The author takes a medieval poem as the starting point and then allows his imagination to run riot. The introduction of a teenage boy in a modern day setting calls for a time slip back into the past and the sixth century is reimagined. The story takes place in and around what is now Banburgh and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
This is a great book for anyone who enjoys fantasy novels set in a semi-mythical past. The characters are well thought-out and there's plenty of bloodthirsty action in a very Boy's Own-style. Ideal for teenage readers with a good imagination.

I was unsure if I would appreciate a reformatting of the poem, My introduction to the poem was in University and
I enjoyed the story in its original form. However, Beowulf was not inviting to the younger reader and Middle English was a foreign language R.J. Madon combined old with new and created an engaging story that even the advanced reader would find a pleasure to read. I enjoyed that the chapter headings were lines from the original poem.

It was the coldest of storms, fierce waves boiling in the darking night. The foe had Beowulf fast in its grim gripe and did drag him to the bottom of the sea...

The character of Adam was not a character original to the epic poem, he turned out to be a good segway between the old and new storylines. It was because of a disagreement with his parents. Adam needed some space, which is where he encountered the librarian "Welcome to my library". Adam eventually fell asleep in the present and upon waking, he was transported to the 6th century and was mistakened for the hero Beowulf.
Thank you R.J. Madon, The Book Guild LTD, and Netgalley for the pleasure of reading this retelling of Beowulf in exchange for an honest review.

Using the Beowulf story as a backdrop, this story finds Adam transported back in time to early Anglo-Saxon Northumbria in a quest to save his sister, Ellie. It was a very engaging story, the descriptions and feel of the setting particularly good. Adam is a great character, although the other characters are also well done. It's a story that has a great pace, it gets going from the start and is full of adventure throughout. Overall it's a really good debut.

I loved the concept of this book and it had me hooked from early on. Adam is magically transported to the time of the Angles, where he is mistaken for the legendary Beowulf and must find a way to make amends for his tragic past in this world. I loved the concept of this book and it had me hooked from early on. Adam is magically transported to the time of the Angles, where he is mistaken for the legendary Beowulf and must find a way to make amends for his tragic past. The action gets going early on, which I enjoyed as I struggle with slow stories. The story flows and mixes character development with action very well. Madon has created characters that we can really invest in and they keep us hooked with the mysteries of this world. Regret, guilt and family love are themes that intertwine Adam with his own past, as well as this ancient past that he finds himself in.

The descriptions of Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne and the surrounding area during the post-Roman period are vivid and bring atmosphere and authenticity to the story. The landscape is bleak and wind-battered. Madon has done a brilliant job with the richly described tribes that appear in the story, the Angles and the Votadini; a tribe of Brittonic people’s, who both fought for the land after the Roman departure. The author has done their research, which is something that I love in a historic novel. The inclusion of magic and Beowulf as a character, along with elements of the original Beowulf story bring the story to life with colour and vitality.

This book is a brilliant debut!

As an English Literature student I know Beowulf very well and so I was excited to read this book. I really enjoyed it and I think it would be a good read for children. It is filled with adventure and action. A really good historical/sci-fi read.

Swoon. That’s it. Swoon, swoon, swoon.
The perfect combination of beauty, cunning, brawn, girl-power, alpha-males, and a healthy dose of dry wit: what’s not to love? Did not stop reading it till I read all the stories, I couldn’t pace myself I had to binge it.

What a fun book! This was filled with action and adventure and sci-fi. I love all three of those things, and together? what more could I ask for?