The next thrilling adventure, all NEW from MJ Porter Icel is a lone wolf no more... Oath sworn to Wiglaf, King of Mercia and acknowledged as a member of Ealdorman Ælfstan’s warrior band, Icel continues to forge his own destiny on the path to becoming the Warrior of Mercia. With King Ecgberht of Wessex defeated and Londonium back under Mercian control, the Wessex invasion of Mercia is over. But the Wessex king was never Mercia’s only enemy. An unknown danger lurks in the form of merciless Viking raiders, who set their sights on infiltrating the waterways of the traitorous breakaway kingdom of the East Angles, within touching distance of Mercia’s eastern borders. Icel must journey to the kingdom of the East Angles and unite against a common enemy to ensure Mercia’s hard-won freedom prevails. Praise for MJ Porter 'Immediate and personal' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy ** 'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' **S.J.A. Turney ** 'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories - You won’t regret it!" **Eric Schumacher 'MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' **Bestselling author Matthew Harffy ** ‘Refreshing... I was reluctant to put the book down’ Historical Novel Society Reader Reviews for Warrior of Mercia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' Reader Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' Reader Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I found the pages flying by... A great book' Reader Review
The start of a brand new series from bestselling author MJ Porter for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy. 'Immediate and personal' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy 'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Son of Mercia is personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' S.J.A. Turney 'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories, grab a copy of Son of Mercia. You won’t regret it!" Eric Schumacher Tamworth, Mercia AD825. The once-mighty kingdom of Mercia is in perilous danger. Their King, Beornwulf lies dead and years of bitter in-fighting between the nobles, and cross border wars have left Mercia exposed to her enemies. King Ecgberht of Wessex senses now is the time for his warriors to strike and exact his long-awaited bloody revenge on Mercia. King Wiglaf, has claimed his right to rule Mercia, but can he unite a disparate Kingdom against the might of Wessex who are braying for blood and land? Can King Wiglaf keep the dragons at bay or is Mercia doomed to disappear beneath the wings of the Wessex wyvern? Can anyone save Mercia from destruction? 'MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy ‘Refreshing... I was reluctant to put the book down’ Historical Novel Society Readers are spell-bound by Son of Mercia!: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' Reader review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' Reader review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I found the pages flying by... A great book' Reader review
In England in the eighth century, in the midst of the so-called Dark Ages, Offa ruled Mercia, one of the strongest Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. For over 30 years he was the dominant warlord in the territory south of the Humber and the driving force behind the expansion of Mercias power. During that turbulent period he commanded Mercian armies in their struggle against the neighboring kingdoms of Northumbria and Wessex and against the Welsh tribes. Yet the true story of Offas long reign and of the rise and fall of Mercia are little known although this is one of the most intriguing episodes in this little-recorded phase of Englands past. It is Chris Peerss task in this new study to uncover the facts about Offa and the other Mercian kings and to set them in the context of English history before the coming of the Danes.
The true story of the Lady of the Mercians. At the end of the ninth century AD, a large part of what is now England was controlled by the Vikings – heathen warriors from Scandinavia who had been attacking the British Isles for more than a hundred years. Alfred the Great, king of Wessex, was determined to regain the conquered lands but his death in 899 meant that the task passed to his son Edward. In the early 900s, Edward led a great fightback against the Viking armies. He was assisted by the English rulers of Mercia: Lord Æthelred and his wife Æthelflæd (Edward's sister). After her husband's death, Æthelflæd ruled Mercia on her own, leading the army to war and working with her brother to achieve their father's aims. Known to history as the Lady of the Mercians, she earned a reputation as a competent general and was feared by her enemies. She helped to save England from the Vikings and is one of the most famous women of the Dark Ages. This book, published 1100 years after her death, tells her remarkable story.
