Books
The idea to write a book based on the Great Siege of 1565 blossomed during a summer vacation to Malta over twenty years ago.
Initially, I set out to write a single novel chronicling the Siege but, upon digging into the research, I realized the rich, layered history was too much for one book.
Also, I’d have ended up with more pages than the Bible—not to mention, no willing publisher.
And so, I divided the story into three volumes, each cresting with a pivotal battle.
The saga begins with Eight Pointed Cross, a number one bestseller set in sixteenth-century Europe. The series continues with Falcon’s Shadow and culminates in Ash Fall, the third and final installment.
Browse Books
The hostility between the Ottoman Sultan and the Knights of St John incites the collision of two great empires, intertwining the fates of characters separated by faith, loyalties, and hundreds of leagues.
Beyond military conflict, these men and women must confront perceived enemies as well as corruption and oppression, deceit and disaster in a turbulent time that saw the flourishing Renaissance at odds with the repressive Roman Inquisition.
Eight Pointed Cross takes place decades before the Great Siege of 1565, as the storm had been brewing for quite some time. This novel features the lesser-known but decisive 1551 Siege of Gozo.
Falcon’s Shadow picks up in the immediate aftermath and sweeps from quarry pits to sprawling estates, tumultuous seas to creaking gallows, the dungeons beneath the bishop’s palace to the open decks of warships.
Chance connections are made, secrets revealed, and betrayals exposed as history unfolds.
Ash Fall begins on the eve of one of the bloodiest battles in history. The elite Ottoman army prepares to depart Istanbul with a force 50,000 strong. Its objective: crushing the Knights of St John once and for all. For several blood-soaked months, Malta is the stage upon which fierce battle rages. No one escapes the fiery currents of war unscathed.
Fate meets fire. And the world ignites.
Editorial Review
"Fenech's Seige of Malta trilogy is an absolutely addictive read. As the saga spans decades, we experience the characters growing and changing in a deeply immersive way. The trials they face are realistic, heartbreaking, and fascinating. The depth of realism and research is simply stunning; I’ve never read a historical fiction where I could so clearly picture what life was like for the average person. Ash Fall continues where Falcon's Shadow left off, giving us hope that characters torn from one another will one day be reunited and those that have been hurt will heal. We’re also promised a massive battle that the series has been building to since the beginning. The Seige of Malta trilogy delivers an exceptional trifecta of entertainment, historical accuracy, and a wallop to your emotions."
T.S. Beier, book reviewer at Sound & Fury Book Reviews (YouTube) and @TinaSBeier (Instagram), and award-winning author of What Branches Grow and the Burnt Ship trilogy