The House of Wolf: The House of Aethelwolf, Book 1

The House of Wolf #1

by Tony Robinson

Sir Tony Robinson - actor, presenter, historical expert and star of Blackadder and Time Team - makes his adult fiction debut with this earthy, entertaining and gloriously witty recreation of the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great, and the making of England.

______

Rome
Father Asser is waiting to die.

His idealism has landed him in a papal prison on false charges of heresy, but then salvation arrives in an unexpected form. Cardinal Balotelli also dreams of a better Europe, free from the ravages of the Norlanders. He has an important job for Asser, one that will take him home to Wessex.

Wessex
King Aethelwolf's power is fading, but none of his feckless children are fit to rule.

His eldest sons would rather fight each other than the blood-thirsty Norlander invaders. His daughter, Swift, is clever and cunning, but sometimes blinded by her ambition. Finally there's Alfred, his once-promising younger son, whom nobody has seen in years.

Then Wolf meets a young priest with a proposition from Rome that could change everything.

Lindisfarne
Rhiannon is a slave who wants to see her Saxon captors punished for their crimes. So when she meets Guthrum, a Norlander hell-bent on wiping Wessex from the map, she sets out on a journey of destruction.

So begins an epic struggle between greed and idealism, ambition and betrayal, freedom and tyranny. Because change always meets with resistance and, on the path to power, nobody can be trusted.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Audiobook, Medieval

537 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2025

About the author

Sir Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, amateur historian, TV presenter, author and political activist. He is known for playing "Baldrick" in the BBC television series Blackadder and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History.

Reviews

[Silver Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Wolf is an excellent piece of historical fiction inspired by ‘The Life of King Alfred’ - a 9th century biography by Bishop Asser of Wales.
A multi POV epic, it tells the story of the family of King Alfred; The House of Wolf. It moves between Anglo-Saxon Wessex & 9th century Rome and paints a vivid picture of a European Christendom in crisis, attacked by Vikings and each other. The political plots, alliances, betrayals and back stabbing are fascinating and make the story exciting and so very clever!
The House of Wolf are all fighting each other for the ‘crown’, so much so they’ve made themselves vulnerable to Viking attacks and plots from the Holy Roman Emperor & the Pope. Weaved through the exciting plot is just wonderful historical detail which makes you feel like you’re walking through Anglo-Saxon feasting halls and fields. And so witty & full of heart.
My favourite parts though were the characters themselves; flawed and complex. The female characters were my favourite-especially Swift, Moria & Rhiannon. The author brought them to life so well & I rooted for them throughout.

The evening and the morning by Ken Follet meets Game of Thrones. Loved it and can’t wait for the next instalment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to review.

[Francis Pellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was very good. it was brisk but never felt rushed.

[Tom Fordham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of love for Tony having grown up with Blackadder and Time Team, so I was excited to listen to his first foray into historical fiction. I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't blown away either. I think my main critique is the multiple POV chapters, they hop around a lot and its hard for me to keep track of the multiple narratives happening at once, so I found myself trying to recap whilst listening and that was difficult. I admire Tony's imagination to bring the Life of King Alfred by Asser to life - a book I have read - and it captures the shifting tides of the time but not of the characters particularly stood out to me as I don't feel like Tony stayed with each one long enough in the chapters to really have their personalities shine through.

However as a slice of historical fiction it does what it says on the tin and gives a fresh slant on the period. It just needed to slow down a bit and build some atmosphere instead of jumping all over the place.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book. The story centered around Aethelwolf and the end of his reign, and his children as they fought for power. I enjoyed the story, but felt it was a little bit too fast paced at times, which stopped me getting into it fully. I enjoyed the politics of Rome, and there were definitely some good characters, especially Swift and Alfred.

[Rik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever blending of fact and fiction, with some great characters thrown in. The character list at the beginning of the book was a little daunting, and though there were many POV's, it was generally easy to keep track of who each chapter was about (though I did occasionally mix up some of the minor female characters in Rome). Not fast paced, but thoroughly engaging, and a good dive into intrigue and history.

[lonnson]

This is gonna be interesting, because Asser was one of the most detestable characters in The Last Kingdom (which I love)

[Jemima Pett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This three-pronged approach to the history of Wessex is a great idea, and based on sound historical sources. The fighting, in-fighting and intrigue provide a tortuous mix of plotting, liaisons made and promises broken. The scenic descriptions are excellent, the contrast between the various stages of civilisation well set, and the peripheral characters (mostly the working people) given scant regard. But enough for you to know that they did get scant regard from everyone else, too.

But it reads very slowly, for such an action packed story. Maybe it goes in skirmishes; advance and retreat. There were several times I felt I had to get on and read it, rather than looking forward to picking it up again. The only time I felt I couldn’t put it down, really, was the last scene, with the ending and flight from Rome.

However I always felt in safe hands, a tale that had been told in countless pieces before by the author, who, for international readers, is probably even better known to UK readers for his archaeology programmes than for the inimitable Baldrick in Blackadder. Tony Robinson knows this era, and it shows. There is a brilliance about it that made me wonder why I felt something was lacking. At 72%, I realised what it was: I really didn’t care what happened to any of the characters. Now, if Sir Tony can fix that, it’ll be worth a 5 star rating, and I can look forward to the next in what promises to be a series.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I hate that I didn't end up loving this one, as I was really hoping to, given that I love Tony Robinson himself. However, I had to DNF this book, because it just wasn't giving me any joy to read.

As a reviewer, I have a rule that I give every book 100 pages to grab me; otherwise, I probably would have put this down sooner. That's a shame, because there are definitely the seeds of an interesting story in this book, and I'm sure Robinson knows his stuff regarding the history.

I think my main issue was the prose; it was overly simplistic and just generally uninspiring. Not terrible, but sort of.... plodding. I wasn't really expecting something literary that would have blown my socks off - and I don't think this book needed that - but the prose was basic enough for me to notice it was basic, rather than fading into the background as solid, decently well-written prose would have.

Additionally, this book jumps from plot point to plot point very quickly, without allowing the reader to truly get to know the characters or invest in them. The chapters are very short, which doesn't really give the reader enough time to sit with and get to know a character before they're whisked off to the next character, next place, next thing that's happening. One of this book's main problems is that it doesn't linger on anything long enough to let us absorb it or get a sense of atmosphere. I ended up not really caring or being interested in anyone, even after reading over 100 pages of the story.

Nothing in this book is dire, or wrong, or even offensively bad, which is why I'm giving it a three-star rating. It's just... boring.

[Acantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ambitious tale of betrayal, deceit and the forging of a kingdom.

This is historical fiction, inspired by the family of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex who eventually defeated the Dane's and created the Danelaw. But this book doesn't near to that point - this is the first in an epic series and there is a lot of history still to cover.

There are a lot of character's here, a lot of different locations to get to grips with. It is clearly aiming to ape the Game of Thrones model, and it mostly works although the first ten or so percent is hard to get through as so many different characters are thrown at you. I even groaned at one point, finishing a chapter - the chapters are for the most part short, which does keep you going - as I started the next one and realised I was being introduced to yet another PoV stream to follow.

I found the writing for the most part engaging, and page turning - the author clearly knows his stuff, and is passionate about the time period. He's confident enough to make his own changes to history in honour of his vision and still make it work. I cared about what was going to happen to most of the people in the book - not Wolf though. I know there was an attempt to make him sympathetic but I really didn't care for Wolf.

The women in this book are particularly powerful. They might outwardly conform to their husbands and the men in their lives, submitting to the expectations of the time, but each of them, in their own way, does their best to break free of that and rise above it. From Moria, married against her will, to slave girls, to abbesses and of course, Swift, daughter of the Wolf and just as ambitious as any of her male relatives. They were all fantastic, no matter which side of the conflict they were on. Or even which conflict, as there are layers within layers of this plot. You need time and focus to get the best out of this book, but its worth the effort.

By the end of the book most of the pieces are in place for what is sure to be a dramatic second book and a showdown between two nations, two religions that has been over 500 pages in the making.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[pastiesandpages - Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Wolf by Sir Tony Robinson

Thank you @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the ARC.
I was so excited to be offered this book and even more so when the uncorrected proof arrived with sprayed edges!

Did it meet expectations?
Oh my days, yes!
This book is GLORIOUS!
An historical epic set in the 9th century during Anglo-Saxon times.

A fast-paced read that immersed me totally in the lives of the characters.
There's something about this period of history which really appeals to me. This is the first book of a series which will deal with the rise of King Alfred and the formation of England.
As we join the story, the kingdom of Wessex is run by High Aethelwolf. As he ages it's harder to cling onto power. The kingdom is beset from all sides. Mercia, the Welsh and the Cornish Britons, and the biggest threat of all, the Norlanders.

And Wolf's squabbling children are not living up to his expectations to take over & run his territory. Bear & Hawk are short term thinkers, relying on strength and their name. Their sister Swift is devious and formidable and desperate to succeed in a man's world. Their brother Red is naive and simple. And no one talks about Aethelfraed who has left Wessex after falling out with the family. He is the man destined to be King.

Meanwhile in Rome there is religious infighting, a new Pope, and a city that is still trying to come to terms with the fall of Empire from centuries past.

It's Succession in Anglo-Saxon England & will appeal to fans of the historical epics of Ken Follett, the immersive world building of Tolkien, the machinations & brutal power struggles of Game of Thrones and the wit & clever plotting of Terry Pratchett.

From Blackadder to Time Team, Tony has been involved with history on our screens for many years & his research & love of the subject shines through. It's authentic and makes you feel like you're there.

Father Asser, Swift, Alfred & Rhiannon (a slave who joins the Norlanders) are some of my favourite characters.

There are twists & surprises galore. Trust no one!

[Oli Turner]

#thehouseofwolf by #tonyrobinson published in 2025. The first book in a trilogy about #alfredthegreat so not a complete story, although some plot threads are tied up. Alfred isn’t the main focus. He is shown to be moral and strong but so far not deserving of all the mythical praise the other characters gave him in conversation earlier in the novel. Presumably he will have to earn it through trials and hardship. At the moment I am Not sure how a teacher of children becomes a leader of men. I found his sister Swift to be the most interesting character. Shrewd and capable but overlooked by her family. The book was surprising - I never knew where it was going.
There are a Large number of characters so the character list at the start was helpful. It Would have also been helpful if locations were given at the beginning of each chapter as it jumps around a lot. There were minimal description of location/scene/environment, but quite a bit of dialogue so it has a relatively quick pace. There was a lot going on and I enjoyed the plot. I felt the timeline was a bit unclear, some chapters and paragraphs follow immediately after one another, others have weeks or months in between. A date on each chapter may have helped avoid initial confusion. Often felt like I was having to catch up. I wonder if the writing has been cut down in order to reduce the page count it might benefit from having a little more time to breathe as it just felt like it was missing a little depth. I will be interested to see how the next book develops the characters and the plot.

[Kerry Hennigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first novel of a planned trilogy by Sir Tony Robinson is a fun romp through Early Medieval England. It is the time of Aethelwolf (Wolf) king of the Westsaxons and his squabbling offspring, one of whom is Alfred, the future king. But Alfred is in Rome, running a school and quite content that he is estranged from his quarrelsome family.

Threatening not just Wessex but many vulnerable coastal settlements of southern Britain are the Norlanders (i.e. Vikings) under the leadership of Guthrum, whose army is strategically positioned to strike from its camp on the Isle of Wight.

Defensively, Britain is weakened by its competitive separate kingdoms and the internal factions within the ruling families. But it is not isolated from the broader European world, whether it be the Holy Roman Empire of Charles the Bald or the inner sanctum of Pope Benedict in Rome. There are many players in the power games that exist between kingdoms and factions, for which, thankfully, there is a Cast of Characters list at the beginning of the book.

The House of Wolf is a fast-paced, entertaining romp through the broader European world of the period. Much more fun than a lot of history lessons! Despite my concentration lagging towards the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the next volume in the trilogy.

[Margaret Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great big book. over 500 pages. If you like historical fiction with some fact thrown in you will enjoy it. This is Tony Robinsons first Adult novel
it is about King Alfreds family. The sibling rivalrys on steroids. When the book opens Athelwolf the current King s showing his age. But decides to travel to Rome to talk to new pop Benedict. Pope Leo died after falling from, or was he pushed a window. Wolf becomes unwell travelling by horseback with his wife and father Asser. His wife travels ahead with Asser becomes ill after arriving in Rome and dies.
Their youngest son Alfred has been in Rome for some time and has established a school for poor boys.
All the intrigue and plots nd trichery are too many to mention especially in Rome with rich poor against and the church. The only girl Ethel swift arrives in Rome and tries to set things to rights.
The Norlanders or vikings as we now call them have a part in all the intrigue and battles in Wessex.
A couple of these and their future would make another novel should Tony decide to write a follow up, Story finishes with Alfred and sister Swift along with father Assrer returing home and another brother of Alfred dying poisoned by his wife it seems.
Not many more to go before Alfred becomes king and as the rest as they sat is history.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Aethel Wolf is aging and the inheritance of Wessex is subject to challenge. His eldest children all think they are capable, his youngest are either banished or not so keen on power. Now there is a threat from the Norlanders who are raiding the wessex coasts and threatening the fragile peace. Meanwhile in Rome, Asser is released from his prison and charged with defending Wessex by creating a treaty with Wolf. Wolf's estranged son, Aethelfraed, does not want to meet his father but circumstances mean new alliances need to be formed quickly.
Essentially this is the story of the rise of Alfred the Great but is 'Alfred: the Lost Years' so historically it is very interesting. However the style of writing is rather quirky, it's not deliberately comic (like 'Horrible Histories') but nor is it straight historical fiction, there is lots of fact in amongst the fiction and the humour. In the acknowledgements this makes sense and Robinson says he is strongly influenced by a number of writers but what this reader senses is the entertaining narrative of a Ken Follett and the sense of the dark humour of Terry Pratchett. For some readers this won't work, however I really liked it!

[Emma Kingdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book plunges you straight into the scheming and remarkably complex world leading up to the rise of Alfred (later known as Alfred the Great). Expect petty family politics, brutal Nordic attacks, and the gritty struggles that shaped history. This, combined with Tony’s clear skill in writing flowing conversations, made the characters feel so real and familiar - honestly you guys have to check it out!

It’s not always the easiest read (thank goodness for the super helpful character guide at the start 🙌), but that’s what makes it so rich and rewarding. Every character feels alive, every conversation sharp with wit and realism. My favourite character out of everyone was Rhiannon, who in the grand scheme of things had a smaller part but those smaller parts added variety to the main plot.

✨ For lovers of:
⚔️ Court politics and power struggles
🧩 Complex, intertwined characters
🛡️ Brutal, authentic medieval life
💬 Witty, realistic conversations

This is historical fiction that doesn’t just tell a story - it immerses you in it.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House of Wolf is a substantial novel full of strong characters and demonstrating the author’s love of the period of history in which it is set. I especially enjoyed following the Wolf family, their feuds and squabbles and the attempts of Father Asser to forge some kind of consolidation both in Wessex and in Rome. The intrigue and machinations of pope and cardinals was deftly handled. I loved Swift’s part in the story, a woman of great strength and character who was still very believable.
The wayward son, Alfred, introduced as a rather innocuous character in his absence at the start was built up layer by layer into a decisive and confident leader as adept at intrigue as the best of them and obviously destined for great things.
Although I felt the deviation into the lives of the Norlanders distracted a little from the main thread this was a terrific and immersive read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Wolf pulls the reader in on the first page and doesn't let go!

This adult fiction debut, by Tony Robinson, is based on the life of King Alfred, the story moves between Wessex and Rome. 

It is written in such a detailed descriptive way, that you cannot help but feel you are in the Anglo-saxon world, on the journey, with the characters. 

The author has used multiple P.O.V's.

He has portrayed the ambition,greed and betrayal of some character's, but also the loyalty of others, perfectly, proving the calibre of storyteller he is! 

This descriptive, suspenseful and sometimes funny novel is a must-read. I can't wait for the next installment. 

Historical fiction at its best! 

Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC, in return for an honest review.

 

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall the book is written well and the story flows nicely.

I really enjoyed the different character plots and how interlinked the different stories were.

However the fast paced writing does leave a lot of unanswered questions and many “convenient” conclusions. Significant events seemed to happen very quickly with no explanation of how or why, especially when a paragraph before it seemed impossible. For example, the betrayal of Dotore or the death of cardinal Balotelli. For two characters that were so pinnacle to the whole story, the book quickly wrapped up their narratives in the space of 2 paragraphs, from which all character seemed to move on pretty quickly.

Overall I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the sequel.

[Alex Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I went into tis one quite on faith. I love Tony Robinson as a TV Presenter on Time Team and other excellent History Documentaries, and I know he wrote Children's books on history. I figured his first Novel would be a slam dunk , and it wasn't. It is readable and the plot, even though a bit scattered, moves along quickly but if this was a transition from writing for a young audience to grown ups I think it fails. It still reads as if It was written for a 12 year old that wants to get into historical fiction. And if that was the target then 5 stars, but for me it was ok to pass the time walking the dog, but I would sooner pick up another book from his daughter Laura who's work I did truly enjoy. Still love Tony though!

[Martin Neale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 34/40

Sir Tony Robinson "The House of Wolf" ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The first in a planned trilogy, this novel is set at a time before England was a nation. It deals with political intrigue both here and in Rome, the threat of Viking raiders and charts the rise of the king who will become known as Alfred the Great.

The writing style for me was a bit simple and the final closing stages seemed very rushed. More famous for playing Baldrick or appearing on Time Team, this is Sir Tony's first venture into adult fiction, I really wanted to enjoy it but was left disappointed.

Hopefully things will improve with the next book, but at the moment Bernard Cornwell covers the same period in our history, far, far better.
I

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Brings to life Anglo-Saxon England and ninth century Rome. A cross between Game of Thrones and Terry Pratchett, a lot of humour and heart amongst the blood and gore. I do like the chatacterisation of Alfred, and I'm looking forward to spending more time with him later on in the trilogy (series?)

My one criticism would be that the movement from place to place, whilst keeping the story it fresh and pacy, does sometimes break the thread of a character's story and journey. I got a bit lost a the end with all the priests and characters in Rome that we hadn't seen for a couple of hundred pages or so.

[Tom Reviews Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I am slightly disappointed in this book. Not in the plot itself, which is engrossing, if slightly slow to start with. Nor the characters, the main ones of which are well developed and well written.
No, for me the disappointment stems from the fact this is a work of historical fiction written by Tony Robinson, and at no point is there a single mention of a cunning plan, despite there being ample opportunities.
Blackadder references aside this is a well written piece of historical fiction, taking its inspiration from the historical record. But it is accessible, you don't need to know the history to enjoy the book.
Happy Reading

[Hilary Mortz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Wolf is quite possibly the best historical novel I’ve read in a very long time.

Tony Robinson is a great writer - he fleshes out his characters and events in such a warm, entertaining and colourful manner that he makes this dark ages saga essential reading for all fans of the genre. I was genuinely sorry when I was approaching the end but then I realised that the story was intended to continue and I will be keenly seeking out Volume 2 onwards.

Many, many thanks to all concerned for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this terrific novel.

[Lesley McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more, but maybe it’s just not my period in time. Tony Robinson’s House of Wolf, set in Anglo-Saxon England, presents us with a put upon King Æthelwulf. He’s getting older, but his children are constantly squabbling (same old, same old), so who will be his successor? Set to a backdrop of invaders and coniving Christians, this feels well-researched but it just didn’t capture me the way my favourite historical writers do.
There’s no denying it’s a capable debut if you like your history earthy and a bit funny though. Thanks to @netgalley for the drc to review. #historicfiction #anglosaxons #kingalfred #HouseOfWolf #netgalley #englishhistory

[Reading In Yorkshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child my family and I would often watch Tony Robinson on the TV either on Time Team or Blackadder. I absolutely loved both shows so you can imagine my excitement reading his debut novel.

The House of Wolf tells the story of Alfred the Great through a multi POV. Set in the Dark Ages and spanning many locations including Rome and Wessex, Tony has really brought the story to life with witticism and entertainment, creating a historical masterpiece.

There are plots, greed, ambition, betrayals, which kept me captivated throughout. The characters are richly layered and perfectly imperfect.

I look forward to reading Tony's next novel.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this, though it felt a bit flat overall. I think as historical fictions go, this is a good accessible read.

Robinson's voice comes through in this novel and there are notes of wit and drama (though perhaps listening to him narrate it played a part in this...)

A decent story inspired by Pillars of the Earth, Game of Thrones, and attempting to emulate Pratchett in parts.

I didn't really feel overly gripped, but I know it's the first of a series and I will read on. There's a lot of characters, politics and quite a fast pace.

[Rhys-Llewellyn Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an ambitious start to Tony Robinson’s new trilogy, one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Overlooking the historical inaccuracies and embellishments that were used to make the story fit, there is a really good story here, one that I’m sure will have a gratifying conclusion by the third book. I found the book to be a bit fast paced at times however, jumping from one thing to the next. Overall I would recommend as it’s an enjoyable read, especially if you’re a fan of Anglo-Saxon history.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this historical tale, it might be a bit of a doorstopper but goodness it speeds along. the machinations of Rome do get a bit complicated but any shortfall in that area are more than made up with Guthrum almost stealing the show from Alfred. apparently the first part of a trilogy, looking forward to the next installment

[Paul Convery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend listening to the audiobook so you can hear it narrated by Sir Tony Robinson himself, much like his autobiography it is written and delivered in a style that few can match and packed full of witty moments, and if pulling in elements of his personal life to provide real weight to moments of ill health for his own characters.

[Johanna Joutti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author knows the history of the subject well. Yet the book feels like a theater script or an episode of BlackAdder written tongue in cheek.

Bear's wedding felt like something out of a Jane Austen novel, where army buddies escort the groom to the wedding or when Wolf goes to the Saxon school, sings the Saxon theme song and runs around the yard. It does not seem really contemporary.