Years have passed since the clash of shield-walls echoed across the land. The Saxons are now the lords of Britain. And yet the bards still sing of Arthur — ‘In our darkest time, when we need him most, shall he come again.’ Ageing mercenary Beran has no love of bards’ songs. Nor of people. Unless […]
Enemies of Mercia by MJ Porter
Tamworth, 835. Following Icel’s epic rescue of Lord Coenwulf’s children from their almost certain death, King Wiglaf is forced to call upon Icel’s loyal services once more. Furious that the conspirators behind the audacious move to snatch the children have yet to face justice, he despatches Icel to hunt down the enemy of Mercia and […]
The Sword of Cnut by Griff Hosker
Sven Saxon Sword is now a lord. He rules a small village on the river. He thinks that his service to King Cnut, now that he had helped him to gain the crown, is over. He is wrong. Not only does he have to deal with Norse raiders but he is also summoned to serve […]
The Last Viking by MJ Porter
Jarl Guthrum has been captured after the terrible events in Grantabridge. King Coelwulf knows exactly what he’d like to do to him, but those with calmer heads have other ideas. Baptised and having taken the name of Æthelstan, Guthrum is Mercia’s prisoner, and in the wake of that, Mercia must rebuild. But Jarl Guthrum is […]
The Royal Women Who Made England by MJ Porter
Throughout the 10th century, England, as it would be recognised today, formed. No longer many Saxon kingdoms, but rather, just England. Yet this development masks much in the century in which the Viking raiders were seemingly driven from England’s shores by Alfred, his children and grandchildren, only to return during the reign of his great-great-grandson, […]
Clash of Kings by MJ Porter
It’s AD937. After the slaughter field of Brunanburh, a defeated Olaf Gothfrithson of the Dublin Norse and Constantin of the Scots narrowly escaped with their lives. In their kingdoms, failure has left them demoralised and weak. Olaf licks his wounds in Dublin, whilst Constantin and the Welsh kingdoms who defied King Athelstan, are once more […]
Historia interview: 2023 HWA Gold Crown shortlist: Rebecca Stott
Rebecca Stott’s novel Dark Earth was shortlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award in 2023. The judges described it as “spellbinding… Filled with folklore and myth and evocative world-building, an immersive and endlessly vivid novel.” It follows two sisters’ fight for survival in post-Roman ruined London: a place filled with violence and superstition. Congratulations on […]
Oscar’s Tale by Chris Bishop
This is the story of a Saxon boy who sets out to find and rescue his father who has been taken by Viking slavers. Set in 877, as the people of Wessex are forced to fight not just for their very lives but for their freedom, their religion and for their right to live as […]