From Publishers Weekly
Romance reigns in Tarr's absorbing historical fantasy, in which William the Conqueror of Normandy, the reincarnation of King Arthur, must be taught to master his own magic by his witch-wife, Mathilda of Flanders. William's destiny is to throw down the "walls of iron" against the fey beings of the Otherworld, erected by the Saxons and Christianity. He fends off human enemies like Geoffrey of Anjou, while the couple's united magic allows them to travel through the Otherworld faster than mortal foes. In due course William sets sail for England, where Harold Godwineson sits on the throne, having broken his oath to support William for the succession. England's magical and material defenses are powerful, however. It takes two thunderous and marvelously depicted battles (the real-life contests of Stamford Bridge and Hastings) and the powers of William and Mathilda's witch-daughter Cecilia before William can come into his inheritance. Break-neck pacing and compelling historical detail help the reader suspend disbelief. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* How does Tarr do it? She writes scrupulously researched historical fiction that blends myth, mystery, historical fact, and page-turning-good action, producing one such critically acclaimed novel just about every year. As a reigning specialist in fiction of the ancient world, she has taken on settings ranging from dynastic Egypt to Camelot, and her work's fascination derives as much from the solidly grounded, multifaceted backdrop she weaves as from the magical elements, inspired by a masterful storyteller's imagination, that she injects into her scenarios. Rite of Conquest presents William the Conqueror as the bastard son of an earthly year-king and a druid goddess on an earth on which spirit-beings mix with mortals, and England as the scene of an earth-based paganism rebelliously stirring against centuries of Saxon-enforced Christianity. Sent by her nobleman father to the French court to perfect her magic and eventually become a Guardian, thereby fulfilling her destiny as ruler of worlds mortal and magical, Mathilda meets young Bastard William, who has fought in Normandy and resists his innate gifts. She sees him as the One Foretold, and with her powers he will risk synergizing seen and unseen forces to cross the Channel and rule England. Oh, this is irresistible! Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
For 500 years the Saxons ruled England, crushing the ancient powers. But a wave of change approaches. Across the Channel in Normandy, William is born-the bastard son of a duke and a magical woman of Druid descent.

As he grows to manhood, William's battle skills earn him respect, but his temper and disregard for his innate magical abilities hold him back. He needs a teacher, whether he wants one or not, and finds one in the beautiful French noblewoman Mathilda. But William is resistant to the very idea of magic, and unless he can accept Mathilda's help-and her love-his imperfectly controlled abilities may destroy him. In an epic battle that spans worlds and ages, magical forces and earthbound armies will be drawn together by William as he fights to achieve his destiny-and reign as King of England.

About the Author
Judith Tarr has written over 30 novels for eight different publishers. A graduate of Yale and Cambridge Universities, she holds degrees in ancient and medieval history, and breeds Lipizzan horses at her home, Dancing Horse Farm.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"For five hundred years the Saxons ruled England, crushing the ancient powers with cold iron and the weight of Christianity. But now the old ways are rising once more. Across the Channel in Normandy, William is born - the bastard son of a duke and a magical woman of Druid descent - whom history will name the Conqueror." "As William grows to manhood, his battle skills earn him respect, but his brutal temper and disregard for his innate magical abilities hold him back. He needs a teacher, whether he wants one or not, and is fortunate to find her in the beautiful French noblewoman Mathilda. But William is resistant to the very idea of magic, and unless he can accept Mathilda's help - and her love - his imperfectly controlled abilities may destroy him." In an epic battle that spans worlds and ages, magical forces and earthbound armies will be drawn together by William as he fights to achieve his destiny and reign as king of England.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Romance reigns in Tarr's absorbing historical fantasy, in which William the Conqueror of Normandy, the reincarnation of King Arthur, must be taught to master his own magic by his witch-wife, Mathilda of Flanders. William's destiny is to throw down the "walls of iron" against the fey beings of the Otherworld, erected by the Saxons and Christianity. He fends off human enemies like Geoffrey of Anjou, while the couple's united magic allows them to travel through the Otherworld faster than mortal foes. In due course William sets sail for England, where Harold Godwineson sits on the throne, having broken his oath to support William for the succession. England's magical and material defenses are powerful, however. It takes two thunderous and marvelously depicted battles (the real-life contests of Stamford Bridge and Hastings) and the powers of William and Mathilda's witch-daughter Cecilia before William can come into his inheritance. Break-neck pacing and compelling historical detail help the reader suspend disbelief. Agent, Russell Galen. (Oct. 5) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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