The Land Beyond the Sea

From New York Times-bestselling author Sharon Kay Penman comes the riveting, epic story of the reign of King Baldwin IV and the Kingdom of Jerusalem's defense against invaders during the Crusades.1172. The Kingdom of Jerusalem, also known as 'Outremer,' is the land far beyond the sea. Once a young realm, one baptized in blood when the men of the First Crusade captured Jerusalem from the Saracens in 1099, the kingdom defined an utterly new world, a land of blazing heat and a medley of cultures, a place where enemies were neighbors, and neighbors became enemies.At the helm of this growing kingdom sits young Baldwin IV, an intelligent and courageous boy dedicated to the welfare and protection of his people. But despite his commitment to his land, and to the throne, Baldwin is afflicted with leprosy at an early age and the threats within Jerusalem's walls nearly outweigh the risk of battle. Amidst the political deception that scours the halls of the royal court,...