Prince of Good Fellows

Scotland, 1512. A boy of five inherits a crown, and the kingdom holds its breath. Young James V ascends to the throne of Scots surrounded by enemies, courtly intrigue, and nobles who mistake his youth for weakness. But this is no somber chronicle of political machinations. Robert Barr fills his historical fiction with wit, daring, and a protagonist who meets every threat with cleverness and nerve. The chapters unfold as episodic adventures: palace conspiracies, forbidden romances, rival clans, and the endless dance of power among Scotland's fractious nobility. James V emerges as both child and monarch, naive enough to take risks yet cunning enough to survive them. The prose crackles with Barr's humor while never losing sight of the genuine dangers facing a young king in a violent age. For readers who crave adventure with intelligence, who want their history served with a wink and a sword thrust, this is the book.