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King's Bane #2
Gods of War
The second volume in the bestselling King’s Bane series. A tale of desperate battles and bloody heathen rites, perfect for fans of Giles Kristian, Simon Scarrow and Anthony Riches.
Scandinavia
Spring 524
With the Jutes crushed, the Anglian people sail for the new country. But if the northern border is secure, the greatest threat remains undefeated.
In a preemptive strike, Eofer and the men of his war band are sent to ravage the Danish coast — drawing the enemy away as an Anglian host lands in the west.
But the harrying does not go as planned.
A warlord, Ubba Silk Beard, leads the counterattack. Driving Eofer and his men from the kingdom, he pursues them through the forests of Scania as the war of fire and steel rages on.
With the Danish kingdom in disarray, an assassin strikes, and a new power emerges from the ruins of the old as the young king gathers a mighty army and marches to confront the invaders.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ If you like your Historical Fiction raw, real, soaked in history and bursting with new life – and death – that weaves its way in and wraps itself around your mind, until you can see, hear, touch and almost taste the dark ages, Gods of War (as with Fire & Steel before it) is a book you cannot ignore.
SPEESH
Scandinavia
Spring 524
With the Jutes crushed, the Anglian people sail for the new country. But if the northern border is secure, the greatest threat remains undefeated.
In a preemptive strike, Eofer and the men of his war band are sent to ravage the Danish coast — drawing the enemy away as an Anglian host lands in the west.
But the harrying does not go as planned.
A warlord, Ubba Silk Beard, leads the counterattack. Driving Eofer and his men from the kingdom, he pursues them through the forests of Scania as the war of fire and steel rages on.
With the Danish kingdom in disarray, an assassin strikes, and a new power emerges from the ruins of the old as the young king gathers a mighty army and marches to confront the invaders.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ If you like your Historical Fiction raw, real, soaked in history and bursting with new life – and death – that weaves its way in and wraps itself around your mind, until you can see, hear, touch and almost taste the dark ages, Gods of War (as with Fire & Steel before it) is a book you cannot ignore.
SPEESH
- GenresHistorical Fiction
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2016
50 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 26, 2017
It’s taken me too long to get back to this series but i'm so glad I did.
We are back with Eofer, King’s Bane and it was genuinely a thrill to get back in the action with him and his warband.
For me what made this book a step up from the first is the bond Eofer has with his men. The connection they have with each other is more developed and believable.
This bond is strengthened throughout the book when Eofer is in need of his men more than ever.
The plot has a lot of meat on the bone as I like to say, lots to get to grips with but not so much that you are bombarded with too much info. If anything it was the sheer amount of action and the fast flowing plot that sucked me in.
The Angles are leaving, headed for what they hope is a better future but while the last of them race to get aboard a ship there’s still the chance of attack.
Eofer’s men have great comradery and some very fun conversations which give some light relief at times from all the heavy action.
Spearhafoc, who you may remember from the first installment is back and her story gets dark and complicated, I really enjoyed it but I do hope that her story isn’t over.
What I really liked about this book is the setting. As there’s not a lot of information known about the events it’s given the author the chance to weave a believable tale at times but also exercise his imagination. I want to say more but I don’t want to give away too much of the plot.
For me this is a complex tale, it's a battle to see which tale is more important, Eofer's tale or the historical tale. There’s a lot crammed in with this one but it all worked for me. Fun, exciting and it’s left me wanting to get on to the next book in the series quickly.
The action is spot on but varied in such away it doesn’t feel repetitive. We are given raids, full on wars, surprise attacks and you just never know where the author will take you next and that made it all the more exciting to read.
There are a few really emotive scenes also which knock the wind from your sails, this gave another edge to Eofer and for me these moment stole the show, I hope the author throws in more moments like this in book 3.
We are back with Eofer, King’s Bane and it was genuinely a thrill to get back in the action with him and his warband.
For me what made this book a step up from the first is the bond Eofer has with his men. The connection they have with each other is more developed and believable.
This bond is strengthened throughout the book when Eofer is in need of his men more than ever.
The plot has a lot of meat on the bone as I like to say, lots to get to grips with but not so much that you are bombarded with too much info. If anything it was the sheer amount of action and the fast flowing plot that sucked me in.
The Angles are leaving, headed for what they hope is a better future but while the last of them race to get aboard a ship there’s still the chance of attack.
Eofer’s men have great comradery and some very fun conversations which give some light relief at times from all the heavy action.
Spearhafoc, who you may remember from the first installment is back and her story gets dark and complicated, I really enjoyed it but I do hope that her story isn’t over.
What I really liked about this book is the setting. As there’s not a lot of information known about the events it’s given the author the chance to weave a believable tale at times but also exercise his imagination. I want to say more but I don’t want to give away too much of the plot.
For me this is a complex tale, it's a battle to see which tale is more important, Eofer's tale or the historical tale. There’s a lot crammed in with this one but it all worked for me. Fun, exciting and it’s left me wanting to get on to the next book in the series quickly.
The action is spot on but varied in such away it doesn’t feel repetitive. We are given raids, full on wars, surprise attacks and you just never know where the author will take you next and that made it all the more exciting to read.
There are a few really emotive scenes also which knock the wind from your sails, this gave another edge to Eofer and for me these moment stole the show, I hope the author throws in more moments like this in book 3.
September 4, 2016
I’ve finished this. I put it down. I’m stunned. I have something in my eye, that’s why it’s watering honestly...Maybe some dust, that’s all... But, I’m thinking “Wow! THAT was incredible! When’s the next one?!”
At first, I thought it was slow to get going, it seemed to take a couple of chapters to settle down in my mind. Then I figured it out, now I know better. I just had to let my mind be transported back with Mr May and his time machine and relate to the characters as they would be in their time, not from the point of view of my conceptions. What I mean is, like this: They call themselves 'English' but they're clearly not from what we know as England. They believe in the Nordic gods, but wait, isn't this before the Viking age, and anyway, why do they call him Woden? It's Odin, isn't it? I've read a lot of books about the Romans, the Romans in Britannia, and uncountable numbers of books about Vikings. But this, you and I must remember, is in between. This is when the soon-to-be Vikings, were still called 'Danes' to the people's of the lands they 'visited' and, before Denmark was all it is today. This is, therefore, still 'Britannia,' the people 'Britons' and the peoples we're reading about here, are the English. Who, with the Saxons and the Jutes, are beginning to move over to the east coast of Britannia.
Once I and the characters had got our bearings, I was completely swept away, carried along by the enveloping and thrilling storytelling, the great, often poignant writing and the multitude of thoughts it will send running around in your head. Interestingly, it reminded me of another recently released, soon to be classic, James Aitcheson’s superb The Harrowing . It’s all about the style of a writer who immerses his story and then his readers so deeply in the period, it feels like he's just describing what he actually sees, what's going on around him (time travel?).
It's perhaps a more reflective piece than book one, and there is a lot of ground to cover, literally. The English, before they can re-join the first of their countrymen and women in their new home in Britannia, must first sort out the Danes. They launch fake attacks to the west of the approaching Danes, before shock troops attack from behind their lines. Once this is accomplished, the main forces can travel west and make the hazardous crossing to (east) Anglia and a new life. If you’ve read any of the newer non-fiction books covering this period, you’ll be aware, that thinking nowadays is not that the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes attacked at one time, like the Vikings after them, but came gradually over a period of time, until the original occupants went on to be called ‘strangers’ (Wælisc), in their own lands. Many were possibly mercenaries or recruits from the Germanic lands, used by the Romans, who, after the Romans left, decided to stay. This turbulent period is, it seems to me, becoming increasingly attractive to Historical Fiction writers, who, I would say, normally stick to the Romans and the Vikings, which sell books, avoiding the period in between, which clearly hasn’t, until now. C.R. May’s books - along with those of Matthew Harffy and E.S. Moxon are coming as long-awaited rain on my particular parched patch of knowledge.
As an aside, one of the (many) really interesting aspects of reading these books, is seeing where many of the names I grew up with (English), and those I use today (Danish), possibly came from. (Here, of course, I’m trusting Mr May’s research!). Now living in Denmark, and being fluent in Danish, I may have an advantage over the average reader, but trust me, as far as I can see, it’s all well-founded.
There are battles and sword-play and the hacking and the surviving, then fighting and raiding again, enough to keep all those who read for that more than happy. However, I think books like this and The Harrowing are doing something else within the genre. Can I suggest that? I think I can. Shaking it up a bit, looking at life in the dark ages, a little differently. Yes, you are knocked a little out of your Hist Fic comfort zone at the start - of both books - until your mind's time travel trip is completed and you get used to the 'new' names, the different names and the unusual concept that the 'English' and 'England' is to the south of the Jutland (Jylland, to me) peninsula. And where they want to settle, is Anglia, in the east of Britannia. Once you are attuned, the story will transport you, almost physically. The characters will come to glorious life in your head and ultimately, you’ll get much more pleasure out of books like Gods of War, than you will from 99% of ‘Historical Fiction' there is out there. No doubt in my mind, this is already a book, a series, that will stay with me as long as I read books.
If you like your Historical Fiction raw, real, soaked in history and bursting with new life - and death - that weaves its way in and wraps itself around your mind, until you can see, hear, touch and almost taste the dark ages, Gods of War (as with Fire & Steel before it), is a book you cannot ignore. A book that from the cover, from the first page, to the last word on the last page, bursts with quality, daring, ideas and with an extra layer of fascination - then King’s Bane is a series you have to get into. I can not recommend this series highly enough. “How highly?” “Higher! Higher than that!”
All my reviews: Speesh Reads
Speesh Reads' Facebook Page
At first, I thought it was slow to get going, it seemed to take a couple of chapters to settle down in my mind. Then I figured it out, now I know better. I just had to let my mind be transported back with Mr May and his time machine and relate to the characters as they would be in their time, not from the point of view of my conceptions. What I mean is, like this: They call themselves 'English' but they're clearly not from what we know as England. They believe in the Nordic gods, but wait, isn't this before the Viking age, and anyway, why do they call him Woden? It's Odin, isn't it? I've read a lot of books about the Romans, the Romans in Britannia, and uncountable numbers of books about Vikings. But this, you and I must remember, is in between. This is when the soon-to-be Vikings, were still called 'Danes' to the people's of the lands they 'visited' and, before Denmark was all it is today. This is, therefore, still 'Britannia,' the people 'Britons' and the peoples we're reading about here, are the English. Who, with the Saxons and the Jutes, are beginning to move over to the east coast of Britannia.
Once I and the characters had got our bearings, I was completely swept away, carried along by the enveloping and thrilling storytelling, the great, often poignant writing and the multitude of thoughts it will send running around in your head. Interestingly, it reminded me of another recently released, soon to be classic, James Aitcheson’s superb The Harrowing . It’s all about the style of a writer who immerses his story and then his readers so deeply in the period, it feels like he's just describing what he actually sees, what's going on around him (time travel?).
It's perhaps a more reflective piece than book one, and there is a lot of ground to cover, literally. The English, before they can re-join the first of their countrymen and women in their new home in Britannia, must first sort out the Danes. They launch fake attacks to the west of the approaching Danes, before shock troops attack from behind their lines. Once this is accomplished, the main forces can travel west and make the hazardous crossing to (east) Anglia and a new life. If you’ve read any of the newer non-fiction books covering this period, you’ll be aware, that thinking nowadays is not that the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes attacked at one time, like the Vikings after them, but came gradually over a period of time, until the original occupants went on to be called ‘strangers’ (Wælisc), in their own lands. Many were possibly mercenaries or recruits from the Germanic lands, used by the Romans, who, after the Romans left, decided to stay. This turbulent period is, it seems to me, becoming increasingly attractive to Historical Fiction writers, who, I would say, normally stick to the Romans and the Vikings, which sell books, avoiding the period in between, which clearly hasn’t, until now. C.R. May’s books - along with those of Matthew Harffy and E.S. Moxon are coming as long-awaited rain on my particular parched patch of knowledge.
As an aside, one of the (many) really interesting aspects of reading these books, is seeing where many of the names I grew up with (English), and those I use today (Danish), possibly came from. (Here, of course, I’m trusting Mr May’s research!). Now living in Denmark, and being fluent in Danish, I may have an advantage over the average reader, but trust me, as far as I can see, it’s all well-founded.
There are battles and sword-play and the hacking and the surviving, then fighting and raiding again, enough to keep all those who read for that more than happy. However, I think books like this and The Harrowing are doing something else within the genre. Can I suggest that? I think I can. Shaking it up a bit, looking at life in the dark ages, a little differently. Yes, you are knocked a little out of your Hist Fic comfort zone at the start - of both books - until your mind's time travel trip is completed and you get used to the 'new' names, the different names and the unusual concept that the 'English' and 'England' is to the south of the Jutland (Jylland, to me) peninsula. And where they want to settle, is Anglia, in the east of Britannia. Once you are attuned, the story will transport you, almost physically. The characters will come to glorious life in your head and ultimately, you’ll get much more pleasure out of books like Gods of War, than you will from 99% of ‘Historical Fiction' there is out there. No doubt in my mind, this is already a book, a series, that will stay with me as long as I read books.
If you like your Historical Fiction raw, real, soaked in history and bursting with new life - and death - that weaves its way in and wraps itself around your mind, until you can see, hear, touch and almost taste the dark ages, Gods of War (as with Fire & Steel before it), is a book you cannot ignore. A book that from the cover, from the first page, to the last word on the last page, bursts with quality, daring, ideas and with an extra layer of fascination - then King’s Bane is a series you have to get into. I can not recommend this series highly enough. “How highly?” “Higher! Higher than that!”
All my reviews: Speesh Reads
Speesh Reads' Facebook Page
November 14, 2017
The continued saga of Eofor kings bane. Follow along as the war rages on and the engles migrate from engeln to brittania and east anglia in the dark ages.
Plenty of actionand drama.
Just downloaded the next book in the kings bane series and cant wait to see the conclusion.
If you love historical fiction with an eye towards action then youll just love this series. Also try the woden series too and read about Eofors kinsman.... The famous geat Beowulf.... Sons of woden series by same author
Plenty of actionand drama.
Just downloaded the next book in the kings bane series and cant wait to see the conclusion.
If you love historical fiction with an eye towards action then youll just love this series. Also try the woden series too and read about Eofors kinsman.... The famous geat Beowulf.... Sons of woden series by same author
July 14, 2017
This Is Book 2 of the King's Bane series, dealing with the migration of the Angles from North Germany and Jutland, to Britain, Book one is Fire and Steel. This is an excellent Kindle read by a very good British author who has very obviously done his research> Really reccomend this sereis as well as the author's three BEOWULF novels
August 4, 2022
The Saxons are here to stay
So the journey of our early history continues. The Saxons/English are starting to take route in Britannia. Still over 300 years before Alfred.
So the journey of our early history continues. The Saxons/English are starting to take route in Britannia. Still over 300 years before Alfred.
October 4, 2016
Good read
Second book in this series looking forward to the following one good page turner will keep you turning the pages
Second book in this series looking forward to the following one good page turner will keep you turning the pages
April 17, 2017
It's a tough gig to move an entire nation to a new home. It's even tougher when you have enemies everywhere bent on destroying you before you leave. Gods of War continues the story of the Engeln people migrating to Britannia and the exploits of Eofer; a.k.a. King's Bane. A gritty tale of courage, drama and a fierce determination to succeed, the author paints a vivid picture of the times while drawing on the somewhat meager historical record, doing with it what all good historical-fiction authors do - make the story believable. A wonderful cast of characters bolstered by the author's ability to describe the terra-firma, the action, and the emotions of this intrepid band of warriors. I am looking forward to the continuation of this tale, a tale of how Britain came to be.
4.3 stars
4.3 stars
April 24, 2017
A hard man, making hard decisions
After striking hard on the very heart of lands of the Danes and getting revenge on the Jutes, King's Bane and his warband sail again. King Eomer has finally approved the migration to Anglia and he requires a diversion to get all people from the english folk to leave as soon as possible. This diversion is made possible by the very Eofer and his men, who will seek to raid and provide a distraction for the Danes, meanwhile King Eomer's army attack Hrothgar's forces. But things are not so easy, as the Danes have their own plans and Hrotrulf's personal ambitions will be high above his dying king and uncle, Hrothgar. Soon there will be another rising star on the house of Scyldings.
As Eofer struggles to get his mission done, he will face tough situations and the ultimate humiliation for both his pride and his warrior's code. But an eorle's duty is always to remain committed and faithful to his Lord's instructions and even the in the worst scenario, Eofer won't give up to despair and will succeed with his pride and honor restored.
-----COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILER-----
After the passionate plot found on Fire and Steel, C.R. May delivers another solid book, supported by the great cast and the detailed account about the day-to-day life in this period of History.
Eofer King's Bane and the Engles had delivered a critical hit into the Danes morale by raiding the very heart of Heorot and now, as the King Eomer has approved the plan to move into Anglia, our eorle finds himself on the top of the hill with his increasing reputation. The very Eomer will ask King's Bane to keep further raiding into Daneland to provide a diversion for Eomer's Army attacking on the South, at the same time that the Engles are leaving their homes.
Meanwhile in Daneland, things are not so easy for King Hrothgar. He is very wounded and his nephew's (Hrothulf) ambitions will pave the way for an upcoming treason. This will led to two royal assassinations and Hrothulf seizing the gift stool as new king of the Danes. Young prince Hrothmund (Hrothgar's son) will escape and by hand of Woden, be rescued by Eofer and his warband.
By doing this, Eofer will learn about what is happening in Heorot and most important, by protecting Hrothmund they will have another weapon for a future negotiations with the Danes. But the prince didn't escape without being noticed so a large group of Hrothulf huscarls will chase Eofer and co. and finally trap them in a river crossing. In here Eofer will cover the retreat of his forces with Hrothmund, performing a desperate defense of the unique pass on this crossing. He will soon be overwhelmed and captured, suffering humiliations and enduring harshness.
His warband led by Thrush Hemming will complete the task and carry Hrothmund into safety thanks to the help of the Geats. After this the very Hemming will be on charge on trying to rescue Eofer. They will succeed by going undercover using Juttish brooches and being in the place before Eofer gets sacrificed. They will escape once again and being reunited with the English main army, who is besieged by a considerable force of Danes who will receive a massive amount of reinforcements by the next day evening. Wasting no time and preventing the Engles of further losings on a battle, Eofer develops a plan to attack the rear of the Danish forces and giving enough time for King Eomer to leave unscathed. Eofer will also have the chance of a payback with Ubba Silkbeard, the one who captured him before. Succeeding both in plan and the duel with Ubba, Eofer embarks himself into the new lands, not without making a personal sacrifice and leaving his father behind, in a land that is empty of people but full of ghosts.
Finally, Eofer and the Engles will settle in Anglia accordingly. King Eomer will rewarding him with an estate and life itself will give him another gift: a new son. Despite all the good news and the hard work, Eofer will have to endure another problem inside his warband: there have been a fight and Eofer will have to punish and banish young Spearhafoc for her doing. Things in Anglia would not be the same, but Eofer will have the resilience to do what a real hero needs to do.
Well, after this long summary about the plot my only concern is that, even that I picked the words wisely, I don't feel that I did justice to the story. This book's plot was amazing, I felt no rest on Eofer adventures and the story was very exciting.
Our favorite eorle returns with the same traits that we like from previous book, but now he gets chased, captured, humiliated and rescued. All the chasing was very tense and the capture of our hero was brutal. It also gave the chance for Hemming step in as a Leader. Wonderful!
Aside from enduring this difficulties, Eofer will be forced to make tough decisions such as taking his enemy Hrothmund, escaping the Danes, fighting for his life on the river crossing and against the guda, leaving his father behind, feeling despair on the eyes of his wife and finally on Spearhafoc's fate. I appreciated all these challenges to Eofer's inner values as theses were a tool to get a more knowledge about how he thinks and acts. Eofer felt like a real person and it was hard to end the book without feeling emotionally tired. May has done a perfect job here.
The setting was also perfect and chaotic: the Engles are trying to settle the account against their enemies before leaving. Meanwhile this is happening, Hrothulf seize the crown on Daneland and Onela betrays his brother Othere on Swedeland in order to reclaiming his own place as King. Remaining Jutes and Warbeards are scattered across the land as their leaders were killed on previous conflicts. Geats are just recovering from the heavy losses suffered against the campaign on the Salian Franks and Frisians. All this things happening on parallel, gave the book a different sense, as life itself is chaotic and unpredictable and by being on Eofer's shoes we felt that moving to Anglia is perfectly justified.
I cannot say anything more as I already have valued C.R. May books by their quality on the plot, characters, day-to-day activities of the war band, the setting. May be repeating but, this is Historical Fiction as its best. This tale was full of emotions and I depart the plot with a heavy heart.
Glad-fully, The Scathing (KB III) is just around the corner and we will soon have more Eofer's adventure. On my C.R. May top list, I have Wraecca first then Gods of War.
For the rest, I would strongly recommend King's Bane Series and mainly all C.R. May books. These stories will make you discover a new age when heroes and gods tread the world together, a world full of chaos and struggles that help us to build the one that we're living right now.
Cannot say enough how much I loved this book 5/5.
After striking hard on the very heart of lands of the Danes and getting revenge on the Jutes, King's Bane and his warband sail again. King Eomer has finally approved the migration to Anglia and he requires a diversion to get all people from the english folk to leave as soon as possible. This diversion is made possible by the very Eofer and his men, who will seek to raid and provide a distraction for the Danes, meanwhile King Eomer's army attack Hrothgar's forces. But things are not so easy, as the Danes have their own plans and Hrotrulf's personal ambitions will be high above his dying king and uncle, Hrothgar. Soon there will be another rising star on the house of Scyldings.
As Eofer struggles to get his mission done, he will face tough situations and the ultimate humiliation for both his pride and his warrior's code. But an eorle's duty is always to remain committed and faithful to his Lord's instructions and even the in the worst scenario, Eofer won't give up to despair and will succeed with his pride and honor restored.
-----COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILER-----
After the passionate plot found on Fire and Steel, C.R. May delivers another solid book, supported by the great cast and the detailed account about the day-to-day life in this period of History.
Eofer King's Bane and the Engles had delivered a critical hit into the Danes morale by raiding the very heart of Heorot and now, as the King Eomer has approved the plan to move into Anglia, our eorle finds himself on the top of the hill with his increasing reputation. The very Eomer will ask King's Bane to keep further raiding into Daneland to provide a diversion for Eomer's Army attacking on the South, at the same time that the Engles are leaving their homes.
Meanwhile in Daneland, things are not so easy for King Hrothgar. He is very wounded and his nephew's (Hrothulf) ambitions will pave the way for an upcoming treason. This will led to two royal assassinations and Hrothulf seizing the gift stool as new king of the Danes. Young prince Hrothmund (Hrothgar's son) will escape and by hand of Woden, be rescued by Eofer and his warband.
