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Also by Sarah Bower:

The Needle In The Blood, March 2012
Trade Size / e-Book (reprint)
Sins Of The House Of Borgia, March 2011
Hardcover

The Needle In The Blood
Sarah Bower

Sourcebooks Landmark
March 2012
On Sale: March 1, 2012
Featuring: Odo
544 pages
ISBN: 1402265913
EAN: 9781402265914
Kindle: B006PJ6VCQ
Trade Size / e-Book (reprint)
Add to Wish List

Romance Historical

His lust for power gave him everything. But it might cost him the love of his life.

The Bishop hired her for a simple job: embroider a tapestry. It is an enormous work, a cloth trophy of the conquest of England. But her skill with a needle and thread is legendary. It would be uncomplicated.

She plans to kill him as soon as she gets the chance. He and his brother, William the Conqueror, murdered her King and destroyed her world. Revenge, pure and clean. It would be simple.

But neither planned to fall desperately in love. As the two become hopelessly entangled, friends become enemies, enemies become lovers, and nothing in life—or the tapestry—is what it seems. An unlikely love story born of passion and intensity, crafted by critically acclaimed historical novelist Sarah Bower, The Needle in the Blood is a "story of love, war, and the tangled truth of England's birth."

Comments

23 comments posted.

Re: The Needle In The Blood

I love history and I love art. Your blog was very interesting because I had never heard of this tapestry. About hidden meanings in art, I am not so sure. We look at things differently today than people did long ago. If it was not documented at the time, it is hard to tell. But, it is fun to imagine and they sure make for a good story.
(Kathleen Yohanna 4:32am March 16, 2012)

It is fascinating. Imagine the thinking that went on in creating the tapestries.
(Mary Preston 5:36am March 16, 2012)

I love how the weaver of the tapestry could put in little things that gave clues to what went on in that time.
(Debbie Penny 6:48am March 16, 2012)

I think the concept of weaving hidden messages in tapestries is really interesting. I read another book called "Violet Eyes" that had a secret hidden in a tapestry about the Kingdoms Princess surviving an attack and I thought it was really interesting then.
(Chelsea Knestrick 7:06am March 16, 2012)

I've read a little bit about this tapestry before but I had no idea it was 230 feet long. Phew! That's a lot of stitching. The whole concept is just amazing!
(Karen Gervasi 7:25am March 16, 2012)

I think the idea of hidden messages in a tapestry is very intriging---puzzles are always so facinating.
(Sue Farrell 10:40am March 16, 2012)

It is fun to find the hidden messages in art. Frankly speaking my knowledge of the Bayeux Tapestry is very general. Am intrigued by your book.
(G. Bisbjerg 10:56am March 16, 2012)

Art holds its own meaning, there have been
symbols found especially during times of
persecution. It's amazing that when we see a
symbol what that means to us as an individual.
Thank you for sharing the tapestry.
(Carla Carlson 12:06pm March 16, 2012)

Thanks for the great post! I love reading about real
historical events and I love the premise! I can't imagine what
it would take to create a tapestry of that size and detail...
let alone while living the events.
(Erin Fender 12:17pm March 16, 2012)

The intricate designs in a tapestry are impressive, I have always admired those
who could take the time and effort to make something so detailed. And it is fun
to look at them and try figure out what the person was trying to portray, like in a
painting. One main idea that is obvious, but others can be hidden and make you
search for them.
(Lexi Hansen 5:34pm March 16, 2012)

sounds fascinating.
(Lori Belcher 5:40pm March 16, 2012)

The history of the tapestry is so interesting. I can't even imagine the women who had to work on it. They were amazing artists and storytellers.
(Jennifer Beyer 9:16pm March 16, 2012)

I don't have a Facebook account, so I won't be able to look at the tapestry further, which is a disappointment. I wish that I were able to see the tapestry in an enlarged form, because it has me intrigued. Things like this fascinate me for some reason. I enjoy studying items, and if I find something I didn't see before, it excites me. The tapestry would be like a treasure trove of information - such wealth at your fingertips!! Since I don't have the tapestry, I'll have to settle for what you've written as my only source of information. Thank you for keeping this bit of History alive.
(Peggy Roberson 9:26pm March 16, 2012)

I love tapestries. I have a wall sized one hanging in my bedroom. It has a garden and water fall.
(Molly Wilsbacher 10:25pm March 16, 2012)

Sounds like an interesting take on the concept of hidden messages in art. I look forward to reading it!
(Holly Sanders 10:26pm March 16, 2012)

I look forward to reading this book!
(Susan Ashcraft 11:30pm March 16, 2012)

I have never heard of this tapestry. The period surrounding 1066 has always
fascinated me. I can't even tell you why. We covered the Battle of Hastings very
thoroughly in school as if our teacher was as fascinated as I. This book is right
down my alley. Thank you. I will be looking for it.
(Sandra Spilecki 10:43am March 17, 2012)

Amazing what art can tell us of a certain period in history.
(Shirley Nienkark 4:43pm March 17, 2012)

I am fascinated at the images of the tapestry and detail as well as colorful. I'm sure there are hidden messages in the story they depict which hold symbolic meaning from the times they were produced and that's why they were created to tell the story through needlework. So beautiful and imagine the hours spent. I'm sure there are a few others such as this Bayeux Tapestry in museums, that have withstood their test of time. Thanks for sharing this amazing story and how it was incorporated into your book.
(Linda Luinstra 5:26pm March 17, 2012)

I viewed the Facebook Page and it's quite interesting how the "winged rodent" resembles "Batman" on the tapestry! Also liked the "History Undressed" portion (so colorful) with the knights with shields. I like artwork and appreciate things like this and find it very interesting. Thanks!
(Linda Luinstra 5:36pm March 17, 2012)

The history depicted in a tapestry in artful images definitely holds a few hidden messages. This book sounds like a great read.
(Rich Cook 5:47pm March 17, 2012)

My grandmother would spend hours working on hand made quilts. I know how careful she was with each hand stitch, so I can only image the time and patience it involved in making such a tapestry
(Rejeana Thompson 3:01pm March 18, 2012)

There's a Tapestry Museum in Washington D.C. that has many fabric pieces on display rich in history. I like reading the descriptions and coming up with a few of my own. There's a lot of symbols and traditions in tapestry which reflects the time is was made, the fabrics available and the functionality of the piece.
(Alyson Widen 7:53pm March 23, 2012)