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Dominion of Dust
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26- GenresHistorical Fiction
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 10, 2026
7 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Harffy
35 books741 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 8, 2025
Dominion of Dust is the fourth book in the author’s A Time For Swords series, the follow-up to A Time For Swords, A Night of Flames and A Day of Reckoning. A Day of Reckoning ended on a literal cliffhanger and Dominion of Dust takes up the story directly from that point.
Once again Hunlaf is both chief protagonist and narrator. Now advanced in age and becoming increasingly frail, he is setting down the details of his eventful life, one which saw him abandon his calling as a monk to become a warrior and adventurer.
A Day of Reckoning, saw Hunlaf on a quest for a book known as ‘The Treasure of Life’ which took him and his comrades to the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsular. This time he’s on a search for sacred relics which King Carolus, ruler of the remnants of the Western Roman Empire, believes will imbue him with the divine power to defeat his rival Empress Eirene, ruler of the remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire. Unfortunately she has the same idea, and her own set of searchers. So it becomes a race against time to see who can piece together the clues and locate them first. If you’re thinking this all sounds a bit Indiana Jones, you’re not wrong.
Many characters make a return appearance including the fearsome Norse warrior and master shipbuilder, Runolf Ragnarsson and – much to Hunlaf’s delight – Runolf’s daughter Revna. The wily Giso, who seems to have connections everywhere and often disappears into the shadows only to reappear at a crucial moment, is also back. Unfortunately, Hunlaf and his comrades are not short of fearsome and totally ruthless opponents.
As you might expect, Hunlaf and his comrades face many perils along the way and there are some terrific action scenes, described in bone-crunching, bloody and visceral detail. They include a fight to escape from an underground chamber and the boarding of a merchant ship. Ignoring the voice of his spiritual mentor Leofstan, now deceased, Hunlaf continues to experience moments of uncontrollable battle rage and ‘the wanton joy of killing’.
Although we know Hunlaf will live to fight another day, he doesn’t. There are plenty of moments where he fears his luck has run out (and who could blame him) and doesn’t know if – or how – he will escape from the perilous situation he finds himself in. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for all his comrades, some of whom will die in tragic circumstances. Even though many decades have passed, the loss of these comrades still weighs heavily on Hunlaf’s mind accompanied by intense feelings of guilt that he might have been, even unwittingly, the cause of their deaths.
The ailing Hunlaf leaves the reader with a tantalising glimpse of events he has yet to tell us about, including those of a romantic nature. And there’s a brief hint that his story might involve the appearance of a character from another of the author’s series.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dominion of Dust. I loved the characters, the settings and the fast-paced plot. To my mind, this is a series that just keeps getting better and better.
Once again Hunlaf is both chief protagonist and narrator. Now advanced in age and becoming increasingly frail, he is setting down the details of his eventful life, one which saw him abandon his calling as a monk to become a warrior and adventurer.
A Day of Reckoning, saw Hunlaf on a quest for a book known as ‘The Treasure of Life’ which took him and his comrades to the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsular. This time he’s on a search for sacred relics which King Carolus, ruler of the remnants of the Western Roman Empire, believes will imbue him with the divine power to defeat his rival Empress Eirene, ruler of the remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire. Unfortunately she has the same idea, and her own set of searchers. So it becomes a race against time to see who can piece together the clues and locate them first. If you’re thinking this all sounds a bit Indiana Jones, you’re not wrong.
Many characters make a return appearance including the fearsome Norse warrior and master shipbuilder, Runolf Ragnarsson and – much to Hunlaf’s delight – Runolf’s daughter Revna. The wily Giso, who seems to have connections everywhere and often disappears into the shadows only to reappear at a crucial moment, is also back. Unfortunately, Hunlaf and his comrades are not short of fearsome and totally ruthless opponents.
As you might expect, Hunlaf and his comrades face many perils along the way and there are some terrific action scenes, described in bone-crunching, bloody and visceral detail. They include a fight to escape from an underground chamber and the boarding of a merchant ship. Ignoring the voice of his spiritual mentor Leofstan, now deceased, Hunlaf continues to experience moments of uncontrollable battle rage and ‘the wanton joy of killing’.
Although we know Hunlaf will live to fight another day, he doesn’t. There are plenty of moments where he fears his luck has run out (and who could blame him) and doesn’t know if – or how – he will escape from the perilous situation he finds himself in. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for all his comrades, some of whom will die in tragic circumstances. Even though many decades have passed, the loss of these comrades still weighs heavily on Hunlaf’s mind accompanied by intense feelings of guilt that he might have been, even unwittingly, the cause of their deaths.
The ailing Hunlaf leaves the reader with a tantalising glimpse of events he has yet to tell us about, including those of a romantic nature. And there’s a brief hint that his story might involve the appearance of a character from another of the author’s series.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dominion of Dust. I loved the characters, the settings and the fast-paced plot. To my mind, this is a series that just keeps getting better and better.
December 25, 2025
What an adventure that was. wow! I make no apology for my constant 5star reviews for Matthew's books. His stories are great! Dominion of Dust, is exceptionally great.
It is sorrowful in places, very much so in others, and... ... well, just go read it and you'll see what I mean.
It is sorrowful in places, very much so in others, and... ... well, just go read it and you'll see what I mean.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
October 5, 2025
AD 797. Warrior-monk Hunlaf has been tasked with a journey to find a relic. One that has been lost in the Holy Land of Jerusalem for some time.
This will be the hardest expedition he and his crew have ever taken on.
With hostile Byzantium forces all looking for the same thing as him, and ruthless local rulers also on the hunt, Hunlaf will have to be at his best to avoid capture and complete his mission, in this most sacred of holy places, one that is a long way from home.
Matthew Harffy has produced another high quality rip-roaring story with this new novel.
He is a very accomplished writer who knows how to keep the reader engaged.
I’m a big fan of his work and think he is one of the best historical writers around. Dominion of Dust is a perfect example of that, and I can’t recommend it enough.
This is historical fiction at its finest.
This will be the hardest expedition he and his crew have ever taken on.
With hostile Byzantium forces all looking for the same thing as him, and ruthless local rulers also on the hunt, Hunlaf will have to be at his best to avoid capture and complete his mission, in this most sacred of holy places, one that is a long way from home.
Matthew Harffy has produced another high quality rip-roaring story with this new novel.
He is a very accomplished writer who knows how to keep the reader engaged.
I’m a big fan of his work and think he is one of the best historical writers around. Dominion of Dust is a perfect example of that, and I can’t recommend it enough.
This is historical fiction at its finest.
October 10, 2025
This is a great read. Although it is the fourth book in the series it works well as a standalone. There are characters from previous books in the series that have their individual back stories but you can still pick up the gist of the story. The author has a brilliant way with words and stories and totally transports you to the Holy Lands in AD797. There are a number of interwoven stories that work well together with lots of action and adventure along the way.
This is a great book for anyone that enjoys historical fiction and a good story.
Many thanks to Aria & Aries, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The book was published yesterday and is available in hardback, e-book and audiobook formats
This is a great book for anyone that enjoys historical fiction and a good story.
Many thanks to Aria & Aries, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The book was published yesterday and is available in hardback, e-book and audiobook formats
July 4, 2025
more later
July 21, 2025
An interesting medieval adventure with overtones of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade with the eternal hunt for the Spear of Longinus for Emperor Charlemagne.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews