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The Savage Isle #1
The Savage Isle
The old ways are dying, and a mighty empire is reaching out across the sea. Britannia, 42AD. The wild island at the fringe of the known world is in chaos.
Cunobelin, High King of the Britons, is dead. His heirs, warrior princes Togodubnos and Caratacos, have spurned the careful alliances that kept the irresistible might of the Roman Empire from Britannia’s shores for so long.
In this land of warriors, druids and kings, riven by conflict, orphan boy Cullen must fight for survival within a tribe he despises. Captured by the Catuvellauni after a brutal raid on his own Atrebates tribe, he must find his purpose swiftly if he is to avoid the murderous attentions of the chief druid.
As the Britons turn inward, jostling for dominion, avaricious eyes look on from across the Narrow Sea. The mighty legions gather…
This is the epic story of Britain on the cusp of the Roman conquest, of a clash of civilisations and the last cries of resistance from a doomed way of life.
Cunobelin, High King of the Britons, is dead. His heirs, warrior princes Togodubnos and Caratacos, have spurned the careful alliances that kept the irresistible might of the Roman Empire from Britannia’s shores for so long.
In this land of warriors, druids and kings, riven by conflict, orphan boy Cullen must fight for survival within a tribe he despises. Captured by the Catuvellauni after a brutal raid on his own Atrebates tribe, he must find his purpose swiftly if he is to avoid the murderous attentions of the chief druid.
As the Britons turn inward, jostling for dominion, avaricious eyes look on from across the Narrow Sea. The mighty legions gather…
This is the epic story of Britain on the cusp of the Roman conquest, of a clash of civilisations and the last cries of resistance from a doomed way of life.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published April 17, 2025
About the author
Michael Arnold
124 books104 followersMichael lives in Hampshire with his wife and children. His childhood holidays were spent visiting castles and battlefields, but his fascination with the civil wars was piqued partly by the fact that his hometown and region of Hampshire are steeped in Civil War history.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 14, 2026
This very delightful historical adventure is the 1st volume of the author's new series about and called "The Savage Isle".
Known for his excellent 17th Century English Civil War chronicles series, the author has now leapt onto a new series featuring the 1st Century and "The Isle of the Mighty" and its Celtic peoples.
Storytelling is great, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about the people of Britannia, "The Isle of the Mighty", and their fighting prowess, habits, customs and their own internal troubles, while the atmosphere and their way of life are wonderfully captured throughout this story.
This book is set between AD42 and 43, and we follow our main protagonist, Cullen of the Atrebates, taken as prisoner at first by the Catuvellauni and their leader Caratacos, after the sacking of Calleva Atrebatum.
Slowly but steadily Cullen will be favoured by High King Togodubnos of the Catuvellauni, thanks to the wise woman Moranna of the Silver who's acting as a kind of mother to him after his family's destruction, while Cullen will also become friends with an invalid called Becan and an old blind man called Dest, and not to forget Cassia the young Roman healer woman who's lives in captivity herself will be important for him, until the Romans invade and Cullen and his fellow Britons will need the help of all the Gods to counter this first Roman onslaught, before they can live on and fight for another day.
What is to follow is a very entertaining and realistic historical adventure, seen from the perspective of the native Celtic tribes, that's a great feat in itself because there's not much known about these historic people in Celtic archives or otherwise, and this story is brought to us in a most authentic way possible by the author.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent begin to this new series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Very Promising Start"!
Known for his excellent 17th Century English Civil War chronicles series, the author has now leapt onto a new series featuring the 1st Century and "The Isle of the Mighty" and its Celtic peoples.
Storytelling is great, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about the people of Britannia, "The Isle of the Mighty", and their fighting prowess, habits, customs and their own internal troubles, while the atmosphere and their way of life are wonderfully captured throughout this story.
This book is set between AD42 and 43, and we follow our main protagonist, Cullen of the Atrebates, taken as prisoner at first by the Catuvellauni and their leader Caratacos, after the sacking of Calleva Atrebatum.
Slowly but steadily Cullen will be favoured by High King Togodubnos of the Catuvellauni, thanks to the wise woman Moranna of the Silver who's acting as a kind of mother to him after his family's destruction, while Cullen will also become friends with an invalid called Becan and an old blind man called Dest, and not to forget Cassia the young Roman healer woman who's lives in captivity herself will be important for him, until the Romans invade and Cullen and his fellow Britons will need the help of all the Gods to counter this first Roman onslaught, before they can live on and fight for another day.
What is to follow is a very entertaining and realistic historical adventure, seen from the perspective of the native Celtic tribes, that's a great feat in itself because there's not much known about these historic people in Celtic archives or otherwise, and this story is brought to us in a most authentic way possible by the author.
Highly recommended, for this is an excellent begin to this new series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Very Promising Start"!
April 30, 2025
This was an extremely engaging novel set in the late Iron Age at a time when the Catuvellauni tribe were the main conquerors of the Britons. Julius Caesar had been and gone but now new emperor, Claudius, is becoming ambitious. As other lands fall at Roman feet his sights are set on taming the Isle of the Mighty.
Cullen is the main protagonist whose first taste of the Catuvellauni comes when they destroy his township, Calleva (modern day Silchester). Cullen escapes through sheer luck - or is his path smoothed by the gods? He ends up at Camulodunum (Colchester) the stronghold of the Catuvellauni where he makes friends and powerful enemies.
As he grows into manhood, the threat from Rome grows. Will the tribes of Britons learn to fight together or will the Romans defeat the disparate kingships and will Cullen get vengeance against Caratacos of the Catuvellauni for slaughtering his family.
Michael Arnold certainly packs the action in to every page. There is a fair amount of blood and gore but it's not gratuitous violence. These were violent and uncertain times, full of treachery and deceit between tribes. Cullen is very likeable and the small band of friends he gathers around him play a big part in his growing into a man.
The blurb says this is Book 1 of 1. I sincerely hope that Michael Arnold intends to write more. I really want to know what happens to Cullen, Andoc, Cassia, Becan and Drest never mind the Romans. You certainly don't need to be a history buff to enjoy this book - just a fan of good writing and a well told story.
Very highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Canelo for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
Cullen is the main protagonist whose first taste of the Catuvellauni comes when they destroy his township, Calleva (modern day Silchester). Cullen escapes through sheer luck - or is his path smoothed by the gods? He ends up at Camulodunum (Colchester) the stronghold of the Catuvellauni where he makes friends and powerful enemies.
As he grows into manhood, the threat from Rome grows. Will the tribes of Britons learn to fight together or will the Romans defeat the disparate kingships and will Cullen get vengeance against Caratacos of the Catuvellauni for slaughtering his family.
Michael Arnold certainly packs the action in to every page. There is a fair amount of blood and gore but it's not gratuitous violence. These were violent and uncertain times, full of treachery and deceit between tribes. Cullen is very likeable and the small band of friends he gathers around him play a big part in his growing into a man.
The blurb says this is Book 1 of 1. I sincerely hope that Michael Arnold intends to write more. I really want to know what happens to Cullen, Andoc, Cassia, Becan and Drest never mind the Romans. You certainly don't need to be a history buff to enjoy this book - just a fan of good writing and a well told story.
Very highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Canelo for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
March 26, 2026
It’s not a usual setting for historical fiction and it’s refreshing enough to make it an interesting and engaging read. From a historical point of view, it feels well researched and thorough but the descriptions and careful political explanations don’t take away from a good story and likeable characters. It is slightly ‘over-written’ … a few far too flowery, overcooked phrases and paragraphs made me shudder - there was no need to try and make it more than it was.
However, forgivable for a good, solid, interesting, well developed and well paced story overall.
One small thing I feel it’s important to keep bringing up…this book has incredibly strong female characters - very accurately, as history tells us women of the tribes of Britain at this time were. They fought, commanded troops, were involved in battle planning, and many ruled their tribes in their own right, in fact One of the female characters in the story is actually the one who turns the tide of a particularly vicious battle for her tribe. None of these women are victims, they don’t expect to be rescued or protected or left at home. They are valued and vital in their society. The toughness, ability and strength of the female characters in this book is never questioned by anyone in the story (until the Romans arrive) … so why, oh why, oh WHY is one of the characters described, as she is leading a group of men away from capture as ‘delicate as glass, strong as iron’??????? Stop it! I suspect this is in large part, down to the attempt to be seen as a literary novel, but language use is important. A woman doesn’t have to be delicate AND strong, just to be a woman. I ask all male writers to stop doing it. It sends the wrong message to their young women readers, but most especially their males readers … of any age. Women do not have to be delicate simply because they are women, they don’t have to be everything at once to fulfil your male fantasies. Get over yourselves.
However, forgivable for a good, solid, interesting, well developed and well paced story overall.
One small thing I feel it’s important to keep bringing up…this book has incredibly strong female characters - very accurately, as history tells us women of the tribes of Britain at this time were. They fought, commanded troops, were involved in battle planning, and many ruled their tribes in their own right, in fact One of the female characters in the story is actually the one who turns the tide of a particularly vicious battle for her tribe. None of these women are victims, they don’t expect to be rescued or protected or left at home. They are valued and vital in their society. The toughness, ability and strength of the female characters in this book is never questioned by anyone in the story (until the Romans arrive) … so why, oh why, oh WHY is one of the characters described, as she is leading a group of men away from capture as ‘delicate as glass, strong as iron’??????? Stop it! I suspect this is in large part, down to the attempt to be seen as a literary novel, but language use is important. A woman doesn’t have to be delicate AND strong, just to be a woman. I ask all male writers to stop doing it. It sends the wrong message to their young women readers, but most especially their males readers … of any age. Women do not have to be delicate simply because they are women, they don’t have to be everything at once to fulfil your male fantasies. Get over yourselves.
April 16, 2025
42AD, Britannia. The tribes of this savage island are at war with each other. In a land of kings and druids, the conflict is at its breaking point between the two tribes of the Catuvellauni and the Atrebates.
One particular boy called Cullen is suffering more than most, captured by the Catuvellauni, he must do whatever he can to survive, even fight with for enemy to save himself from the head druid. A savage man who has plans for him.
All of this in shadow of the mighty Roman Empire who are waiting to pounce.
Michael Arnold has produced a very strong and powerful interpretation of Britannia.
His story of life through the eyes of the tribes of Britannia, rather than from the Roman perspective is fascinating.
I’m a big fan of Michael Arnold’s Stryker books and I found this book to be just as good.
I highly recommend this book and very much look forward to reading the rest of the series.
One particular boy called Cullen is suffering more than most, captured by the Catuvellauni, he must do whatever he can to survive, even fight with for enemy to save himself from the head druid. A savage man who has plans for him.
All of this in shadow of the mighty Roman Empire who are waiting to pounce.
Michael Arnold has produced a very strong and powerful interpretation of Britannia.
His story of life through the eyes of the tribes of Britannia, rather than from the Roman perspective is fascinating.
I’m a big fan of Michael Arnold’s Stryker books and I found this book to be just as good.
I highly recommend this book and very much look forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 31, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyable coming of age tale about Cullen, a young lad who looks after the goats until a rival tribe sacks his village and captures him. He makes friends and enemies among the Catuvellauni, and we see him undergo his warrior's training, treading an uneasy line between hating the people who killed his family yet knowing that the only way he can survive is to be part of a tight-knit warrior band. We also see him clash badly with the chief druid, and make unexpected friends among the 'wise ones'.
The details really bring the setting to life, and it's also good to see a bit more inside the character's head rather than just endless descriptions of battle. The female characters are well done, too.
The start is a little slow, but it's worth persevering, and I look forward to the next in the series.
The details really bring the setting to life, and it's also good to see a bit more inside the character's head rather than just endless descriptions of battle. The female characters are well done, too.
The start is a little slow, but it's worth persevering, and I look forward to the next in the series.
May 22, 2025
So I just finished The Savage Isle by Michael Arnold, and honestly? I didn’t expect to get this hooked. I went in thinking it’d be another standard historical fiction, but it completely swept me up.
The story follows Cullen, a goat-herding teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the Catuvellauni tribe destroys his village. From there, it’s a wild ride — capture, survival, training as a warrior, and navigating life among the very people who murdered his family. Cullen is one of those characters you root for from the beginning — he’s not perfect, but he’s real. He grows so much over the course of the book.
The world-building is super immersive. You don’t need to be a history nerd to enjoy this — it’s just good storytelling. The author really brings Iron Age Britain to life, from the politics and tribal conflicts to the looming threat of Rome.
It starts a bit slow, but stick with it. Once it gets going, it’s hard to put down. By the end, I was practically begging for a sequel. If you like survival stories or historical fiction, this one’s for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Arnold for providing me with a copy of this book!
The story follows Cullen, a goat-herding teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the Catuvellauni tribe destroys his village. From there, it’s a wild ride — capture, survival, training as a warrior, and navigating life among the very people who murdered his family. Cullen is one of those characters you root for from the beginning — he’s not perfect, but he’s real. He grows so much over the course of the book.
The world-building is super immersive. You don’t need to be a history nerd to enjoy this — it’s just good storytelling. The author really brings Iron Age Britain to life, from the politics and tribal conflicts to the looming threat of Rome.
It starts a bit slow, but stick with it. Once it gets going, it’s hard to put down. By the end, I was practically begging for a sequel. If you like survival stories or historical fiction, this one’s for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Arnold for providing me with a copy of this book!
May 18, 2025
This is the third historical fiction iteration of the Roman invasion of Britain I’ve read, the first being The Eagle and the Raven by Pauline Gedge (which is one of my favorite books ever) and the Boudica series by Manda Scott. I really enjoyed Michael Arnold’s take and how it is told from the perspective of an average goat herder turned warrior named Cullen rather than Caratacus or Boudica who are legendary figures. I’m absolutely invested in all of the characters. The Savage Isle sets the foundation for what is looking to be another incredible series on tribal resistance to the overwhelming might of Rome. Highly recommend!
June 25, 2025
Book 20/40 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Michael Arnold takes a break from writing about the 17th century to bring us a tale set in ancient Britain. With the mighty Roman legions about to invade, Cullen must prove himself a warrior both to his friends and rivals.
Told from the Britons point of view, it took a bit to get going, when it does it's a great read. The only thing lacking is a map showing the tribal areas and locations of the towns mentioned in the book.
The first installment in a new series, I'm looking forward to the next one.
Michael Arnold takes a break from writing about the 17th century to bring us a tale set in ancient Britain. With the mighty Roman legions about to invade, Cullen must prove himself a warrior both to his friends and rivals.
Told from the Britons point of view, it took a bit to get going, when it does it's a great read. The only thing lacking is a map showing the tribal areas and locations of the towns mentioned in the book.
The first installment in a new series, I'm looking forward to the next one.
June 10, 2025
I love the ECW books. I wasn't sure about this change to a different time in British history?
I really enjoyed the tale. The characters were so real and I felt an understanding of their lives and history. I look forward to the second book in the series. But from my little I know of the history of this time. It won't be a happy ending.
I really enjoyed the tale. The characters were so real and I felt an understanding of their lives and history. I look forward to the second book in the series. But from my little I know of the history of this time. It won't be a happy ending.
June 11, 2025
Beautiful imagery. As a practicing Druid I found the writing on ancient traditions well researched. A refreshing perspective to have the POV from the Celts position as opposed to the traditional Roman one.
Would definitely recommend this.
Would definitely recommend this.
March 27, 2026
I loved this book! Fantastic storytelling with roots in historic Briton at the time of the Roman conquest. Relatable characters in Cullen and Cassia - I cannot wait to see where the story goes next!
The 2nd instalment, The River Warriors, is at the top of my 'to buy' list.
The 2nd instalment, The River Warriors, is at the top of my 'to buy' list.
Did Not Finish
July 15, 2025I really want to like this book, but I feel strongly that I know where the story is going and I haven't enjoyed the journey as much as I'd like so far. I may try and pick this back up.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews