Adalbert, the imagined son of Astrolabe and grandson of Heloise and Abelard, is a rash young man, eager to make his own way in the world. The recognition that a scroll that belonged to his father is, in fact, a treasure map, set him on course for what is not only a treasure quest but a page-turning adventure encompassing formidable villains, battles on both land and sea, the counsel of a knight with a mysterious past, family secrets, romance and Adalbert’s growth into the responsibilities of full adulthood.

Set in the mid-twelfth century in France and in the waters of the north Atlantic, Adalbert by Craig R Hipkins has a large cast of mostly fictional characters, convincing in their human flaws and foibles. The preoccupations, controversies and cruelties of the age are well depicted alongside the aspirations towards honour and the desires of the human heart. The novel is written in formal prose which adds to the flavour of the period.

This fast-paced immersive novel is the sequel to Astrolabe, a fictional account of the youth of the elusive son of Heloise and Abelard, written by Craig Hipkins’ twin brother Jay. Although it is a sequel, Adalbert reads well as a standalone novel.