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The Bernicia Chronicles #3.5
Kin of Cain
A gripping, action-packed historical tale set in the world of the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden. AD 630. Anglo-Saxon Britain. Winter grips the land in its icy fist. Terror stalks the hills, moors and marshes of Bernicia. Livestock and men have been found ripped asunder, their bones gnawed, flesh gorged upon. People cower in their halls in fear of the monster that prowls the night.King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus and Octa, and band of trusted thegns to hunt down the beast and to rid his people of this evil.Bassus leads the warriors into the chill wastes of the northern winter, and they soon question whether they are the hunters or the prey. Death follows them as they head deeper into the ice-rimed marshes, and there is ever only one ending for the a welter of blood that will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.Reviewers on Matthew 'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron 'He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown.' Jemahl Evans 'A genuinely superb novel.' Steven McKay 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2017
162 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Harffy
35 books750 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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March 1, 2017
First let me say thanks to the author and the fine folks at Aria for including this poor, humble scribe with the illustrious group of reviewers on this Blog Tour. Since I am leading off this tour, I reckon it's appropriate for me to announce, "Welcome, and now, on with the show."
More Dark Age tale telling from the author of The Serpent Sword. This time he weaves a story that is well known but puts his own twist on it, and in a manner that is both entertaining and foreshadowing. The main character in this tale is the older brother of Beobrand, the hero of Matthew Harffy's excellent Bernicia Chronicles series. Octa becomes part of the group of warriors chosen to ferret out and kill a night stalking monster wreaking havoc among the common folk. As he has done in the full length tales, Mr. Harffy brings to vivid life the ethos of a dark age warrior; the fealty owed when oathsworn, the bonding between fellow sword brothers, the ale hall boasting. The quest to find the monster is emotion and action packed. A boggy, misty, fen land can play with a man's mind, so too can facing the limits of one's endurance in a very trying situation. Unrelenting drama unfolds as the warriors close in on their quarry and not a few surprises make their task that much more interesting. I enjoyed learning a little about Beobrand's big brother and the sword that plays such a large part in his tale. 4.7 stars and a Hoover Book Review's coveted "Job well done" acclamation. :-)
Blurb:
AD 630. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical tale set in the world of The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.
Winter grips the land in its icy fist. Terror stalks the hills, moors and marshes of Bernicia. Livestock and men have been found ripped asunder, their bones gnawed, flesh gorged upon. People cower in their halls in fear of the monster that prowls the night.
King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus, Octa and band of trusted thegns, to hunt down the beast and to rid his people of this evil.
Bassus leads the warriors into the chill wastes of the northern winter, and they soon question whether they are the hunters or the prey. Death follows them as they head deeper into the ice-rimed marshes, and there is ever only one ending for the mission: a welter of blood that will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.
Author info:
Matthew grew up in Northumberland where the rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline had a huge impact on him He now lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.
Pre-order links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lqNXhW
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lr4mTa
iBooks: http://apple.co/2kRcU2r
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2kxbbDm
Follow Matthew
Website: www.matthewharffy.com
Twitter: @MatthewHarffy
Facebook: MatthewHarffyAuthor
Follow Aria
Website: www.ariafiction.com
Facebook: @ariafiction
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Instagram: @ariafiction
NetGalley: http://bit.ly/2lkKB0e
Sign up to the Aria newsletter: http://bit.ly/2jQxVtV
More Dark Age tale telling from the author of The Serpent Sword. This time he weaves a story that is well known but puts his own twist on it, and in a manner that is both entertaining and foreshadowing. The main character in this tale is the older brother of Beobrand, the hero of Matthew Harffy's excellent Bernicia Chronicles series. Octa becomes part of the group of warriors chosen to ferret out and kill a night stalking monster wreaking havoc among the common folk. As he has done in the full length tales, Mr. Harffy brings to vivid life the ethos of a dark age warrior; the fealty owed when oathsworn, the bonding between fellow sword brothers, the ale hall boasting. The quest to find the monster is emotion and action packed. A boggy, misty, fen land can play with a man's mind, so too can facing the limits of one's endurance in a very trying situation. Unrelenting drama unfolds as the warriors close in on their quarry and not a few surprises make their task that much more interesting. I enjoyed learning a little about Beobrand's big brother and the sword that plays such a large part in his tale. 4.7 stars and a Hoover Book Review's coveted "Job well done" acclamation. :-)
Blurb:
AD 630. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical tale set in the world of The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.
Winter grips the land in its icy fist. Terror stalks the hills, moors and marshes of Bernicia. Livestock and men have been found ripped asunder, their bones gnawed, flesh gorged upon. People cower in their halls in fear of the monster that prowls the night.
King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus, Octa and band of trusted thegns, to hunt down the beast and to rid his people of this evil.
Bassus leads the warriors into the chill wastes of the northern winter, and they soon question whether they are the hunters or the prey. Death follows them as they head deeper into the ice-rimed marshes, and there is ever only one ending for the mission: a welter of blood that will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.
Author info:
Matthew grew up in Northumberland where the rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline had a huge impact on him He now lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.
Pre-order links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lqNXhW
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lr4mTa
iBooks: http://apple.co/2kRcU2r
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2kxbbDm
Follow Matthew
Website: www.matthewharffy.com
Twitter: @MatthewHarffy
Facebook: MatthewHarffyAuthor
Follow Aria
Website: www.ariafiction.com
Facebook: @ariafiction
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Instagram: @ariafiction
NetGalley: http://bit.ly/2lkKB0e
Sign up to the Aria newsletter: http://bit.ly/2jQxVtV
March 2, 2017
Without doubt, Kin of Cain is spine-tinglingly, nerve-jangling, read-through-your-fingers superb!
It's both a Bernicia short-story, and the work of a writer now catapulted into the ranks of the very best the Historical Fiction genre has to offer. If I hadn't already been 100% convinced of that, I wouldn't have agreed to take part in the Blog Tour to promote the book, put it like that. It's clear, that for lovers of Historical Fiction, 7th Century Britannia is the place to be right now, because with writing of this depth and quality, Matthew Harffy is in danger of giving the Dark Ages a good name.
In Dark Ages Bernicia, in what is now the northern part of England, an ancient evil presence seems to be abroad. Stalking the land, killing and dismembering whatever comes its way in the night. The King tasks his warriors with hunting, finding and dealing with this un-named menace.
The Serpent SwordThe book is set in the period before the first book in The Bernicia Chronicles, The Serpent Sword. So, cue a load of background information on characters already familiar to us from the series proper? Cue the feeling that it was a side-spur, a passage that got left out of one or other of the three (so far) Bernicia Chronicles proper books, padded with a hasty start and finish? Nope. Absolutely, no way. It might be short, but it's bursting with fresh ideas, atmosphere and images.
