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Wayne Grant
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Longbow (The Saga of Roland Inness Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Wayne Grant (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 4,859 ratings
Roland Inness is a peasant boy with an unusual talent—and a secret. He has learned the art of making a longbow and the skill to use it with deadly accuracy. Why must this be kept hidden? The Normans rule England with their armored knights and a well-aimed longbow can pierce that armor. Possession of the weapon is a hanging offense and when Roland takes the wrong deer on the wrong Lord’s land he has to flee for his life.

His flight will take him from the high hills of the English midlands to the wild frontier with Wales and on to the court of Richard the Lionheart. Along the way he is hunted by a paid killer, aided by a strange monk named Tuck, and taken in by a gruff Norman knight, who values his skill with the bow. That skill and his courage will be sorely tested as he fights to earn the trust of his new master. As King Richard celebrates his coronation, Roland faces old enemies he thought he had left behind and must test his skill at a royal archery tournament against the greatest bowmen in England, to include the favorite, Sir Robin of Loxley.
A mix of history, myth and high adventure, Longbow follows the journey of Roland Inness as he seeks to find a place for himself in a restive kingdom and become a man in a brutal age.

The Saga of Roland Inness series begins with the tale of a fourteen-year-old boy who has extraordinary skill with a longbow. It is a story of courage, loyalty, honor and treachery. Most of all, it is a story of high adventure set in a time so filled with drama it has spawned legends that fascinate people to this day. It is the time of Richard the Lionheart, Robin Hood, Eleanor of Aquitaine and William Marshall, legendary figures all--some real and some fictional.


The first four books in the saga—Longbow, Warbow, The Broken Realm and The Ransomed Crown tell the coming-of-age story of the young archer. A Prince of Wales, the fifth in the series, follows Roland Inness as he leads the legendary Invalid Company into Wales to help Llywelyn the Great win a throne. The sixth book in the series, Declan O'Duinne, takes Roland and Declan to Ireland, where the two friends are plunged into the midst of a new Norman conquest. The final book in the saga, A Question of Honour was released in October, 2019.


If you would like to know more about the author or get updates on new books, visit his webpage at www.waynegrantbooks.com or the Longbow Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Longbowbooks/ .


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  1. Reading age
    12 years and up
  2. Book 1 of 7
    The Saga of Roland Inness
  3. Print length
    525 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    13 Oct. 2014
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 7 books in this series.

Product description

Review

“An action-adventure set in 12th-century England, this is an appealing read filled with bows and arrows, sword fights, and the like. Roland, “taller than most of his age and sturdily built,” is forced to flee his home in Kinder Scout after the horrible murder of his father, Rolf, at the behest of the Earl’s son…By celebrating Roland’s courage and bravery, the author gives audiences an engaging hero they can easily root for.” ~ Publishers Weekly​

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00OHZGQQG
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 13 Oct. 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 525 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 7 ‏ : ‎ The Saga of Roland Inness
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 4,859 ratings

About the author

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Wayne Grant

Wayne Grant

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Wayne Grant grew up in a tiny cotton town in rural Louisiana where hunting, fishing and farming were a way of life. Between chopping cotton, dove hunting and Little League ball he developed a love of great adventure stories like Call It Courage and Kidnapped.

Like most southern boys of that era, he saw the military as an honorable and adventurous career. Every living male member of his family had served in the Army covering World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam, so it was a natural step for him to attend and graduate from West Point. He just missed Vietnam, but found that life as a Captain, in an army broken by that war, was not what he wanted.

After tours in Germany and Korea, he returned to Louisiana and civilian life where he began a 10 year career in government including four years as a senior official in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration. During those years he saw the Army reborn from its post-Vietnam nadir to the outstanding force it became and remains today. Through it all he retained his love of great adventure writing and when he had two sons he began telling them stories before bedtime. Those stories became his first novel, Longbow.

The Saga of Roland Inness is the tale of a fourteen-year-old boy who possesses extraordinary skill with a longbow. It is a story of courage, loyalty, honor and treachery. Most of all, it a story of high adventure set in a time so filled with drama it has spawned legends that fascinate people to this day. It is the time of Richard the Lionheart, Robin Hood, Eleanor of Aquitaine and William Marshall, legendary figures all--some real and some fictional.

If you would like to know more about the author or get updates on new books, visit his webpage at www.waynegrantbooks.com or the Longbow Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Longbowbooks/ .

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4,859 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this historical fiction novel engaging and well-written, with one noting it's a must-read for lovers of the genre. The story is interesting and full of action, with one review highlighting how it makes historical elements believable. Customers appreciate the character development and find the pacing fast-moving, though some mention it can be slow in places. The book receives mixed feedback regarding historical accuracy, with several customers noting it's littered with inaccuracies.

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210 customers mention ‘Readability’207 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, captivated from the beginning and keeping them engaged throughout, with one customer noting it's a must-read for lovers of well-written historical fiction.

"...The characters are well formed and likeable. The plot is neither too simple or overly convoluted. It's just the right blend of action and mystery...." Read more

"...same time he is still very much a boy and the world is a new and wonderful place for him to explore. He is also a young man of deep ethics...." Read more

"An exciting story told with great imagination. It propels the reader along. Well Worthing reading I will be looking out for a follow on." Read more

"It’s a good, well written story that rollicks along nicely...." Read more

66 customers mention ‘Storytelling’60 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling of this historical novel, describing it as an exciting adventure with believable historical elements.

"...This is a delicious book. Lots of historical nods. And the ever present theme of Robin Hood in the background...." Read more

"...for a good read, and Grant gave me a story full of peril and non-stop action...." Read more

"An exciting story told with great imagination. It propels the reader along. Well Worthing reading I will be looking out for a follow on." Read more

"...enjoy a good read with believable caricatures, storylines and action sequence’s. What more could you want." Read more

31 customers mention ‘Writing quality’25 positive6 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well-crafted and easy to read, with one customer noting that spelling and typos don't detract from the story.

"...His is to be that of the Crusades... The Author writes well. The characters are well formed and likeable...." Read more

"...His choice of words, descriptions, verbal scripts, and the story itself matured...." Read more

"...Well written good for Bernard Cornwell readers. Set in robin hood eriod." Read more

"...Well written and it made me feel that I was actually living the story and I hAve alays lover this part of English History...." Read more

20 customers mention ‘Characterisation’20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one mentioning how Roland's character develops throughout the story.

"...The Author writes well. The characters are well formed and likeable. The plot is neither too simple or overly convoluted...." Read more

"...I loved the way the character of Roland developed through the book...." Read more

"...However, not a bad effort. The characters are likeable and the storyline flows at a nice pace to maintain interest to the end...." Read more

"...The book keeps you engrossed with the development of the characters and the anticipation of what will happen on the next page...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Length’11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the length of the book, with one review highlighting how the English longbow plays a central role in the plot.

"An excellent novel of the mighty longbow. In the Mary Rose museum there is a longbow set for visitors to try!..." Read more

"An interesting story, with the English longbow being central to the plot. It didn't grip me, but was good enough that I finished the book." Read more

"From beginning to end, Longbow Is unique, not a copy of other works by other authors...." Read more

"Interesting history of the Longbow with a good insight into social history of the time." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Pacing’6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as an exciting adventure story with believable historical elements.

"Forget the possible fraught history and enjoy a good read with believable caricatures, storylines and action sequence’s. What more could you want." Read more

"...peasant wasn't easy in those years and i think this is beautifully portrayed for easy reading, and although romance is in there it is not so..." Read more

"...Easy to read and not too graphic.For adults it could do with a bit more grit and set at a faster pace." Read more

"A good read I look forward to Book 2, Well drawn, the plot gets a little stretched/ sketchy near the end. Most enjoyable" Read more

10 customers mention ‘Pace’5 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pace of the book, with some finding it fast-moving and good to read, while others note it can be slow in places.

"...All in all an excellent read, the author keeps up a good pace without spending too much time introducing characters." Read more

"...contrary to movie lore, carry a quiver on the back - it's slow to get an arrow out and impossible to walk through a woods with, without snagging..." Read more

"Great tale, fast moving and a joy to read. Imparted some of the joy of firing a bow and how it even s US all out." Read more

"...A shame that there is such a long wait for the next instalment." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Historical accuracy’4 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the historical accuracy of the book, with several noting it is littered with inaccuracies.

"...very compelling light historical reading, but with some very interesting historical facts that are often presumed known by other authors and they..." Read more

"...Longbow is littered with historical inaccuracies...." Read more

"Very interesting take On the feudal system and the Danish longbow as opposed to the Welsh" Read more

"...who know the difference, or actually care, there are some incredibly careless anachronisms that a morning’s research would have prevented...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Richard G. Monson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Even if you're not a fan of Historical Fiction you should read this.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Borrowed this book via the Prime Kindle Library and then subsequently purchased the series.

