all the time. I just feel fortunate that through my writing I can get a glimpse of the lives of different historical figures and try to bring them to life once more on paper and in the minds of those who read my book.

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GIVEAWAY:

Sydney Williams will be awarding $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!

(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions assumes all responsibility with this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway