Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army

by Edoardo Albert

Conrad is a monk, but he has become a monk through trickery and against his will. So, it is fair to say that his heart isn't really in it.

Conrad is also clever, charming, entirely self-serving, self-absorbed and almost completely without scruple -- but in Anglo-Saxon England, when the Danish invaders come calling, those are very helpful attributes to have.

And so it comes to pass that Conrad finds himself constantly dodging death by various means, some reasonable, some... less so. His tricks include selling his brother monks into slavery, witnessing the death of a king, juggling his loyalties between his own people and the Danes, robbing corpses and impersonating a bishop.

By his side throughout is the gentle and honourable Brother Odo, a man so naturally and completely good that even animals sense it. He is no match of wits for the cunning Conrad but can he, perhaps, at least encourage the wayward monk to behave a little better?

Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army takes the reader on a hugely entertaining and highly informative trip through the Anglo-Saxon world, in the company of a persuasive and likeable -- if frequently despicable -- tour guide. It is a story that combines painstakingly accurate depictions of history with a fast-moving and often hilarious plot, and as such is bound to appeal to lovers of history, historical fiction and character-driven fiction alike.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Medieval, Fiction, Historical, British Literature

234 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2020

About the author

Edoardo Albert is a writer of Sri Lankan and Italian extraction based in London. He writes about history and archaeology, particularly of the early Medieval period, as well as writing historical and speculative fiction.

Find out more about him and his work at www.edoardoalbert.com. Follow him on Twitter @EdoardoAlbert or like him on Facebook.

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Heathen Army has been ransacking Saxon,England. The Vikings, led by by Ivarr, Ubba, and Halfdan, the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, lust for gold and other hidden treasures. This tale begins with the marauding Danes pillaging a monastery. The monks have a designated place to hide themselves and the church's wealth. Of greatest importance is the "Gospel Book of Life". This three hundred page tome, bound with gold clasps and covered in garnets and emeralds, must be protected no matter the cost to life or limb.

Two unlucky monks have been unable to get to the hiding place. They are hiding in a pig sty. A drunk Dane falls into the sty hitting his head. The perfect cover, the garb of this Dane, will enable Conrad to execute his plan of escape from the Danes. Conrad is a self-serving, wayward monk installed in the monastery through his twin brother's trickery. Conrad's every word is taken to heart by his devoted, selfless companion, Brother Odo, not the "brightest bulb". Now disguised as a Dane, Conrad presents himself as a slave trader explaining that he will sell the captured, chained monks at the slave market for the best price ever. The Danes agree to let Conrad broker the deals. Meanwhile, the "sold" monks are led to believe that Conrad has a "plan" to get them released after the sale. With docility, they leave with their new masters. According to Brother Odo, Conrad can do no wrong. But, where is the "Book"? Oh,no! Abbot Flory, before being sold at market, had sent the "Book" with a three courier guard to Edmund, King of the East Angles.

In comedic style, Conrad and Odo must quickly journey to East Angles before the onslaught of the Danes. When Conrad's horse shows signs of distress, he tells Brother Odo to carry him on his back. Before long, Odo is a beast of burden first trotting, next cantering and finally galloping. Seeing Odo gallop, the horse gallops alongside him. Odo is not as tired as the horse so Conrad stays on Odo's back!

"Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army" by Edoardo Albert is a well researched, very enjoyable book about Saxon England and the Viking Invasion as seen through the eyes and actions of despicable, entertaining Conrad and hilarious, bumbling Brother Odo. A fun read of historical fiction.

Thank you Endeavor Media and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army".

[Judith E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 33%.

[Lora Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction with humour, what's not to love? This drew me in right away with all the tension of a Viking raid on a monastery and a protagonist who never wanted to be a monk. Conrad is funny in his totally mercenary reaction to the situation and consistently along his further adventures. I do love an intelligent character with a good sense of survival.

It's set against a fairly accurate backdrop of history of the Viking invasions of England. Exactly what's based on fact is explained well in a note after the story and holds some real surprises as some details that seemed unlikely turned out to be based on archaeological finds! I may have a couple of locations to visit on my travels.

The story keeps a good pace and despite his perpetual self-interest, Conrad is actually a likeable character. How he came to be a monk gets explained in the curse of the story and it's easy to sympathise with him on that particular downturn of his constantly changing fortunes.

Best of all, the story puts believable faces to groups of people from history. Personalities among the Danes as well as historical figures bring the setting alive and I did laugh out loud at a few all too human foibles along the way.

I highly recommend this story for anyone who likes a Pratchett-like laugh, even if they don't normally read Historical Fiction. My only complaint is the overt way in which the author lets us know there will be a series. I will be interested in the next book despite my usual disinterest series that use this tactic.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

... medieval hustler vs the Great Heathen Army

The travails of an opportunistic monk with a chequered past who rises in the church through lies, misdeeds and an eye for personal advantage. Conrad is a despicable rogue. A knave, whose rapid rise to importance is owed to his incredible self seeking antenna geared towards his own survival, his silver tongue and ability to turn dross into gold, metaphorically speaking.
When the marauding Danes come to call, Conrad looks firstly towards his own survival (most often at the expense of others), and then to lining his own pockets with a share of the loot.
His Machiavellian machinations made my head swim, let alone those he was shafting. He's accompanied by Brother Odo, a gentle foil to Conrad, without artifice who seems to survive all by the grace of God. I am never sure if Conrad's success is ultimately owed to some cosmic joke being played on him, or the otherness of the devout Odo.
A tongue in cheek, hilarious march through Anglo Saxon England, with a not so loveable rogue and his innocent sidekick.
History should always be this enjoyable.

A NetGalley ARC

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conrad Monk is immensely readable, a sort of Flashman of the 9th century. Edoard Albert writes about these early times with such confidence. It feels like he knows, without thinking, what people wore, what they believed, what they valued, and how they spoke and behaved let alone who was where and when.

Conrad is clever which makes up for him being a dishonest coward and as the author writes with wit and humour there is great life to the story. Conrad’s companion Odo is a genuinely good man and I thought at the end of the book Conrad showed a slight glimmer of consideration for him. So I hope that as the series continues Odo’s influence may Conrad help develop some small redeeming features!

It was through Edoard Albert’s series The Northumbrian Thrones: Edwin, Oswald and Oswiu, that I discovered how very enjoyable historical fiction set in early times can be. He has an extraordinary ability to write about a world that feels real and is accurately based in history. I finish his books wanting to visit the places he refers to and find out more. He really does bring the past alive in a most enjoyable way.

[Babybelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light,humorous book in an historical setting.Ye...s... Sort of .Was it light? Yes.Was it historical ish? Yes.Was it humorous ....sort of .Easy to read? Yes.
About a an Englis monk at the time of the Viking invasions and his travails in self preservation in dangerous times.Conrad is determined to be a survivor.The books describe his travails ans survival in threatening times.A slim volume,easy to read,undemanding,light.
Nothing wrong with it.If youare on a long boring journey with nothing to do,look at ,eat or drink it passes the time harmlessly.If you are lying recovering from flu,non serious illness it is easy to pick up and put down.
Reader I read it,it passed the time and I will donate to the charity shop....

[Helen Hollick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

"This is a sharply satirical romp through the ninth century... From the very first page, we are presented with a medieval version of Blackadder and Baldrick with a series of (cunning) plans; there’s simply no other way of describing these two characters and the colourful language used to tell their story. "

[Adam Lofthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immersive, brilliant and comical; I've never read historical fiction quite like it.

Conrad is a monk, but not from choice. Slung atop a pack horse and sent off to a monastery for allegedly doing no more than 'tupping his wife', he seeks to make the most of what life throws his way. Ever the opportunist, he finds a way to improve his life and enrich himself as every corner. So when his monastery is attacked by Heathens, he simply tells them he is a slave trader and sells the lot of them for a pretty penny. Well, all except poor Brother Odo.

Odo quickly becomes a fixture in the story; slow witted where Conrad is sharp of mind, pious and devout where Conrad is blasphemous and selfish. Conrad does his best to rid himself of the lumbering monk and his donkey on numerous occasions, but it is no surprise that in the end he is more than grateful to have him at his side.

It is the dialogue that makes this book. Conrad's sharp tongue and devious mind are vividly brought to life, as are the various Saxons and Danes that he encounters among the way. His unholy and sinful behaviour gets him into trouble on more than one occasion, including what Conrad thought would be a joyous rendezvous with a serving girl in a darkened outbuilding (a scene that had me chuckling into my tea cup!)

I have read many books set in this period, this has a very different feel and even the descriptions of Alfred's 'England' are unique to what I have read before. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend you go and do the same!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

 I was looking for something more light-hearted to read as a change from my recent diet of rather intense books and Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army certainly fitted the bill.

Conrad is a true picaresque hero with a shameless awareness that at heart he is a rogue and a chancer. In fact, he rather revels in it freely admitting at one point that where others see the ‘open and honest face of a man of worth and truth’ in actual fact they’re looking at the ‘shifting mien of the vain dissimulator and crafty poltroon’. He is prepared to lie, cheat or bluff to extricate himself from any situation and the book sees him make repeated (and I do mean repeated) escapes from seemingly impossible situations. At times, for me, Conrad’s actions pushed the boundary between appealing rogue and objectionable cad – and I could have done with a little less information about the state of his bowels!

His companion on his adventures, poor Brother Odo, finds himself taking the role of anything from beast of burden, to oarsman, to unwitting accomplice, his spirits maintained by Conrad’s constant reassurance that ‘It’s all part of the plan’. Plus his unwavering belief that, as a fellow monk, Conrad is a man of faith. Big mistake, Odo.

I have a feeling the author had great fun writing this book and there are some comical moments. Confronted by a marauding Dane, Conrad attempts to pass himself off as a fellow countryman thanks to his knowledge of the language. “Hey, Erik,” I yelled to him – if you don’t know the name of a Dane, just call him Erik, they all answer to it.” Later Conrad learns his real name is – you guessed it – Erik.

Amid the humour there’s some authentic detail about Anglo-Saxon England and many of the characters who feature in the book existed in real life, as the author explains in his historical note. Personally, I wouldn’t trust Conrad for a moment or believe a word he said but it was fun spending a few hours in his company.

[Paul Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful tale of a rather unusual monk and his attempts to get rich while avoiding the Danish horde that is running roughshod over Britain. Conrad is a schemer, always ready with a plan; which is a good thing as his plans have a way of not going according to plan. His companion, Brother Odo, a very devout monk, unwavering in his faith in God and in Conrad's plan(s), provides much of the mirth while also provoking sympathy from the reader. The author has crafted an entertaining version of the Danes - the sons of Ragnar; Ivarr, Ubba, and Halfdan - and the eventual clash with Aethelred and Alfred. I particularly enjoy historical-fiction when the historical events are written in such a way that the fictional aspect; the interaction of the fictional characters with the historical, the way that the story is tweaked to allow the reader to think, "Yeah, it could have happened that way." Conrad Monk and The Great Heathen Army did just that while also sparking periodic chuckles and chortles from this amused reader.  4 stars 

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be the beginning of many good reads to come! Having been doing some serious reading for a good few weeks I wanted something lighter, and this fitted the bill. Edoardo Albert always comes up with something good - this was a different side of his writing, but still a good read, and fun!! (Which is quite an achievement given the subject matter.) I could have done with a bit less dodgy bowel description but it was integral to the plot and character, and it did remind me of the funny medieval illustrations you find on some manuscripts. It was great fun watching Conrad repeatedly being put in a position where he had to do the right thing, and Brother Odo is a joy. I look forward to more (and just a plea for some good, strong female characters please!).

[Michael R. Zuelke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mix of historical events with some comic characters that kept the novel light and fast paced. In no way was this humor a distraction in relating the "not funny" reality of the Great Heathen Army's march through the future realm of England. The scribal sources give the bare bones of events and Mr. Albert has supplied the flesh to those bones while cleaving closely to the known facts. I especially appreciated the use of Conrad's wit to deal with danger. So many heroes/main characters of historical novels use force and fight to vanquish. Conrad uses his wits and intelligence. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Albert's work.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

not much to say about this purile nonsense. 1 star.

[Anna Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Edoardo's Northumbrian series so was keen to read this. This is a departure from the style of the books I had previously read, this being more of a light-hearted comedy. Humour is woven throughout the novel whilst still being full of historical details. When I read Edoardo's work I feel like I am transported back in time, he's a master storyteller.

[Mick Doy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I found the books story absorbing from the very start. It took you straight into a period of history that was very cruel and eventful. It managed to inject enough humour to lightened the subject and make the book enjoyable.

[Sam Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read More Book Reviews on my blog It's Good To Read
Summary:
A light humorous tale of medieval England, where Vikings terrorised the Saxons, looting and pillaging as they went. Two monks, one devout, the other a total chancer and not really a monk at all, somehow find themselves having to travel through dangerous country to get to the Saxon King, to warn him of the Viking invasion.

Main Characters:
Conrad Monk: A schemer, selfish, and always looking to turn every situation to his own advantage. A plausible liar, there really are no redeeming features.

Brother Odo: Humble, honest, naïve in many respects, he is the complete opposite to Conrad, his manipulative companion.

The Vikings: A Danish horde, led by the three sons of Ragnar Lothbrok -  everyone flees before their mindless orgy of violence.

Minor Characters:
Abbot Flory: A man of the world yet still spiritual, he led the monastery until its sacking by the Vikings.

King Ethelred: The last hold-out against the Danish invasion, Conrad and Odo travel there to warn him, and seek safety.

Plot:
Essentially, it is a medieval car-chase, with our two “heroes” running from the Vikings to get to the Saxon camp, with various situations to be met and resolved along the way.

We first meet Conrad and Odo literally up to their necks in it, as they are hiding in a pigsty. The Vikings are ransacking the Abbey, looking for all the gold and silver treasure, and to take prisoners as slaves to be sold. Most of the monks got away to a secret location, except for our two.

We immediately see Conrad for what he is – prepared to sacrifice the unsuspecting innocent Odo in order to save his own skin. This leads Conrad to meeting with the Viking leader, then revealing the whereabouts of the monks and betraying them to the slavers. As he keeps repeating to Odo and anyone else who would listen, this is all actually a ruse to get everyone to safety. However, Odo was not sold at the slave market, so Conrad has to buy him, and is lumbered with him for the rest of the book. All part of the plan, of course.

The most important treasure is the intricately decorated Gospel, a holy book covered in gold and precious gems. Flory had entrusted its safety to three monks, but they had been compromised. Conrad wants this for himself – his pension plan I would think – but innocent Brother Odo believes him when he says they are taking it to the Saxon King for safe-keeping. Having retrieved it literally from under the noses of the vicious Viking brothers, they are forced into making a run for it.

The type of humorous escapades in the book include Conrad using Odo as a human horse to escape the oncoming Heathen Army, obtaining a valuable bishops ring by removing it from the said dead bishop’s posterior, and escaping his captors by means of projectile diarrhoea.

What I Liked:
- The author’s research is thorough.
- It reads easily and fast, with action happening on nearly every page.
- This approach to history may make the subject more interesting to a younger audience.

What I Didn’t Like:
- The humour did not appeal to me, being way too slapstick and appealing to a scatological-type mindset. (Yep call me a snob!).
- I didn’t particularly like either of the main characters, Conrad being too stereotypical as a self-absorbed chancer, and Odo too much of a docile wet blanket.

Overall:
I liked how the author brought the historical figures to life, and it is a good approach to humanising history. I think however it is an opportunity missed, as this type of humour won’t appeal to everyone. The book is written to entertain first, and for those who like this style it will absolutely do that. A three-star for me.

Acknowledgements:
I received a .pdf of this book as part of Rosie Amber’s Review Team, in return for an honest and objective review.

[Frank Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

CONRAD MONK AND THE GREAT HEATHEN ARMY, an historical novel by Edoardo Albert, has a lot going for it. It takes place in a fascinating period when Danish Vikings (referred to as the Great Heathen Army) had just invaded England. The history seems authentic, with Albert taking poetic license only to fill in gaps in knowledge. The characters are believable and consistent with their world. The story is fast-paced and filled with almost non-stop action.

