Ulf's Tale: Annals of the Anglo-Scandinavian Empire

by John Broughton

In the beginning of the bloody 11th century, young Ulf is taken hostage by King Aethelred.

While treachery and plotting threaten uneasy alliances, and ambitious rivals attempt to seize power for themselves, Ulf learns to enjoy his new life of luxury and opportunity.

When his own life is threatened, Ulf sets on a quest to bring peace to the Baltic states. But can he overcome divided loyalties and religious clashes, and make the choice between power and morality?

Praise:

★★★★★ - "This book will make you feel as if you are back in time, a thousand years ago, sailing the high seas, flourishing a sword in bloody battle, and drinking ale in victory. Impressive historical fiction."

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2019

About the author

John Broughton was born in Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire, studied at the local grammar school and went on to take an honours degree in Medieval and Modern History at the University of Nottingham, where he also studied Archaeology.
John retired in January 2014 and chose the period that fascinates him most – the Anglo-Saxon period – as the setting for his first historical novel. Since then, he has had 28 novels published by Next Chapter Publishing. Most are historical novels, but he also writes murder mysteries, fantasy and sci-fi.

Reviews

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ulf's Tale, by historical novelist, John Broughton is an impressive piece of historical fiction about the age of the Vikings and Scandinavia around the year 1002 A.D. In fact, it doesn't read like a fiction whatsoever. Being quite familiar with Sweden, and to a degree Denmark and Norway, where the story takes place, the attention to detail, places, culture and folk is in itself so well done that the story could be taking place in the present, were not for the wars, the ravaging, the killing and of course, the Vikings. The story pivots around Ulf, the son of a Swedish high-placed family, who learns certain principles from his father, and goes on to live by those principles to the very end. Torn between allegiances to his family and kings of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, to whom he is either related or committed, Ulf deftly navigates his way through the constant power-plays, the back-stabbing, the conspiracies and plots, and in the end he finds himself at a crossroads where he must either live up to his principles and integrity and choose the hard road, one with the greatest of sacrificies, or the easy one and compromise everything he stood for. Which road he takes and what we learn from the character of this unique man, one who is almost displaced for his time, is best discovered by reading this well-written, highly descriptive book. It will make you feel as if you are back in time, a thousand years ago, sailing the high seas, flourishing a sword in bloody battle, and drinking ale in victory - only to start it all over again in the life of a Viking.

[Brian Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking saga

Having read a number 9f John Broughton's historical novels, I looked forward to reading Ulf's Tale and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Narrated by the central character, Ulf himself, it takes us back to the 11th century and focuses on the Norse people rather than the Anglo-Saxons, as in previous books.
There is so much action taking place within the pages of the book that you will hardly have time to take a breath. If, like me you have always thought that the Vikings were the people of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, this book will very quickly re-educate you, as it did me. With so many Kings, each vying for power, these people were in an almost constant state of war, with one another and with the Anglo-Saxons, with regular raids on England and its various Kings and in a constant battle between paganism, the old Norse Gods, and the new religion of Christianity.
I can't say much without adding spoilers, but will say that this is a fast paced entertaining read with an ending that took me by surprise as I'm sure it will many readers.
I have no hesitation in giving it the full 5 stars, so well deserved

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first he and his older brother are hostage at the English Court in the 11th Century. Then they are reunited with father and mother. The brother’s become locked in a game of proving which one is the best warrior for their father, an enmity that will last for years. The story follows Ulf as he matures, weds, fights for peace in the Baltic States. His father-in-law becomes King of England which complicates matters and endangers him and his family. Read on for the bloody ending to this tales of a thousand years ago.