AD 1044, and all eyes are on the marriage of Beatrix de Hautville to Armand de Mortain. The union could calm a tense political situation in Normandy: a young, illegitimate nobleman called William is vying for the ducal throne, and making plenty of enemies along the way. One of these is Beatrix’s elder brother, Serlo, […]
A Savage Moon by Theodore Brun
Byzantium, 718AD, and the great siege is over. Crippled warrior Erlan Aurvandil is weary of war. But he must rally his strength to lead a band of misfit adventurers back to the North, to reclaim the stolen kingdom of his lover, Lilla Sviggarsdottir. For this, they need an army. To raise an army, they need […]
The history of werewolves
How do werewolves come to be in a historical novel about 8th-century Vikings? Easily, says Theodore Brun, author of A Savage Moon. He explains why in this history of wolf-men, which goes back in time as far as around 2100BC. The mind of a historical fiction author is full of random snags on the memory […]
Brávellir: the greatest battle… that never was
Angus Donald, author of King of the North, writes about the Battle of Brávellir, a famous Viking conflict… which probably never happened. But, he says, we can still enjoy the epic story, a 12th-century piece of historical fiction which inspired his own novel. “Then the trumpets sounded, and both sides engaged in battle with all […]
King of the North by Angus Donald
An ambitious king… Spring, AD777, and Sigurd Hring, new King of the Svear, is summoning all the greatest warriors of the North to his banner, promising them riches and glory. He invites Bjarki Bloodhand, the famous berserkr who can summon the fury of a wild bear in battle, to swear an oath of fealty to […]
Loki’s Deceit by Donovan Cook
Sven the Boar is Jarl of Ribe once more. He and Charles try to settle into their new lives, but trouble and treachery are never too far away. Tormented by recent events, Charles struggles to adapt to life amongst the heathens that mock his Christian God, and the arrival of a priest from the south […]
Kings of War by MJ Porter
In the year 934, King Athelstan of the English has been successful in uniting the many kingdoms of Britain against one enemy, the Viking raiders. But men who are kings don’t wish to be ruled.Constantin, King of the Scots, rebelled against the Imperium and was forcibly brought to bend the knee to Athelstan and England […]
The ways of war at the time of King Alfred
What were battles like in the time of King Alfred? Organised shield walls or brutal melees? Did they use cavalry? And what about fights at sea? Chris Bishop examines the ways of war in the 9th century. As King Alfred spent so much of his reign at war with the Vikings (or with the Danes […]