In the spring of 1199, Willem, a naïve, poor young nobleman, is summoned to the magnificent royal court of Konrad, the Holy Roman Emperor, whose realm spans much of Europe. A brave and bold fighter, Willem wins great honors for his knightly prowess. His champion, friend, and guide to courtly life is the irrepressible, mysterious minstrel Jouglet, a long-time admirer of Willem’s sister, Lienor. But as Willem soon learns, gossip, schemes, and secrets fuel courtly life, and no one, not even a brave knight, is immune—or safe.

Transporting the reader to the magnificent heart of the largest empire of medieval Europe, Revenge of the Rose brings to life a long-ago time saturated with drama, intrigue, and passion, in which colorful characters cunningly vie for power, wealth, and favor.