    This is a delicious book. Lots of historical nods. And the ever present theme of Robin Hood in the background. But such fame isn't meant for Roland Inness. His is to be that of the Crusades...

    The Author writes well. The characters are well formed and likeable. The plot is neither too simple or overly convoluted. It's just the right blend of action and mystery. And of course, he dances us through a history and a story that is familiar to us, so it's almost like coming home.

    Definitely a must read.
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  • Bookaholic
    4.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing and compelling read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 September 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Roland Inness has witnessed the murder of his father, and he is now fleeing for his life, all because the emptiness of his stomach has propelled him to take his banned longbow into the woods to hunt for something to eat. But alas, he chose the wrong day and the wrong deer.

    I was hoping for a good read, and Grant gave me a story full of peril and non-stop action. From the desperation of our brave hero fleeing for his life to the coronation of Richard, The Lionheart ~ Longbow takes you on a journey through Norman England...sort of...

    Now, this is where I get a little bit picky. If you are looking for a historically accurate account of life in Norman England, then this isn't the book for you. Longbow is littered with historical inaccuracies. Grant does say in his Historical Notes at the end “…it is not intended to be a rigorous work of historical fiction…” And it isn’t. I did feel a little disappointed that Grant was pretty complacent with the history of the period and it wouldn't have taken much for him to just check some of his facts and terminologies. But, if you can put this aside, then this is a good book and one that I could easily see being adapted for children's television.

    Grant rolled with the "Legend" of Robin Hood, and we meet a few of the characters of this band of merry-men during the story. I particularly liked the characterisation of Tuck!

    I loved the way the character of Roland developed through the book. He has to grow up incredibly fast if he is to survive, but at the same time he is still very much a boy and the world is a new and wonderful place for him to explore. He is also a young man of deep ethics. He is incredibly loyal. He will, without conscious thought, sacrifice himself to protect those who he serves and who he respects. On the other hand, he has this burning desire for revenge. A complex character indeed.

    If you can get over the historical inaccuracies, then this is a great read and one I would recommend.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Graham Duncanson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good old tale
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An exciting story told with great imagination. It propels the reader along. Well Worthing reading I will be looking out for a follow on.
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  • Mr David Smith
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, but a bit historically suspect
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 October 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It’s a good, well written story that rollicks along nicely.
    However, while I appreciate it doesn’t effect the story and that there’s probably only a small number of people who know the difference, or actually care, there are some incredibly careless anachronisms that a morning’s research would have prevented.
    If you’re writing a historical novel, set in the 12th century, please don’t ruin it by crap research.
    For the record, “breeches” ( nope, single leg hose) “bodkin” arrowheads (not invented) plate armour (not invented) “night shirt” (absolutely not!) are just a few of the “minor” details that are just wrong, showing a bit of a careless approach to history.
    Enjoyed the book, though 😉
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  • Ricky Holman
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 August 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Not a bad read if you ignore the howlers. What gourds, melons and hickory are doing in twelfth century England mystified me. I suspect the author is American and knows little of the British climate.
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  • Shansu
    5.0 out of 5 stars a great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Forget the possible fraught history and enjoy a good read with believable caricatures, storylines and action sequence’s. What more could you want.
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  • Mr. Steven Fynn
    5.0 out of 5 stars A ripping good Saga.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2017
    Verified Purchase
    At first I thought that this was going to be another variation of the tale of Robbin Hood. How wrong could I be. Yes there are some similarities and you may try to fit the characters into the Robbin Hood tale but forget it. The story is gripping from the start without spoiling I think the story when Roland a Dane forbidden to use longbows shoots a deer and is discovered while trying to retrieve it for the cook pot. He tracks his attempt to escape from his Norman Lords and while doing so sees his farther murdered by them. Having sworn revenge against the Norman he kills three of his pursuers and his exploits after including a meeting with Friar Tuck and an assassination attempt on him. I enjoyed this book so much that I had to immediately read the further 3 books in the saga. A much recommended read and do yourself a favour if like me you may even think you might like it than get the full series at the same time. You will not regret it.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good yarn
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed it a lot, But Mr. Grant really ought to brush up on longbow terminology. You don't 'fire' a bow, you shoot it - goes for arrows too - you only fire an arrow when it's head is wrapped in an oily rag and you put a match to it ....Bad news for thatched roofs! I would also point out that archers didn't, contrary to movie lore, carry a quiver on the back - it's slow to get an arrow out and impossible to walk through a woods with, without snagging on branches and spilling arrows when you need to bend down! I made this mistake and learned that you carry your arrows in a bag/quiver on your belt. OK I'm probably nitpicking, but these sort of details are easily checked. I will be buying the second in the series, this one was an amusing yarn, keep it up.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • lenwhite
    5.0 out of 5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed the read
    Reviewed in Canada on 19 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Fast moving well developed story. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Had me hooked from start to finish.
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  • Jim Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, tight, exciting, good story - real characters - a fine read!
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 April 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is just one heck of a good read! I have to say, I was a bit dubious when a friend recommended this book to me. I figured it was just something for "young adults", which I am not and haven't been for decades. But, my friend, an Army Ranger, wouldn't shut up about it, so I decided to give it a quick read. I'm glad I did!

    While the lead character may qualify as a young adult, the story is not of that limited appeal. It's just a great, exciting tale and an easy and fun read. Lots of action and thrills and suspense. A fine story that flows well, will catch you up, and won't let go. Well done, very well done, indeed, on the story front. But, unlike some authors who can put together a good story but can't draw a character or script a line of believable and natural dialogue, Grant can do both, as well.

    Character dialogue in novels set in past times can sometimes be a real problem. I can tell when it's not being done well when it distracts me as the reader. Often I've found it to be too tortured and affected, trying too hard to sound like maybe that's the way folks actually talked back then. (One "forsooth" will sink it for me.) Other times, it's 'way too modern, or just has too many modernisms included to get away with it. Either way, when I start noticing the dialogue, as such, there's a problem. Good dialogue seems to slide right in, as natural as can be, and doesn't distract. Grant does just that. I was well into the book, captured by his story, before I remembered that I wanted to consciously focus on his dialogue. I wanted to check that out because, first, I know I could never do it well; and, second, I know that when done right, it's a sign of a very good and skilled writer. So, then, I spent some time looking into it and found that he has just the right balance of old and new. It works and it works seamlessly and effortlessly.

    Another aspect of the book that was a pleasant surprise was the character depth and development. Again, I had this dismissive idea of "young adult" which I wish I'd never heard concerning this book. (While it's perfectly appropriate for young adults, it's just as interesting and entertaining for anyone. More on that below.) Anyway, I was expecting these two-dimensional, standard cookie-cutter, formulaic characters, like pretty much everything on TV and in the movies these days. Again, a very nice surprise. Grant clearly put in a lot of time and effort in crafting his lead characters, beginning with Roland, but it was especially surprising to see that his secondary characters (Millicent, Declan, Sir Alwyn, and Catherine come to mind) have individual depth and catch the reader's interest too.

    Finally, I think it helpful to note that this book is "safe" for anyone, of any age, to read (or to have read to them). Yes, there's some violence and some bad guys (and the occasional good guy) who get rough treatment, but Grant doesn't make it overly explicit gore, blood, and guts. Not the stuff of nightmares, though it is quite exciting and suspenseful. Plenty of action. Language is perfectly acceptable, proving that you can write a good story, filled with good characters, without having to cover up mediocre writing by dropping distracting and unnecessary F-bombs right and left.

    So, in summary: well written, tight, exciting, good story - real characters that develop and grow and ring true - a fine read. I recommend it highly.
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  • Jeff
    5.0 out of 5 stars The start of a great series
    Reviewed in Australia on 12 May 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A gripping tale with enough history mingled in to make it a believable tale. As with any great author the words help you create a picture and fill in the gaps with your own imagination.

    A great read and I look forward to the rest of this series.
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  • Marcos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo!
    Reviewed in Brazil on 1 March 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Muita ação, personagens fortes que nos prendem à história. Quem gosta do gênero Ficção Histórica há de gostar. Recomendado para quem tem 12 anos ou mais.
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  • ashutosh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
    Reviewed in India on 11 February 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic book narrating the story of young Roland as he fights his desire to avenge his father's death and not put Sir Roger in harm's way because of his rash actions and do what his mind tells him is the correct path to take.
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