The Iron Crown

The Iron Crown A Novel of Kings, Betrayal, and the Birth of a Dynasty by Jack Davis A king slain in the forest. A brother crowned in the silence that follows. A nation caught between bloodlines and ambition. From the death of William Rufus beneath the boughs of the New Forest to the rise and ruin of Henry II's mighty Angevin Empire, The Iron Crown weaves a vivid tale of treachery, conquest, and family torn apart by power. In the wake of chaos, Henry I seizes the throne, ruling with cold resolve and outliving both enemies and kin. But peace is a fragile thing in England - and after his death, the realm collapses into civil war. Enter the Empress Matilda. Warrior, mother, heir. Denied the crown that was promised her, she fights for the legacy of her bloodline - and lays the foundation for a new kind of king. That king is her son, Henry II - brilliant, ruthless, and destined to rule an empire that stretches from the windswept coasts of Normandy to the vineyards of Aquitaine. But what he builds in law and stone will crack beneath the weight of rebellion. His queen, Eleanor. His sons, born to rule. His friends, turned traitors. Power is never passed without pain. And the crown, though golden, is iron underneath.