It also has the added element of humor. This is indicated by the cover, which shows cartoonish figures of Conrad the Monk; his loyal sidekick, Brother Odo; and the Great Heathen Army.

No doubt many, or perhaps most, would find this an enjoyable romp through history.

I always try to be truthful in my reviews, however, so must admit that while I can admire the skill of the author, I was not enamored with the story. When I read a novel I commit myself to spend quite a bit of time with the characters. It is not that I require protagonists to be heroic, or even lovable. I do want, however, to enjoy my time with the characters.

I did not feel comfortable with Conrad because, to be blunt, I found him a despicable human being and at times I wouldn’t have even minded if he had been skewered by his enemies.

The first incident happens just after we meet him. He manages to save himself by selling his brother monks into slavery. (As an ex-slaver, he knew how to get the maximum amount of money for them.) He winds up with Brother Odo as a kind of sidekick because he is the last to sell, nobody wants him, so Conrad himself buys Odo.

Odo believes in Conrad though Conrad in fact considers Odo a slave. A short while later Conrad rides his slave as a horse:

’The beast is blown,’ I said, getting down from the pony as Brother Odo reached me. ‘You’ll have to carry me.’ Before Brother Odo could say anything, I’d jumped on his back. His arms had risen to take hold of my legs without thought… and I kicked his flanks with all the vigour of a man trying to escape an oncoming column of Danes. Obedient to the command, Brother Odo began trotting…’

And it goes on from there, including an incident where Conrad steals a bishop’s ring to pretend to be the high church official. Only problem is the ring is still on the bishop’s finger, the finger is in the dead bishop’s anus, and Odo is forced to remove the finger and the ring.

Pure-hearted Odo then has this exchange with Conrad:

‘…you should not have asked me to take the bishop’s finger from his arse. It was not right. It was not dignified — not for me, of course, that is not my concern, but for the late bishop.’

‘But who else was going to do it? Not me.’

The story does perhaps have some light-hearted moments, though the humor is more of the “Dumb and Dumber” variety. For example, one of Conrad’s escapes is due to projectile diarrhea directed at his captor.

I think you get the idea. The book will appeal if you like the idea of a relatively well-written historical with this approach to life and humor. If you don’t appreciate this kind of thing, then maybe not so much. For myself, I did not enjoy my time with Conrad.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Jemahl Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edoardo Albert is one of my favourite writers of Historical Fiction. His Northumbrian Thrones trilogy was a highlight of my pandemic and actually got me back reading and writing during a difficult period for everyone. In particular, it was the wonderfully accurate historical detail combined with gripping stories and a real long view of history that grabbed me.

Conrad Monk is set during the Viking invasion of England at the dawn of the Ninth Century, but this is not just another hack and slash Viking saga of which there are so very many on the market. Our eponymous protagonist is set on a reluctant religious career, which is brought to a brutal end by the arrival of said Vikings burning and pillaging his monastery. This sets up a train of events taking Conrad, and his unfortunate companion Brother Odo, through Anglo-Saxon England as it teeters on the edge of disaster. It is a thrilling and amusing romp that kept me reading late into the night. I actually devoured it in an evening, and if I had a complaint it would be that it’s too short and I want the sequel.

There is so much in this book that appeals to me as a reader and writer. Obviously I am a sucker for humorous bounders recounting their often less than salubrious adventures, but Albert’s grasp of historic detail really elevates Conrad Monk and I felt secure in his portrayal of 8th Century England. The comic elements are truly sparkling and left me genuinely laughing out loud at his snide, self-serving, and sociopathic hero. It was very reminiscent in style of Alfred Duggan’s Conscience of the King from my childhood – one of the most brilliant historical novels of all time for me, especially if you’re interested in King Arthur – and Conrad Monk is certainly one of the best things I have read all year.

I want a sequel!!

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of historical fiction but this was a story I enjoyed reading. It was entertaining and fun to read. Very likeable characters, especially the smart and funny Conrad. You rarely see a main character in a story to be such a likeable anti-hero. A very well-written plot too, well-researched. The historical facts (on Vikings invading England) and the adventurous events in the story are mingled well together and make up for a smooth and amusing read. An easy page-turner.

I had not read any books by Edoardo Albert before but this book has piqued my interest now to read more from him.

Many thanks to Endeavour Media for the opportunity to read Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army and write this review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Conrad Monk. He is untruthful, selfish, conniving, lascivious, cowardly and always out for what he can get, and yet I couldn't help myself from rooting for him every step of the way.
He is a brilliant anti-hero, faithfully followed by his gullible side-kick Odo, quite happy to swap sides whenever self preservation requires it. Dane or Saxon, he is more than happy to make money out of either.
I have always enjoyed historical fiction, but it is not often you get laughs like this.
I hope this is the start of a series featuring Conrad and Odo as I am itching to know what happens next.
My only word of warning, if you find toilet humour particularly distasteful this might not be the book for you.

[Nik · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is terrible.
The blurb on Amazon said 'imagine Cadfael, if Ellis Peters had just had a long lunch with Terry Pratchett'. This is highly misleading. The book lacks the humour of Pratchett and the values of Cadfael.
The main character is a despicable person - a liar, adulterer and fantasist. He is quite happy to abuse other people if he gets his way.
This book started badly, and got worse as it went on. I cannot think of one occaision when it made me smile.
Avoid this book at all costs./

[Mrs Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I hadn’t read any book by this author before so this was a first for me. I just loved the humour which often made me smile and I even laughed out loud a couple of times. The history in the book is spot-on though and because I didn’t know much about 9th century England before, I learned a lot. Conrad is such a character you can’t help but like him even if he is totally amoral and self-centred. Whats happening with the sequel to this brilliant story? Hurry up and write it Mr Albert! Highly recommended.

[Robert Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conrad the monk could well be the great great great great grandfather of Fraser's Harry Flashman, as both are scoundrels and cowards dropped into English history. The history of 9th century England seems fairly authentic, and Conrad's exploits are entertaining - his combination of greed and cowardice drives him into the path of great men and great historical events. I will read more of his adventures as they come along.

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this was historical fiction not one of my usual or regular genre's that I do enjoy reading more often this was a great read. Well written and easy to follow from page to page. In simple terms it was written and could be a must read for those above the 6th grade and beyond. Battles and adventure swing hand in hand in this interesting and battling times. I loved it!!

[Melissa Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

What there is of this is a fine picaresque novel set in the time of Alfred the Great. The protagonist is a thoroughgoing, unabashed rotter, telling his story without fear or favor, in a tone that is both witty and hilariously exasperated. The problem is that it seems a little perfunctory, like a fragment of a larger work which I would very much like to read.

[Brian Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Conrad Monk and the Great Heathen Army and the Great Heathen Army. Set in the time the Great Army of Vikings led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, Conrad is an unwilling monk, condemned to a monastic life by his twin brother and Conrad’s unfaithful wife.
When an opportunity arises to reinvent himself, he takes it and being a natural conman with a smooth tongue, he sets out on an adventure, dangerous though it may be, that takes him far away from his former abbey. Accompanied by another monk, the gentle and honourable Brother Odo, Conrad’s travels take him across the breadth of Anglo-Saxon England.
I won’t spoil the enjoyment of other readers by revealing the plot, but at times it had me in stitches. Edoardo Albert has developed a great character, reminiscent in many ways of the ‘Flashman’ type of character of the novels of George MacDonald Fraser. A great and funny read and I’m really looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[Kyle Maschmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tongue in Cheek Romp through Danish and Saxon England

I searched high and low for Dark Ages books a bit like Bengtsson's The Long Ships. This comes close and is in the same humorous vein with just a little historical content. A light read.

[David Paget · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is not a Bernard Cornwell, nevertheless he has written a rollicking good yarn which makes for enjoyable reading.

[Les Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brother Cadfel meets Rincewind the Wizard meets Cohen the Barbarian.

[Paul Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply loved this novel and hope Edoardo writes some more to expand the series