By doing this, Eofer will learn about what is happening in Heorot and most important, by protecting Hrothmund they will have another weapon for a future negotiations with the Danes. But the prince didn't escape without being noticed so a large group of Hrothulf huscarls will chase Eofer and co. and finally trap them in a river crossing. In here Eofer will cover the retreat of his forces with Hrothmund, performing a desperate defense of the unique pass on this crossing. He will soon be overwhelmed and captured, suffering humiliations and enduring harshness.
His warband led by Thrush Hemming will complete the task and carry Hrothmund into safety thanks to the help of the Geats. After this the very Hemming will be on charge on trying to rescue Eofer. They will succeed by going undercover using Juttish brooches and being in the place before Eofer gets sacrificed. They will escape once again and being reunited with the English main army, who is besieged by a considerable force of Danes who will receive a massive amount of reinforcements by the next day evening. Wasting no time and preventing the Engles of further losings on a battle, Eofer develops a plan to attack the rear of the Danish forces and giving enough time for King Eomer to leave unscathed. Eofer will also have the chance of a payback with Ubba Silkbeard, the one who captured him before. Succeeding both in plan and the duel with Ubba, Eofer embarks himself into the new lands, not without making a personal sacrifice and leaving his father behind, in a land that is empty of people but full of ghosts.
Finally, Eofer and the Engles will settle in Anglia accordingly. King Eomer will rewarding him with an estate and life itself will give him another gift: a new son. Despite all the good news and the hard work, Eofer will have to endure another problem inside his warband: there have been a fight and Eofer will have to punish and banish young Spearhafoc for her doing. Things in Anglia would not be the same, but Eofer will have the resilience to do what a real hero needs to do.
Well, after this long summary about the plot my only concern is that, even that I picked the words wisely, I don't feel that I did justice to the story. This book's plot was amazing, I felt no rest on Eofer adventures and the story was very exciting.
Our favorite eorle returns with the same traits that we like from previous book, but now he gets chased, captured, humiliated and rescued. All the chasing was very tense and the capture of our hero was brutal. It also gave the chance for Hemming step in as a Leader. Wonderful!
Aside from enduring this difficulties, Eofer will be forced to make tough decisions such as taking his enemy Hrothmund, escaping the Danes, fighting for his life on the river crossing and against the guda, leaving his father behind, feeling despair on the eyes of his wife and finally on Spearhafoc's fate. I appreciated all these challenges to Eofer's inner values as theses were a tool to get a more knowledge about how he thinks and acts. Eofer felt like a real person and it was hard to end the book without feeling emotionally tired. May has done a perfect job here.
The setting was also perfect and chaotic: the Engles are trying to settle the account against their enemies before leaving. Meanwhile this is happening, Hrothulf seize the crown on Daneland and Onela betrays his brother Othere on Swedeland in order to reclaiming his own place as King. Remaining Jutes and Warbeards are scattered across the land as their leaders were killed on previous conflicts. Geats are just recovering from the heavy losses suffered against the campaign on the Salian Franks and Frisians. All this things happening on parallel, gave the book a different sense, as life itself is chaotic and unpredictable and by being on Eofer's shoes we felt that moving to Anglia is perfectly justified.
I cannot say anything more as I already have valued C.R. May books by their quality on the plot, characters, day-to-day activities of the war band, the setting. May be repeating but, this is Historical Fiction as its best. This tale was full of emotions and I depart the plot with a heavy heart.
Glad-fully, The Scathing (KB III) is just around the corner and we will soon have more Eofer's adventure. On my C.R. May top list, I have Wraecca first then Gods of War.
For the rest, I would strongly recommend King's Bane Series and mainly all C.R. May books. These stories will make you discover a new age when heroes and gods tread the world together, a world full of chaos and struggles that help us to build the one that we're living right now.
Cannot say enough how much I loved this book 5/5.
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