In the tradition of beloved storytellers such as Morgan Llywelyn, Mary Renault and Mary Stewart comes a stunning new voice in historical fiction. With her enthralling debut novel, Kate Hawks weaves together cherished myth and true history to restore to vivid life an ancient Celtic legend of love and loss, honor and betrayal. The Lovers When a stroke of ill-fortune causes Deigh mac Diarmuid and his wife Ehne into exile, prospects look bleak for the humble Irish peasants. But the young man's uncanny ability with horses ensures him a position as stablemaster for Lord Trystan, across the sea in Britain. It is there that they will find a new life as Lord Gareth and Lady Rhian. Serving first as Trystan's servant, then his equal, Gareth joins Arthur's court, rides with the king's cavalry against the Saxons, and comes to be Trystan's truest friend. For Trystan is fated to love a queen--the wife of his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall. It is at the height of his glory that his passion for Yseult becomes Trystan's downfall, and Arthur is forced to banish the young lover from Britain's shores forever. At an isolated outpost in barbarous Gaul, Trystan and Gareth marshal a small army to stand against the encroaching Franks. As they prepare for the seige, Gareth falls under the spell of Isolt, the chieftain's daughter to whom Trystan is wed but will never love. And all the while, Trystan pines for his lost love, the unattainable Yseult. Amid the thunder and smoke of battle, Gareth, Isolt, Trystan, and Yseult--lovers all--are caught in the web of destiny to face a future none wanted--but none could avoid. "When a stroke of ill-fortune causes Deigh mac Diarmuid and his wife Ehne into exile, prospects look bleak for the humble Irish peasants. But the young man's uncanny ability with horses ensures him a position as stablemaster for Lord Trystan, across the sea in Britain. It is there that they will find a new life as Lord Gareth and Lady Rhian. Serving first as Trystan's servant, then his equal, Gareth joins Arthur's court, rides with the king's cavalry against the Saxons, and comes to be Trystan's truest friend. For Trystan is fated to love a queen--the wife of his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall. It is at the height of his glory that his passion for Yseult becomes Trystan's downfall, and Arthur is forced to banish the young lover from Britain's shores forever. At an isolated outpost in barbarous Gaul, Trystan and Gareth marshal a small army to stand against the encroaching Franks. As they prepare for the seige, Gareth falls under the spell of Isolt, the chieftain's daughter to whom Trystan is wed but will never love. And all the while, Trystan pines for his lost love, the unattainable Yseult. Amid the thunder and smoke of battle, Gareth, Isolt, Trystan, and Yseult--lovers all--are caught in the web of destiny to face a future none wanted--but none could avoid.