The Unicorn Road

In Medieval Europe, rival factions struggle for power. States feud with states and civilians are the casualties of the endless, brutal conflicts.

When the scholar Antioch is ordered to find and collect the mysterious beasts of legend, he knows his path will take him to the unknown lands of the East. He takes with him an interpreter, Venn, famous for his special gift with language.

Far away, a young woman leaves her home, summoned to the Emperor s court.

The paths of the two expeditions will cross at a moment of great danger, revealing the secret motives and hidden passions of those who are brought together.

“'Two gripping, intercut narratives... a lyricism that captures the joy of the natural world... a highly successful and informative entertainment'”

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

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

Incredibly clever...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

An exotic, engaging tale - Saga magazine

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

Martin Davies grew up in North West England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on tube trains, and an aversion to laptops means that he always works in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and substantial parts of THE UNICORN ROAD were written while travelling through Sicily. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.

In Medieval Europe, rival factions struggle for power. States feud with states and civilians are the casualties of the endless, brutal conflicts. When the scholar Antioch is ordered to find and collect the mysterious beasts of legend, he knows his path will take him to the unknown lands of the East. He takes with him an interpreter, Venn, famous for his special gift with language. Far away, a young woman leaves her home, summoned to the Emperor s court. The paths of the two expeditions will cross at a moment of great danger, revealing the secret motives and hidden passions of those who are brought together.

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