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A Time for Swords #4
Dominion of Dust
PREORDER MATTHEW HARFFY'S THRILLING NEW NOVEL BANE OF BERNICIA NOW!
Hunlaf risks the wrath of the mighty Byzantine Empire on a dangerous voyage to the Holy Land. A rip-roaring Viking-era adventure from the author of the Bernicia Chronicles.
'Extremely satisfying and rewarding, Dominion of Dust rampages across the page with slicing action' LoveReading
AD 797, Cyprus. Warrior-monk Hunlaf and his crew are on a voyage to acquire an important Christian relic before it falls into the hands of Byzantium's scheming Empress Eirene.
Hunlaf's crew receive unexpected help as they seek their treasure, but soon find themselves betrayed. About to leave for home empty-handed, the adventurers instead sail further to Jerusalem, the Holy Land, abundant in relics.
And dangerous intrigues.
Hunlaf and his friends will face a deadly race against time as they attempt to secure a holy treasure, outwit Byzantium's zealous agents, and avoid grisly deaths at the hands of the local rulers.
From bestselling author MATTHEW HARFFY, A Time for Swords is an epic historical action-adventure series set during the dramatic Viking Age. The thrilling tale of Hunlaf, a monk who becomes a warrior following a devastating Viking attack, the series chronicles his daring quests through Early Medieval Europe. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Giles Kristian.
READ ALL OF MATTHEW HARFFY'S TERRIFIC A TIME FOR SWORDS
#1 A Time for Swords
#2 A Night of Flames
#3 A Day of Reckoning
#4 Dominion of Dust
Hunlaf risks the wrath of the mighty Byzantine Empire on a dangerous voyage to the Holy Land. A rip-roaring Viking-era adventure from the author of the Bernicia Chronicles.
'Extremely satisfying and rewarding, Dominion of Dust rampages across the page with slicing action' LoveReading
AD 797, Cyprus. Warrior-monk Hunlaf and his crew are on a voyage to acquire an important Christian relic before it falls into the hands of Byzantium's scheming Empress Eirene.
Hunlaf's crew receive unexpected help as they seek their treasure, but soon find themselves betrayed. About to leave for home empty-handed, the adventurers instead sail further to Jerusalem, the Holy Land, abundant in relics.
And dangerous intrigues.
Hunlaf and his friends will face a deadly race against time as they attempt to secure a holy treasure, outwit Byzantium's zealous agents, and avoid grisly deaths at the hands of the local rulers.
From bestselling author MATTHEW HARFFY, A Time for Swords is an epic historical action-adventure series set during the dramatic Viking Age. The thrilling tale of Hunlaf, a monk who becomes a warrior following a devastating Viking attack, the series chronicles his daring quests through Early Medieval Europe. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Giles Kristian.
READ ALL OF MATTHEW HARFFY'S TERRIFIC A TIME FOR SWORDS
#1 A Time for Swords
#2 A Night of Flames
#3 A Day of Reckoning
#4 Dominion of Dust
432 pages, Hardcover
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Matthew Harffy
28 books766 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 - 18 of 18 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.
July 9, 2025
4.5 rounded up to 5!
🦁 🪓 ⚒️ 🗡⚔️🐘
Well, Harffy’s done it again.
Dominion of Dust is another slice of brilliant historical fiction—gritty, immersive, and absolutely dripping with authenticity. You can feel the mud, the blood, and the tension in every page. Clearly a ton of research went into this one, and it shows. The world feels lived in, and the stakes felt real.
Hunlaf is a cracking lead—reminds me a lot of Beobrand from Harffy's other series: tough, brooding, complex, but with that thread of honour that keeps you rooting for him no matter what mess he’s in. He’s the kind of character who carries the show, and he does it brilliantly.
The pacing was tight, the religious aspects were balanced and the writing had Harffy’s usual craftsmanship—concise when it needs to be, rich when it counts. No bloat, just storytelling that hits hard and keeps you turning pages.
Harffy continues to knock it out of the park and is simply a powerhouse in this genre and is by a distance the best in his field right now
🦁 🪓 ⚒️ 🗡⚔️🐘
Well, Harffy’s done it again.
Dominion of Dust is another slice of brilliant historical fiction—gritty, immersive, and absolutely dripping with authenticity. You can feel the mud, the blood, and the tension in every page. Clearly a ton of research went into this one, and it shows. The world feels lived in, and the stakes felt real.
Hunlaf is a cracking lead—reminds me a lot of Beobrand from Harffy's other series: tough, brooding, complex, but with that thread of honour that keeps you rooting for him no matter what mess he’s in. He’s the kind of character who carries the show, and he does it brilliantly.
The pacing was tight, the religious aspects were balanced and the writing had Harffy’s usual craftsmanship—concise when it needs to be, rich when it counts. No bloat, just storytelling that hits hard and keeps you turning pages.
Harffy continues to knock it out of the park and is simply a powerhouse in this genre and is by a distance the best in his field right now
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.
March 14, 2026
Thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5/5
"I have lived a violent life, filled with blood and battle. I am a sinner and weak of flesh. I have revelled in the blood-lust of the shield-din and rejoiced at the death of my enemies."
Once again, Matthew Harffy has taken me and Hunlaf on another spectacular adventure full of fascinating characters, history, battles and of course, some untimely deaths. 🥺 Hunlaf and all his companions on the Brymsteda are working to bring some precious relics from the Holy Land back to Carolus, King of the Franks and to thwart Eirene of Constantinople and her agents. I always feel smarter after having read one of these books and I love the historical deep dive into the world of the Holy Land and the relics that Hunlaf is searching for and meeting such fascinating characters like Theokleia, Kawthar, Jamal and most especially, Abul-Abbas!! What a fantastic reveal and loved getting the real history in the afterword. The pacing of this story is wonderful, and you really feel the urgency of the characters as they are either on the run or chasing down their quarry. Once you get going this is a hard story to put down and I loved the growing relationship between Hunlaf and Revna and can't wait to find out how things go from here. This is historical fiction at its best and I have become a huge fan of Matthew's and cannot wait for the next adventure that Hunlaf and the Brymsteda crew have!!
4.5/5
"I have lived a violent life, filled with blood and battle. I am a sinner and weak of flesh. I have revelled in the blood-lust of the shield-din and rejoiced at the death of my enemies."
Once again, Matthew Harffy has taken me and Hunlaf on another spectacular adventure full of fascinating characters, history, battles and of course, some untimely deaths. 🥺 Hunlaf and all his companions on the Brymsteda are working to bring some precious relics from the Holy Land back to Carolus, King of the Franks and to thwart Eirene of Constantinople and her agents. I always feel smarter after having read one of these books and I love the historical deep dive into the world of the Holy Land and the relics that Hunlaf is searching for and meeting such fascinating characters like Theokleia, Kawthar, Jamal and most especially, Abul-Abbas!! What a fantastic reveal and loved getting the real history in the afterword. The pacing of this story is wonderful, and you really feel the urgency of the characters as they are either on the run or chasing down their quarry. Once you get going this is a hard story to put down and I loved the growing relationship between Hunlaf and Revna and can't wait to find out how things go from here. This is historical fiction at its best and I have become a huge fan of Matthew's and cannot wait for the next adventure that Hunlaf and the Brymsteda crew have!!
November 2, 2025
Hunlaf
Mathew continues to excell in his story telling first with the hero beo now hunlaf bernard cornwell better look out theres a new master coming
Mathew continues to excell in his story telling first with the hero beo now hunlaf bernard cornwell better look out theres a new master coming
June 20, 2025
another brilliant tale of Hunlaf of Ubbanford.
I love this series of books reminiscent of the last kingdom series and just as gripping.
perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Dan Jones . Thank you Mr Harffy for a brilliant set of books now get back in and write the ne t one.
I love this series of books reminiscent of the last kingdom series and just as gripping.
perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Dan Jones . Thank you Mr Harffy for a brilliant set of books now get back in and write the ne t one.
December 15, 2025
What a fun historical tale! It’s part spy thriller, part Indiana Jones adventure, but set in the 800s, when Charlemagne vied with the Byzantines to gain control of the most powerful relics of the church. Hunlaf and his hardy companions from the north—Britain and Norway—find themselves on a quest to the Holy Land for one such precious object for the Frankish leader. Adversaries of all shapes and sizes are on the prowl. Death haunts every cave, desert trail, and even the streets of Jerusalem. I enjoyed all the twists and turns of the plot. You’re never very far from a good fight or chase scene! But there is true substance to this story as well. The way different characters respond to the holy places and relics rings true. And as a translator myself, I appreciated Hunlaf’s role as the interpreter of language and customs for his crew, and thus for the reader as well. Readers who get to the Historical Note at the end will be glad that the author took his wife’s advice on a certain historical detail. I look forward to Hunlaf’s continued adventures!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
December 20, 2025
I really, really love this book! All the characters are interesting, the story was gripping. I was pulled through time, joining their mission and went through all the trials and successes they went through. I’ve become invested in Hunlaf’s story and relate to his spiritual side. As in every book in this series, Harffy expertly describes the solace Hunlaf finds in prayer, and it makes ME feel the comfort/relief that Hunlaf experiences. He’s not some superhuman hero; he’s a relatable guy who makes bad decisions as well as good. He’s a brave warrior and I love that he has found family in the men he sails with. I’m pulling for him. This book kept me up at night, because I didn’t want to put it down. I just HAD to see what happened next. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book!
January 14, 2026
Great read. Ending is not as anticipated which makes a change in the ending of novels. My only "gripe" is the length of time between the publishing of these stories as over time the reader loses touch with the main characters. Frankly it probably would be better to wait on the publishing of the full series and then read them as a continuing saga. Other than this it is a fast paced well written and researched novel. I look forward to the next installment
March 6, 2026
old romantic
Being a fan of early British historical fiction I was extremely pleased with the more general approach taken by this series about Hunlaf. I look forward to reading all future stories that follow on.
I was specially pleased to read, what in my opinion is the correct use of the term ‘ to go a-Viking ‘ or to go raiding, there not being a race called
‘ vikings ‘
THANK YOU .
Being a fan of early British historical fiction I was extremely pleased with the more general approach taken by this series about Hunlaf. I look forward to reading all future stories that follow on.
I was specially pleased to read, what in my opinion is the correct use of the term ‘ to go a-Viking ‘ or to go raiding, there not being a race called
‘ vikings ‘
THANK YOU .
December 5, 2025
Brilliant book we'll worth a read
Matthew you have done it again brilliant book could not put it down well worth 10 stars very gripping stories can't wait to see your next out to order if you have not been able to read it you are missing out the best author of today's history writers well done Matthew
Matthew you have done it again brilliant book could not put it down well worth 10 stars very gripping stories can't wait to see your next out to order if you have not been able to read it you are missing out the best author of today's history writers well done Matthew
March 23, 2026
Hunlaf and crew are now on the hunt again for another relic. This time we're off the the Holy Land. There is danger, fighting, and a little bit of will they won't they. In addition there is a terrifying beast stalking in the night. Dominion of Dust is another good installment in this series. Harffy manages to smuggle in his influences in a way that is just fun.
January 1, 2026
Hunlaf and company go to Cyprus and the Holy Land to recover some relics, which can be used to help Charlemagne's ambitions progress towards becoming Emperor.
I'm getting the same vibe as with the other books in the series, it is definitely not bad as such, and it is positive that the author changes the decor every book to keep it fresh and novel. However, it does miss that extra touch that made Cornwell's The Last Kingdom or Cameron's Long War so special to me, and whose books I nearly uniformly rated 4,5 or 5 stars.
Because of that, this ain't a series that I see myself rereading any time soon. It lacks in drama and adrenaline-inducing action and excitement. The main character is a bit dry and stuffy, too much focus on how unskilled and lucky he is. The friction between Hunlaf and Revna feels too forced, unfortunately. Last but not least, too few main characters die to make it feel real.
Again, it's not bad. The action is enjoyable, the story is intriguing, the setting and background are interesting, and at times we have some witty jokes that bring a smile on my face. But it's not enough to score more than a 3,5/5 in my book.
I'm getting the same vibe as with the other books in the series, it is definitely not bad as such, and it is positive that the author changes the decor every book to keep it fresh and novel. However, it does miss that extra touch that made Cornwell's The Last Kingdom or Cameron's Long War so special to me, and whose books I nearly uniformly rated 4,5 or 5 stars.
Because of that, this ain't a series that I see myself rereading any time soon. It lacks in drama and adrenaline-inducing action and excitement. The main character is a bit dry and stuffy, too much focus on how unskilled and lucky he is. The friction between Hunlaf and Revna feels too forced, unfortunately. Last but not least, too few main characters die to make it feel real.
Again, it's not bad. The action is enjoyable, the story is intriguing, the setting and background are interesting, and at times we have some witty jokes that bring a smile on my face. But it's not enough to score more than a 3,5/5 in my book.
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 - 18 of 18 reviews