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Eagle of Mercia Chronicles #9
Storm of Mercia
Not yet published
Expected 1 Apr 26👑The BRAND NEW instalment in the gripping historical adventure series ⚔️ from M J Porter⚔️ - Must-read for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Peter Gibbons and Matthew Harffy!🛡️ Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been her only enemy.
Wessex, AD836
The Viking raiders' devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.
King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King's bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it's not all about the seax and shield.
Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?
With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?
If you love MJ Porter’s Eagle of Mercia series, also try the Dark Chronicles and also epic Brunanburh series.
Praise for M J
'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
‘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. Lots of characters that have their own agendas. Overall it's a page turner, exciting.' - Reader Review
'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'I found the pages flying by... A great book' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
Wessex, AD836
The Viking raiders' devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.
King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King's bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it's not all about the seax and shield.
Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?
With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?
If you love MJ Porter’s Eagle of Mercia series, also try the Dark Chronicles and also epic Brunanburh series.
Praise for M J
'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
‘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. Lots of characters that have their own agendas. Overall it's a page turner, exciting.' - Reader Review
'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
'I found the pages flying by... A great book' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reader Review
- GenresHistorical Fiction
258 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 1, 2026
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Porter
114 books261 followersI'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 fourth 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!
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 fourth 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!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 17, 2026
I’m always happy to be with Icel, that curmudgeonly yet loyal and lovable warrior of Mercia. He just gets entangled with one problem to the next. Here he just wants to get to Wynflæd before she dies. She’s been like a mother to him. Yet the fates have other plans. He has so many bruises and lacerations, that I don’t k ow how he gets up every day. And the marks on his body keep on piling up. His experience of captivity whilst on a Norse ship is so descriptive, that you feel like you’re suffering along with him and his companions. Porter has a special skill to bring you fully into these dire moments. Although there’s lots of uncertainty, the men find time for a bit of banter. Icel also has many rueful moments when I just had to snicker.
We still have his faithful horse, Brute, as a constant by his side, when Icel is around. Plus a new young boy is introduced, Eadfrith. His family is killed by the Vikings and he has such knowledge of steering a ship. How? I hope to hear more of him.
The ending is so poignant and heartfelt. I lost both my parents within six weeks of each other, and this resonated deeply with me.
Another triumphant tale of Icel. Thanks to NetGalley for this copy.
We still have his faithful horse, Brute, as a constant by his side, when Icel is around. Plus a new young boy is introduced, Eadfrith. His family is killed by the Vikings and he has such knowledge of steering a ship. How? I hope to hear more of him.
The ending is so poignant and heartfelt. I lost both my parents within six weeks of each other, and this resonated deeply with me.
Another triumphant tale of Icel. Thanks to NetGalley for this copy.
March 20, 2026
Storm Of Mercia is the newest installment in the Eagle Of Mercia series by MJ Porter. Lord Icel of Budworth from the start of the story he hits the ground running he isn’t even healed from his last kidnapping when the king sent him on a journey that will turn in to him yet againn getting kidnapped and he goes from a prisoner than a sailor then he gets kidnapped again and he’s doing all this while knowing the only family he has is in Tamworth breathing her last breath and all he wants to do is get there before it’s too late. Theres many surprising things that happen in the book all the way until the end especially when Icel and Oswy hear someone they know talking to their kidnappers as if they are not the enemy of Mercia. I love the way MJ Porter keeps me on the edge of my seat it seems these books just get better and better than what happened at the end of this one has me so looking forward to the next one. I know this isn’t a great review but wow this is a great awesome read! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
March 11, 2026
Another thrilling, action packed instalment from M.J. Porter. There’s something incredibly accessible about Porter’s writing that means I absolutely devour her books. The story races along at a breakneck pace, yet it never sacrifices the characters along the way.
Amid the battles, betrayals and shifting loyalties, there’s still room for real growth and emotion.
Icel in particular has endured more than most, and in this story he truly stands out as the heart of Mercia. Time and again he’s forced to sacrifice everything to protect those he loves and the comrades who fight beside him. It’s hard not to root for him as he shoulders the weight of duty and loyalty, even when the odds are stacked against him.
As with the rest of the series, this is a perfectly paced and hugely entertaining book.
A cracking continuation of the series and one that historical fiction fans will tear through in no time.
Amid the battles, betrayals and shifting loyalties, there’s still room for real growth and emotion.
Icel in particular has endured more than most, and in this story he truly stands out as the heart of Mercia. Time and again he’s forced to sacrifice everything to protect those he loves and the comrades who fight beside him. It’s hard not to root for him as he shoulders the weight of duty and loyalty, even when the odds are stacked against him.
As with the rest of the series, this is a perfectly paced and hugely entertaining book.
A cracking continuation of the series and one that historical fiction fans will tear through in no time.
March 13, 2026
Another strong entry from M. J. Porter and a great continuation of this series set in early medieval England.
The story follows Icel, who once again finds himself thrown from one crisis to the next as he tries to serve both his king and the kingdom of Mercia. No sooner does one problem resolve than another appears, and it often feels like Icel simply can’t catch a break. That constant pressure keeps the story moving and highlights the difficult realities of loyalty, politics, and survival during this turbulent period.
A large portion of the book takes place on the water alongside Viking forces, and Porter does an excellent job bringing those moments to life—sometimes so vividly that you almost feel the seasickness yourself. The naval elements add a different flavor to the usual battlefield encounters and give the story a strong sense of movement and danger.
This is the second book in this particular series and my fifth overall by M. J. Porter, and by this point I’ve come to expect a certain level of quality. Porter consistently delivers engaging historical fiction with compelling characters and a strong sense of place. I’ve yet to finish one of his books feeling disappointed.
At this rate he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in the historical fiction genre.
I was given a free ebook by the publisher and NetGalley.com for an honest review.
The story follows Icel, who once again finds himself thrown from one crisis to the next as he tries to serve both his king and the kingdom of Mercia. No sooner does one problem resolve than another appears, and it often feels like Icel simply can’t catch a break. That constant pressure keeps the story moving and highlights the difficult realities of loyalty, politics, and survival during this turbulent period.
A large portion of the book takes place on the water alongside Viking forces, and Porter does an excellent job bringing those moments to life—sometimes so vividly that you almost feel the seasickness yourself. The naval elements add a different flavor to the usual battlefield encounters and give the story a strong sense of movement and danger.
This is the second book in this particular series and my fifth overall by M. J. Porter, and by this point I’ve come to expect a certain level of quality. Porter consistently delivers engaging historical fiction with compelling characters and a strong sense of place. I’ve yet to finish one of his books feeling disappointed.
At this rate he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in the historical fiction genre.
I was given a free ebook by the publisher and NetGalley.com for an honest review.
March 14, 2026
Once again Icel and his men are the Shields of Mercia. We are in Wessex AD836 and Viking raiders are so much and hurting people. Icel must do the King’s bidding but he is desperate to return to Tamworth as his most beloved Wynfaed is failing.
Very well written novel with excellent characters. Well paced, plenty of action and fighting. Lots of injuries and capture must be endured. They must use a boat to escape but none of them are sailors and a storm will put them in mortal danger.
Can they do the Kings bidding and protect Mercia and will Icel get back to a Tamworth in time?
Very well written novel with excellent characters. Well paced, plenty of action and fighting. Lots of injuries and capture must be endured. They must use a boat to escape but none of them are sailors and a storm will put them in mortal danger.
Can they do the Kings bidding and protect Mercia and will Icel get back to a Tamworth in time?
March 23, 2026
Well, trouble follows Icel around like a bad penny! This was a very interesting and heartwarming story. Having his cohorts, Oswy and Cenred, along side him I'm sure made things more bearable. But still, no one knows who Icel really is, or do they? Read the adventure in Storm of Mercia for another wild ride!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews