The stunning, nail-biting conclusion to The Arrowsmith Trilogy
“This is work of the highest creative historical imagination. A wonderful book.”
Alix Nathan – author of The Warlow Experiment
“This last book is the best. All three are very good, but Wild Labyrinth is riveting from page one.”
Vuyelwa Carlin – Author of How We Dream of the Dead
“A skilfully woven tapestry of historical fact and captivating story-telling that leaves the reader begging for more adventures.” Karen Maitland – on All the Winding World
"An utterly delightful novel that kept me reading into the small hours. Very Enjoyable.”
Helen Hollick for the Historical Novel Society – on The Errant Hours
The Feast of the Swans – 1306
In an extravagant knighting ceremony, old King Edward prepares a new army to march on Scotland charged with wreaking revenge on Robert the Bruce. For Lady Illesa Burnel, there’s little pleasure in watching her son knighted simply to become fodder for the battlefield. But amongst the revellers at the feast is a mercurial stranger who resembles a long-lost friend. In the days that follow, a sequence of fateful decisions drives Illesa and all her family to the brink of ruin.
Meanwhile in Hereford, the creator of one of the greatest maps in Christendom is planning a subversive pilgrimage. When their paths cross, he and Illesa begin a journey of twists and turns, not knowing what adversary they might meet at the centre of their labyrinth.
Inspired by the Mappa Mundi of Hereford Cathedral, this final book in The Arrowsmith Trilogy brings the reader into its world of marvels and monsters, heights and depths, redemption and damnation.
Fans of authors like Elizabeth Chadwick, Sharon Kay Penman, Conn Iggulden, Ken Follett and Patricia Bracewell will love the gritty realism, compulsive narrative, vivid characters and beautiful prose of The Arrowsmith Trilogy.
“This is a tale of high drama with many strands and unexpected twists but as any Innes’ aficionado will testify lnnes never stretches credulity. She paints in bold colours but the hues always ring true.”
Dr Henrietta Leyser - Oxford Historian and author of Medieval Women
The Errant Hours was the first book of The Arrowsmith Trilogy, following the life of courageous and resourceful Illesa Arrowsmith as she was forced to confront the physical and spiritual dangers of Plantanget Britain. It is followed by All the Winding World and Wild Labyrinth.
Kate Innes trained as an archaeologist, teacher and museum education officer before turning to writing full time. She lives in Shropshire near some of the locations in The Arrowsmith Trilogy.
Kate Innes was born in London and raised in America, returning to the UK in the 1980's to study Archaeology. She taught in Africa before completing an MA and working as a Museum Education Officer around the West Midlands. She and her family now live at the foot of Wenlock Edge, where the surrounding historical landscape inspires much of her writing. Her first novel, 'The Errant Hours', was a Historical Novel Society Editor's Choice and became Book One in 'The Arrowsmith Trilogy'. It was followed by 'All the Winding World' in 2018, and the final instalment - 'Wild Labyrinth' in 2021. Her first children's book is a WW2 historical fantasy, 'Greencoats', set in Birmingham and Shropshire. Kate's poetry collection, 'Flocks of Words', was shortlisted for The Rubery Book Award. She enjoys running creative writing courses and collaborating with other artists.
