The Serpent Sword
by Matthew Harffy
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Pub Date Apr 01 2018 | Archive Date Jun 12 2017
Head of Zeus | Aria
Description
'HISTORICAL FICTION DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS' ANGUS DONALD
AD 633
Beobrand is a young man with a shadowy past. As an outsider in the kingdom of Bernicia, he is compelled to join his brother, Octa, as a warrior in the household of King Edwin. He must learn to fight with sword and shield to defend the war-ravaged kingdoms of Northumbria.
In a period of great upheaval for Dark Age Britain, all he finds is death and war. Men and women strive to seize control of their destinies in a time of despair, and the land is rife with danger as warlords vie for supremacy and dominion. Amongst the blood and the betrayals, Beobrand learns of his brother's near-certain murder. Inexperienced but ruthless, Beobrand must form his own allegiances and learn to fight as a warrior with sword and shield.
Driven by a desire for vengeance and a relentless pursuit of his enemies, he faces challenges which transform him from a boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall. As he closes in on his kin's slayer, can Beobrand mete out the retribution he craves without sacrificing his honour... or even his soul?
Praise for Matthew Harffy:
'Nothing less than superb... The tale is fast paced and violence lurks on every page' Historical Novel Society
'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman
'A tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind' Giles Kristian
'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron
'A terrific novel. It illuminates the Dark Ages like a bolt of lightning' Toby Clements
'Battles, treachery, revenge and a healthy dose of Dark Age adventure' Simon Turney
'Matthew Harffy tells a great story' Joanna Hickson
'Harffy's writing just gets better and better... He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown' Jemahl Evans
'Harffy has a real winner on his hands... A genuinely superb novel' Steven McKay
'A breathtaking novel that sweeps the reader into a dark and dangerous world' Paul Fraser Collard
Advance Praise
"Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this." - Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles.
"Matthew Harffy’s tale of England in the Dark Ages is nothing less than superb." - HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
"Murder, betrayal and vengeance fuel tribal warfare and personal combat. Beobrand is the warrior to follow." DAVID GILMAN
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781786692405 |
| PRICE | $28.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 672 |
Featured Reviews
Nigel G, Reviewer
One of the best books I have read for a long time. Excellent characters and plot. Author is not afraid of killing characters off in fairly gruesome ways!
Cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Lisa G, Reviewer
Book Title: The Serpent Sword.
Author: Matthew Harffy
Rating: 5/5
Time it took me to read: 31 Days
Review:I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and it drew me in from the start.It was a great adventure accompanying Beobrand through his tale of love, loss,bravery and revenge. Follow Beobrand's adventure in the next book: The Cross and the Curse (The Bernicia Chronicles Book 2).
Wallace L, Reviewer
Glorious dark ages tale of violent men with revenge at it's epicentre. Beautifully written in a style reminiscent of Bernard Cornwell at his best this sets a high standard for subsequent outings of our hero. I look forward to more with relish!
Karina D, Reviewer
This is the story of Beobrand,a young man from Cantware (Kent) who goes North so he can join his brother (who has been murdered). Set against the historical background of 7th century Albion,a time when the death of Edwin,High King of Britain plunges the country in darkness.Albion is more than divided. Several kingdoms are battling for supremacy over their neighbours, bands of warriors are on the loose and the power relations between pagan beliefs and budding Christianity are changing.. But this is in the first place an adventure story, but also a story about revenge, betrayal, psychopathic warriors (yeah,even then...),loyalty, camaraderie and friendship. A fabulous story.
Alex K, Reviewer
Whatever his wyrd had in store for him, he would face it as it came.
As many have said, there are similarities between Harffy and Cornwell, but to be honest, I did not feel it too much, except when the fortress Bebbanburg was mentioned. Harrfy's style is easy to read and after, at least for me, bit rocky start, the book becomes a real page-turner and it is hard to put it down. I even ignored the fact that I had to study for the exams and the fact that I should sleep. I read the book in two days and I even sacrificed some sleep just so I could read it as soon as possible. I cannot wait to start reading next books in the series, but they should probably wait till I am done with my exams.
I would totally recommend the book to my friends and to anyone that is interested in historical fiction, especially if they are also interested in British history. I realise that this is fiction, but it still gives the reader some information that I found extremely interesting and there is also a historical note at the end. It seems well-researched and well-prepared.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Nigel Henbest; Simon Brew; Sarah Tomley; Ken Okona-Mensah; Tom Parfitt; Trevor Davies; Chas Newkey-Burden
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