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Leofric #0.5
Leofric: Sacrifice
Denmark, AD 515. Leofric, a young Angle noble, goes hunting in the woods near his home and discovers the corpse of a woman. She has been murdered, and suspicion quickly falls on one of the victim's travelling companions. However, Leofric is less certain of the man's guilt and comes up with an elaborate plan to reveal the true killer.
Set in Angeln on the Jutland peninsula, homeland of the Angle people, Sacrifice is a Dark Age short-story set against the Germanic migrations that lead to the creation of the new Angle, Jute and Saxon kingdoms in the east of Roman Britain - the Angle-Lands.
The novel Sword of the Angles, set five years after the events in Sacrifice, is also available on Amazon.
Set in Angeln on the Jutland peninsula, homeland of the Angle people, Sacrifice is a Dark Age short-story set against the Germanic migrations that lead to the creation of the new Angle, Jute and Saxon kingdoms in the east of Roman Britain - the Angle-Lands.
The novel Sword of the Angles, set five years after the events in Sacrifice, is also available on Amazon.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2015
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Arnott
3 books7 followersS. J. Arnott is a UK writer, born abroad, who now lives in East Anglia. He’s worked as a freelance feature writer and magazine editor, and has had writing jobs in television and radio.
His favourite historical authors include George MacDonald Fraser (Flashman), C. S. Forester (Hornblower), Patrick O'Brian (Aubrey-Maturin), Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe), Alfred Duggan and Mary Renault.
The author’s avatar is a shield design based on one mentioned in Leofric: Sword of the Angles – the emblem of Leofric’s father, Radulf of the Three Ships.
You can find out more on his author website: www.sjarnott.com.
His favourite historical authors include George MacDonald Fraser (Flashman), C. S. Forester (Hornblower), Patrick O'Brian (Aubrey-Maturin), Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe), Alfred Duggan and Mary Renault.
The author’s avatar is a shield design based on one mentioned in Leofric: Sword of the Angles – the emblem of Leofric’s father, Radulf of the Three Ships.
You can find out more on his author website: www.sjarnott.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 3, 2015
This story is set in A.D.515 in a place called Angeln, which is now part of modern Denmark.
Leofric is out hunting with his friend Chlodochar when they discover a woman's body in the woods. The woman, Ebba, has been stabbed, but who is the murderer? Suspicion immediately falls upon Wystan, the blacksmith from a nearby camp of wayfarers, families who are on their way to the new lands in Britain.
Eadwig, Leofric's uncle, and Gladewine, elder of the camp, decide to hold a trial. Eight immediate suspects are counted with Gladewine, who is unable to offer an alibi, making up the ninth.
It seems that most of the wayfarers suspect Wystan the blacksmith, as he is a stranger to them, and Eadwig is also keen to find him guilty, for reasons of his own.
Unsure of Wystan's guilt, Leofric thinks up a way to discover the truth. But will his plan work?
Leofric is an intriguing character. He is a man of principle, unwilling to see an innocent man be condemned. Although young, he is a natural leader, not afraid to stand up to his elders and speak out. A likeable character, with sympathy for the murdered woman, Leofric is determined to discover the true murderer and plans a way to discover what really happened. But will his plan work?
While I would not normally read books in this genre, I'm pleased I picked this one. The author has created a fascinating world, painting a vivid picture of the wayfarer's camp and it's inhabitants.. The plot line is well developed, intriguing and unpredictable and kept me guessing until the end. There is humour here too, as the wayfarers joke amongst themselves, as they watch the trial. The characters are everyday people, easy for the reader to identify with.
An excellent read. Highly recommended.
Leofric is out hunting with his friend Chlodochar when they discover a woman's body in the woods. The woman, Ebba, has been stabbed, but who is the murderer? Suspicion immediately falls upon Wystan, the blacksmith from a nearby camp of wayfarers, families who are on their way to the new lands in Britain.
Eadwig, Leofric's uncle, and Gladewine, elder of the camp, decide to hold a trial. Eight immediate suspects are counted with Gladewine, who is unable to offer an alibi, making up the ninth.
It seems that most of the wayfarers suspect Wystan the blacksmith, as he is a stranger to them, and Eadwig is also keen to find him guilty, for reasons of his own.
Unsure of Wystan's guilt, Leofric thinks up a way to discover the truth. But will his plan work?
Leofric is an intriguing character. He is a man of principle, unwilling to see an innocent man be condemned. Although young, he is a natural leader, not afraid to stand up to his elders and speak out. A likeable character, with sympathy for the murdered woman, Leofric is determined to discover the true murderer and plans a way to discover what really happened. But will his plan work?
While I would not normally read books in this genre, I'm pleased I picked this one. The author has created a fascinating world, painting a vivid picture of the wayfarer's camp and it's inhabitants.. The plot line is well developed, intriguing and unpredictable and kept me guessing until the end. There is humour here too, as the wayfarers joke amongst themselves, as they watch the trial. The characters are everyday people, easy for the reader to identify with.
An excellent read. Highly recommended.
May 7, 2015
I love murder mysteries and I found this story to be intriguing and very interesting.
A woman, Ebba, is found dead in the woods and Leofric,a young nobleman, is determined to find out the truth about what happened to her. There is an obvious suspect. However, Leofric is a man of principle who is not prepared to accept what other people tell him. He will make up his own mind.
The author paints a vivid picture of the camp and the people who live there, travellers who are migrating to Britain.
The end of the story reveals the true killer and Leofric also discovers just what Ebba was doing in the woods by herself, a discovery which lends a sadness to her death.
I look forward to reading more about Leofric.
A woman, Ebba, is found dead in the woods and Leofric,a young nobleman, is determined to find out the truth about what happened to her. There is an obvious suspect. However, Leofric is a man of principle who is not prepared to accept what other people tell him. He will make up his own mind.
The author paints a vivid picture of the camp and the people who live there, travellers who are migrating to Britain.
The end of the story reveals the true killer and Leofric also discovers just what Ebba was doing in the woods by herself, a discovery which lends a sadness to her death.
I look forward to reading more about Leofric.
May 30, 2015
A nice murder mystery short story set in the 6th century in what is now modern Denmark. I love Viking era historical fiction and always looking for new authors. Arnott has written a longer novel about Leofric so this short story serves as a teaser. And it was a good tease... written well enough that I will definitely read the full page Leofric novel (Sword of the Angles). I feel like I already know and love our hero and looking forward to his adventures.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews