Gallows wedding

Set during the religious turmoil of Henry VIII's reign, this novel follows Hazel, a peasant woman bearing the mark of a witch and known for her striking looks. She loves Black John, a man who is both an outlaw and a nobleman, and she is the one who cuts him down from the gallows. The two try to stay alive in a country where violent death lurks around every turn. Their story moves steadily toward a grim ending.