Wales, 1198, a time of treachery, passion, and uncertainty. King Maelgwyn of Cadwallon, known as Noble, struggles to protect his small kingdom from foes outside and within his borders. Pressured into a marriage of political convenience, he takes as his bride the young, headstrong Isabel Mortimer, niece of his powerful English nemesis.

Through strength of character, Isabel wins her husband’s grudging respect, but finds the Welsh court backward and barbaric-especially Noble’s oldest friend and confidant, the rascally Gwirion, a charismatic prankster who delights in making the foreign-born queen feel unwelcome. Before long, however, Gwirion and Isabel’s mutual animosity is abruptly transformed, and the king finds himself as threatened by loved ones as by the enemies who menace his crown.

The Fool’s Tale is a haunting debut novel from a gifted storyteller about three people united-and ultimately divided-by loyalty and love.