Matthew Harffy

'Harffy’s Dunston is a fantastic creation – old, creaking and misanthropic. The forest is beautifully evoked. A treat of a book' The Times. AD 838. Deep in the forests of Wessex, Dunston's solitary existence is shattered when he stumbles on a mutilated corpse. Accused of the murder, Dunston must clear his name and keep the dead man's daughter alive in the face of savage pursuers desperate to prevent a terrible secret from being revealed. Rushing headlong through Wessex, Dunston will need to use all the skills of survival garnered from a lifetime in the wilderness. And if he has any hope of victory against the implacable enemies on their trail, he must confront his long-buried past – becoming the man he once was and embracing traits he had promised he would never return to. The Wolf of Wessex must hunt again; honour and duty demand it. 'A page-turner ... Matthew Harffy tells a great story' Joanna Hickson. 'A breathtaking novel that sweeps the reader into a dark and dangerous world' Paul Fraser Collard. '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 gripping, action-packed historical thriller

Wolf of Wessex

BRITAIN 633 A.D. Certain that his brother's death is murder, young farmhand Beobrand embarks on a quest for revenge in war-torn Northumbria. When he witnesses barbaric acts at the hands of warriors he considers his friends, Beobrand questions his chosen path and vows to bring the men to justice. Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, Beobrand faces challenges that change him irrevocably. Just as a great sword is forged by beating together rods of iron, so his adversities transform him from a farm boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall. As he closes in on his kin's slayer and the bodies begin to pile up, can Beobrand mete out the vengeance he craves without sacrificing his own honour ... or even his soul? The Serpent Sword is the first novel of the Bernicia Chronicles. PRAISE FOR THE SERPENT SWORD "The Serpent Sword is a stunning debut: fast, confident, adrenaline-pumped, this story of a young warrior's coming of age in the maelstrom of the Dark Ages has the flavour of early Giles Kristian or James Aitcheson: it's raw, rugged and rich in colour and texture." MANDA SCOTT "...a gripping and credible tale of Dark Ages Britain...Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this." ANGUS DONALD "Vivid and compelling, The Serpent Sword is historical fiction at its brutal best." PAUL FRASER COLLARD "A storming debut novel fans of Bernard Cornwell should not miss!"STEVEN A. MCKAY "...a fast-paced tale of historical adventure beautifully written. The Serpent Sword is a story of revenge, passion, betrayal, honour, love and loss. Above all, it contains both a quest and a love story. Harffy's characters are portrayed with depth and humanity. This novel is a thrilling read."CAROL MCGRATH "With powerful language and gripping action, Harffy tells a tale of courage, revenge and love..."JUSTIN HILL

The Serpent Sword

AD 647. Anglo-Saxon Britain. Greed and ambition threaten to tear the north apart. The eighth instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles.

For Lord and Land

Beobrand has land, men and riches. He should be content. And yet he cannot find peace until his enemies are food for the ravens. But before Beobrand can embark on his bloodfeud, King Oswald orders him southward, to escort holy men bearing sacred relics. When Penda of Mercia marches a warhost into the southern kingdoms, Beobrand and his men are thrown into the midst of the conflict. Beobrand soon finds himself fighting for his life and his honour. In the chaos that grips the south, dark secrets are exposed, bringing into question much that Beobrand had believed true. Can he unearth the answers and exact the vengeance he craves? Or will the blood-price prove too high, even for a warrior of his battle-fame and skill?

Killer of Kings

When the Vikings attack, a novice monk's life is changed forever in Matthew Harffy's new historical adventure. Lindisfarne, AD793. There had been portents – famine, whirlwinds, lightning from clear skies, serpents seen flying through the air. But when the raiders came, no one was prepared. They came from the North, their dragon-prowed longships gliding out of the dawn mist as they descended on the kingdom's most sacred site. It is 8th June AD793, and with the pillage of the monastery on Lindisfarne, the Viking Age has begun. While his fellow monks flee before the Norse onslaught, one young novice stands his ground. He has been taught to turn the other cheek, but faced with the slaughter of his brothers and the pagan desecration of his church, forgiveness is impossible. Hunlaf soon learns that there is a time for faith and prayer... and there is a time for swords. Praise for Matthew Harffy: 'A breathtaking novel that sweeps the reader into a dark and dangerous world' Paul Fraser Collard 'Nothing less than superb ... The tale is fast paced and violence lurks on every page' Historical Novel Society 'Harffy's writing just gets better and better ... He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown' Jemahl Evans 'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' Angus Donald 'I was gripped from the very first sentence ... I thoroughly recommend it for all historical fiction readers' Martin Lake 'A tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind' Giles Kristian '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

A gripping, addictive historical thriller

A Time for Swords

'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this.' Angus Donald We first encounter doughty warrior Beobrand in The Serpent Sword as he fights for King Edwin in Northumbria, while seeking vengeance for his brother's death. In The Cross and the Curse, Beobrand returns home a hero after a stunning victory against the Waelisc, but despite riches and fame for his skill in battle, he is soon surrounded by enemies and treachery on all sides. Blood and Blade sees Beobrand escorting a princess of Wessex to her new home in Northumbria, as bride of King Oswald. With Oswald away fighting the Picts, and old enemies closing in, it is up to Beobrand to overcome the plots and perils in their path and get his new queen safely home. In Killer of Kings, Beobrand finds himself caught up in bloody conflict as Penda of Mercia marches on the southern kingdoms just as Beobrand is sent on an important mission by his king. Warrior of Woden sees Beobrand, now a renowned warlord, fight for his king, Oswald of Northumbria, as Penda invades the kingdom in a clash of pagans and Christians and a battle for the soul of Albion. Storm of Steel sees Beobrand sail to lands he once knew on a perilous quest to avenge a girl kidnapped by slavers. Collected in a single volume for the first time, books 1–6 of the epic Bernicia Chronicles series featuring mighty Anglo-Saxon warlord Beobrand, including: THE SERPENT SWORD THE CROSS AND CURSE BLOOD AND BLADE KILLER OF KINGS WARRIOR OF WODEN STORM OF STEEL Reviewers on Matthew Harffy: 'Nothing less than superb.' Historical Novel Society 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow.' David Gilman

The Bernicia Chronicles Boxset: I-VI

AD 838. Deep in the forests of Wessex, Dunston's solitary existence is shattered when he stumbles on a mutilated corpse. Accused of the murder, Dunston must clear his name and keep the dead man's daughter alive in the face of savage pursuers desperate to prevent a terrible secret from being revealed. Rushing headlong through Wessex, Dunston will need to use all the skills of survival garnered from a lifetime in the wilderness. And if he has any hope of victory against the implacable enemies on their trail, he must confront his long-buried past - becoming the man he once was and embracing traits he had promised he would never return to. The Wolf of Wessex must hunt again; honour and duty demand it.

Píše se rok 739 po Kristu a ostrov Lindisfarnae u Británie je zmítán hladomorem, blesky a větrnými víry. Nikdo z obyvatel však netuší, že se blíží mnohem větší katastrofa. K pobřeží totiž připlouvají ukrutní Vikingové. Po běsnění, které se odehrávalo přímo před jeho očima, si mladý mnich Hunlaf uvědomí, že jsou chvíle určené k modlitbám, ale může také nastat čas mečů.

Čas mečů

AD 635, Anglo-Saxon Britain: Oswald is now King of Northumbria. However, his plans for further alliances and conquests are quickly thrown into disarray when his wedding to a princess of Wessex is interrupted by news of a Pictish uprising. Rushing north, Oswald leaves Beobrand to escort the young queen to her new home. Their path is fraught with danger and uncertainty, and Beobrand must try to unravel secrets and lies if they are to survive. Meanwhile, old enemies are closing in, seeking brutal revenge. Beobrand will give his blood and blade in service to his king, but will that be enough to avert disaster and save his kith and kin from the evil forces that surround them?

Blood and Blade

Beobrand finds himself caught between the perilous intrigues of Frankish royalty and the Church in his latest thrilling Bernicia Chronicles adventure. AD 652. Beobrand has been ordered to lead a group of pilgrims to the holy city of Rome. Chief among the pilgrims is Wilfrid, a novice of the Church with some surprisingly important connections. Taking only Cynan and some of his best men, Beobrand hopes to make the journey through Frankia quickly and return to Northumbria without delay, though the road is long and there are deadly perils on the way. But where Beobrand treads, menace is never far behind, and the lands of the Merovingian kings are rife with intrigue. The new queen of Frankia is unpopular and her ambitious schemes, though benevolent, have made her powerful enemies. Soon Wilfrid, and Beobrand, are caught up in sinister plots against the royal house. After interrupting a brutal ambush in a forest, Beobrand and his trusted gesithas find their lives on the line. Dark forces will stop at nothing to seize control of the Frankish throne, and Beobrand is thrown into a deadly race for survival through foreign lands where he cannot be sure who is friend and who is foe. The only certainty is that if he is to save his men, thwart the plots, and unmask his enemies, blood will flow... PRAISE FOR MATTHEW HARFFY: 'Nothing less than superb... The tale is fast paced and violence lurks on every page' Historical Novel Society 'A breathtaking novel that sweeps the reader into a dark and dangerous world' Paul Fraser Collard 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman 'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' Angus Donald 'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron '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 'Harffy has created a gritty, authentic world, home to a hero who shows us the complexity of what it means to be human - the darkness and the delight' Stephanie Churchill

Forest of Foes

The second book of Matthew Harffy's A Time for Swords series, featuring novice monk turned warrior, Hunlaf, in a new historical adventure set in Dark Ages Britain and Norway.

A Night of Flames

'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. AD 633. Warlords battle across Dark Age Britain to become the first king of the English. In a land rife with upheaval and danger, young Beobrand arrives in Northumbria in search of vengeance and to find his place in the world. First, he must learn to fight with sword and shield, to defend himself and the war-ravaged kingdoms that become his home. Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, Beobrand faces challenges which transform him from a boy to a man, standing strong against his king's enemies in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall, and leading his men into the darkest of nights and the bloodiest of battles. But as adversaries old and new close in, can Beobrand save his kith and kin from the evil forces that surround them? And can he mete out the retribution he craves without sacrificing his honour... or even his soul? Collected in a single volume for the first time, the first three novels in the epic Bernicia Chronicles series, comprising: The Serpent Sword The Cross and the Curse Blood and Blade.

I-III

The Bernicia Chronicles Boxset

AD 630. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical tale set in the world of The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell. Winter grips the land in its icy fist. Terror stalks the hills, moors and marshes of Bernicia. Livestock and men have been found ripped asunder, their bones gnawed, flesh gorged upon. People cower in their halls in fear of the monster that prowls the night. King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus, Octa and band of trusted thegns, to hunt down the beast and to rid his people of this evil. Bassus leads the warriors into the chill wastes of the northern winter, and they soon question whether they are the hunters or the prey. Death follows them as they head deeper into the ice-rimed marshes, and there is ever only one ending for the mission: a welter of blood that will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages. What readers are saying about KIN OF CAIN: 'The tale is full of suspense, it's dark, gritty and gruesome ... what more could you possibly want?' 'Absolutely gripping, edge of the seat reading. If you're into Bernard Cornwell you'll love this!' 'Clever short story by a master story teller' Can't wait for the next instalment of the Bernicia Chronicles? Search 9781784978853 to pre-order KILLER OF KINGS!

A Short Bernicia Tale

Kin of Cain

The second book of Matthew Harffy's new series, featuring novice monk turned warrior, Hunlaf, in a new historical adventure set in Dark Age Britain and Norway.

AD 642. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the fifth instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell. Oswald has reigned over Northumbria for eight years and Beobrand has led the king to ever greater victories. Rewarded for his fealty and prowess in battle, Beobrand is now a wealthy warlord, with a sizable warband. Tales of Beobrand's fearsome black-shielded warriors and the great treasure he has amassed are told throughout the halls of 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. When Penda of Mercia, the great killer of kings, invades Northumbria, Beobrand is once more called upon to stand in an epic battle where the blood of many 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. What readers are saying about the series: '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.

Warrior of Woden

AD 643. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the sixth instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell. Heading south to lands he once considered his home, Beobrand is plunged into a dark world of piracy and slavery when an old friend enlists his help to recover a kidnapped girl. Embarking onto the wind-tossed seas, Beobrand pursues his quarry with single-minded tenacity. But the Whale Road is never calm and his journey is beset with storms, betrayal and violence. As the winds of his wyrd blow him ever further from what he knows, will Beobrand find victory on his quest or has his luck finally abandoned him?

Storm of Steel

AD 643. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the sixth instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles. Heading south to lands he once considered his home, Beobrand is plunged into a dark world of piracy and slavery when an old friend enlists his help to recover a kidnapped girl. Embarking onto the wind-tossed seas, Beobrand pursues his quarry with single-minded tenacity. But the Whale Road is never calm and his journey is beset with storms, betrayal and violence. As the winds of his wyrd blow him ever further from what he knows, will Beobrand find victory on his quest or has his luck finally abandoned him?

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. AD 635. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and third instalment in The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell. Oswald is now King of Northumbria. However, his plans for further alliances and conquests are quickly thrown into disarray when his wedding to a princess of Wessex is interrupted by news of a Pictish uprising. Rushing north, Oswald leaves Beobrand to escort the young queen to her new home. Their path is fraught with danger and uncertainty, Beobrand must try to unravel secrets and lies if they are to survive. Meanwhile, old enemies are closing in, seeking brutal revenge. Beobrand will give his blood and blade in service to his king, but will that be enough to avert disaster and save his kith and kin from the evil forces that surround them? Can't wait for the next instalment? Pre-Order the next instalment KILLER of KINGS - out 1st June 2017. What people are saying about BLOOD AND BLADE: 'Give yourself a treat, dear reader, if you haven't started this series you owe it to yourself to do so' 'This is the best of the series yet' 'A gripping, entertaining read' 'An epic tale of warrior battles, deep comradeship, intrigue, love and lust'

Matthew Harffy

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