Coming Soon
The Tale of the English Templar
The young knight had been tortured and hoped only to die. His rescuers had other ideas. But can an escaped Templar, an intrepid old crusader and a discarded bride defy a tyrant — and win?
An English Templar travelling to Cyprus is one of thousands arrested on Friday 13 October 1307. Victims of Philip IV’s greed for the Order’s legendary riches, they are cruelly tortured. The English knight becomes the first non-French Templar to confess to the trumped-up charges. Then he disappears. Soon, other imprisoned Templars also go missing from the French King’s dungeons. Rumours begin to circulate of a band of free Templars. Based on historical events, not fantasy, The Tale of the English Templar tells the story of the struggle between good and evil in human hearts — and of the power of love even in our darkest hour.
Earlier Titles set in the Middle Ages
Envoy of Jerusalem
A lost kingdom,
a lionhearted king,
and the struggle to regain Jerusalem
Balian d'Ibelin has survived the devastating defeat of the Christian army at the Battle of Hattin and walked away a free man after the surrender of Jerusalem to Saladin — but he haunted by the tens of thousands of Christians in Saracen slavery. Determined to regain what has been lost, he welcomes the arrival of a vast crusading army — until the French and the English quarrel and Balian finds himself on a collision course with the legendary Richard the Lionheart
"...this is one of the best historical series ever written. — Feathered Quill
"... a captivating work of historical fiction... Even the most minor character is fully described and the attention to the smallest details is evident in every aspect of the novel.” — Foreword Clarion Review
"Schrader, a career diplomat with a PhD in history, … presents both Christian and Muslim points-of-view, so there is no facile stereotyping of villains....[R]eaders are sure to find the author's enthusiasm for Crusade-era history infectious." — Blue Ink
Novels set in the Middle Ages
Emperor Frederick II, called “enlightened” by historians yet decried as a despot by contemporaries, unleashes a civil war that tears the Holy Land apart. The heir to an intimidating legacy, a woman artist, and a boy king are caught up in the game of emperors and popes. Against the backdrop of the Sixth Crusade, Rebels against Tyranny takes you from the harems of Sicily to the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It is a timeless tale of youthful audacity taking on tyranny―but sometimes courage is not enough….
“The well-meaning but flawed Sir Balian is a great central figure—a bit like William Shakespeare’s portrayal of the young Prince Hal …. An exciting royal adventure with a large cast.” — Kirkus Reviews
“…a robust and irresistible tale brimming with historical accuracy… Together, the dialogue, plot, and descriptive language make this a compulsive page-turner.” — BlueInk Starred Review
“The heir to the Ibelins is a great character for the reader to “walk beside” as dungeons and palaces are entered …This thrilling hero is, as always when it comes to Schrader’s works of art, one of unforgettable strength.” —Feathered Quill Review
The Emperor Strikes Back
The Emperor Strikes Back
An autocratic emperor, a defiant baronage, and youth caught up in the game of emperors and popes. Award-winning Helena P. Schrader delivers a tale of political intrigue, love, and courage using a cast of flawed yet engaging historical and fictional characters.
“Schrader’s…prose manages to summon the culture and time period of the Crusader states while remaining light and readable….” — Kirkus Reviews
“…the reader can almost smell the offal and blood, feel the pain of wounds, the effects of hunger, hardship, and fear, the taste of stale bread and sullied water, and the bittersweet taste of victory.” — Chanticleer Book Review
“The author is brilliant in her writing and … continues to offer the most exciting historical series that mesmerizes the reader.” — Feathered Quill Reivews
“From central actors to more minor characters, each individual has a depth that will leave readers highly invested in the story’s outcome.” BLUE INK REVIEW