Kin of Cain is, incredibly for a short story/novella, a multi-layered, multi-faceted work, dealing with folk law, folk-memories, Roman, German, Anglo Saxon, Danish, that created demons for peoples who didn't fully understand their world. It's a fear of the unknown that, despite all our modern, 21st Century science and technology, is still inside us all.
I got first, shades of Robert E. Howard, he of Conan The Barbarian fame. He also wrote a lot of other types of stories, amongst others, horror, or rather, terror tales. Steeped in and dripping with doom, gloom, fear of the ancient unknown and menace. That's what Kin of Cain first suggested to me. The phrase, "Blackness that moved, A shape amid the shadows," also sprang unbidden to mind. As did Eaters of the Dead, by Michael Crichton. But I'm probably getting ahead of myself here.
What I think you have to think about of, is that these peoples weren't originally from the area, these lands. They are Anglo Saxons, and we always think of that as who English people are. These peoples may have been troops or mercenaries left behind by the Romans, the mention of their gods and traditions here, make me think that they still have their roots elsewhere, on the continent. They've clearly brought along with their gods, their superstitions and their folk-memory.
The King - and their honour - sends the warriors, out into the night, where ordinary people fear to tread, to seek the demon that is plaguing the land and the people. They might be out in the night but as the story progresses, as the characters develop, it seems they are all fighting their own inner demons in one way or another. Perhaps each seeking something else. Octa, is the main character here. He's the older brother to Beobrand, the main figure of the Bernicia Chronicles books and what it feels like he is seeking, by putting his fear and courage to the test, is a confrontation with the awful memories of his father. Octa knows he has to go out there, find and then confront the fear, or he will never escape the mental chains in which his father has bound. Then there's the title. Kin of Cain. The Christian Priest has also come to drive the old 'demon' gods out. Maybe, by conquering the demon, he can rid them of their pagan beliefs, and they can rid themselves of their past, and start a new legend, a new history the one that we now know as 'England.'
But we're back to what is it that can make the biggest, fiercest warriors the land has to offer, quiver and quake, afraid to go out into the night beyond the light of their campfires? It's something as simple, yet terrifying, as their own imagination, of course. This, Matthew captures brilliantly and perfectly - and he does the same to us. We imagine what it must be. And he makes it grow and grow in our imagination. Fears made physical and deadly. Whispers that can kill. Nothing they can lay their hands on. In the dark corners of their own minds, the dark corners of their own people's past - the demon, is all their fears made real. That image of the imagination making the beast ten times taller, ten times bigger, that look at how the folk-imagination works, imagination made real, also reminded me of Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood books. Kin of Cain is where the legends and memories featured in Mythago Wood, began. What Matthew has understood, is what makes us frightened, is not seeing and not knowing. Not ever seeing more than a glimpse, at the edges of vision, at the edges of the campfire light, of what frightens you. That's why horror films, like Alien, work so well. You never see more than a glimpse of the monster only ever what it leaves behind.
As I hope I've suggested, Kin of Cain is a real idea bomb for me. One to be savoured and read late at night, by candle-light, in an abandoned farmhouse, out on the moors...
You can buy Kin of Cain, now. Paperback or for your Kindle at Amazon
Also at Kobo, iBooks and Google Play
Related reviews on Speesh Reads
March 20, 2018
Kin of Cain
630 AD and terror and winter grip the lands of Bernicia, the northernmost kingdom in the lands of the Englefolk. A monster stalks the hills, livestock and men have been found torn asunder, their bones gnawed, their flesh gorged upon. King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus and Octa, with a band of trusted men to rid the kingdom of this evil. As Bassus leads this brave war band into the northern hills, they soon question whether they are the prey or the hunted, but whatever the darkness brings it will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.
I enjoy a good scary story, or movie, I’m one of those people who prefer the ghost ride to the wheel at the fair, however, it would never occur to me read a tale that was both historical and horror. I really enjoyed this atmospheric ride, and I could feel the tension as though I were with the characters in the marsh.
There is little to criticise in this book, it is well written, and the characters are likeable. In Kin of Cain Harffy takes the strands of an ancient story and creates a believable plot, that, although wildly imaginative, could easily be interpreted as belonging to the supernatural, especially to a people whose everyday lives were governed by superstition. And when you read the last few pages, you think, “Wow,” that’s a clever way of linking it to the one of the most popular tales that ever came out of the Anglo-Saxon period.
I’ve not been to the northernmost parts of England where the lands of Bernicia used to lie within the boundary of Northumberland, stretching itself beyond the Hadrian’s Wall and into what is now Scotland. But it’s easy to imagine dark brooding hills, swathes of land called moors, and marshes where only the remotest scatterings of steadings dwelt. At night, you can think of wolves howling as they bay at the moon, trees clouded in mist, standing like sentinels to guide a traveller’s way across the moorlands, and in the marshes the sound of the reeds rustling as creatures make their way about their nightly business. All these wild imaginative elements add to the mysteries of this shadowy land. But despite the eeriness, one cannot help but think there is beauty in the darkness, even at night, with all its terrors.
The story of Beowulf is commonly known as the brave warrior and his fellow thegns, who come to kill the monster. In this version, Mr Harffy has created the setting in Northern England, which has a similar type of setting to that mentioned in the tale – and is where his Bernicia chronicles are set. Of course there are differences between the real version and his, but the presentation is atmospheric, sinister, tense and darkly weird. Descriptive prose, his strength, is how he hooks the reader:
They trudged onwards towards the smoke that must have risen from a hearth fire. The
promise of warmth and shelter, and perhaps fresh ale, drove them forward until the light
became too faint for them to make out where they were going.
The marsh was redolent of decay; dark and hidden scents, as of death. The warriors’ feet
and the hooves of the horses churned the quagmire. Stagnant pools bubbled at their passing.
All around the swamp sighed and whispered like a living thing.
Had I read the quote above as a blurb, there would be nothing to stop me from wanting to read this book.
Octa, one of the main characters, is the brother of the hero of Harffy’s Bernicia books, Beobrand. The latter does not appear in the tale of Kin of Cain, and Octa has but a cameo appearance in the first of the chronicles, The Serpent Sword, which Beobrand stars in. But that small part Octa plays was enough to tickle the taste for more of him. References to him are interesting, intriguing even, and I think a lot of people are glad that Octa has a story for himself.
Because this is a novella, we do not get to know Octa as well as we later come to know his brother and his friend, Bassus, but there is definitely a hero in the making. Sadly, his career was ended before it barely started, but I am hoping that we can see more of him, and what he might have been had he lived longer, in more of these short novels – or even possibly a whole novel devoted to him, and Bassus.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the way the author creates the right environment for my mind to easily conjure the visuals. I could hear, see, and smell the entire stage, from the rolling waves on the beach below the cliff, to the wind driven, plaintive cries of seagulls flying overhead. The dark sky, with its patches of blue and cloud, the aroma of the decaying pieces of flesh that the brave warriors walk unknowingly amongst in the night on their search for the monster, are as unforgettable as waking up and getting out of bed for work in the morning. If this is the type of style you like to read, a style that sucks you into the book and places you firmly within it, then this book is for you, and possibly starts a whole new genre of Anglo-Saxon horror.
I think that the author would enjoy greater success if he were to continue to write more of these types of stories and more about Octa, but who am I to say what he should write, for whatever he does, I think he will do it well, and having read the other stories in his chronicles, he is a master story-teller.
630 AD and terror and winter grip the lands of Bernicia, the northernmost kingdom in the lands of the Englefolk. A monster stalks the hills, livestock and men have been found torn asunder, their bones gnawed, their flesh gorged upon. King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus and Octa, with a band of trusted men to rid the kingdom of this evil. As Bassus leads this brave war band into the northern hills, they soon question whether they are the prey or the hunted, but whatever the darkness brings it will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.
I enjoy a good scary story, or movie, I’m one of those people who prefer the ghost ride to the wheel at the fair, however, it would never occur to me read a tale that was both historical and horror. I really enjoyed this atmospheric ride, and I could feel the tension as though I were with the characters in the marsh.
There is little to criticise in this book, it is well written, and the characters are likeable. In Kin of Cain Harffy takes the strands of an ancient story and creates a believable plot, that, although wildly imaginative, could easily be interpreted as belonging to the supernatural, especially to a people whose everyday lives were governed by superstition. And when you read the last few pages, you think, “Wow,” that’s a clever way of linking it to the one of the most popular tales that ever came out of the Anglo-Saxon period.
I’ve not been to the northernmost parts of England where the lands of Bernicia used to lie within the boundary of Northumberland, stretching itself beyond the Hadrian’s Wall and into what is now Scotland. But it’s easy to imagine dark brooding hills, swathes of land called moors, and marshes where only the remotest scatterings of steadings dwelt. At night, you can think of wolves howling as they bay at the moon, trees clouded in mist, standing like sentinels to guide a traveller’s way across the moorlands, and in the marshes the sound of the reeds rustling as creatures make their way about their nightly business. All these wild imaginative elements add to the mysteries of this shadowy land. But despite the eeriness, one cannot help but think there is beauty in the darkness, even at night, with all its terrors.
The story of Beowulf is commonly known as the brave warrior and his fellow thegns, who come to kill the monster. In this version, Mr Harffy has created the setting in Northern England, which has a similar type of setting to that mentioned in the tale – and is where his Bernicia chronicles are set. Of course there are differences between the real version and his, but the presentation is atmospheric, sinister, tense and darkly weird. Descriptive prose, his strength, is how he hooks the reader:
They trudged onwards towards the smoke that must have risen from a hearth fire. The
promise of warmth and shelter, and perhaps fresh ale, drove them forward until the light
became too faint for them to make out where they were going.
The marsh was redolent of decay; dark and hidden scents, as of death. The warriors’ feet
and the hooves of the horses churned the quagmire. Stagnant pools bubbled at their passing.
All around the swamp sighed and whispered like a living thing.
Had I read the quote above as a blurb, there would be nothing to stop me from wanting to read this book.
Octa, one of the main characters, is the brother of the hero of Harffy’s Bernicia books, Beobrand. The latter does not appear in the tale of Kin of Cain, and Octa has but a cameo appearance in the first of the chronicles, The Serpent Sword, which Beobrand stars in. But that small part Octa plays was enough to tickle the taste for more of him. References to him are interesting, intriguing even, and I think a lot of people are glad that Octa has a story for himself.
Because this is a novella, we do not get to know Octa as well as we later come to know his brother and his friend, Bassus, but there is definitely a hero in the making. Sadly, his career was ended before it barely started, but I am hoping that we can see more of him, and what he might have been had he lived longer, in more of these short novels – or even possibly a whole novel devoted to him, and Bassus.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the way the author creates the right environment for my mind to easily conjure the visuals. I could hear, see, and smell the entire stage, from the rolling waves on the beach below the cliff, to the wind driven, plaintive cries of seagulls flying overhead. The dark sky, with its patches of blue and cloud, the aroma of the decaying pieces of flesh that the brave warriors walk unknowingly amongst in the night on their search for the monster, are as unforgettable as waking up and getting out of bed for work in the morning. If this is the type of style you like to read, a style that sucks you into the book and places you firmly within it, then this book is for you, and possibly starts a whole new genre of Anglo-Saxon horror.
I think that the author would enjoy greater success if he were to continue to write more of these types of stories and more about Octa, but who am I to say what he should write, for whatever he does, I think he will do it well, and having read the other stories in his chronicles, he is a master story-teller.
March 3, 2017
When I first read The Serpent Sword I was shocked at how quickly Octa disappeared from the tale, it's this murder that sets Beobrand on his journey but I was left wondering who Octa really was.. was he anything like his brother?
Well now we have the chance to see a little of the man himself in a short story set before the events The Serpent Sword.
86 pages is a decent amount of pages for a short tale in my opinion and Harffy doesn't hold back. For me what I really enjoyed was this tale has a bit of fantasy and mystery to it. The unknown force that is attacking people..is it human or beast.. either way the King wants it dead!
Octa sets out with a band of men to prove himself to his King and one of my favorite characters is included in this group, Bassus! oh how I love that man.
Harffy weaves a tale which includes the death and gore we are used to but it also manages to give some depth to Octa that wasn't possible before.
The tale is full of suspense, it's dark, gritty and gruesome..what more could you possibly want?
When I was reading the tale I couldn't help but see Octa as Beowulf and reading the author note it was really great to see the Harffy's thought process on this. It really made the tale stand out.
Personally I feel Harffy has loads to offer and I hope to see more shorts in the future as I feel they bring depth to the authors world and allow them the chance to share some great stories with us the readers. When I commit to an authors work I want to feel like they are committing to me also..to give me their best and Harffy never disappoints.
Kin of Cain is thriller/mystery/fantasy/myth/folklore and so much more wrapped in to 86 glorious pages and it's well worth the asking price.
Well now we have the chance to see a little of the man himself in a short story set before the events The Serpent Sword.
86 pages is a decent amount of pages for a short tale in my opinion and Harffy doesn't hold back. For me what I really enjoyed was this tale has a bit of fantasy and mystery to it. The unknown force that is attacking people..is it human or beast.. either way the King wants it dead!
Octa sets out with a band of men to prove himself to his King and one of my favorite characters is included in this group, Bassus! oh how I love that man.
Harffy weaves a tale which includes the death and gore we are used to but it also manages to give some depth to Octa that wasn't possible before.
The tale is full of suspense, it's dark, gritty and gruesome..what more could you possibly want?
When I was reading the tale I couldn't help but see Octa as Beowulf and reading the author note it was really great to see the Harffy's thought process on this. It really made the tale stand out.
Personally I feel Harffy has loads to offer and I hope to see more shorts in the future as I feel they bring depth to the authors world and allow them the chance to share some great stories with us the readers. When I commit to an authors work I want to feel like they are committing to me also..to give me their best and Harffy never disappoints.
Kin of Cain is thriller/mystery/fantasy/myth/folklore and so much more wrapped in to 86 glorious pages and it's well worth the asking price.
July 31, 2023
4.5 stars
March 2, 2017
For the full revised review, go to:
http://itsawordvomitworld.blogspot.com/
I seriously need to start reading more novellas. It really is the perfect length for a booklover with a busy life. I normally pickup an anthology for that, but this was great, and it was such an amazing story it made me want to buy a few more! I’ll for sure be reading other books by this author.
Ok, so what’s this story about? It’s a retelling of a time long, long ago. While partying it up in the great hall with all the kings horses and all the kings men (well…minus the horses), a shriek comes from outside. After a slight hesitation, everyone arms themselves and someone opens the door, thus is introduced the beast who is known by many names: Nightwalker, Kin of Cain, nihtgenga. It’s known by so many names, because no one knows what it actually is. All that is known is that its flesh cannot be penetrated by a spear, and it has killed time and time again, ripping livestock, women, and boys to shreds. And from the sounds of it, it only strikes at night.
With this night’s interruption, the king decides “NO MORE”, and sends his 5 “best” warriors to hunt down the beast and kill it. And so the real story begins.
Sounds like a great bedtime story, right?! Well you’d be correct!!!
I love that I found this book in the historical fiction section. If you know a bit of history about the time, you can tell that the author did his research. There are subtle hints here and there of a time so far behind us. It really was a different world back then. People looked at things differently than we do now, turning everything into a magical, if frightening, place.
The writing style fits so well with the story, but it’s never over-the-top so that you can’t understand what’s going on. It’s subtle, beautiful, and descriptive, never getting in the way of the story itself. I will say the only thing that docked this story one star for me were a few of the action scenes being slowed by just a bit too much thought and wordiness. Other than those few spots it was spot on.
For such a short piece this story does a great job bringing the characters to life, even if we get to know some better than others.
There were times I thought I could see the writing on the wall, thinking things were going to get predictable, and then it took a turn in an all together great direction, surprising me to my glee.
If you’re a fantasy, horror, or historical fiction lover then you’ll LOVE this novella, and you’ll get a kick out of the end as I did. Even if you don’t know the history behind the story, you’ll find that the author has got you covered with a brief history he has written. So hey, you might even just learn something while you’re at it.
Who knew you could get such an epic story in such a small book!?
**I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
http://itsawordvomitworld.blogspot.com/
I seriously need to start reading more novellas. It really is the perfect length for a booklover with a busy life. I normally pickup an anthology for that, but this was great, and it was such an amazing story it made me want to buy a few more! I’ll for sure be reading other books by this author.
Ok, so what’s this story about? It’s a retelling of a time long, long ago. While partying it up in the great hall with all the kings horses and all the kings men (well…minus the horses), a shriek comes from outside. After a slight hesitation, everyone arms themselves and someone opens the door, thus is introduced the beast who is known by many names: Nightwalker, Kin of Cain, nihtgenga. It’s known by so many names, because no one knows what it actually is. All that is known is that its flesh cannot be penetrated by a spear, and it has killed time and time again, ripping livestock, women, and boys to shreds. And from the sounds of it, it only strikes at night.
With this night’s interruption, the king decides “NO MORE”, and sends his 5 “best” warriors to hunt down the beast and kill it. And so the real story begins.
Sounds like a great bedtime story, right?! Well you’d be correct!!!
I love that I found this book in the historical fiction section. If you know a bit of history about the time, you can tell that the author did his research. There are subtle hints here and there of a time so far behind us. It really was a different world back then. People looked at things differently than we do now, turning everything into a magical, if frightening, place.
The writing style fits so well with the story, but it’s never over-the-top so that you can’t understand what’s going on. It’s subtle, beautiful, and descriptive, never getting in the way of the story itself. I will say the only thing that docked this story one star for me were a few of the action scenes being slowed by just a bit too much thought and wordiness. Other than those few spots it was spot on.
For such a short piece this story does a great job bringing the characters to life, even if we get to know some better than others.
There were times I thought I could see the writing on the wall, thinking things were going to get predictable, and then it took a turn in an all together great direction, surprising me to my glee.
If you’re a fantasy, horror, or historical fiction lover then you’ll LOVE this novella, and you’ll get a kick out of the end as I did. Even if you don’t know the history behind the story, you’ll find that the author has got you covered with a brief history he has written. So hey, you might even just learn something while you’re at it.
Who knew you could get such an epic story in such a small book!?
**I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
March 1, 2017
I have been a fan of the Bernicia Chronicles almost from the beginning, though I was a wary convert. Usually one to be skeptical of books when one is “supposed” to like it (I generally steer clear of popular best-seller lists, Oprah book club selections, etc.), I prefer to make up my own mind about them. If a celebrity or a highly paid marketing firm suggests it, my cynic’s mind kicks in. So when I heard that Harffy’s first book, The Serpent Sword, was compared to one of my favorite authors, Bernard Cornwell, I immediately pushed it aside. Cornwell has been writing for 20 years or so, and his novels have appeared on the small screen (Richard Sharpe and the Saxon stories). Cornwell has a huge following and is widely considered one of the best battle scene writers.
But… I wanted to know what the hype was all about. I’d seen his name pop up within the same social media circles, and decided to give Serpent Sword a try. And to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
I have already reviewed the main novels in the Bernicia Chronicles here and here, so I won’t reiterate why I love the series. To summarize for purposes of this review however, I will say that the key to my love is the in main protagonist of these tales, Beobrand. I love that Beobrand is a hero, but he is also an imperfect hero. He has a darkness lurking somewhere inside him, and it’s this darkness which propels and motivates him throughout the plot of each book. He has strengths and weaknesses, just like a real person, and he wrestles with them, second guessing decisions, dealing with past hurts and loves. He may be a character in a story set over a thousand years ago, but in this, he is just like any modern human alive on the planet today.
Kin of Cain takes a step back in time from the novels in The Bernicia Chronicles. It is a book set in the Bernicia Chronicles “universe”, but it is a sort of prequel in novella form. Readers of The Serpent Sword will immediately remember Beobrand’s brother Octa. The death of Octa (only referred to in that book and not covered in Kin of Cain) forces Beobrand into motion, setting off the series. Kin of Cain takes a look at one figurative chapter in Octa’s life, before we ever meet Beobrand, chronologically speaking.
The novella is a wonderful story, something I’d expect from Harffy in the style and telling of it. The pace is good, and the characters are familiar. I don’t read thriller/horror fiction, so I am probably not doing the genre or this novella justice by using a comparison, but I will. Because the main action of the story is set at night, in a misty, swirling swamp, and the antagonist of the story commits grisly atrocities, the novella feels like a thriller to me. Hound of the Baskervilles, anyone? — minus Sherlock Holmes and inserting Dark Age warriors carrying swords and other sharp bits of steel, of course. It was creepy, but the horror is suggested and happens off the page, making it more thriller than horror.
The only down side to the novella, which really isn’t saying much, is Octa. Don’t get me wrong: I like the guy. But because this is a novella, I felt that we didn’t really get a chance to know him very well. Several times he echoes regret at leaving his mother and little brother at the mercies of his brutal father, Grimgundi, as he goes off on the king’s service, but beyond those reveries we don’t see much of the inner Octa. I don’t fault the novella for this. It’s a novella. There isn’t a lot of literary real estate for such luxuries. I have just been spoiled by the superb development of Beobrand over the course of several novels.
The novella ends with one little surprise for lovers of classic literature. I won’t spoil it for those who have yet to read the book. But this one is a delight, and I have to chide myself for not catching on a little sooner to what Harffy was doing over the entire course of the novella. Especially when you consider the fact that I remember, in retrospect, his social media posts about the fact that he was going to do it!
I recommend Kin of Cain to fans of The Bernicia Chronicles, but because the story is set independently outside the series, it works very well as a stand-alone. For this reason, I also recommend the novella to those who think they might enjoy Harffy’s writing but don’t know if they want to commit to a feature-length book.
But… I wanted to know what the hype was all about. I’d seen his name pop up within the same social media circles, and decided to give Serpent Sword a try. And to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
I have already reviewed the main novels in the Bernicia Chronicles here and here, so I won’t reiterate why I love the series. To summarize for purposes of this review however, I will say that the key to my love is the in main protagonist of these tales, Beobrand. I love that Beobrand is a hero, but he is also an imperfect hero. He has a darkness lurking somewhere inside him, and it’s this darkness which propels and motivates him throughout the plot of each book. He has strengths and weaknesses, just like a real person, and he wrestles with them, second guessing decisions, dealing with past hurts and loves. He may be a character in a story set over a thousand years ago, but in this, he is just like any modern human alive on the planet today.
Kin of Cain takes a step back in time from the novels in The Bernicia Chronicles. It is a book set in the Bernicia Chronicles “universe”, but it is a sort of prequel in novella form. Readers of The Serpent Sword will immediately remember Beobrand’s brother Octa. The death of Octa (only referred to in that book and not covered in Kin of Cain) forces Beobrand into motion, setting off the series. Kin of Cain takes a look at one figurative chapter in Octa’s life, before we ever meet Beobrand, chronologically speaking.
The novella is a wonderful story, something I’d expect from Harffy in the style and telling of it. The pace is good, and the characters are familiar. I don’t read thriller/horror fiction, so I am probably not doing the genre or this novella justice by using a comparison, but I will. Because the main action of the story is set at night, in a misty, swirling swamp, and the antagonist of the story commits grisly atrocities, the novella feels like a thriller to me. Hound of the Baskervilles, anyone? — minus Sherlock Holmes and inserting Dark Age warriors carrying swords and other sharp bits of steel, of course. It was creepy, but the horror is suggested and happens off the page, making it more thriller than horror.
The only down side to the novella, which really isn’t saying much, is Octa. Don’t get me wrong: I like the guy. But because this is a novella, I felt that we didn’t really get a chance to know him very well. Several times he echoes regret at leaving his mother and little brother at the mercies of his brutal father, Grimgundi, as he goes off on the king’s service, but beyond those reveries we don’t see much of the inner Octa. I don’t fault the novella for this. It’s a novella. There isn’t a lot of literary real estate for such luxuries. I have just been spoiled by the superb development of Beobrand over the course of several novels.
The novella ends with one little surprise for lovers of classic literature. I won’t spoil it for those who have yet to read the book. But this one is a delight, and I have to chide myself for not catching on a little sooner to what Harffy was doing over the entire course of the novella. Especially when you consider the fact that I remember, in retrospect, his social media posts about the fact that he was going to do it!
I recommend Kin of Cain to fans of The Bernicia Chronicles, but because the story is set independently outside the series, it works very well as a stand-alone. For this reason, I also recommend the novella to those who think they might enjoy Harffy’s writing but don’t know if they want to commit to a feature-length book.
October 31, 2019
I’ve been interested in picking up Matthew Harffy’s Bernica Chronicles for a while but haven’t got round to it yet. This short story was suggested as a good starting point due to the length and situated before the main novels. This was well worth taking a plunge on - great pacing, foreboding and suspenseful atmosphere. Interesting twist on the Beowulf legend, and convinced me to have a go at the main novels soon.
March 2, 2023
"Kin of Cain" by Matthew Harffy is a captivating novella that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The tale revolves around Beobrand’s brother Octa and friend Bassus. Harffy's writing style is both descriptive and engaging, transporting the reader to a world of conflict and intrigue. The characters are well-developed, and their motivations and actions are realistic and relatable. The novella is also filled with historical details that add depth and authenticity to the story.
The pacing of the novella is excellent, and the action scenes are well-choreographed. Harffy does an excellent job of balancing the action with the character development and world-building. Overall, "Kin of Cain" is an excellent addition to the genre of historical fiction. Harffy's writing is sharp, engaging, and immersive. I highly recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is looking for an exciting and well-written story.
The pacing of the novella is excellent, and the action scenes are well-choreographed. Harffy does an excellent job of balancing the action with the character development and world-building. Overall, "Kin of Cain" is an excellent addition to the genre of historical fiction. Harffy's writing is sharp, engaging, and immersive. I highly recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is looking for an exciting and well-written story.
October 3, 2019
Simple storyline, but fast-paced and very descriptive.
November 28, 2022
Fun short story to hear more about some of the characters mentioned.
February 5, 2022
What a rush..
I’ve seen the future of dark age Grimm dark and his name is Matthew Harffy🪓🪓🪓🪓⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️.
This is just a novella and how kick ass it was!
I recommend
I gave it 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
I’ve seen the future of dark age Grimm dark and his name is Matthew Harffy🪓🪓🪓🪓⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️.
This is just a novella and how kick ass it was!
I recommend
I gave it 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s
December 8, 2018
This is my first foray into the Bernicia tales and I thought this short story would be a good introduction, I was not wrong.
A great beast stalks the lands of Bernicia, a monster that strikes at night, ripping its victims asunder and eating the remains..... King Edwin cannot suffer this monstrosity to live and charges the hulking warrior Bassus, along with Octa and a small group of Thegns to find and kill the beast!
This has all the markings of a great horror story as our stout group of warriors turned hunters strike out into a frozen wasteland of seemingly capricious marshes and strange folks with secrets to hide, the tension for both heroes and reader is ramped up to an almost unbearable level as surprise attacks and strange noises begin to eat away at the nerve of the companions..... But Bassus is determined to see the monsters reign of terror come to an end and is convinced if he can only bring the creature to bay, be it of this world or some other that he can kill it.... and with quick thinking and brave Octa at his side the seen is set for a terrible clash. With wonderful characters that are well rounded and a pace that is just perfect..... this short read echoes a greater legend and does it more than justice.
A great beast stalks the lands of Bernicia, a monster that strikes at night, ripping its victims asunder and eating the remains..... King Edwin cannot suffer this monstrosity to live and charges the hulking warrior Bassus, along with Octa and a small group of Thegns to find and kill the beast!
This has all the markings of a great horror story as our stout group of warriors turned hunters strike out into a frozen wasteland of seemingly capricious marshes and strange folks with secrets to hide, the tension for both heroes and reader is ramped up to an almost unbearable level as surprise attacks and strange noises begin to eat away at the nerve of the companions..... But Bassus is determined to see the monsters reign of terror come to an end and is convinced if he can only bring the creature to bay, be it of this world or some other that he can kill it.... and with quick thinking and brave Octa at his side the seen is set for a terrible clash. With wonderful characters that are well rounded and a pace that is just perfect..... this short read echoes a greater legend and does it more than justice.
March 21, 2023
A tight and terrifying take on an old legend!
This is a fantastic novella, perfect for an eerie weekend read. Harffy has such a light and lyrical pen as he weaves an old myth into a very real-feeling world. The story does a great job of building a sense of dread and mystery. Honestly, I was so freaked out while reading I jumped out of my chair when my phone went off. The characters have depth. The story has surprises and a very satisfying end. It makes me want to go back and read the ancient legend again and certainly more of Harffy's work. Well worth the low price on Kindle. Stop thinking about it, click buy and prepare to sleep with the lights on.
This is a fantastic novella, perfect for an eerie weekend read. Harffy has such a light and lyrical pen as he weaves an old myth into a very real-feeling world. The story does a great job of building a sense of dread and mystery. Honestly, I was so freaked out while reading I jumped out of my chair when my phone went off. The characters have depth. The story has surprises and a very satisfying end. It makes me want to go back and read the ancient legend again and certainly more of Harffy's work. Well worth the low price on Kindle. Stop thinking about it, click buy and prepare to sleep with the lights on.
December 1, 2017
Nice short story!
This was a well told possible story of a legendary story, not to give any spoilers. Added in nicely to the adventures of Beobrand and gives a little more insight to his brother Octa.
This was a well told possible story of a legendary story, not to give any spoilers. Added in nicely to the adventures of Beobrand and gives a little more insight to his brother Octa.
January 21, 2020
4.5*. Definitely a cool take on Beowulf.
March 29, 2023
Absolutely fantastic !
I was on the edge of my car-seat listening to this from the first minute onwards.
Matthew is an absolute gift for historical fiction.
I was on the edge of my car-seat listening to this from the first minute onwards.
Matthew is an absolute gift for historical fiction.
March 5, 2017
Excellent retelling of one of the earliest 'hero' stories.
I have enjoyed reading the Bernica books, and when happened upon this novella by the same author I purchased it.
Exciting and fast moving, this is a prequel of sorts and features Octa, elder brother of the hero of the Bernica books. Also appearing is the sword Hruntung and it's original owner. Enjoy reading this addition to the Benicia novels.
I have enjoyed reading the Bernica books, and when happened upon this novella by the same author I purchased it.
Exciting and fast moving, this is a prequel of sorts and features Octa, elder brother of the hero of the Bernica books. Also appearing is the sword Hruntung and it's original owner. Enjoy reading this addition to the Benicia novels.
February 17, 2017
Set in Anglo-saxon Britain (630 AD ) it represents a classic adventure story ( really a story because this is actually a novella ) and it has all the right ingredients : the king, the mead hall, the warriors,a famous sword, the ice-cold marshes, death and the shadow of a monster.An absolute brilliant read.
February 16, 2017
I received a free E-Arc from Netgalley.
Kin of Cain is a short story written in the same 'universe' as the Bernicia Tales. However, it is set some time previous to the first novel (I think 2 or 3 years) and this, for me is a very good thing because (spoiler ahead) it means that grumpy Beobrand has not yet made an appearance and instead the story focuses on his brother and a few of the other main characters, most notably Bassus. As such, it is much lighter in tone than the Bernician Chronicles and a far easier read. The story flows very well and if I'm slightly perplexed about where the 'marsh' and the 'cliff face' is in North Northumberland, I'm sure that someone will let me know soon enough. I do have a thing about only visiting sandy beaches for my walks and this might be my own oversight. (I've now been told that this part of the story is based around Dunstanburgh not Bamburgh - and of course, there are massive cliffs at Dunstanburgh populated by flocks of seabirds).
The 'monster' is well portrayed as is the solving of the mystery of where it is and what it is.
I hadn't realised that the author was offering a possible retelling of a very famous Anglo-Saxon story until the very end when it was made abundantly clear, as I think the story works very well on its own.
I'm sure fans of the Bernicia Chronicles will enjoy the story. I certainly did, and I do hope that the author considers more side-stories that focus on the other characters of his ''universe' as opposed to Beobrand (hint hint, pretty please).
Kin of Cain is a short story written in the same 'universe' as the Bernicia Tales. However, it is set some time previous to the first novel (I think 2 or 3 years) and this, for me is a very good thing because (spoiler ahead) it means that grumpy Beobrand has not yet made an appearance and instead the story focuses on his brother and a few of the other main characters, most notably Bassus. As such, it is much lighter in tone than the Bernician Chronicles and a far easier read. The story flows very well and if I'm slightly perplexed about where the 'marsh' and the 'cliff face' is in North Northumberland, I'm sure that someone will let me know soon enough. I do have a thing about only visiting sandy beaches for my walks and this might be my own oversight. (I've now been told that this part of the story is based around Dunstanburgh not Bamburgh - and of course, there are massive cliffs at Dunstanburgh populated by flocks of seabirds).
The 'monster' is well portrayed as is the solving of the mystery of where it is and what it is.
I hadn't realised that the author was offering a possible retelling of a very famous Anglo-Saxon story until the very end when it was made abundantly clear, as I think the story works very well on its own.
I'm sure fans of the Bernicia Chronicles will enjoy the story. I certainly did, and I do hope that the author considers more side-stories that focus on the other characters of his ''universe' as opposed to Beobrand (hint hint, pretty please).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2017
I just finished Kin of Cain by Matthew Harffy and I thought it was a really exciting story! Quite the adventure. The novella is short but doesnt fall short on adventure. It follows a band of anglo saxons on a journey to find the beast named the "Kin of Cain". It was so interesting and I really enjoyed the storyline behind the Hrunting sword. It added a nice touch to the story.The chapters seemed short and seamless resulting in a fast read. I liked the characters and they felt so relateable because even though they were tough guys, you could feel their fear at the uncertainty that was the beast. It's nice to see that in a story especially one full of action like this one. I enjoy seeing some of their customs regarding the dead. The ending parts are shocking to say the least as the beast' identity is revealed and it's for sure a crazy twist! I am definitely going to read more of the books set in Bernicia.
I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. I would like to see more about females from this time period but I understand it is a short story and can't cover everything in that world. I really enjoyed this and recommend it if you want a short, fast, exciting ride!
I received an e-book arc of this story from NetGalley free of charge. I really appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book. This book is set to release March 1, 2017.
I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. I would like to see more about females from this time period but I understand it is a short story and can't cover everything in that world. I really enjoyed this and recommend it if you want a short, fast, exciting ride!
I received an e-book arc of this story from NetGalley free of charge. I really appreciated the opportunity to read and review this book. This book is set to release March 1, 2017.
January 4, 2025
After reading Matthew Harffy's first novel, I was pleased that I could now read a prequel novella. I won't get into spoilers here, but suffice to say that this short quest adventure is as gripping and tense as the longer novel with which it connects so well. The story is fast-paced, atmospheric and dark with touches of mystery and horror interlacing well with the narrative. The connections to old Anglo-Saxon literature, even for one who only dabbles in the study, will become obvious and clear as the story unfolds toward a satisfying and even amusing conclusion. Recommended.
*****
On re-reading, still impressed with Harffy's ability to build tension and create atmosphere. The story is dark, and despite its literary inspiration, does not stray into the supernatural (though it does have horror elements. Good fun.
*****
On re-reading, still impressed with Harffy's ability to build tension and create atmosphere. The story is dark, and despite its literary inspiration, does not stray into the supernatural (though it does have horror elements. Good fun.
October 30, 2017
Nice short story from a new perspective about some of the background and secondary characters in Mathew Harffy's other series set in Berncia during the dark ages.
March 17, 2018
Cain, that murderous creature, was banished by God for killing his brother. He has been silent for a long time. But now the monster stirs once more and takes up arms to continue his savage war.
A blood-curdling cry in the darkest of nights. Lifestock slaughtered. Good men dead. This cannot continue. King Edwin will not allow such a monster to remain at large. He must be hunted. He must be killed.
On a cold winters day, King Edwin's favoured thanes set out on a quest to find and kill the beast that has brought such terror to their King's beautiful kingdom. But this will be an adventure like none before it. And all their lives will be changed forever...
As poetic and as exciting as the Old English epic poems of times gone by, Kin of Cain: A Short Bernicia Tale by Matthew Harffy really appealed to me. The story is an action-packed adventure where new horrors (both real and imagined) lurk around every corner. The characters, particular Octa are fresh and vibrant — very real in the telling. Octa was a perfect protagonist. He is strong but weak. Brave but fearful. Very human. I thought he was wonderfully portrayed.
For those of you who love the old epic poems, this story will be very familiar to you. I am not going to give away any spoilers, but very early on in the story, I cottoned on to what Mr Harffy was writing about. I have to admit, the story he depicted is one of my favourites!!
Mr Harffy has written a fresh take on a very old story. It was a very satisfying retelling with a few little twists of his own.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kin of Cain: A Short Bernicia Tale and I shall look forward to reading more books in the Benicia Tale saga.
A blood-curdling cry in the darkest of nights. Lifestock slaughtered. Good men dead. This cannot continue. King Edwin will not allow such a monster to remain at large. He must be hunted. He must be killed.
On a cold winters day, King Edwin's favoured thanes set out on a quest to find and kill the beast that has brought such terror to their King's beautiful kingdom. But this will be an adventure like none before it. And all their lives will be changed forever...
As poetic and as exciting as the Old English epic poems of times gone by, Kin of Cain: A Short Bernicia Tale by Matthew Harffy really appealed to me. The story is an action-packed adventure where new horrors (both real and imagined) lurk around every corner. The characters, particular Octa are fresh and vibrant — very real in the telling. Octa was a perfect protagonist. He is strong but weak. Brave but fearful. Very human. I thought he was wonderfully portrayed.
For those of you who love the old epic poems, this story will be very familiar to you. I am not going to give away any spoilers, but very early on in the story, I cottoned on to what Mr Harffy was writing about. I have to admit, the story he depicted is one of my favourites!!
Mr Harffy has written a fresh take on a very old story. It was a very satisfying retelling with a few little twists of his own.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kin of Cain: A Short Bernicia Tale and I shall look forward to reading more books in the Benicia Tale saga.
March 1, 2021
In this novella, Matthew Harffy creates a possible back story for the creation of the masterpiece of Old English verse, the tale of Beowulf.
An attack on a shepherd draws King Edwin into sending his best five warriors to discover and destroy the ‘monster’ who has attacked and killed the shepherd’s son. The warriors follow the trail and find that the ‘monster’ is a man with incredible strength and size. They defeat the ‘monster’, called Grendel and return to the king with Grendel’s arm as proof of their victory. The king’s scop, or bard listens to their tale and has an idea to write a poem about the adventure but recognises it will have to be a different, better tale if it is to be interesting. We are left with the scop considering a name for the hero, thinking that Beowulf might just work!
Harffy involves all the characters from the Beowulf story in different roles eg Hrothgar is Grendel’s father and it is interesting to see how an ordinary adventure could be developed and embellished in order to make a heroic tale.
An attack on a shepherd draws King Edwin into sending his best five warriors to discover and destroy the ‘monster’ who has attacked and killed the shepherd’s son. The warriors follow the trail and find that the ‘monster’ is a man with incredible strength and size. They defeat the ‘monster’, called Grendel and return to the king with Grendel’s arm as proof of their victory. The king’s scop, or bard listens to their tale and has an idea to write a poem about the adventure but recognises it will have to be a different, better tale if it is to be interesting. We are left with the scop considering a name for the hero, thinking that Beowulf might just work!
Harffy involves all the characters from the Beowulf story in different roles eg Hrothgar is Grendel’s father and it is interesting to see how an ordinary adventure could be developed and embellished in order to make a heroic tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2018
Well! Unexpectedly this turned out to be much more my cup of tea than Matthew's other novels (which are a tad too blood thirtsy for my liking) This is a slight move away from that, though there is blood aplenty. I really enjoyed the supernatural feel to the story and the scary other worldliness of the dark marshy landscape. It reminded me a bit of The Company of Liars, in that you start to believe the weird old tales yourself, will the band of warriors find a monster or a man behind the mysterious slayings?....
spoiler:
All in all a really good short story. And an interesting idea.
spoiler:
All in all a really good short story. And an interesting idea.
April 9, 2021
I don’t think I would be doing this little gem of a novella much justice if I described it as follows: a band of five warriors are ordered by their king to hunt down and slay an invincible monster that is killing innocents across Northumberland. I mean, that’s what the story is about, but that high-level description makes it sound so formulaic, like something that’s been done a few times before on tv and in prose.
However this particular book is quite a different prospect, for there is real depth to it. I very much liked the way in which Harffy slowly but surely builds up an immersive and evocative aura of dread around the mission, largely due to his immersive and evocative descriptions. He also gets the balance between archaic and other words just right, which is testament to the painstaking care which he must have employed when putting this book together.
The different personalities of each member of the band are deftly drawn out with each page turned, which is a skilful accomplishment when you consider that a novella does not benefit from the length of a full-scale novel. Harffy has little time and space in which to make his magic work, yet he pulls it all off so well. Fans of the warrior Beobrand, who is the hero of Harffy’s popular Bernicia Chronicles, should note that the protagonist of Kin of Cain is Beobrand’s older brother Octa. Readers who – like me – have not yet read any of Harffy’s acclaimed Bernicia Chronicles, can rest assured that this novella makes for a great standalone read that is easy to follow, even if we have not yet been introduced to Beobrand’s adventures.
I could not but sympathise with Octa’s desire to do the right thing by the people of Northumberland, by tracking down a creature which only appears more invincible and terrifying as the story progresses. Octa’s recollections of the violence he suffered at the hands of his tyrannical father only make his altruistic and courageous intentions to rid the land of the beast more admirable. The band’s leader Bassus has a quiet formidable quality about him, also projecting a seasoned sturdiness which is good foil for Octa’s more emotional reactions.
I particularly liked the way in which Harffy describes the marshes through which the party must travel in search of the beast, which is but one of the tricky terrains in which Octa and his companions must track down and tackle the intimidating, mysterious creature. All throughout the author cleverly skirts the edge of the realms of both fantasy and horror, sometimes even stepping into them without entirely straying from the story’s historical fiction genre.
The fighting scenes, when they do happen, are not hardboiled or too sparing, so that the warriors’ manful efforts to find and restrain their dangerous prey are rendered all the more plausible. I found the story’s denouement highly satisfying, particularly given the shrewd way in which the author ultimately linked the story to a famous Old English epic poem. It’s a tough ask to end a novella satisfactorily but Harffy also pulled this off with admirable proficiency.
So all in all this was a 5/5 read for me. I’ve heard a lot about Matthew Harffy, and now I know why. Do pick up this read if you’d like to experience the writing abilities of a talented, fast-rising star on the historical fiction circuit.
However this particular book is quite a different prospect, for there is real depth to it. I very much liked the way in which Harffy slowly but surely builds up an immersive and evocative aura of dread around the mission, largely due to his immersive and evocative descriptions. He also gets the balance between archaic and other words just right, which is testament to the painstaking care which he must have employed when putting this book together.
The different personalities of each member of the band are deftly drawn out with each page turned, which is a skilful accomplishment when you consider that a novella does not benefit from the length of a full-scale novel. Harffy has little time and space in which to make his magic work, yet he pulls it all off so well. Fans of the warrior Beobrand, who is the hero of Harffy’s popular Bernicia Chronicles, should note that the protagonist of Kin of Cain is Beobrand’s older brother Octa. Readers who – like me – have not yet read any of Harffy’s acclaimed Bernicia Chronicles, can rest assured that this novella makes for a great standalone read that is easy to follow, even if we have not yet been introduced to Beobrand’s adventures.
I could not but sympathise with Octa’s desire to do the right thing by the people of Northumberland, by tracking down a creature which only appears more invincible and terrifying as the story progresses. Octa’s recollections of the violence he suffered at the hands of his tyrannical father only make his altruistic and courageous intentions to rid the land of the beast more admirable. The band’s leader Bassus has a quiet formidable quality about him, also projecting a seasoned sturdiness which is good foil for Octa’s more emotional reactions.
I particularly liked the way in which Harffy describes the marshes through which the party must travel in search of the beast, which is but one of the tricky terrains in which Octa and his companions must track down and tackle the intimidating, mysterious creature. All throughout the author cleverly skirts the edge of the realms of both fantasy and horror, sometimes even stepping into them without entirely straying from the story’s historical fiction genre.
The fighting scenes, when they do happen, are not hardboiled or too sparing, so that the warriors’ manful efforts to find and restrain their dangerous prey are rendered all the more plausible. I found the story’s denouement highly satisfying, particularly given the shrewd way in which the author ultimately linked the story to a famous Old English epic poem. It’s a tough ask to end a novella satisfactorily but Harffy also pulled this off with admirable proficiency.
So all in all this was a 5/5 read for me. I’ve heard a lot about Matthew Harffy, and now I know why. Do pick up this read if you’d like to experience the writing abilities of a talented, fast-rising star on the historical fiction circuit.
September 4, 2021
An interesting take in a well known legend, this Bernicia Tale recounts some of the adventures lived by Beobrand’s brother Octa and some other Bernicia’s chronicles regulars such as Bassus and Gram.
It is a well written story that flirts with terror, a great achievement by its own is to keep both horror and action balanced.
Should I not played the Beowulf mission on AC Valhalla, the plot might be very original. In fact there are some interesting similarities between the mission and this novella. Despite this, as I said before it is a great read and if you are not into Bernicia Chronicles it is a great starting point to gauge Harffy write style.
It is a well written story that flirts with terror, a great achievement by its own is to keep both horror and action balanced.
Should I not played the Beowulf mission on AC Valhalla, the plot might be very original. In fact there are some interesting similarities between the mission and this novella. Despite this, as I said before it is a great read and if you are not into Bernicia Chronicles it is a great starting point to gauge Harffy write style.
April 10, 2018
A short story from the brilliant world of the Benicia Tales that Matthew has created. The story is based on Octa (Beobrand’s older brother for those familiar with the series) and is a new take on an old tale.
No spoilers, but this is action packed, fast paced and brilliantly written. As always with Matthew’s books the world he has created is vivid and and you find yourself quickly immersed. Strong characters, with a couple of familiar faces for those that have read The Serpent Sword and the others. And you can read cover to cover in one sitting!
Highly recommend.
No spoilers, but this is action packed, fast paced and brilliantly written. As always with Matthew’s books the world he has created is vivid and and you find yourself quickly immersed. Strong characters, with a couple of familiar faces for those that have read The Serpent Sword and the others. And you can read cover to cover in one sitting!
Highly recommend.
January 4, 2019
Gripping and gory historical monster story
A dark tale of courage and camaraderie in early Anglo-Saxon Britain. A monster is on the loose and a band of warriors, keen to win favour with their king, set out on its trail. The author skilfully creates the harsh and forbidding landscape of seventh century Northumbria through which our brave heroes travel to track down their prey. Is it man, beast of demon? An engaging and beguiling novella that delivers on drama - and gives a nod to folk legend.
A dark tale of courage and camaraderie in early Anglo-Saxon Britain. A monster is on the loose and a band of warriors, keen to win favour with their king, set out on its trail. The author skilfully creates the harsh and forbidding landscape of seventh century Northumbria through which our brave heroes travel to track down their prey. Is it man, beast of demon? An engaging and beguiling novella that delivers on drama - and gives a nod to folk legend.
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