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Rowankind #3
Rowankind
The third book of the swashbuckling Rowankind trilogy follows privateer and witch Ross Tremayne as she navigates the magical world of alternate 19th-century Britain.
What do you do with a feral wolf shapechanger who won't face up to his responsibilities? How do you contain magical creatures accidentally loosed into Britain's countryside? How do you convince a crew of barely-reformed pirates to go straight when there's smuggling to be done? How do you find a lost notebook full of deadly spells while keeping out of the clutches of its former owner? How do you mediate between a mad king and the seven lords of the Fae?
Ross and Corwen, she a witch and he a shapechanger, have several problems to solve but they all add up to the same thing. How do you make Britain safe for magic users?
It's 1802. A tenuous peace with France is making everyone jumpy. The Fae, and therefore Ross and Corwen at their behest, have unfinished business with Mad King George, who may not be as mad as everyone thinks--or if he is, he's mad in a magical way. The Fae have left mankind alone up to now because they don't care to get involved with mortals, but don't be fooled into thinking they're harmless.
What do you do with a feral wolf shapechanger who won't face up to his responsibilities? How do you contain magical creatures accidentally loosed into Britain's countryside? How do you convince a crew of barely-reformed pirates to go straight when there's smuggling to be done? How do you find a lost notebook full of deadly spells while keeping out of the clutches of its former owner? How do you mediate between a mad king and the seven lords of the Fae?
Ross and Corwen, she a witch and he a shapechanger, have several problems to solve but they all add up to the same thing. How do you make Britain safe for magic users?
It's 1802. A tenuous peace with France is making everyone jumpy. The Fae, and therefore Ross and Corwen at their behest, have unfinished business with Mad King George, who may not be as mad as everyone thinks--or if he is, he's mad in a magical way. The Fae have left mankind alone up to now because they don't care to get involved with mortals, but don't be fooled into thinking they're harmless.
473 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published November 27, 2018
6 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Jacey Bedford
27Ìýbooks99ÌýfollowersJacey Bedford is an English writer who is published by DAW in the USA. She lives and works behind a desk in Pennine Yorkshire. She's had stories published on both sides of the Atlantic. She has seven novels out now. Her newest is The Amber Crown, published by DAW inJanuary 2022. Previous books are: Empire of Dust, Crossways, and Nimbus, science fiction (space opera) which make up the Psi-Tech trilogy. Winterwood, Silverwolf and Rowankind make up the Rowankind trilogy. These are historical fantasy, set in 1800, with a cross-dressing privateer captain, the jealous ghost of her dead husband, and a sexy wolf shapechanger.
Jacey is secretary of the UK Milford Writers' Conference, a peer-to-peer workshopping week for published SF writers. She also hosts Northwrite SF, a critique group based in Yorkshire.
She's been a librarian, a postmistress and member of internationally touring a cappella trio, Artisan (and still occasionally is for reunion gigs ). When not writing she arranges UK gigs for folk artists from all over the world.
Jacey is secretary of the UK Milford Writers' Conference, a peer-to-peer workshopping week for published SF writers. She also hosts Northwrite SF, a critique group based in Yorkshire.
She's been a librarian, a postmistress and member of internationally touring a cappella trio, Artisan (and still occasionally is for reunion gigs ). When not writing she arranges UK gigs for folk artists from all over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 4, 2021
4.5 Stars. Loved the wrap up of the trilogy. A good book for someone looking for romantic fantasy without graphic smexy times.
January 2, 2019
Originally posted there at
Rowankind by Jacey Bedford was a fun read full of interesting characters and an intriguing plot concept that I would like to see become more popular. I thought I had read the first two books in this series before starting this one but it quickly became apparent that I somehow managed to miss the second book, so it took me a couple chapters to catch up with what was going on and to really get into the story. Luckily Rowankind does a good job explaining past events well enough that you don’t need to have a deep knowledge of the first two books to really enjoy this one.
I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy so I’m used to reading about worlds where magic is slowly returning or the supernatural world has always been hiding in plain sight. So I really enjoyed how Jacey Bedford took that concept and put an interesting twist on the story by having it set hundreds of years in the past instead of the present day. I think one of the best parts about Rowankind is how the author manages to craft a believable alternate history using magic and supernatural creatures. It’s interesting to see how history may have unfolded had we had magic and supernatural creatures like werewolves or the Fae openly trying to influence events.
While I’m still going to have to read Silverwolf to see how it compares to Rowankind, but I’m really impressed by how much Jacey Bedford has improved as a writer since Winterwood released in 2016. That’s not to say that I thought Winterwood was a poor book, because I enjoyed it a lot, I just think Bedford’s prose and dialogue have improved an impressive amount in just two short years. My main complaint about this book is that it lost the swashbuckling, adventurous feeling the first book had. Instead, the story seems a bit more politically and romance driven than I personally liked.
All in all, though, I found Rowankind to be a fun read that I will happily recommend to anyone looking to read some good urban fantasyesque alternate history. You definitely won’t regret digging into this series!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rowankind by Jacey Bedford was a fun read full of interesting characters and an intriguing plot concept that I would like to see become more popular. I thought I had read the first two books in this series before starting this one but it quickly became apparent that I somehow managed to miss the second book, so it took me a couple chapters to catch up with what was going on and to really get into the story. Luckily Rowankind does a good job explaining past events well enough that you don’t need to have a deep knowledge of the first two books to really enjoy this one.
I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy so I’m used to reading about worlds where magic is slowly returning or the supernatural world has always been hiding in plain sight. So I really enjoyed how Jacey Bedford took that concept and put an interesting twist on the story by having it set hundreds of years in the past instead of the present day. I think one of the best parts about Rowankind is how the author manages to craft a believable alternate history using magic and supernatural creatures. It’s interesting to see how history may have unfolded had we had magic and supernatural creatures like werewolves or the Fae openly trying to influence events.
While I’m still going to have to read Silverwolf to see how it compares to Rowankind, but I’m really impressed by how much Jacey Bedford has improved as a writer since Winterwood released in 2016. That’s not to say that I thought Winterwood was a poor book, because I enjoyed it a lot, I just think Bedford’s prose and dialogue have improved an impressive amount in just two short years. My main complaint about this book is that it lost the swashbuckling, adventurous feeling the first book had. Instead, the story seems a bit more politically and romance driven than I personally liked.
All in all, though, I found Rowankind to be a fun read that I will happily recommend to anyone looking to read some good urban fantasyesque alternate history. You definitely won’t regret digging into this series!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2019
3.3
It took me a lot longer to read this one than any of the previous novels and that right there was a problem. Normally I'd read through this book very quickly but there were a few key issues with this installment, namely, there was a lot of repetitiveness in this installment. Like copies of earlier passages literally copied and pasted into later passages.
This also felt very dry and impersonal, as if I were reading a moderately decent and enjoyable chronicle of Georgian history. Which is not what I want in my historical alt/history fantasy novel in which the lead female character is supposed to be gutsy and passionate.
Rowankind is not the greatest ending and I hope that there's another one coming down the line because this one left me cold. I'm not even sure Corwen could heat this one up (although can I talk for a second about how funny and sexy he seemed in this book. If Adam Hauptman from the Mercy Thompson series had an ancestor, this is who I think he'd be).
It took me a lot longer to read this one than any of the previous novels and that right there was a problem. Normally I'd read through this book very quickly but there were a few key issues with this installment, namely, there was a lot of repetitiveness in this installment. Like copies of earlier passages literally copied and pasted into later passages.
This also felt very dry and impersonal, as if I were reading a moderately decent and enjoyable chronicle of Georgian history. Which is not what I want in my historical alt/history fantasy novel in which the lead female character is supposed to be gutsy and passionate.
Rowankind is not the greatest ending and I hope that there's another one coming down the line because this one left me cold. I'm not even sure Corwen could heat this one up (although can I talk for a second about how funny and sexy he seemed in this book. If Adam Hauptman from the Mercy Thompson series had an ancestor, this is who I think he'd be).
June 11, 2022
In the gripping final Rowankind installment, set in an alternate 1802 England, privateer/witch Rossalinde, pregnant with twins, & her new husband, wolf shape-shifter Corwen, are tasked by the Fae to convince King George III to end the persecution of magical beings & abolish the tyrannical Mysterium. While Ross and Corwen attempt to meet with the king, they must also deal with other supernatural issues, including imprisoned witches, murderous pirates, rogue trolls, and Corwen's twin shapeshifting brother, who risks going feral in his wolf form. Moreover, their old enemy Walsingham is out for vengeance. With the Fae deadline for action swiftly approaching, Ross and Corwen must do everything in their power to sway Parliament's minds regarding magic, otherwise ruin will fall upon the land.
July 13, 2020
A very satisfying ending to this trilogy. There are a few bits of repetitiveness in this book but all in all very good. All the storylines were tied off and done well. The pacing was perfect and the characters grew into themselves.
January 20, 2019
Very good. Could be the finale, but I hope not.
February 10, 2022
I enjoyed the previous books in this series but was disappointed in this on. Found it slow at times.
April 30, 2023
I'll miss reading about Ross, Corwen, David and all.
April 19, 2023
*Special Content only on my blog, during Regency Magic (April-May 2023)
When freed many of the rowankind took the Fae's offer to return to their homeland, Iaru. Yet there are those that stayed behind in Britain. They have made lives for themselves and have no desire to return to a homeland that they've never known. The humans though don't feel safe. They have treated the rowankind worse than slaves for hundreds of years and now those slaves have the power to fight back. And they are. In retaliation the humans are killing the rowankind. Reports of mass executions happening all over the country have reached the ears of the Fae and they want to take revenge. But Ross and Corwen beg the Fae council to let them attempt a diplomatic approach first before razing all of Britain. A major problem though is in educating the Fae that the world has changed. They have cloistered themselves in Iaru for so long they don't understand that being King isn't as powerful as it once was. The King has to answer to Parliament and they have to answer to the people. This will not be an easy fix and yet the Fae expect it to be. They expect Ross and Corwen to just walk up to the King and get him to make his subjects behave. In order to stop more bloodshed the couple are willing to attempt the impossible. And it really looks like it shall be impossible, George III isn't well, and the reason shocks Ross when she discovers it, the King has magic. Magic he isn't using. Much like Corwen's brother denying his wolf half, the King is denying his magic and it's making him very ill. Yet once contact is made Ross really hopes that they can reach some sort of agreement. But the Fae think they are taking too long and start demonstrating what they are capable of. If the populace was scared of a few rowankind with not much magic how are they going to feel about the Fae turning their beer into water and bringing about a blight to their crops? If everyone would just behave and trust each other for one minute perhaps everything will work out and Ross and Corwen can have their happy ending. Perhaps.
Rowankind doesn't really bring anything new to the table with regard to this trilogy but it does satisfactorily tie up all the loose ends. And there are many, from rescuing missing men to reinstating Gentleman Jim on his island. And there is also much politicking. Because the merging of two worlds, with magical citizens living in a nonmagical world, needs policies. There need to be laws to protect their rights and their bodies from harm. And it's a sad day when fictional Fae end up having more rights than many people do today. But that's just the world we live, and proves once again why I want to live in books and in particular this series. But while the politics do take center stage along with several notable politicians of the day, that's not all this book is about. We get one last piratical adventure, another shooting of London Bridge, a final Walsingham showdown, some more family drama, and lots of happily ever afters. Because this is fantasy and that means the good prevail, the bad fail, and everyone gets to sail off into the sunset. Plus there's just this wonderful message of the healing powers of love and that love is love. Ross is able to find love again even though she thought she never would after the death of her husband Will. Her brother David finds love with a rowankind servant Annie. Her brother-in-law is able to tame his beast due to the love of his partner Roland. Her Aunt Rosie reunites with her lost love Leo. Even the servants get in on the love with her maid Poppy marrying Yeardley. And, now that I think about it, this whole series is about finding your family, those who you love with your whole heart and soul. You don't have to be related by blood, I mean look what Ross had to do to her brother.... It's about finding your tribe. Be they pirates or pixies, when you find your people the world is so much better because they are there for you in good times and in bad and most importantly, they will fight for you and even help you burying the bodies. So here's a shout-out to all my family, I love you like I love books, and you know how much that is.
When freed many of the rowankind took the Fae's offer to return to their homeland, Iaru. Yet there are those that stayed behind in Britain. They have made lives for themselves and have no desire to return to a homeland that they've never known. The humans though don't feel safe. They have treated the rowankind worse than slaves for hundreds of years and now those slaves have the power to fight back. And they are. In retaliation the humans are killing the rowankind. Reports of mass executions happening all over the country have reached the ears of the Fae and they want to take revenge. But Ross and Corwen beg the Fae council to let them attempt a diplomatic approach first before razing all of Britain. A major problem though is in educating the Fae that the world has changed. They have cloistered themselves in Iaru for so long they don't understand that being King isn't as powerful as it once was. The King has to answer to Parliament and they have to answer to the people. This will not be an easy fix and yet the Fae expect it to be. They expect Ross and Corwen to just walk up to the King and get him to make his subjects behave. In order to stop more bloodshed the couple are willing to attempt the impossible. And it really looks like it shall be impossible, George III isn't well, and the reason shocks Ross when she discovers it, the King has magic. Magic he isn't using. Much like Corwen's brother denying his wolf half, the King is denying his magic and it's making him very ill. Yet once contact is made Ross really hopes that they can reach some sort of agreement. But the Fae think they are taking too long and start demonstrating what they are capable of. If the populace was scared of a few rowankind with not much magic how are they going to feel about the Fae turning their beer into water and bringing about a blight to their crops? If everyone would just behave and trust each other for one minute perhaps everything will work out and Ross and Corwen can have their happy ending. Perhaps.
Rowankind doesn't really bring anything new to the table with regard to this trilogy but it does satisfactorily tie up all the loose ends. And there are many, from rescuing missing men to reinstating Gentleman Jim on his island. And there is also much politicking. Because the merging of two worlds, with magical citizens living in a nonmagical world, needs policies. There need to be laws to protect their rights and their bodies from harm. And it's a sad day when fictional Fae end up having more rights than many people do today. But that's just the world we live, and proves once again why I want to live in books and in particular this series. But while the politics do take center stage along with several notable politicians of the day, that's not all this book is about. We get one last piratical adventure, another shooting of London Bridge, a final Walsingham showdown, some more family drama, and lots of happily ever afters. Because this is fantasy and that means the good prevail, the bad fail, and everyone gets to sail off into the sunset. Plus there's just this wonderful message of the healing powers of love and that love is love. Ross is able to find love again even though she thought she never would after the death of her husband Will. Her brother David finds love with a rowankind servant Annie. Her brother-in-law is able to tame his beast due to the love of his partner Roland. Her Aunt Rosie reunites with her lost love Leo. Even the servants get in on the love with her maid Poppy marrying Yeardley. And, now that I think about it, this whole series is about finding your family, those who you love with your whole heart and soul. You don't have to be related by blood, I mean look what Ross had to do to her brother.... It's about finding your tribe. Be they pirates or pixies, when you find your people the world is so much better because they are there for you in good times and in bad and most importantly, they will fight for you and even help you burying the bodies. So here's a shout-out to all my family, I love you like I love books, and you know how much that is.
January 18, 2019
Previously reviewed on :
I love the world-building in the Rowankind trilogy, drawing so strongly on real history and actual historical figures, especially since that’s backed up by excellent characterisation, believable character relationships, and strong plotting. In this, the third of the trilogy, Ross and Corwyn are ready to settle down in married bliss, but first they have any number of magical problems to deal with, many of which are a consequence of their previous actions in trying to save the world.
For starters, Corwyn’s brother is on trial in the magical world for killings carried out while in wolf form. Seriously troubled both because of his unwanted shape-changing abilities and because of his relationship � now estranged � with another man, Freddie is unable to control his wolf and is unwilling to take on his human responsibilities to his family, to their estate, and to the other families dependent on them. Meanwhile, their arch-enemy, the arch-enemy of all magical folk, has reappeared, not dead as everyone had assumed, and is now out for revenge, possibly armed with a book of particularly nasty spells. And if he doesn’t have the spell book, then there’s a high probability that it’s fallen into the hands of another of Ross� enemies: a man at least as cruel, if less focused on doing harm to Ross and her loved ones.
Tasked with both recovering the spell book and with carrying a message � an ultimatum � from the council of the Fae to the King of England � stop the persecution of magical beings or face the consequences � Ross and Corwyn find themselves rushing around the countryside and overseas. It’s very fortunate they have the help of both magical horses and Ross� old crew to transport them.
I was very happy to see how the crew of the Heart of Oak had been faring since Ross left them, and delighted to learn more about the characters of individual crew members. There were also welcome reappearances from past allies and interesting developments in terms of how magic works in the world of Ross and the Rowankind. I particularly liked the explanation of George III’s apparent madness and all the ways details of his life were slotted into Ross and Corwyn’s attempts to make contact with him.
This book probably works best as the culmination to the trilogy, rather than as a story by itself, but I absolutely adored how the various overarching plot threads were wrapped up. Now the series is over, I need to track down the author’s previous works.
I love the world-building in the Rowankind trilogy, drawing so strongly on real history and actual historical figures, especially since that’s backed up by excellent characterisation, believable character relationships, and strong plotting. In this, the third of the trilogy, Ross and Corwyn are ready to settle down in married bliss, but first they have any number of magical problems to deal with, many of which are a consequence of their previous actions in trying to save the world.
For starters, Corwyn’s brother is on trial in the magical world for killings carried out while in wolf form. Seriously troubled both because of his unwanted shape-changing abilities and because of his relationship � now estranged � with another man, Freddie is unable to control his wolf and is unwilling to take on his human responsibilities to his family, to their estate, and to the other families dependent on them. Meanwhile, their arch-enemy, the arch-enemy of all magical folk, has reappeared, not dead as everyone had assumed, and is now out for revenge, possibly armed with a book of particularly nasty spells. And if he doesn’t have the spell book, then there’s a high probability that it’s fallen into the hands of another of Ross� enemies: a man at least as cruel, if less focused on doing harm to Ross and her loved ones.
Tasked with both recovering the spell book and with carrying a message � an ultimatum � from the council of the Fae to the King of England � stop the persecution of magical beings or face the consequences � Ross and Corwyn find themselves rushing around the countryside and overseas. It’s very fortunate they have the help of both magical horses and Ross� old crew to transport them.
I was very happy to see how the crew of the Heart of Oak had been faring since Ross left them, and delighted to learn more about the characters of individual crew members. There were also welcome reappearances from past allies and interesting developments in terms of how magic works in the world of Ross and the Rowankind. I particularly liked the explanation of George III’s apparent madness and all the ways details of his life were slotted into Ross and Corwyn’s attempts to make contact with him.
This book probably works best as the culmination to the trilogy, rather than as a story by itself, but I absolutely adored how the various overarching plot threads were wrapped up. Now the series is over, I need to track down the author’s previous works.
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 5, 2018Provided by #netgalley. Yay! I had been waiting for some closure for Ross (although, frankly, I could have done without most of the rest of the characters except for Gentleman Jim who plays a big part in this one).
An admirable addition to an imaginative and original fantasy series set in the England of "Mad" King George III. Rowankind reunites readers with many (maybe too many) characters and ties up a lot of loose ends, not the least of which is former-pirate/witch Ross Tremayne's ghostly first husband, Will. Everyone gets their happy ending here, although not necessarily of the formulaic sort.
#rowankind
An admirable addition to an imaginative and original fantasy series set in the England of "Mad" King George III. Rowankind reunites readers with many (maybe too many) characters and ties up a lot of loose ends, not the least of which is former-pirate/witch Ross Tremayne's ghostly first husband, Will. Everyone gets their happy ending here, although not necessarily of the formulaic sort.
#rowankind
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