With The Angel and the Sword, Holland turns her remarkable storytelling talents to the dark and bloody ninth century.

In Europe, warring factions have torn apart the vast dominion built by the Emperor Charlemagne. Into this crucible of history rides a young warrior with the face of an angel and the heart of a lion. Fearless in battle, devout in faith, Roderick's miraculous victories rally the people to defend their imperiled realm.

But a perilous secret may prove the young knight's undoing -- for the one known as Roderick is in truth a maiden princess named Ragny, who has taken up the sword to avenge the death of her mother and reclaim her own rightful crown.

Based on a traditional French legend of Roderick the Beardless, Holland wields her incomparable talent to bring ninth century Paris to vivid life.