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The Byrhtnoth Chronicles #1
Bright Sword
“Fell then to earth the fallow-hilted sword,
Nor could he hold the hard brand,
Or wield his weapon”
England in the tenth century is close to peace, but the king is still in need of warriors. At the age of seven, his mother dead, Byrhtnoth is sent to train with other boys, but suffers as he has no father’s name. He is shown a sword, his father’s sword, and he is told that it will be his when he proves himself a man. When the girl he loves is captured by the Vikings he is sent to rescue her. A king tragically dies and Byrhtnoth blames himself.
Can he overcome his fears and discover the truth about his father? Will he live long enough to become a man and claim the sword?
Nor could he hold the hard brand,
Or wield his weapon”
England in the tenth century is close to peace, but the king is still in need of warriors. At the age of seven, his mother dead, Byrhtnoth is sent to train with other boys, but suffers as he has no father’s name. He is shown a sword, his father’s sword, and he is told that it will be his when he proves himself a man. When the girl he loves is captured by the Vikings he is sent to rescue her. A king tragically dies and Byrhtnoth blames himself.
Can he overcome his fears and discover the truth about his father? Will he live long enough to become a man and claim the sword?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2018
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 5, 2018
Everyone who knows their pre-Conquest history will have heard of Byrhtnoth. Christine Hancock undertakes to give us a series of books about his remarkable life and Bright Sword kicks off with the young Byrhtnoth being sent away from his village to be trained as a soldier of King Edmund. As he grows into his mid teens, it is obvious that he is charismatic, a good fighter and an intelligent leader. Because of these qualities he makes both friends and enemies amongst his peers.
One thing drives Byrhtnoth; his mother was sent away when he was a child and he does not know the name of his father. The man who could tell him, the lord of his village, dies before he can reveal the name. Byrhtnoth finds himself named as the new lord and heir to a tantalising sword which he cannot yet claim as his own.
Meanwhile, the king has been assassinated and, charged with looking for anything suspicious, Byrhtnoth is distracted and fails to stop the deed. He is distraught and believes that he was responsible and runs away. He is injured in a great forest and likely to die, but is rescued and taken to a nearby abbey. Here he meets an nun called Edith, and Byrhtnoth's life changes …..
There is a lot of pace to this book, short chapters that compel you to read 'just one more' and great descriptions of locations, mostly in the east of the country around Ely. One underlying theme is the way women were looked upon and treated; no preaching, just stating what was most probably so in those times.
There are few answers to Byrhtnoth's problems in this, the first of the series, but no doubt these will come in the volumes to follow; if you enjoy this book as much as I did, you will be looking out for the publication of Byrhtnoth's further adventures.
The cover by Avalon Graphics is beautifully simple yet immediately eye-catching.
Reviewed on behalf of Discovering Diamonds blogspot
One thing drives Byrhtnoth; his mother was sent away when he was a child and he does not know the name of his father. The man who could tell him, the lord of his village, dies before he can reveal the name. Byrhtnoth finds himself named as the new lord and heir to a tantalising sword which he cannot yet claim as his own.
Meanwhile, the king has been assassinated and, charged with looking for anything suspicious, Byrhtnoth is distracted and fails to stop the deed. He is distraught and believes that he was responsible and runs away. He is injured in a great forest and likely to die, but is rescued and taken to a nearby abbey. Here he meets an nun called Edith, and Byrhtnoth's life changes …..
There is a lot of pace to this book, short chapters that compel you to read 'just one more' and great descriptions of locations, mostly in the east of the country around Ely. One underlying theme is the way women were looked upon and treated; no preaching, just stating what was most probably so in those times.
There are few answers to Byrhtnoth's problems in this, the first of the series, but no doubt these will come in the volumes to follow; if you enjoy this book as much as I did, you will be looking out for the publication of Byrhtnoth's further adventures.
The cover by Avalon Graphics is beautifully simple yet immediately eye-catching.
Reviewed on behalf of Discovering Diamonds blogspot
November 2, 2017
Bright Sword is the first in a series of books about Byrhtnoth, the 10th century Saxon Ealdorman of Essex, who died at the Battle of Maldon. Little is known of Byrhtnoth, so Christine Hancock has plenty of blank canvas on which to paint her portrait, and this she has done admirably. In this, the first novel in the series, we follow our hero from the age of seven, when, as an orphan, he leaves his village to be trained as a soldier, through to his mid-teens, and for that time, manhood.
As in all good stories, the hero's journey through life is not an easy one. Byrhtnoth makes powerful enemies and loyal friends. Naturally, the tale is full of twists and turns as Byrhtnoth tries to avoid getting killed on the one hand, and discover the true nature of his identity, on the other.
Bright Sword is written in plain modern English, avoiding anachronisms, which makes it easy to read and helps the pages fly by.
So, why not five stars? Well, for me, there's not quite enough history and I found the end abrupt.
Will I read the next in the series? Yes.
The author supplied me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As in all good stories, the hero's journey through life is not an easy one. Byrhtnoth makes powerful enemies and loyal friends. Naturally, the tale is full of twists and turns as Byrhtnoth tries to avoid getting killed on the one hand, and discover the true nature of his identity, on the other.
Bright Sword is written in plain modern English, avoiding anachronisms, which makes it easy to read and helps the pages fly by.
So, why not five stars? Well, for me, there's not quite enough history and I found the end abrupt.
Will I read the next in the series? Yes.
The author supplied me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2018
Bright Sword is a happy addition to the ever growing number of books set in the (previously) much over-looked Anglo-Saxon period. And a very welcome addition it is too.
Byrhtnoth is an excellent character to conjure a new tale with, and the author does an excellent job of giving her main character a backstory and a childhood, (and one that I know will continue in future books), as well as a host of friends, allies and enemies. All the time, his story is mingling with events affecting the newly formed kingdom of England, and her kings and nobility.
A captivating story that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, and Anglo-Saxon England in particular.
(I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of the story - and a draft of Book 2 as well).
Byrhtnoth is an excellent character to conjure a new tale with, and the author does an excellent job of giving her main character a backstory and a childhood, (and one that I know will continue in future books), as well as a host of friends, allies and enemies. All the time, his story is mingling with events affecting the newly formed kingdom of England, and her kings and nobility.
A captivating story that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, and Anglo-Saxon England in particular.
(I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of the story - and a draft of Book 2 as well).
March 19, 2018
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
'There is a lot of pace to this book, short chapters that compel you to read 'just one more'
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
'There is a lot of pace to this book, short chapters that compel you to read 'just one more'
February 11, 2020
Written with confidence and verve by a debut author, I was soon sucked into this engaging Tenth Century tale, like an unsuspecting traveller on a muddy riverbank. The author has plucked an obscure character, Byrhtnoth (I'm pronouncing it 'Buyer-noth' in my head, whether right or wrong) from an heroic praise poem, and breathed life into him. That she has carefully researched this period in history shines through in the depictions of scenes and characters, and there is an historical fixing point in that the taller-than-most Byrhtnoth of the poem is a relative of Althelstan, a grandson of Alfred the Great.
It is a relatively peaceful period in England's troubled history - the Anglo-Saxons have brushed Briton and Dane resistance aside and set up their kingdoms that define the modern boundaries of England, Wales and Scotland, although still subject to Viking and Irish raids from the seas. Byrhtnoth endures warrior training under the king, and goes on to his first taste of war, before returning to his home village to an uncertain welcome. He acquires friends, a lost sister and a pet dog along the way, all the while growing taller and learning to accept responsibility for those around him. All in all, an engaging coming-of-age story that embodies the best elements of historical story-telling, leaving me keen to continue onto book two.
It is a relatively peaceful period in England's troubled history - the Anglo-Saxons have brushed Briton and Dane resistance aside and set up their kingdoms that define the modern boundaries of England, Wales and Scotland, although still subject to Viking and Irish raids from the seas. Byrhtnoth endures warrior training under the king, and goes on to his first taste of war, before returning to his home village to an uncertain welcome. He acquires friends, a lost sister and a pet dog along the way, all the while growing taller and learning to accept responsibility for those around him. All in all, an engaging coming-of-age story that embodies the best elements of historical story-telling, leaving me keen to continue onto book two.
February 20, 2021
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I picked it up on free offer at some point. I'm very glad that I finally got around to reading it.
In terms of historical novels, this one is a long way out of my familiar period, which means I can't say much about the historical accuracy except that it has a very nice period feel to it and gives the sense that the author has done her research.
In terms of the story, I found it lively, entertaining and very well written. The main character is very young at the beginning and this is very much his coming of age story, or at least the beginning of it. Byrhtnoth is sympathetically portrayed and three dimensional. Most importantly, I liked him.
There was no attempt to gloss over the sheer brutality of this era but no attempt to wallow in it either. Hardship and war are simply part of life in this novel which gives it a very believable feel.
Very enjoyable book and I will definitely move the others up my reading list.
In terms of historical novels, this one is a long way out of my familiar period, which means I can't say much about the historical accuracy except that it has a very nice period feel to it and gives the sense that the author has done her research.
In terms of the story, I found it lively, entertaining and very well written. The main character is very young at the beginning and this is very much his coming of age story, or at least the beginning of it. Byrhtnoth is sympathetically portrayed and three dimensional. Most importantly, I liked him.
There was no attempt to gloss over the sheer brutality of this era but no attempt to wallow in it either. Hardship and war are simply part of life in this novel which gives it a very believable feel.
Very enjoyable book and I will definitely move the others up my reading list.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews