Wolf of Wessex is the first standalone novel of The Bernicia Chronicles. It's set almost 200 years late, and in the West country, telling a story based on an actual event in history. The author explains his inspiration at he end, and the story does work.

Even though the protagonists Duston and young Aedwen spend most of the novel being chased by bad guys, it doesn't become boring, A tad predictable and simplistic in places, but not boring. The historical details are well written, and just enough to make the story authentic, including using the Old English names for various towns and cities.
In my opinion, the Anglo-Saxons don't get enough attention in fiction, and this book fills that gap. One can feel the palpable fear and uncertainly for the man and women living near the coast in the wake of the Viking raids, never knowing if they will be next.

What I also liked was how the hero is unconventional. He's over 50 (old by 9th century standards), a retired warrior with lots of life experience. He is neither young nor pretty. His relationship with Aedwen becomes almost paternal. It is a welcome break to read a novel in which a man and woman can be close to each other without jumping into bed. Which shows the other kinds of love and relationships out there.

On their journey to reveal what turns out to be a plot against the King, Duston spends a lot of time musing on on life, death, morality and the nature of war, and at war with himself over a promise made to his late wife. Both characters grow. My only complaint is that I didn't always feel Duston's opinions and attitudes were consistent with the time period. Especially his attitudes to religion: he seemed almost atheistic at times. Perhaps it was just meant to be a reflection of his background and general cynicism, I don't know.

Also, the violence is perhaps a tad more gratuitous than some readers might care for. That didn't really put me off too much, but it depends on personal taste.

Thanks to Aria/Head of Zeus for approving my request for this title on Netgalley. I was not required to write one an the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

A whirlwind of a read so well written each character the description of battles.Historical fiction is one o my favorite genres and this is a new author before me&one I will be recommending.#netgalley#ariaboojs

I really enjoy the Bernicia series so was intrigued what a standalone title would be like and I was not disappointed. Although I can't wait for the next in the series, I think this is one of my favourites so far. I couldn't put it down. It's so atmospheric and the story just grabs you and drags you along at a relentless pace. The main character Dunston is everything you could hope for in an aging warrior and the forest is like another menacing character in itself. Definitely one to be added to your TBR pile.

Matthew Harffy is fast making a name for himself amongst the historical fiction elite. He's been producing top quality novels in his Bernicia Chronicles for a few years now, but the Wolf of Wessex, his first standalone novel, pushes him amongst the greats of the genre.

This is an exiting, fast paced read that doesnt let up from beginning to end. The action is vivid and exhausting - Harffy writes battle scenes as well as Cornwell or Cameron. Added to this we have sub plots that touch on loss and grief, and these are expertly threaded amongst the relentless pace of the novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and truly do look forward to whatever Harffy produces next.

This is the first story that I finished for 2020 (yes, I'm a month late for posting this.)

I was expecting a wolf transformation but I was surprised that the 'Wolf' in the title was not the literal meaning.

And that was okay.

My heart goes to Dunston and how he had been wrongly accused. Poor Aedwen. I cannot fathom how hard it was for both of them.

I'm glad that truth prevails in the end. Though I was expecting something from these two characters, I'm okay with the last scene.

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for the ARC!

A good historical fiction book about Saxon England, though the story was kinda slow at times the characters were interesting and I would like to read more from this author

Once again I would like to thank the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review. This is a superb book well researched and written, descriptive full of details and a real feeling for time and place, and how our ancestors lived. Clever and intriguing as our aged hero sets out to unravel a murder mystery and prevent a Viking invasion, all while protecting an innocent girl. At times joyful and poignant others sad but always engaging and interesting with some graphic fight scenes.
This is the first book i have read by this Author but it will certainly not be the last, and I for one hope that though ancient for those days Dunston will ride again, as hinted at in the Authors notes. This book is on a par with Bernard Cornwell Giles Kristian and Robert Low all quality exponents of this genre.

What a marvelous read! I found myself on the edge of my seat so many times I thought I might fall off of it. Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy is so well-written, I must seek out whatever else he has written. His research shows in every line. The action is suspenseful and realistic. Historical fiction has been a favorite genre of mine since childhood and Wolf of Wessex is a superb example of it. I highly recommend this book and doubly so as it deals with a little known time frame.

This book started good for me, but lost it's appeal fast. I kept hoping it would get better, but just not my cup of tea. Some readers will enjoy this book.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this engaging story set in wild Wessex. The story is well written, fast paced and atmospheric. I’m a huge fan of historic fiction and this author is one whose work I’ll look out for in future,

An excellent book that I really enjoyed reading. If you enjoy reading Cornwells books then this is a must read for you as the style of writing I found to be very similar.

When we meet Dunston, he is living as a woodsman and blacksmith in a forest in Somerset but a chance encounter changes the course of his life. Aedwen has been travelling with her itinerant pedlar father after the death of her mother. She is forced to run and hide when her father is ambushed in the forest. She hears his screams and remains hidden long after those cries quieten. Dunston and Aedwen embark on an adventure neither expected and neither wanted - Aedwen wishing her father never decided to travel, and Dunston wishing he'd never left his house the morning he discovered the pedlar's body.

Matthew Harffy has triumphed again with this novel, a stand alone that works brilliantly. As he has written so much, I wasn't sure it was a stand alone until I read the perhaps lengthy author's note at the end as it could so easily slot into a series, and yet there are no info dumps and the blend of the past setting and the present events is seamless. This novel, more than the series, proves Harffy's talent as a writer.

I loved this book! My full review can be found here: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/wolf-of-wessex-by-matthew-harffy/

This is not my normal type of read, but I tried it as part of a reading challenge and am so glad that I did! It was filled with wonderful and descriptive writing that kept me engaged. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a different read!

AD 838. While out hunting Dunston comes across a mutilated body, in the forests of Wessex. Soon he finds the scared daughter, Aedwen, of the man. It would seem that Dunston's solitary life is soon to come to an end when he takes the body and girl to Briuuetone (the nearest settlement) for Rothulf, the Reeve, to investigate. But soon Dunston is under arrest. But this is only Dunston's first challenge as he tries to get to the truth and motive for the murder.
A very enjoyable well-written story. It caught my interest straightaway and I was eager to find out how the story developed, I was not disappointed.

This is an excellent historical thriller, well written and engrossing.
The historical background is vividly described and well researched, the cast of characters is fleshed and well thought with a great character development.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
It was an excellent and gripping read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Dunston and Aedwen, daughter of the murdered man, make a great partnership as they set off on the trail of the ruthless killers and try to uncover the reasons behind the murder. Dunston’s foraging and tracking skills, learned from his father and grandfather, prove extremely useful and Aedwen becomes an eager pupil as the pair retrace the journey made by her peddler father in the days before his death.

As you would expect from the author, there are some terrifically exciting and vividly described action scenes in which Dunston’s fighting prowess, gained from his former membership of the band of warriors known as the Wolves of Wessex, is amply demonstrated. Plus there are some heart-stopping moments as Dunston and Aedwen become the hunted rather than the hunters.

The book is rich in period detail – of food, dress, domestic life, weaponry and so on – which really immerses the reader in the atmosphere of the time and gives a sense of authenticity. During their journey along the roads and through the dense forests of Wessex, Dunston and Aedwen encounter all manner of people – traders, hunters, farmers, charcoal burners, not to mention the feared ‘wolf-heads’.

I really enjoyed getting to know the two main characters. Aedwen, despite her traumatic experience, is brave and resourceful. She spurs on Dunston to join her in the quest for justice and comes to respect and depend upon him. Dunston faces a moral conflict between the oath he gave to his dying wife and what might be necessary to protect Aedwen and bring the murderers to justice – unleashing the wolf inside him once again.

Wolf of Wessex will keep fans of Matthew Harffy’s ‘Bernicia Chronicles’ series (such as Storm of Steel which I read and reviewed recently) satisfied until such time as they can get their hands on the next instalment. Equally, Wolf of Wessex with its mixture of action and mystery would make a brilliant introduction for readers new to the author’s writing. And perhaps, just perhaps, this isn’t the last we’ll hear of Dunston and Aedwen.

Matthew Harffy cites his childhood and formative years growing up in Northumberland as his inspiration for this standalone historical thriller. Being a Northumberland native I can certainly see how the rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline could inspire a story such as this. It follows unlikely hero and recluse Dunston, the Wolf of Wessex, as he attempts to shake off the unfair accusation of murder after a body was found close to where he lived. He is later incarcerated for the killing by a new and corrupt presence in town. This is a tale of good vs evil, corrupt vs truthtellers and I was hoping that Dunston could fight the good fight against a force for evil and tyranny. This book reminds us that no matter how "strangely" a person may live it does not mean they are not to be trusted but it also highlights that powerful people will scapegoat those they know are innocent just to prove a point or to get themselves out of the quagmire.

This is a well written, tense and pacey historical saga of the finest quality; in fact, it had touches of Bernard Cornwell for me and although not a genre I read an enormous amount of I was kept entertained and fascinated throughout by all of the goings-on. Right from the beginning the likeable protagonist, Dunston, has you cheering him on. The time period in which it is set, circa 9th century, is brought vividly to life along with the countryside and tradition; I felt as though I was transported there every time I started to read. I was quite surprised at quite how much action is present throughout the narrative and it really is packed with danger and excitement; it all amalgamates to make this historical fiction epic worth picking up. A word of warning, however: there is animal sacrifice taking place although not gratuitous as this, of course, would've been prevalent at the time. Many thanks to Aria for an ARC.

It’s a murder mystery set in AD 838 that is so rich with historical details I could hardly put it down. The main character Dunston comes upon a brutally mangled corpse and is quickly accused of the crime. He teams up with the daughter of the victim and they set off to find the real killers before he is punished. It was really interesting to follow the hunt for a murderer and a motive with no modern technology to help along the way. It is a story of survival and the resilience of men (and a dog!). The characters are rich and relatable and you find yourself really rooting for them. I feel like the story is akin to a medieval John Wick!

I enjoyed this so much, I’m going to be looking up some of the author’s previous novels!

I have watched Matthew Harffy‘s writing career take off from the very first book, The Serpent Sword. Matthew’s wonderful series, the Bernicia Chronicles bring 7th century England to life. However, its always a risk for a writer – and a reader – to start a new book series, or produce a standalone, especially when the first series was so impressive. I’m sure writer and reader both begin to wonder if the new project will stand up to the reader’s high expectations.

Well, Matthew Harffy need not have worried.

His new hero, Dunston, rather older than young Beobrand – though no less bold and living a couple of hundred years later, is a truly fascinating character, with a history of his own that is as compelling as Beobrand’s ever was. But, there the similarity ends. Dunston is a whole new creation, his story unique and mesmerising in its hints at a past that earned him the name Dunston the Bold.

As we have come to expect from Matthew Harffy, Wolf of Wessex is a beautifully crafted novel, the story and action carefully balanced to take the reader on a wonderful journey through 9th century Wessex. The skillful storyteller shines through on every page.

Set in the time of Alfred the Great’s grandfather, Dunston and Aedwen are an odd combination for travelling companions; an aged warrior and a teenage girl, both drawn into a greater conspiracy by the murder of Aedwen’s father. Thrown together by circumstance, these two wonderful characters take us on an adventure that will not easily be forgotten.

As has come to be expected with Matthew Harffy, his research into the period is impeccable. Not only with the weapons, but all aspects of life in 9th century Wessex, from the charcoal burners to the king’s warriors and reeves, are recreated with an eye to accuracy and authenticity. Matthew Harffy keeps the tension high throughout the book, using the characters, events and even landscape to enhance the drama of the story.

However, what makes this novel – as always – is the story itself. Beautifully written, engrossing and fraught with tension, it is enthralling from the first word to the last and will leave the reader wanting more.

In Wolf of Wessex, a true page-turner, Matthew Harffy has produced a contender for Best Read of 2019. A must-read for anyone who loves action packed books with a great story!