Read Beast: Great Bloodlines Converge Online
Authors: Kathryn Le Veque
Beast: Great Bloodlines Converge
A Medieval Romance
By Kathryn Le Veque
Copyright 2014 by Kathryn Le Veque
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Printed by Dragonblade Publishing in the United States of America
Text copyright 2014 by Kathryn Le Veque
Cover copyright 2014 by Kathryn Le Veque
Other Novels by Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Romance: The White Lord of Wellesbourne The Dark One: Dark Knight While Angels Slept Rise of the Defender Spectre of the Sword Unending Love Archangel Lord of the Shadows Great Protector To the Lady Born The Falls of Erith Lord of War: Black Angel The Darkland Black Sword The Wolfe Serpent The Whispering Night Netherworld The Dark Lord Devil’s Dominion Unrelated characters or family groups: The Gorgon The Warrior Poet Guardian of Darkness (related to The Fallen One) Tender is the Knight The Legend Lespada Lord of Light The Questing (related to The Dark Lord) Beast (related to Great Protector) The Dragonblade Trilogy: Dragonblade Island of Glass The Savage Curtain The Fallen One Fragments of Grace Novella, Time Travel Romance: Echoes of Ancient Dreams | Contemporary Romance: Kathlyn Trent/Marcus Burton Series: Valley of the Shadow The Eden Factor Canyon of the Sphinx The American Heroes Series: Resurrection Fires of Autumn Evenshade Sea of Dreams Purgatory Other Contemporary Romance: Lady of Heaven Darkling, I Listen Time Travel Romance: The Crusader Kingdom Come Note: All Kathryn’s novels are designed to be read as stand-alones, although many have cross-over characters or cross-over family groups. Novels that are grouped together have related characters or family groups. Series are clearly marked. All series contain the same characters or family groups except the American Heroes Series, which is an anthology with unrelated characters. There is NO particular chronological order for any of the novels because they can all be read as stand-alones, even the series. |
So many people help me bring my books to life – it definitely takes a village to keep the Le Veque writing machine going. So, here we go with some heartfelt acknowledgments -
Many thanks to my wonderful Amazon representative, Stacy, for her help and encouragement.
Many thanks to my team – Scott, Kris, and newcomer Ashley for their support and skill.
Many thanks to my Street Team who unashamedly help spread the word about me and my novels.
Many, MANY thanks to some members of my writing sisterhood – Suzan Tisdale, Tanya Anne Crosby, and Claire Delacroix for their unwavering support and advice. Fantastic ladies, every one of them.
And, of course, many thanks to my readers who offer me support, suggestions, opinions, and a few giggles. You guys rock!
Author’s Note:
The prologue of this novel involves the premise of a legend....
The novel is set in the year when Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. In doing research for just the opening scene, I came across lots of information about Joan. I read her trial transcripts as well as details of the trial itself. I read anything I could find about her actual death. It is widely accepted that her remains were burned, re-burned, and then thrown into the Seine River to prevent relic hunters, but the Catholic Church advocates that her heart – of all things – survived the pyre. So did her intestines.
Now, there are actual medical reasons why entrails and organs may have survived, but in the 15
th
century, it was seen as a miracle. That being said, what you will read in the prologue isn’t fiction. If you believe the Catholic Church, it is very real. Joan was made a saint in 1920 and is one of the patron saints of France.
More interesting information on Joan – she wasn’t actually convicted of heresy. She was convicted of cross-dressing of all things, considered a relapse of her heretic tendencies. Her trial transcripts are truly intriguing and open up the world of Medieval inquisition that is both fascinating and horrifying. It’s also a terrible lesson in Medieval (in)justice because Joan was actually tricked into cross-dressing (which she had sworn off before the magistrates under penalty of death) by the Duke of Bedford when he took away her female clothing and only left her male clothing to wear. Again, this offers more captivating insights into a 19-year-old woman who was basically railroaded by the English and their French conspirators.
Based on that legend, of a young woman who really suffered some terrible injustices, a sympathetic English knight known as Beast was born.
Enjoy his story.
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