The Crucible Series by Sara Douglass

The Black Plague. The Pestilence. Disease and death haunt every town and village across 14th century Europe and none are immune from its evil. Some see the devastation of their world as a sign from God for Man's wickedness.But Brother Thomas Neville sees this swath of death as something much more. Neville is a man beset by demons. Or is it angels? He has had a visitation from none other than the Archangel Michael, who commands Thomas to a mission... moreThe Black Plague. The Pestilence. Disease and death haunt every town and village across 14th century Europe and none are immune from its evil. Some see the devastation of their world as a sign from God for Man's wickedness.But Brother Thomas Neville sees this swath of death as something much more. Neville is a man beset by demons. Or is it angels? He has had a visitation from none other than the Archangel Michael, who commands Thomas to a mission. This mission will take Neville across the length and breath of the continent in a desperate bid to find the means to stop the minions of Satan who have found a doorway out of Hell and are preparing to venture forth, to try and seize this world in preparation for an assault on Heaven itself.As Thomas Neville encounters angels and demons, saints and witches, he comes to realize that the armies of God and Satan are arraying themselves for the final battle...and that his soul is to be the battleground.The question is, has Neville picked the truly good side? less

the Demon-King wears the Crown of England and only a man strong enough to resist love can defeat him. Casting aside his vows to the Church, and protected by the powerful Duke of Lancaster and his son Hal Bolingbroke, thomas Neville is now free to pursue his quest for Wynkyn de Worde's casket. But Richard II is subtle and cunning, and moves swiftly against Neville and Bolingbroke, destroying both their families and using his minions to drive the realm towards bloody rebellion... morethe Demon-King wears the Crown of England and only a man strong enough to resist love can defeat him. Casting aside his vows to the Church, and protected by the powerful Duke of Lancaster and his son Hal Bolingbroke, thomas Neville is now free to pursue his quest for Wynkyn de Worde's casket. But Richard II is subtle and cunning, and moves swiftly against Neville and Bolingbroke, destroying both their families and using his minions to drive the realm towards bloody rebellion. Only Neville's wife Margaret can help, but Neville knows he cannot fully trust her. And what of Bolingbroke who, as the months go by, reveals ambitions far greater and deadlier than Neville ever realised? As Neville inches closer and closer to the casket, he discovers that opening it might well release a greater horror across the earth than the one he wishes to thrust back into hell. less

The world that the former monk Thomas Neville knows is crumbling about him. The Holy Mother Church of Rome is losing its power over men and Thomas knows that this is not Man's doing but the work of the demons who have escaped their earthly prison and who are trying to breach the very gates of heaven.The great archangel Michael has given Thomas the task to find the demons who now dwell in human form and expose their evil natures... moreThe world that the former monk Thomas Neville knows is crumbling about him. The Holy Mother Church of Rome is losing its power over men and Thomas knows that this is not Man's doing but the work of the demons who have escaped their earthly prison and who are trying to breach the very gates of heaven.The great archangel Michael has given Thomas the task to find the demons who now dwell in human form and expose their evil natures. To do this Thomas turns on one set of vows and return to his once lofty noble connections. He encounters old friends, a new love, and temptations that will try his conscience. And his very soul.For Thomas is beginning to think that all that he knows may not be true. Faced with mortal love and friendships that he desperately wants and fears, he knows that time is growing short.And the choice that he makes will reshape the world. less