Book Tour and Giveaway: The Mark of the Salamader by Justin Newland

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Mark of the Salamander by Justin Newland
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  246 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction and Magical Realism 
Publisher:  The Book Guild
Release date:  September 2023
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. Mild sex and cruelty. Mature themes.

Book Description:

1575.

Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder. Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan hides in London, before he is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind. Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hordes of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire.

THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

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Meet the Author:

JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism. His stories explore the themes of war and religion, and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe.

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

The historical thriller, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

​The Coronation (Matador, 2019) was another historical adventure and speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

The Abdication (Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

The Mark of the Salamander (Book Guild, 2023) is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it’s an epic tale of England’s coming of age.

His work in progress is the second in the series, The Midnight of Eights, the charting of the uncanny coincidences that led to the repulse of the Spanish Armada.

Author, speaker and broadcaster, Justin appears on LitFest panels, gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts. Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

connect with the author: 
​website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Guest Post:

This is blog is about the title of Justin’s latest historical fiction novel, The Mark of the Salamander. It’s the first part of a two-book series entitled The Island of Angels, which tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

Queen Elizabeth of England and King Philip II of Spain opposed each other in a religious war in the late 16th century. Even as enemies, they shared plenty in common.  

Elizabeth was known as the Virgin Queen because she never married. 

King Philip II of Spain was known as ‘the Prudent’ because he was frugal with his money, 

She was a spendthrift, and was exceedingly careful with money, and so in the same way as Philip, she was prudent too.

For many years, Philip lived in the castle-monastery of El Escorial near Madrid. There he was surrounded by Hieronymite monks, who lived an austere life in the image of the their founder, the biblical scholar, St Jerome. Living like a monk, study, austerity and discipline were Philip’s daily fare.

Elizabeth on the other hand, moved around using the River Thames to head from her favourite palace at Richmond to her other royal estates at Whitehall and Greenwich.  She also went on royal progresses to visit the estates of her senior courtiers, like Kenilworth, Osterley and Theobalds. 

Astrologically, Elizabeth was a Virgo, actually a double Virgo, because her rising sign was also Virgo. Curiously, Virgo means virgin. The coincidences don’t end there. Because the flag that the Spanish Armada flew had, on one side of it, an image of Madonna, Mary, the mother of Jesus who was herself a virgin. 

Philip was himself a Taurus, the bull, and bullish he was in defiance. Stubborn as a mule, he sent several Armadas to invade England, but none of them succeeded. Taurus and Virgo are both Earth signs; Elizabeth and Philip shared that in common too. 

The boundaries between the two nations would not have been as explicit had England and Spain been at war today. Today there would be sanctions on trade between the warring nations. In the 16th Century, things were not as cut and dried. 

For example, it would have been quite normal for the Queen, Drake and the other English aristocrats to enjoy a glass of Spanish wine and sherry. The other irony to this is that one of the major exporters of said Spanish wine was from the estates of the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Said Duke was the commander of the Spanish Armada sent to invade England’s shores in the summer of 1588.

Elizabeth’s personal motto was ‘Semper Eadem’ which means ‘Always the Same.’ But what was ‘the same’ where she was concerned? She saw herself as married and in service to the people and land of England, and that never varied. She saw herself as protector of the realm, and that never varied either. She too was always fierce in her defiance against the Duke of Parma, who had invaded the Netherlands on behalf of King Philip. This resolution is enshrined in the words from her famous Tilbury speech:

“… I think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm.” 

By comparison, King Philip’s motto was Orbis non Sufficit, which means the World is Not Enough. If the world is not enough, what is? The solar system? The universe? This motto reeks of hubris, or excessive pride. Perhaps this is what led King Philip to miss out certain orders to his naval commander, the Duke of Medina Sidonia.

Two opponents.

One a man, who rested in one place, static.

The other a woman, who moved from place to place, ever mobile. 

One led the life of a scholarly monk.

The other danced her way into the hearts of the English people. 

 

Justin Newland

8th October 2023

Images:

Elizabeth I – Process 

El Escorial Monastery

King Philip II of Spain 

Enter the Giveaway:

THE MARK OF THE SALAMANDER Book Tour Giveaway

My Review:

I have previously read other books from talented author, Justin Newland and was excited to have the opportunity to read the start to his In the Island of Angels series, The Mark of the Salamander. I know I should not judge a book by its cover, but this one caught my eye right from the start. I was far from disappointed. It was an honor to take this journey with the main character, Nelan. I loved the vivid historical details that had transported back in time to Nelan’s time. I enjoyed taking this adventure and setting sail on Francis Drake’s Golden Hind. This is one that held my attention from page one until the very last page. I am not huge fantasy fan, but thought it worked well for Nelan’s story. Overall, I thought it was a fabulous read. Loved it!

The Mark of the Salamander will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading historical fiction that is full of intrigue and adventure during the Elizabethan era of England. I am eagerly awaiting to read the follow up of the In the Island of Angels series to find out what could possibly happen next and what Justin Newland has in store for his readers and fans. 

I received a paperback copy of Justin Newland’s The Mark of the Salamander from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.