What do you think?
Rate this book
Dominion of Dust: an exciting Viking-era adventure full of deadly intrigue and fierce combat
PREORDER MATTHEW HARFFY'S THRILLING NEW NOVEL BANE OF BERNICIA NOW!
Hunlaf risks the wrath of the mighty Byzantine Empire on a dangerous voyage to the Holy Land. A rip-roaring Viking-era adventure from the author of the Bernicia Chronicles.
'Extremely satisfying and rewarding, Dominion of Dust rampages across the page with slicing action' LoveReading
AD 797, Cyprus. Warrior-monk Hunlaf and his crew are on a voyage to acquire an important Christian relic before it falls into the hands of Byzantium's scheming Empress Eirene.
Hunlaf's crew receive unexpected help as they seek their treasure, but soon find themselves betrayed. About to leave for home empty-handed, the adventurers instead sail further to Jerusalem, the Holy Land, abundant in relics.
And dangerous intrigues.
Hunlaf and his friends will face a deadly race against time as they attempt to secure a holy treasure, outwit Byzantium's zealous agents, and avoid grisly deaths at the hands of the local rulers.
From bestselling author MATTHEW HARFFY, A Time for Swords is an epic historical action-adventure series set during the dramatic Viking Age. The thrilling tale of Hunlaf, a monk who becomes a warrior following a devastating Viking attack, the series chronicles his daring quests through Early Medieval Europe. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Giles Kristian.
READ ALL OF MATTHEW HARFFY'S TERRIFIC A TIME FOR SWORDS
#1 A Time for Swords
#2 A Night of Flames
#3 A Day of Reckoning
#4 Dominion of Dust
Hunlaf risks the wrath of the mighty Byzantine Empire on a dangerous voyage to the Holy Land. A rip-roaring Viking-era adventure from the author of the Bernicia Chronicles.
'Extremely satisfying and rewarding, Dominion of Dust rampages across the page with slicing action' LoveReading
AD 797, Cyprus. Warrior-monk Hunlaf and his crew are on a voyage to acquire an important Christian relic before it falls into the hands of Byzantium's scheming Empress Eirene.
Hunlaf's crew receive unexpected help as they seek their treasure, but soon find themselves betrayed. About to leave for home empty-handed, the adventurers instead sail further to Jerusalem, the Holy Land, abundant in relics.
And dangerous intrigues.
Hunlaf and his friends will face a deadly race against time as they attempt to secure a holy treasure, outwit Byzantium's zealous agents, and avoid grisly deaths at the hands of the local rulers.
From bestselling author MATTHEW HARFFY, A Time for Swords is an epic historical action-adventure series set during the dramatic Viking Age. The thrilling tale of Hunlaf, a monk who becomes a warrior following a devastating Viking attack, the series chronicles his daring quests through Early Medieval Europe. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Giles Kristian.
READ ALL OF MATTHEW HARFFY'S TERRIFIC A TIME FOR SWORDS
#1 A Time for Swords
#2 A Night of Flames
#3 A Day of Reckoning
#4 Dominion of Dust
- GenresHistorical Fiction
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2025
70 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Harffy
35 books745 followersMatthew Harffy is the author of the action-packed series of historical novels, the Bernicia Chronicles.
Matthew’s 2020 novel, Wolf of Wessex, was his first departure from the seventh century. Taking place a couple of centuries later in the early years of the Viking Age, it tells the tale of ageing warrior, Dunston, as he tries to find a man’s vicious murderers, keep the victim’s orphaned daughter alive and uncover the dark secret that threatens to plunge the kingdom into war. The book was very well received, with The Times calling it “a treat of a book”.
His A Time for Swords series is set at the dawn of the Viking Age. It follows the adventures of monk-turned-warrior, Hunlaf, who witnesses the first attack on the monastery of Lindisfarne and feels compelled to pick up a blade and organise the defence against the Norse raiders.
Before becoming a full-time author, Matthew worked in the IT industry, where he spent most of his days writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him! Prior to that, he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator.
Matthew lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.
Matthew’s 2020 novel, Wolf of Wessex, was his first departure from the seventh century. Taking place a couple of centuries later in the early years of the Viking Age, it tells the tale of ageing warrior, Dunston, as he tries to find a man’s vicious murderers, keep the victim’s orphaned daughter alive and uncover the dark secret that threatens to plunge the kingdom into war. The book was very well received, with The Times calling it “a treat of a book”.
His A Time for Swords series is set at the dawn of the Viking Age. It follows the adventures of monk-turned-warrior, Hunlaf, who witnesses the first attack on the monastery of Lindisfarne and feels compelled to pick up a blade and organise the defence against the Norse raiders.
Before becoming a full-time author, Matthew worked in the IT industry, where he spent most of his days writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him! Prior to that, he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator.
Matthew lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 9, 2025
4.5 rounded up to 5!
🦁 🪓 ⚒️ 🗡⚔️🐘
Well, Harffy’s done it again.
Dominion of Dust is another slice of brilliant historical fiction—gritty, immersive, and absolutely dripping with authenticity. You can feel the mud, the blood, and the tension in every page. Clearly a ton of research went into this one, and it shows. The world feels lived in, and the stakes felt real.
Hunlaf is a cracking lead—reminds me a lot of Beobrand from Harffy's other series: tough, brooding, complex, but with that thread of honour that keeps you rooting for him no matter what mess he’s in. He’s the kind of character who carries the show, and he does it brilliantly.
The pacing was tight, the religious aspects were balanced and the writing had Harffy’s usual craftsmanship—concise when it needs to be, rich when it counts. No bloat, just storytelling that hits hard and keeps you turning pages.
Harffy continues to knock it out of the park and is simply a powerhouse in this genre and is by a distance the best in his field right now
🦁 🪓 ⚒️ 🗡⚔️🐘
Well, Harffy’s done it again.
Dominion of Dust is another slice of brilliant historical fiction—gritty, immersive, and absolutely dripping with authenticity. You can feel the mud, the blood, and the tension in every page. Clearly a ton of research went into this one, and it shows. The world feels lived in, and the stakes felt real.
Hunlaf is a cracking lead—reminds me a lot of Beobrand from Harffy's other series: tough, brooding, complex, but with that thread of honour that keeps you rooting for him no matter what mess he’s in. He’s the kind of character who carries the show, and he does it brilliantly.
The pacing was tight, the religious aspects were balanced and the writing had Harffy’s usual craftsmanship—concise when it needs to be, rich when it counts. No bloat, just storytelling that hits hard and keeps you turning pages.
Harffy continues to knock it out of the park and is simply a powerhouse in this genre and is by a distance the best in his field right now
November 2, 2025
Hunlaf
Mathew continues to excell in his story telling first with the hero beo now hunlaf bernard cornwell better look out theres a new master coming
Mathew continues to excell in his story telling first with the hero beo now hunlaf bernard cornwell better look out theres a new master coming
June 20, 2025
another brilliant tale of Hunlaf of Ubbanford.
I love this series of books reminiscent of the last kingdom series and just as gripping.
perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Dan Jones . Thank you Mr Harffy for a brilliant set of books now get back in and write the ne t one.
I love this series of books reminiscent of the last kingdom series and just as gripping.
perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Dan Jones . Thank you Mr Harffy for a brilliant set of books now get back in and write the ne t one.
December 15, 2025
What a fun historical tale! It’s part spy thriller, part Indiana Jones adventure, but set in the 800s, when Charlemagne vied with the Byzantines to gain control of the most powerful relics of the church. Hunlaf and his hardy companions from the north—Britain and Norway—find themselves on a quest to the Holy Land for one such precious object for the Frankish leader. Adversaries of all shapes and sizes are on the prowl. Death haunts every cave, desert trail, and even the streets of Jerusalem. I enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plot. You’re never very far from a good fight or chase scene! But there is true substance to this story as well. The way different characters respond to the holy places and relics rings true. And as a translator myself, I appreciated Hunlaf’s role as the interpreter of language and customs for his crew, and thus for the reader as well. Readers who get to the Historical Note at the end will be glad that the author took his wife’s advice on a certain historical detail. I look forward to Hunlaf’s continued adventures!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
December 20, 2025
I really, really love this book! All the characters are interesting, the story was gripping. I was pulled through time, joining their mission and went through all the trials and successes they went through. I’ve become invested in Hunlaf’s story and relate to his spiritual side. As in every book in this series, Harffy expertly describes the solace Hunlaf finds in prayer, and it makes ME feel the comfort/relief that Hunlaf experiences. He’s not some superhuman hero; he’s a relatable guy who makes bad decisions as well as good. He’s a brave warrior and I love that he has found family in the men he sails with. I’m pulling for him. This book kept me up at night, because I didn’t want to put it down. I just HAD to see what happened next. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book!
January 14, 2026
Great read. Ending is not as anticipated which makes a change in the ending of novels. My only "gripe" is the length of time between the publishing of these stories as over time the reader loses touch with the main characters. Frankly it probably would be better to wait on the publishing of the full series and then read them as a continuing saga. Other than this it is a fast paced well written and researched novel. I look forward to the next installment
December 5, 2025
Brilliant book we'll worth a read
Matthew you have done it again brilliant book could not put it down well worth 10 stars very gripping stories can't wait to see your next out to order if you have not been able to read it you are missing out the best author of today's history writers well done Matthew
Matthew you have done it again brilliant book could not put it down well worth 10 stars very gripping stories can't wait to see your next out to order if you have not been able to read it you are missing out the best author of today's history writers well done Matthew
January 1, 2026
Hunlaf and company go to Cyprus and the Holy Land to recover some relics, which can be used to help Charlemagne's ambitions progress towards becoming Emperor.
I'm getting the same vibe as with the other books in the series, it is definitely not bad as such, and it is positive that the author changes the decor every book to keep it fresh and novel. However, it does miss that extra touch that made Cornwell's The Last Kingdom or Cameron's Long War so special to me, and whose books I nearly uniformly rated 4,5 or 5 stars.
Because of that, this ain't a series that I see myself rereading any time soon. It lacks in drama and adrenaline-inducing action and excitement. The main character is a bit dry and stuffy, too much focus on how unskilled and lucky he is. The friction between Hunlaf and Revna feels too forced, unfortunately. Last but not least, too few main characters die to make it feel real.
Again, it's not bad. The action is enjoyable, the story is intriguing, the setting and background are interesting, and at times we have some witty jokes that bring a smile on my face. But it's not enough to score more than a 3,5/5 in my book.
I'm getting the same vibe as with the other books in the series, it is definitely not bad as such, and it is positive that the author changes the decor every book to keep it fresh and novel. However, it does miss that extra touch that made Cornwell's The Last Kingdom or Cameron's Long War so special to me, and whose books I nearly uniformly rated 4,5 or 5 stars.
Because of that, this ain't a series that I see myself rereading any time soon. It lacks in drama and adrenaline-inducing action and excitement. The main character is a bit dry and stuffy, too much focus on how unskilled and lucky he is. The friction between Hunlaf and Revna feels too forced, unfortunately. Last but not least, too few main characters die to make it feel real.
Again, it's not bad. The action is enjoyable, the story is intriguing, the setting and background are interesting, and at times we have some witty jokes that bring a smile on my face. But it's not enough to score more than a 3,5/5 in my book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews