Belisama By Alan Richard Brings Forbidden Romance And Rebellion To the Edge Of Hadrian’s Britain

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, in the shadow of Hadrian’s looming wall, Belisama by Alan Richard ignites a pulse-pounding tale of forbidden romance, treacherous rebellion, and desperate survival on Roman Britain’s wild northern frontier.

Belisama

In the misty wilds of Roman Britain’s northern frontier, where the Belisama River—known today as the River Ribble—cuts through untamed landscapes, a tale of forbidden love, treachery, and high-stakes survival unfolds. Alan Richard’s debut novel, Belisama, transports readers to early spring 122 CE, a pivotal moment when Emperor Hadrian is on the cusp of erecting his iconic wall to tame the fractious tribes beyond. Against this powder keg of history, Richard weaves a gripping historical romance that pulses with conspiracy and human passion.

The story centers on Bremetennacum, the Roman fort at modern-day Ribchester in Lancashire, England. Whispers of Hadrian’s impending summer visit ripple through the ranks, alongside rumors of a grand wall to divide Britannia and enforce peace. But beneath the surface, a sinister scheme brews. Festus Crassus, a greedy and treacherous Roman, plots to ignite a rebellion by uniting the northern tribes. His goal? Drive the legions south of the Belisama and install himself as ruler of a tribal confederation, reaping untold profits.

Enter Sabina, a enslaved woman in Crassus’s household at a fishing port on the Belisama estuary. When she overhears the plot, she vows to alert the Romans, fearing the devastating war that would ravage tribes, slaves, and civilians alike. Her path crosses with Regulus, a young Roman cadet river pilot navigating the treacherous waters of the Belisama. Regulus thwarts a surprise attack, thrusting both into a deadly web of danger.

What begins as chance encounters blossoms into a forbidden romance, defying the rigid hierarchies of Roman society. As soldiers and civilians at Bremetennacum stand isolated and outnumbered, unaware of the encroaching threat, Regulus and Sabina’s choices could tip the balance—determining if Britannia holds firm or erupts in flames.

Belisama isn’t just historical fiction; it’s a pulse-pounding race where courage is the only currency for survival. History feels immediate and visceral, making the past burn with present-day urgency.

Alan Richard

Richard, writing under a pen name, masterfully animates the Belisama River as more than a setting—it’s a living entity, ferrying secrets, soldiers, and peril with equal indifference. Readers are plunged into the raw grit of frontier existence: the chill of spring mists, the creak of Roman boats, and the constant shadow of revolt. The novel blends sweeping imperial drama with intimate emotional stakes, where duty clashes with desire, and every decision is a gamble with death.

Quite frankly, I wrote the kind of historical novel I would want to read. ‘Belisama’ is not about emperors and generals but about the forgotten people on the fringes of the empire. Regulus and Sabina could have been real: a cadet learning his trade on the river, a young woman enslaved in a Roman household, both caught in the undertow of treachery. What fascinated me was how small choices, a warning, a betrayal, a moment of trust, could alter the course of lives, even provinces. I live close to the landscapes that shaped this story, and I wanted to give them back their voice. If readers finish the book with the sense that history is not distant but alive under their feet, then I will have achieved what I set out to do.

–Alan Richard

Alan Richard brings authentic flavor to his tale, drawing from his deep roots in Lancashire’s Bowland area, where much of the novel is set, and his upbringing on the Fylde coast near the River Ribble. A former professional musician who toured the USA, UK, and Europe—once signing with EMI Records in his twenties—Richard traded stages for storytelling after a decade in Miami’s South Beach. He honed his craft studying Creative Writing under John Dufresne at Florida International University, earning an English degree cum laude.

His diverse passions—travel, fly fishing, baking, classical literature, music, chess, cooking, and Bordeaux wines—infuse Belisama with vivid sensory details and a musician’s rhythm. Published by Grosvenor House Publishing, this debut marks Richard as a fresh, compelling voice in historical fiction.

Why Belisama Demands Your Attention

For fans of authors like Conn Iggulden or Kate Quinn, Belisama delivers conspiracy-laden intrigue, star-crossed lovers, and a richly evoked Roman Britain on the brink. It’s a story rooted in archaeological truth—the fort of Bremetennacum, Hadrian’s Wall plans—but elevated by human drama that lingers. Journalists and readers, take note: this is historical romance at its most perilous and passionate.

Belisama proves that on the empire’s edge, love and rebellion make the most unbreakable alliances. Pick it up, and you won’t surface until the final, heart-stopping page.

Find more from Alan Richard now:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/47fsb5L

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/belisama/alan-richard/9781836154129