Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545608
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JUNE 2026 BOOKS Connecting to history MALTESE-CANADIAN au- thor Marthese Fenech has re- connected with her Maltese roots through writing the Siege of Malta trilogy, a series heavily inspired by 16 century Maltese history. During a visit to Malta in her early 20s, Fenech caught a bus to Valletta and bought a ticket for The Malta Experience. It was there that she became "en- thralled" by the Great Siege of 1565. Seeing the event played out on screen brought the past to life for her in a way it never had before. The pivotal event, which she says "helped shape the future of the Mediterranean and, argua- bly, Europe itself," became the launching point for her deep- er research into the siege and eventually, the trilogy was born. Speaking to MaltaToday, Fenech says that as a Mal- tese-Canadian, she learnt about the Great Siege from a young age. "It has always been part of my heritage. It's woven into our identity and our collective memory." She says she became acquaint- ed with the siege and its signif- icance early on, but as she grew older and began exploring the history for herself, she realised just how monumental the sto- ry was for Malta. However, it was not until that fateful trip to Malta as an adult that her inspi- ration was truly sparked. Bringing the siege to life The Siege of Malta trilogy consists of The Eight Pointed Cross, Falcon's Shadow, and Ash Fall. The story begins by exploring the hostility between the Ottoman Sultan and the Knights of St John, and how the fates of two powerful forces be- come intertwined. Beyond the conflict, the char- acters must confront "perceived enemies as well as corruption and oppression, deceit and dis- aster" during this turbulent pe- riod. When Fenech returned to Canada, she began research- ing further and quickly became captivated by the island's histo- ry. "Malta sits at the crossroads of empires, faiths, and cultures, and in the 16 century, it was a place where the ambitions of some of the world's most pow- erful figures collided. Yet be- hind the famous battles, power LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt "My parents laid the foundation for my interest in Maltese history and identity. I grew up listening to their fascinating and colourful stories, speaking Maltese before I spoke English, and spending much of my childhood travelling back and forth between Malta and Canada."