Shield of Mercia

Eagle of Mercia Chronicles #8

by M.J. Porter

A BRAND NEW epic adventure from bestselling author MJ Porter! Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy 💥🗡️ Mercia is triumphant. Her king is safe. But Wessex was never Mercia’s only enemy.
Tamworth, AD836

Following a brutally cold winter, King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy. Even Wessex’s Archbishop of Canterbury extraordinarily ventures to Mercia to broker a religious accord. But, can the hard-won peace prevail?

Viking raiders threaten Wessex. These blood-thirsty warriors are fast, skilful and have no reticence about killing those who stand in their way. Their aim isn't to rule but to overwhelm, slaughter and take ill-gotten wealth.

King Wiglaf is no fool. As the Vikings push to overwhelm Wessex, Mercia’s lands look insecure. King Wiglaf needs the shields of Mercia's warriors to prevent the overwhelming advancement of their deadliest enemy yet.

To save Mercia, Icel must first prevail over the two men who mean to end his life; King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent and only then the marauding Viking army for whom boundaries have no meaning.

An action packed, thrilling historical adventure .

If you love MJ Porter’s Eagle of Mercia series, also try the Dark Chronicles and also epic Brunanburh series

Praise for The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles

'Immediate and personal. MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' - Matthew Harffy

'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Son of Mercia is personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' - S.J.A. Turney

'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories, grab a copy of Son of Mercia. You won’t regret it!" - Eric Schumacher

'Excellent storyline. So enjoyed reading about Icel & his exploits such a good character well written very sad when I come to the end of the book can't wait for his next adventure' - Reader Review

'There really isnt anything bad I can say about this series, it keeps just getting better.. adding more depth to not only the characters but also their motivations. MJ Porter offers another solid 5* addition to the series, strengthening the readers love of their work.' - Reader Review

'A very good series. These are the first books I’ve read by this author but he writes in the genre very well and the main character is well drawn. This book sits nicely in the series. The observations of everyday life are really interesting and add to the historical enjoyment of the story.' - Reader Review

'Another hit. Honestly was disappointed when it ended as I could read this series forever. Such a page turner, great novel. Pow.' - Reader Review

'Fast paced action. Great cast of characters and clever insight into the eternal human condition. A very difficult book to put down so I'm pleased I bought the series.' - Reader Review

‘Refreshing… I was reluctant to put the book down’ - Historical Novel Society ' A story of hidden agendas, excellent read. Great read, fast paced with the usual betrayal.

Genres: Historical Fiction

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2025

About the author

I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English (before 1066)/Viking) and now five 20th-century mysteries..

The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles (featuring a young Icel from The Last King series) is now available from Boldwood Books. As is the complete Brunanburh Series and the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy, my foray to before Saxon England was Saxon England. Enjoy.

The Ninth Century Series (The Last King), are stories of ninth-century England, but not as it's been written before, (featuring an older Icel and some other familiar faces too).

The Erdington Mysteries now has a third book in the series—The Secret Sauce. (Did you know Erdington would have been in Mercia back in the Saxon period? I know, you can't get me away from the place.) The Barrage Body is coming soon.

The Royal Women Who Made England, my first non-fiction book about the royal women of the tenth century, is available now.

I like to write. You've been warned.

Find me at
www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing!
https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor
https://mjporterauthor.sumupstore.com

You can join my monthly subscriber newsletters and gain access to the restricted page on my blog at the same time.
https://BookHip.com/MGWHLDC (Saxon stories)
https://BookHip.com/THPKCKP (mysteries only)


(I have odd reading tastes - there's no need to notice though!!) I'm also exceedingly anti-social - that you may notice but must accept!

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Events begin calmly and I should have known that this peaceful time couldn’t last. We wouldn’t have a rousing action story if everything would stay placid.
Right out the gate we are reminded how the beastly weather is a major player along with people and horses. You feel like you should check if your clothes are somehow wet and uncomfortable.
Fire makes quite the debut here. It’s astounding how men will keep on fighting and not pay attention to their surroundings until it’s almost too late. Surprisingly Icel isn’t one of these hooligans. He is maturing.
“They’re not arseholes because they’re from Wessex. No, they’re just arseholes, pure and simple.”

There’s a new villain in town in the guise of a bishop from Rochester named Beornmod. Who is he in cahoots with, I wonder. For such a young man, Icel has accrued quite the enemy list. The Wessex men have not forgotten something that Icel did, and they feel slighted, to say the least. You just don’t know how they will exact their revenge. So Icel is quite paranoid during this novel. But rightfully so!

We are reminded that Wynflæd is quite old now and I wonder how long she’ll still be around. We need a good curmudgeonly character.
Also the scenes with Aldhelm and Icel are some of my favorites. Aldhelm knows the terrain so well. They hide and traverse the landscape with his knowledge of secret places. I was a bit skeptical about him at first but then I liked him a lot.

Although there are battles with the Vikings, the main intrigue is with the Wessex kingdom. Do they really want help from Mercia or is it a trap to weaken them and try to take them over again?
“Should they fall beneath the blades of the Viking raiders, it will release me from the certain threat of their thirst for vengeance. I would certainly welcome that. It really couldn’t happen to nicer people.”
The dark and sarcastic humor throughout is so good.

Icel’s capacity to endure hardship is severely tested here. He goes through the wringer for sure. However he is saved by the Vikings - kind of. So his anger is divided evenly between the Wessex men and the Vikings. How can he continue to do the things he does? Pure determination and stubbornness
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

Once again our main man Icel has the odds of life stacked against him. He’s barely got time to recover from his last scrape before Wessex men and Vikings are sniffing around, both hungry for Mercian blood. As ever, it falls to Icel and his band of brothers to keep the peace or at least hold back the storm.

The opening half takes its time, simmering with the political fallout from earlier books. Less axe swinging, more scheming and manoeuvring but it’s a pause that works, setting up the chessboard of England for the chaos to come.

And then that second half is absolute carnage. Every chapter hits like a hammer blow!! wham, bam, thank you ma’am!!! You're left breathless turning the pages.

On top of Icel’s usual crew we get introduced to Aldhelm, who looks set to be a cracking addition. Definitely eager to see where his path leads.

With Icel, though, you always have to wonder: does he bring the thunder… or does the rain just follow him?

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

Shield Of Mercia by MJ Porter, Icel’s has had a peaceful winter and worries about the upcoming religious treaty that he must be a part of. There’s talk of Vikings attacking and he gets his proof while on the stop over with the priest and their guards. As if that wasn’t bad enough he soon gets the feeling that someone is out for him and oh yes the Wessex bastards still haven’t let go of the grudge they’ve had for Mercia’s warriors. there’s even a fight at the celebration for the end of the treaty but the worst is yet to come. Because soon even he Icel’s favorite horse Brut will think him dead and right when Mercia needs him the most. He’s also longing to see the kids who’s he’s been in and around but have yet to lay his eyes on and still hasn’t spoke to the queen something he longs to do. this is such a great historical warrior series and I am always excited for the next book but once again I’m sad it’s over. If you have yet to start this great series in love stories about the pride and loyalty England’s Warriors had back in the day this is a great series to start with. Forgive my flimsy review I am very much under the weather but trust me when I say I absolutely love these books and definitely recommend them. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #MJPorter, #ShieldOfMercia,

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for access to this ARC 📚.

Genre/Themes: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚔️🛡️🏰🏞️🐴🪓👑
Tropes: The Bodyguard, War Between Kingdoms, Unlikely Alliance, Ragtag Team of Heroes, Lost Heir/Hidden Inheritance/Long-Lost Royalty, Found Family, Innocent Accused, Revenge, Historical Landmarks, Home Invasion, Hostage Situation, Escape, Medieval, Unrequited Love
Positives: some immersive settings and engaging action scenes, some realistic dialogue
Room for Improvement 🔎 : some repetitive prose, superficial characterisation, uneven pacing
Rating: 🌕🌕🌖

✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑

I only realised after requesting this book that it was part of a series - the 8th book in! While the summary at the beginning and the mentions of previous events throughout the novel meant I didn’t find myself struggling to follow along, it did mean that I didn’t have the same attachment to any characters that I might have had if following them from the start. While I love this time period in history, I prefer character-driven historical fictions which this novel didn’t satisfy, and I often found myself reading sentences over and over again because they hadn’t gone in. Plus, I tend to read in bed, and the ultimate test is whether I have to force myself to stay awake or force myself to stop reading. This fell into the former, unfortunately.

🧍‍♀️Characterisation:🧍‍♂️
There were a LOT of characters in this book. Like, a LOT. A handful stuck in my memory. The protagonist, Icel, was written in first person which did help to humanise him. However, his internal thoughts were often very repetitive. Icel was anxious and reserved, but very loyal and just. Occasionally his main character syndrome felt a little unrealistic, with him trying to solve or criticise political ongoings that reasonably were far above his pay grade or business. Being a secret heir doesn’t suddenly make you privy to all of the Kings’ goings-on. I was told more than shown that his best friend was Edwin, married to Eadburg. However we only spoke to them twice, briefly, and Icel seemed closer to his fellow warrior Ozwy. Unfortunately I found multiple characters spoke or acted so similarly they were hard to distinguish, like Ozwy and Cenred - providing camaraderie - or Wulfheard, Eahric and Ealdorman Ælfstan - providing paternal yet stern authority. They all said the words ‘bloody’ and ‘arseholes’ a lot, and whinged about pretty much everything. The best character, Wynflæd, the icon that she was, was only seen at the beginning but was arguably the most distinct voice of the bunch. Grouchy, stubborn, yet matronly. Icel’s crush Ælflaed wasn’t spoken to at all, only pined after by him and seen once or twice. It didn’t seem worth mentioning her in this instalment, really. Icel was loyal to King Wiglaf of Mercia, and his son Wigmund. I don’t fully remember, but I think their rule was shaky at best because one of them was injured or ill, I think. I’m fairly certain we spoke with them in the novel but it was very brief. Wigmund was married to Ælflaed with a son but they were estranged, possibly? Characters that Icel outwardly hated were Sigered, a fellow warrior, and Beornmod, a Wessex Bishop. I wasn’t sure why he hated Sigered, maybe that was something discussed in earlier books. The villains of the novel, aside from the Viking invaders, were King Ecgberht and his son Æthelwulf. The author did really well with making me hate these two. Æthelwulf was a snivelling, spoilt brat who rode the coattails of his father. Ecgberht was a devious, selfish coward and the scene where he and his Bishop convicted Icel honestly had me raging, plus his complete nonchalance about his manslaughter of a young girl. Athelstan was an underutilised character in this instalment, I would say. I found him very intriguing, especially with everyone’s uncertainty of his loyalties considering how he became King. Aldhelm similarly could have done with more distinguishable dialogue or mannerisms, but I liked him. His unconventional friendship with Icel was convincing, but I found myself more confused than anything at his reveal. He turned out to be a Lord, a trusted one at that, and so I wasn’t fully sure if he was an undercover ally or what. Why did he attack Icel and his troupe? To make the lie more convincing? It wasn’t massively clear to me. The sweetest thing about this story was the author’s love for horses. So many were named, described, and anthropomorphised - sometimes a little bit too much - and Icel’s fondness for Brute was cute.

🗺️World-Building:🗺️
The story was set in 9th century England and focused on the Kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex, with mentions of Kent. Icel hailed from Tamworth, while Londonia, Croft and Malmsebury were visited, too. I felt immersed in the time period from the perspective of the Kings and their kin, but less so of the average citizen. By this I mean we learned plenty about the Ealdormans, their commanders and their warriors - using seaxes, shields and spears while wearing helms and byrnies - and we see the nature of their duties like night watches or escorting, or preparing for and partaking in skirmishes with shield walls. But we didn’t see the settlements that they were protecting, and the lives of the citizens within, aside from maybe the healers and a blacksmith. For example, I would have liked to have known what the opinion would be about Ælflaed and her husband’s estrangement. Was that something frowned upon? Seen as normal? It felt like quite a modern concept to me. Forts and abbeys were described to a satisfactory level, such as the canvas tents and the latrines at the soldiers camps, but any villages or settlements were largely glossed over. The emphasis on the new religion, following the One True God, was clear based on the religious figures like the Archbishops and the Bishops, the ceremonies such as the synod, the elaborate garb of the Church, and the dehumanisation of the Vikings and their Gods - plus the secrecy of King Ecgberht’s loyalty to the pagan faith. I also felt the tension between Wessex and Mercia, and Wessex’s desire to overthrow them. I liked the nature descriptions too, especially the harsh deathly winter in Tamworth at the beginning of the novel, though I would have liked to get a better idea of the vastness of the countryside they were traversing because sometimes it felt like it only took them five minutes to get between Kingdoms.

📝Prose/Plot:📝
The plot was fairly simple, mostly involving escorting different Archbishops and Kings to Croft for a synod. These journeys were interrupted on the way, like an alcohol-induced brawl and then an attack from the Vikings. The brawl felt a little like filler, going on for way too long and being written about rather over-dramatically as if it were a battle. The Viking fight was great though, even if we never got the question answered about who pushed Icel during it. That was a bummer. My absolute favourite scene of the whole book was Icel and Aldhelm’s escape from Brent Knoll after Icel’s false trial, with Icel trying to escape in pitch darkness during a torrential rain storm. My heart was genuinely in my throat. Icel’s hanging was truly harrowing too, and I felt real fury during his falsified trial. Then his escape with Aldhelm later on, trying not to get caught on the way back to Mercia, was great. The scene where they ask for directions from a farmer was genuinely brilliant at building tension, and when Aldhelm told Icel they had lied my heart was racing trying to will them to run as fast as they could. The final battle at Malmsebury was okay, but it did lean in to annoying habit the author had in this novel - of repetition. I started to laugh at the third mention of the ‘wedge-shaped field’ or whatever it was. There were quite a few incidences of repetition, like Icel’s suspicions of people being after him or recounting events from the last book. The author needed to trust in their readers a bit more - and themselves. I could follow on just fine without the frequent reminders, plus the recap at the beginning of the book was sufficient by itself. Dialogue was often fairly conversational and natural, but there were the odd occasions of exposition that broke the golden rule of not having characters tell each other what they already know.
Overall, this book had brilliant moments but struggled to keep me engaged all the way through due to being more focused on recounting history than its characters. If you enjoy novels based on this time period with battles and some politics then this may be for you.

[Julie Friar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in this series covering Icel of Mercia. Set in AD836 Icel is under threat from King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son Aethwulf of Kent. But a Vik8ng army is back and King Wiglaf is asked for help to defeat common enemies. Many will be put in danger and lots of fights will take place, but can Icel stay safe whilst serving his King?

Very well written historical novel with good strong characters. Icel will be sorely tested ans Wessex will be badly treated by her King. A well paced adventure novel, enjoy.

[David Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with Icel for the latest instalment in the The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles series!

Boy it’s been some journey.. but Icel cant rest yet. There’s still a lot of bad blood and political tension following invents of the last book.. is that threat gone forever… hmmmm.

There’ still the shadow hanging over him.. the truth of who he really is and what that could mean for Mercia… but Icel just wants to be a warrior…

There’s not much time to contemplate this though as a Viking army needs to be contended with. The country may be divided but can the King’s put differences aside to battle their common foe? .

Icel has barely had time to recover too, he’s been through so much already, but there’s little time to heal, both mentally and physically as it’s time for Icel to serve his King once again, to stop the advancing threat.

What I really enjoyed was the balance, the build up of political tension..showing sometimes battles are done with words, subtle movements putting the pieces om the boardgame for the perfect setup…only to have the reader then smashed from their feet with the battle and gore.. I mean sometimes the only answer is a bloody sword!

Development wise I loved that we had the addition of new characters such as Aldhelm, but also revisit some firm favourites in Cuthred and Wynflaed..

The first chapter for me was a beautiful piece of writing, not only did it set the scene.. set the tension and fear for the remainder of the novel it also reminded followers of the series of previous events.. even the mention of the name Wine takes me back to the first novel and the death of Icel’s uncle…that’s the power the authors words hold..the reader really is mesmerised and transported to another life.

Wynflaed is older now and for me the fear I have for her was mirrored in the fear of the Viking threat, the tension she builds so eloquently with her words mirrored the tension between the Kings of the land..

The tension just builds and the pace is superb.. as the battles and blood flow the pace increases and you find yourself hungry for more and more.. I devoured those last few chapters as you are just left with no choice but to keep reading! Wowza.

MJ Porter shows us why they are one of the best in the genre! Shield of Mercia is rich in detail, rich in development and rich in gore… what more could you want from an MJ Porter novel?

I’m always amazed looking back to how much happens in each novel.. and Shield of Mercia doesn’t disappoint. I never feel safe… who will survive.. where will the next battle come from.. who can be trusted… you are kept on the edge of your seat!

You could jump into the series now if you wanted as the author provides enough detail for new readers to understand the flow and motivations but for me it’s a series to enjoy from the beginning to really feel that development… it’s just that good you need to read it from yourself!

[Brannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read by M.J. Porter, and he is an excellent writer. What surprised me most is even though he writes in first-person narrative—a style that’s almost always a dealbreaker for me—he pulls it off so skillfully. I jumped straight into book eight of a long-running series without feeling lost. Instead of being overwhelmed, I found that Porter wove just enough backstory into the narrative to give me a solid sense of Icel’s character arc across the earlier books. That’s rare: by the fourth or fifth installment, many authors assume new readers won’t bother starting midstream. Porter, on the other hand, welcomes both newcomers and longtime fans.

Porter’s dedication to historical research shines through. He grounds the narrative in real places and events, then uses his afterword to explain the actual history and where he allowed himself liberties—like blending two location names. As a lover of history, particularly this era of early medieval England, I appreciated that transparency.
The world-building is rich and immersive. From political intrigue to the mud-soaked battlefield, every detail feels authentic. The battle sequences are visceral—you feel the slam of shields and the treacherous footing under your boots.

The pacing builds beautifully toward the last quarter of the book. Those chapters are so tense and gripping that I couldn’t put the book down until I knew Icel was safe. My wife practically had to pry it out of my hands at 4 a.m.

Fans of Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales, readers who appreciate accurate historical detail with strong character focus, and anyone who enjoys political intrigue and battle scenes in their medieval fiction will find plenty to enjoy here.

A well-written and extraordinary historical novel that earns five stars. Fans of medieval England’s clash of kingdoms may find even more here to enjoy.




I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley.com and the Publisher for a honest review.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shield of Mercia by MJ Porter is the 8th book in the excellent Eagles of Mercia series and I have really enjoyed reading these books from the very first one. This one was a fast-paced throughout and a great historical fiction which was set in the turbulent Anglo-Saxon world of the 9th century.

Now, Mercia is triumphant. . . . . . and her king is safe. But Wessex was never Mercia’s only enemy.
Tamworth, AD836

There was a brutal cold winter, and King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy. Even Wessex’s Archbishop of Canterbury extraordinary ventures to Mercia to broker a religious accord. But, can the hard-won peace prevail?

Now, Viking raiders are threatening Wessex, they are bloodthirsty warriors, they are fast, very skilful and have no reticence about killing men, women and even children those who stand in their way. They have one aim and it isnt to rule! They want to overwhelm, kill and take everything that is valuable that belongs to other!!!!

King Wiglaf is no fool. But, as the Vikings push to overwhelm Wessex, Mercia’s lands look insecure. King Wiglaf needs to act fast and have the shields of Mercia's warriors present to prevent the overwhelming advancement of their deadliest enemy yet.

Will they survive they Vikings?

But, to save Mercia, Icel must first prevail over the two men who mean to end his life; King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent and only then the marauding Viking army for whom boundaries have no meaning.

This book was so good, My hubby is reading it now as I could not stop talking about it!!! lol

I highly recommend this series. 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

M J Porter continues to dazzle historical fiction fans with Shield of Mercia.

There’s celebration in the air. King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy and with even the Archbishop of Canterbury coming to broker a religious deal, it looks like at long last peace will prevail – or will it? Viking raiders continue to threaten Wessex and determined to defeat and demolish anyone standing in their way, these brutal warriors will not rest until victory is theirs. However, Wiglaf will not surrender so easily. He will use every weapon in his arsenal to ensure that nobody threatens the hard-won peace that has been fought for so hard. But will justice prevail? Or is he just setting himself up for defeat?

Wiglaf knows that the fight isn’t over yet. With the Vikings threatening to overwhelm Wessex, he’s going to need help. The shields of Mercia warriors are needed to prevent the Vikings from causing further mayhem and destruction. However, Icel must first triumph over the two men who mean to end his life: King Echbert of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent.

MJ Porter’s name has become synonymous with high quality historical fiction and their winning streak continues with Shield of Mercia. Bold, breath-taking and propulsive, Shield of Mercia is an epic tale of power struggles, ruthless ambition and desperate vengeance that will keep readers glued to its pages.

M J Porter never disappoints and Shield of Mercia is another must-read for fans of historical adventure novels.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ann-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Icel, a Mercian warrior, is warned that there are threats against him from well-connected people. Likely to be Wessex then as the King of Wessex hates Icel, but as a warrior all he can do is be extra vigilant and look to his friends to for support. Sent to Londinium by his King as part of a group tasked with escorting the Archbishop of Canterbury to a Synod, they are attacked by Viking raiders and Icel is trampled in the fighting before the Vikings flee. Did he fall or was he deliberately pushed? Following the Synod there are reports of Wessex being invaded by Vikings – is Mercia threatened as well? Icel and his friends set off on dangerous journeys to defend Mercia at all costs.

A fascinating read, extremely well written and pulsing with action, for me a definitely ‘just one more chapter’ book. When I got this book, I realised it was the eighth book in the series. I hadn’t read any of the earlier books but there was enough background woven into the narrative in this book that it can be read as a standalone – I’m certainly looking forward to finding out what happens to Icel next.

Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an ARC for my honest review.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book eight in the Eagles of Mercia series, and I couldn't wait to return to Icel and discover what he would be facing this time!

I am a great fan of MJ Porter. I have read quite a lot of their books. Whichever part of history they are writing about, it comes alive in my mind as I read. Again, Icel again has his hands full. Two men want him dead, nothing new there, but if he survives, he then has to deal with the Vikings!

I appreciate the amount of research that this author has to do. It must be immense!  The vivid descriptions actually make me feel like I am transported back in time. In fact, every one of MJ Porter's books does the same thing. Characters are strong and so well developed. I am truly invested in Icel, I have been from the first book. The danger and battles that Icel has faced throughout the series have had me holding my breath, and this book is no different!

Rich, vivid, and such an immersive journey that I couldn't put the book down and leave Icel for a moment. Yet again, MJ Porter has worked their magic into their storytelling!

[Christine Harman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another installment of the Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. Icel has to escort the Archbishop of Canterbury to the synod with others of King Wiglafs men. He has been told that his life is in danger. While in Londinium word comes that Wessex has been attacked by the vikings. What then follows is exciting and frightening stuff. Will Icel get out of Wessex alive? This is my first Mercia book and I am just getting to know the characters and already I'm totally invested in the main group of Warriors. Well written, it is as though we are going through the woods or across country with Icel and co. Laugh at the antics of the Warriors or wince with the injuries incurred. How this author keeps the action going across so many books is beyond me. All I know is, i can't wait till the next one is released. Another author to add to my TBR list.
With thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Debbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shield of Mercia is the 8th in the Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. Mercia is still standing, but remains vigilant, as there are enemies all around - Wessex, Vikings, Christians and more. Some of their most pressing enemies are those who are theoretically their allies, but would like to take over Mercia. On a personal level, Icel (whose father was murdered and is currently living essentially in hiding) still must fear those who killed his father and would like to do the same to him. Full of battles and treachery and suspicion, Shield of Mercia is a real page turner. Well written and well researched, it keeps you engaged from the very first page. I wouldn't miss it! Even if you haven't read the prior books, Shield of Mercia is a great standalone read.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Icel, is a Mercian Warrior in the employment of King Wiglaf, the Mercians are triumphant from their last battle but the threat of war is never far away. The Vikings are moving further into the country and the Kings of Wessex and Kent seem more intent in their vendetta against the Mercians and Icel to worry about the enemy closing in on them.
This is a well researched novel of documented events in past history. MJ Porter takes us into the thick of the fighting with no let up in the action. This book and the previous ones in the series are perfect for lovers of Dark Age stories. If you love the Viking series on TV then you will be a fan of these books.

[Storied Conversation · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brutal, brilliant continuation of Icel’s journey. The tension never lets up, the weather itself feels alive, and the writing immerses you so completely you’ll swear you can feel the rain and smoke. Between fierce battles, dark humor, and Icel’s emotional growth, this eighth book delivers everything I love about historical fiction—and then some. A stunning five-star read.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welp! The book ended abruptly! I feel like I lost track on what the story is about. Was it the Vikings raid? Was it about what Eahstan the messenger said to Icel? Or, or, orrrr was this a preface to the next historical chapter, which is the Battle of Hingston Down? I'm not sure. But all in all, it's a decent read about Icel's adventures. My only concern was about the horses, esp Brute, during the Malmesbury attack. Please, don't harm Brute (and Wine and what's the other horse's name?) in any way.

[Mrs Carole Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Icel adventures

I've enjoyed all of the books telling the story of Icel. Placing him in a landscape of real people and historical events makes the story of his life more believable. The author definitely knows her subject well, skilfully giving her character a real presence in a very difficult historical context. Icel may not have existed but a part of me wants to believe that he did.

[Phil Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

icel at his best

Fast paced hard hitting and wonderful history. Enjoyed yet again not.easy.to put down once you begin.bring on the next brilliant installment

[Cody Marie Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Mercia and Lord Icel continues. The mixture of history and fiction in this series is outstanding! The story takes place roughly twelve years before the birth of Alfred the Great, when Mercia was strong and fought against not only their fellow Angles and Saxon's but the invading Vikings as well. King Wiglaf (a historical King) of Mercia struggles against King Ecgberht of Wessex forcing the Shield of Mercia to stand strong. Then the shield must take on a Viking incursion while Icel struggles with homeland enemies. The Dark Ages war machines in action!

This is my honest review after reading an ARC from Netgalley and Boldwood Books.