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Wulfgar #2
The Traitors' Pit
Young cleric, Wulfgar, does not believe that his older brother is capable of treason. And yet Wystan stands accused of plotting to overthrow King Edward and place his cousin, Seiriol on the throne.
It is clear that Seiriol and the Archbishop plan to lead an army to conquer Leicester. The Archbishop is an empire-builder, and Seiriol is ruthless. Together, they appear unstoppable.
With the evading army continually gathering force, can Wulfgar unearth the evidence to exonerate his brother before he suffers a traitor's death...?
It is clear that Seiriol and the Archbishop plan to lead an army to conquer Leicester. The Archbishop is an empire-builder, and Seiriol is ruthless. Together, they appear unstoppable.
With the evading army continually gathering force, can Wulfgar unearth the evidence to exonerate his brother before he suffers a traitor's death...?
452 pages, Hardcover
First published February 11, 2013
3 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
V.M. Whitworth
2 books15 followersAka Victoria Thompson and
Victoria Whitworth
V.M. works as an academic writer and lecturer, specialising in the Middle Ages. After reading English at Oxford, V.M gained an M.A. and D.Phil from the Centre for Medieval Studies in York.
Having worked as a lecturer, tour guide, artist's model and EFL teacher, V.M. now lives on a smallholding in Orkney with family, cats, ducks and occasional sheep, planning further adventures for Wulfgar.
Victoria Whitworth
V.M. works as an academic writer and lecturer, specialising in the Middle Ages. After reading English at Oxford, V.M gained an M.A. and D.Phil from the Centre for Medieval Studies in York.
Having worked as a lecturer, tour guide, artist's model and EFL teacher, V.M. now lives on a smallholding in Orkney with family, cats, ducks and occasional sheep, planning further adventures for Wulfgar.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 16, 2013
Traitor's Pit can proudly stand as a worthy and successful sequel to Bone Thief. We witness Wulfgar get embroiled in an emotional and legal dilema as he tries to save his brother from treasonous charges. However he is summoned away and finds himself in yet more political intrigue with lords of the north from Jorvik/York as part of his service for the Lady of Mercia. His loyalty has him sent to the danish strongholds of the north where he meets with the Atheling once more and is witness to a murderous coo for the Jorvik throne. But if you think that is the worst of Wuffa's troubes well dear reader Miss V M Whitworth has lots more in store including the appearence of the strong-willed and beautiful Cats-Eyes and everyone's favourite cleric, Ronan; as all three find themselves twoing and frowing as powers shift, fall and ally themselves with the Atheling and Wuffa's loyalty and love for his Lady and his Brother are tested to the limits of his body and heart.
Whitworth has a way with words that fills each scene, each character and indeed each chapter with such energy and depth of detail that as a reader there is no chance for boredom to set in; as the plot thickens, twists, turns, dives, surprises and shocks you as it carries you along through another impressive medieval tale of how one man finds himself nearly and always unintentionally at the heart of power struggles of the old English kingdoms. Whitworth doesn't rely on lengthly passages about the medieval landscape, architecture, smells and sounds. She gives enough to give a true flavour of where her characters lead us on their journeys but her dialogue is by far the strongest feature of the tale. Even when her characters say nothing at all as readers we still sense and feel what should have been said or why things aren't said. Each chapter may not be packed full of battles as most typical historical fiction is but the intrigue, the secrets, the hidden agendas, lies and truths make each one as tense and as dramatic as a battle scene. For we witness a battle of wills across kingdoms and through the minds of people who try to stay afloat in the storm of shifting powers. Whitworth's insight into the influences and powers of the churchs, bishops, priests and clergy at this time is engrossing and shows how even men ordained by God can be as corrupt as any Prince wanting to usurp a ruler's throne.
It goes without saying that the ending is the most tense, dramatic and belief-shattering yet as both reader and Wuffa realise in the harshest of ways that what we have fought and survived for through this incredible adventure may have not been what we were led to believe.
If you did enjoy Bone Thief then I can personally guarantee you will love Traitor's Pit. I am already counting down the days till the third Wuffa adventure is revealed.
Whitworth has a way with words that fills each scene, each character and indeed each chapter with such energy and depth of detail that as a reader there is no chance for boredom to set in; as the plot thickens, twists, turns, dives, surprises and shocks you as it carries you along through another impressive medieval tale of how one man finds himself nearly and always unintentionally at the heart of power struggles of the old English kingdoms. Whitworth doesn't rely on lengthly passages about the medieval landscape, architecture, smells and sounds. She gives enough to give a true flavour of where her characters lead us on their journeys but her dialogue is by far the strongest feature of the tale. Even when her characters say nothing at all as readers we still sense and feel what should have been said or why things aren't said. Each chapter may not be packed full of battles as most typical historical fiction is but the intrigue, the secrets, the hidden agendas, lies and truths make each one as tense and as dramatic as a battle scene. For we witness a battle of wills across kingdoms and through the minds of people who try to stay afloat in the storm of shifting powers. Whitworth's insight into the influences and powers of the churchs, bishops, priests and clergy at this time is engrossing and shows how even men ordained by God can be as corrupt as any Prince wanting to usurp a ruler's throne.
It goes without saying that the ending is the most tense, dramatic and belief-shattering yet as both reader and Wuffa realise in the harshest of ways that what we have fought and survived for through this incredible adventure may have not been what we were led to believe.
If you did enjoy Bone Thief then I can personally guarantee you will love Traitor's Pit. I am already counting down the days till the third Wuffa adventure is revealed.
March 12, 2013
I loved THE BONE THIEF - the novel that introduced Wulfgar, the sub-deacon and found this second novel, just as involving. I’m fascinated by the small details of the time and period around 900 AD, and deeply impressed by V M Whitworth’s knowledge, however, it is Wulfgar’s struggle to do what is right, and even to see what is right, that grips me most - in a world where rulers and loyalties change at great speed and most people live on the brink of chaos. I was so glad to meet again some of the vivid secondary characters that I met in the first book, Ronan, the rugged, but most honest and decent warrior/priest - Cats-Eyes, the enigmatic, and alluring woman-trader, - young Kevin and even a hint of baby Electus and the attractive, but untrustworthy Atheling. The story builds to a horrifying climax and Wulfgar needs to be brave indeed, as the dramatic cover design suggests, though the courage needed may not be quite of the kind we expect. I always love the Author’s historical note and very much appreciate the character list and the glossary at the end, for I have gone some way to learning a few words of Old Norse, Old English and Gaelic by reading this book. I do look forward to more of Wulfgar’s adventures.
May 19, 2019
Perhaps I should have got hold of The Bone Thief first. I came to this novel not realising that it was a as sequel and found just the list of characters and their relationships a bit off-putting at the start of the book.
Still Whitworth writes a good character and a pacy adventure. Almost too much happens to Wulfgar in this one, and at times it seems that one is stretched between his involvement with a range of other people. I enjoyed Daughter of the Wolf more, but this was still a good read hovering, for me, between 3 and 4 stars.
I'll re-read and re-review it after I have read The Bone Thief.
Still Whitworth writes a good character and a pacy adventure. Almost too much happens to Wulfgar in this one, and at times it seems that one is stretched between his involvement with a range of other people. I enjoyed Daughter of the Wolf more, but this was still a good read hovering, for me, between 3 and 4 stars.
I'll re-read and re-review it after I have read The Bone Thief.
October 11, 2018
Loved it. Really enjoyed this story line, characters and plot.
I do not normally go as far back as Anglo Danish/Anglo Saxon times in my reading, usually hovering in the Medieval period, but I really enjoyed this. I started reading this without realising it was the second book in the Wulfgar series and hope that this will not have too much impact on my reading of the first novel when I get a copy.
I'll certainly keep my eyes open for any follow ups.
I do not normally go as far back as Anglo Danish/Anglo Saxon times in my reading, usually hovering in the Medieval period, but I really enjoyed this. I started reading this without realising it was the second book in the Wulfgar series and hope that this will not have too much impact on my reading of the first novel when I get a copy.
I'll certainly keep my eyes open for any follow ups.
October 20, 2017
This series is getting good, definitely one for fans of Bernard Cornwells Last Kingdom series as it is set in the same period and features many of the same historic characters. The hero is also very likeable, being more of an Everyman as opposed to a Teutonic warrior.
May 19, 2020
No better or worse than the first in the series. I wouldn't bother with the third, if there is one. Good history, poor literature.
September 6, 2016
I loved it. One of my very minor issues with the first book in the series, The Bone Thief, was that initially it seemed to drag on a tad and take a while to really get going, but Whitworth seems to have eliminated that completely with the second in the series. I found that the chapters were the perfect length for me and that it was often difficult for me to put the book down. As with the first novel, the characters were as brilliant and involving as ever and I continue to love Wulfgar as the unlikely hero. I will be eagerly awaiting a third novel in the series.
July 20, 2016
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical mysteries. It is set in Anglo-Saxon times (circa 900CE) and features Wulfgar's next adventures following those presented in The Bone Thief. He sets out to exonerate his older brother Wystan, who stands accused of treason, but his duty to serve his Lady causes many digressions before he can come to terms with the crisis in his family.
March 21, 2015
Cracking good time.
This is a really fun read. The way the seeds of the rebellion/invasion against Edward the Elder under the leadership of Æthelwold are presented are totally believable and compelling.
Wulfgar and his companions are a wonderful ensemble who I want to know better.
I wish the third book (or anything else in V.M. Whitworth's vision of Anglo-Saxon England) were already available.
This is a really fun read. The way the seeds of the rebellion/invasion against Edward the Elder under the leadership of Æthelwold are presented are totally believable and compelling.
Wulfgar and his companions are a wonderful ensemble who I want to know better.
I wish the third book (or anything else in V.M. Whitworth's vision of Anglo-Saxon England) were already available.
September 5, 2014
A great followup to The Bone Thief, in fact it may be better.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews