A Novel of Scotland’s Black Douglas

She will crown a king.
He will carry a king’s heart.
Both will give all for Scotland…

As the 14th century dawns, the brutal King Edward Longshanks of England schemes to steal Scotland. But a frail, dark-skinned boy named James Douglas—inspired by a headstrong lass from Fife named Isabelle MacDuff—defies three Plantagenet kings and champions the cause of his wavering friend, Robert the Bruce, leading the armies to the bloody field of Bannockburn. A thrilling historical saga of star-crossed love and heroic sacrifice during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

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Awards

Chaucer Award First-Place Category Historical Fiction
Foreword Magazine Book-of-the-Year Award Finalist
indieBRAG Medallion Honoree
BTS Readers Choice Award Honorable Mention

“THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ THIS YEAR… TOUCHED MY SCOTTISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR’S HEART.”
— John Graham, Seneschal, Society of Creative Anachronism

“[B]EST HISTORICAL FICTION I HAVE READ IN YEARS. FROM BEGINNING TO END, THERE IS NOT A DULL MOMENT.”
— To Read or Not To Read Reviews

“THE BATTLE SCENES ARE DETAILED AND VIVID, GIVING THE READER A RINGSIDE SEAT AT SCOTLAND’S DESPERATE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM…. SPIDER WILL HOLD THE READER IN SUSPENSE.”
— InD’tale Magazine

“CRANEY HAS WOVEN AN INTERESTING, WELL-CRAFTED TALE.”
— Historical Novel Society

“ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!…THIS SUPERBLY WELL-WRITTEN NOVEL IS FILLED WITH LOTS OF HUMOR, ADVERSITY, ROMANCE, BATTLES, TRAGEDIES, AND TRIUMPHS. I GIVE IT 5+ STARS….BEST HISTORICAL NOVEL I’VE EVER READ ABOUT SCOTLAND DURING THE DAYS OF ROBERT THE BRUCE”
— Librarian Debbi Dubose

“SONS OF SCOTLAND, SWEEP ME AWAY! A BRILLIANT NOVEL THAT HAS TAKEN MY BREATH AWAY AND HAS BECOME ONE READ I SORELY WISH I ENJOYED SOONER.”
— As The Final Page Turns Reviews

“CRANEY’S ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN BOTH HIGH CONCEPTS AND SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS MAKE HISTORY COME ALIVE. CINEMATICALLY ENTHRALLING AND HISTORICALLY COMPELLING, THE SPIDER AND THE STONE IS A MUST READ….”
— Chanticleer Book Review