THE NEW BERNICIA CHRONICLES NOVEL FROM MATTHEW HARFFY, SHADOWS OF THE SLAIN, AVAILABLE TO PREORDER NOW! When the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria is invaded by a fearsome foe, warlord Beobrand must answer the call to arms once more. An action-packed historical thriller in the Bernicia Chronicles, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell. AD 642. Oswald has reigned over Northumbria for eight years, and warlord Beobrand has brought him ever greater victories. Rewarded for his fealty and prowess in battle, Beobrand is now wealthy, with a sizeable warband of his own. Tales of Beobrand's fearsome black-shielded warriors and the great treasure he has amassed are told throughout the land. Many are the kings who bow to Oswald. And yet there are those who look upon his realm with a covetous eye. And there is one ruler who will never kneel before him: Penda of Mercia, the great killer of kings. When Penda invades Northumbria, Beobrand is once more called upon to stand in an epic battle where much blood will be shed in defence of the kingdom. But in this climactic clash between the pagan Penda and the Christian Oswald, there is much more at stake than sovereignty. This is a battle for the very souls of the people of Albion. Reviews for Matthew Harffy 'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' ANGUS DONALD 'Nothing less than superb' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' DAVID GILMAN
The ninth installment of Bernard Cornwell’s bestselling series chronicling the epic saga of the making of England, “like Game of Thrones, but real” (The Observer, London)—the basis for The Last Kingdom, the hit television series coming to Netflix in Fall 2016. A fragile peace reigns in Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia. King Alfred’s son Edward and formidable daughter, Aethelflaed, rule the kingdoms. But all around the restless Northmen, eyeing the rich lands and wealthy churches, are mounting raids. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the kingdoms’ greatest warrior, controls northern Mercia from the strongly fortified city of Chester. But forces are gathering against him. Northmen allied to the Irish, led by the fierce warrior Ragnall Ivarson, are soon joined by the Northumbrians, and their strength could prove overwhelming. Despite the gathering threat, both Edward and Aethelflaed are reluctant to move out of the safety of their fortifications. But with Uhtred’s own daughter married to Ivarson’s brother, who can be trusted? In the struggle between family and loyalty, between personal ambition and political commitment, there will be no easy path. But a man with a warrior’s courage may be able to find it. Such a man is Uhtred, and this may be his finest hour.
From author MJ Porter comes a thrilling new hero.The third book in The Ninth Century Series.The Raiders have been routed from Torksey, dead, or escaped. Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters, her new king a warrior, not a ruler. And as he endures his coronation, as demanded by the bishops and ealdormen, there are stirrings from the east.Coelwulf must again take to the trackways of Mercia. His destination, any place where the Raiders are trying to infiltrate the kingdom he's fought so hard to keep whole, losing beloved friends in the process.The year is AD874 and Mercia lies threatened. But Coelwulf, and his loyal warriors, have vowed to protect Mercia with their lives. They're not about to stop now.Praise for The Last King"A well-written book from start to finish, full of action with lots of strong characters that you soon love. Really, truly loved it. 5 stars from me. Smashed it.""I feel as though I'm sat astride a horse, sword in hand, screaming like a banshee as I charge.""Action-packed and hard to put down.""I really loved this book, great strong central characters that grow on you. Fantastic read, the book had me gripped. Excellent storyline, fast-paced, full of action, bloody action and violence you feel like your stood in the shield walk or charging on a horse with the blood & sweat of man & beast around you as you help battle the impossible odds. The stories main character Coelwulf is a true warrior of royal blood & the only man with the skills & presence to pull the lords of Mercia together. He stands tall with his band of warriors & draws men to him to do battle. A true hero of old." Stacy T Netgalley Reviewer"To say this book is excellent would be an understatement. it's a blood and gore fest for any fan of the period." Amazon Reviewer"The Last King starts with a punchy opening paragraph that instantly draws you into the story. Coelwulf is a fierce and skilful warrior with a formidable band of fighters at his side. Readers are invited to join them in the shield wall and follow them to the last bloody moments of every hectic battle. The Last King is a spirited novel; drenched in gore and positively ringing with the sound of seaxes on shields. This novel suits anyone who prefers a fast-paced tale with plenty of action. If you are a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Uhtred series then this could help ease the wait till the next instalment." Netgalley Reviewer"an instant page-turner." Netgalley Reviewer"The battle scenes were really well written." Netgalley Reviewer"Coelwulf is a fierce warrior with an honourable battlefield moral code. Coelwulf's character is one that you soon learn to respect and admire, along with his men. With plenty of gory battle scenes, MJ Porter's descriptive writing really brings Coelwulf's battles to life." Netgalley Reviewer"Fast-paced, deep character development, page-turning action, what more do you need." Netgalley Reviewer"A tale that moves fairly swiftly, breathless at times, with great battle scenes and just the right amount of humour." Netgalley ReviewerThe Ninth Century SeriesThe Last KingThe Last WarriorThe Last Horse (coming August 2020)MEET THE AUTHORI'm an author of historical fiction (Early English/Viking) and fantasy. I write A LOT, you've been warned.Find me @coloursofunison or at www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.earlofmercia.wordpress.com where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing!
Princess Ethelfled always dreams of assisting her father and husband in battle and when an opportunity arises for her to enter the war with the Vikings she fights along with them.
Anna, a girl growing up in a Saxon village in seventh-century Mercia, finds a golden horn in the ruins of a Roman villa. Soon an ugly dwarf, a beautiful sorceress, and even her own people are after her to gain the powers of the horn.
