The Unicorn Road - Hardcover

'Intricate and imaginative' -- The Times 'Davies' writing is extremely seductive, his bustling medieval world alive with self-seekers, double-dealers and papal spies, and his highly original story one of marvels.' -- Daily Mail 'The storytelling is masterly. Just as you notice a loose end, the author deftly ties it ... Loss is stacked upon loss, and yet this novel leaves you oddly uplifted; for all the suffering the characters endure, their courage never deserts them, nor, in the end, do their hopes betray them.' -- Independent on Sunday 'In this compelling and poignant novel, Martin Davies has created a fictional setting which is at once magical and believable' -- TLS 'History, mystery and romance collide in this rich tale ... enchanting' -- Time Out 'An exotic, engaging tale' -- Saga magazine 'This magical flight of fancy in the highly charged Middle Ages comes from the lyrical and atmospheric author of the massive bestseller, THE CONJUROR'S BIRD ... Martin Davies pulls out all the stops ... in this heady, breathless mix of history, mystery and romance' -- Daily Mirror 'This is a magical novel of language, love and honour, a richly evocative adventure of searching, travel and the importance of words" -- Waterstone's Books Quarterly 'An evocative novel of the medieval world' -- Woman & Home 'The Unicorn Road is a romance in the traditional sense. It conjures the brutality and beauty of the lands it crosses, and speaks of love, honour, greed and power. In its final unfolding it comes down to the importance of words: their power and their limits...and how much can be said without them, and how far they can be trusted. A few philosophical questions are raised along the way, but mostly it is a story, to be enjoyed in and of itself.' -- The Bookbag 20081024 'An entrancing tale... The nostalgic, wistful and romantic tone of the novel, peppered by glimpses of youthful hope and new lives, is perfect for a winter's read. And its ode to language will win the hearts of ardent readers.' -- Lincolnshire Echo 20081024 'A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance... a most engaging and unusual novel' -- The Times on THE CONJUROR'S BIRD 20081024 'An enjoyable tale of love, loss and taxidermy ... a cracking holiday read' -- Observer on THE CONJUROR'S BIRD 20060129 'Two gripping, intercut narratives... a lyricism that captures the joy of the natural world... a highly successful and informative entertainment' -- Independent on THE CONJUROR'S BIRD 20060129 'I'm really struck by the voice you found... Not only is your style extremely elegant but I absolutely believed in the authenticity of this voice... It adds a sense of mystery and farawayness and magic to the story' -- Joanna Trollope, Radio Five Live 20090108 'The voice is fantastic... So readable and enjoyable and multi-layered' -- Boyd Hilton, Radio Five Live 20090108 'Incredibly clever. It reminded me of Deborah Moggach's Tulip Fever - it's a historical book with big ideas but takes you back to an exotic time and an exotic place just with very simple language. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think it's a fantastic achievement.' -- Joel Morris, Radio Five Live 20090108 'It was like being handed a magic carpet. It took me completely away from the freezing cold. Lovely storytelling touches.' -- Helen Dunning, Radio Five Live 20090108

On the coast of southern Spain, an English father sits waiting for his son. It is many years since Benedict, then still a child, set out with the famous scholar Antioch on a mission to find and collect the mysterious beasts of the East. In all those years there has been no word, and the expedition is assumed lost. But the boy's father is not the only person asking questions on the harbourside that summer, and as he learns more about his son's companions, he comes to realise that the fate of the expedition has implications for people far richer and more powerful than himself. The Unicorn Road tells of a journey into the unknown and of the secret motives and hidden passions of those it brings together. When Benedict is befriended by the interpreter, Venn, he becomes embroiled in an exotic, dangerous adventure. It is a story of love and honour, greed and cruelty and, ultimately, about the power of words themselves. As magically evocative as an ancient silk painting, The Unicorn Road is a novel of the medieval world which vividly and tenderly illuminates our own.