The Horse-Thegn

Saint Cuthbert Trilogy #2

by John Broughton

It's the late 9th century, and Northumbria is subject to both Viking attacks and settlers from Denmark.

Cynn is the royal Horse-Thegn. Striving for peace and integration on his estates, he is charged by the king to end the pillaging of a foul band of raiders. Led by the elusive Edred, their atrocities have become increasingly violent, resulting in open revolt against legitimate rule.

But in the face of many external threats, can Cynn achieve his aim of a durable and prosperous kingdom, as they enter a new century?

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2020

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]

The Horse-Thegn: Tale of an Anglo-Saxon Horse-thegn in Northumbria, by John Broughton, is the 2nd book in the Saint Cuthbert Trilogy, an historical fiction based in Britain during the 800's. Having read the first book in the series, entitled, Heaven In A Wild Flower, which was an excellent read, one that I found on a par with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, the 2nd book did not disappoint. The Horse-Thegn follows the life and adventures of Cynn, the Royal Horse-Thegn; "thegn" being an old Anglican word for a servant or nobleman. It is a visceral story, showing the brutality of Viking raiding parties invaded the British aisles, and the battles, both small and large that ensued as mostly Christian Anglican folk, under the banner of such warriors as Cynn, defended their villages and borders. That said, this story is much more profound than the element of warring parties, because it shows, that despite the clashes and bloodshed, that the quintessential driving force between the attacking Danes and the British folk, was to find peace, to establish a community and to get on with life. As the story rolls out, covering some fifty or more years of Cynn's adventures, we see him and others trying to change the cultural landscape with a vision of the Britain we know today. One sees the seeds of advance, planted back then, as the Viking Danes put down their weapons, take up farming and form ties with the locals - even switching from their beliefs to Christianity to strengthen those bonds. One feels, as one reads, that one is standing back in time, the sense of realism and detail which Broughton brings to life with his words is really quite masterful. This book most definitely qualifies as classical historical fiction, but it hardly feels like fiction at all. Looking forward to reading the 3rd book in the trilogy.

[Peter Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another scintillating tale of Saxon Britain

This is the third novel I have read by Broughton and I just cannot get enough of them. They are well researched with historic events portrayed through fictional characters that leap from the page in authenticity.
This is the second book in the Saint Cuthbert trilogy. I loved book one and I immediately bought the sequel, expecting to follow the characters. However this book is set two generations on and this surprised me at first, but, this is a trilogy about the influence if St Cuthbert and not the characters that enabled Cuthbert in his life. Having said that, there are references and familial ties to the original protagonists and I think, upon reflction, I enjoyed this more.
Cynn, a descendent of Aella, is Horse Thegn to the Lord of Banburgh, a high status position that Cynn builds on, eventually becoming a Lord of his own manor. That is not the story, simply the result. In a sublimely simple way, Broughton brings to life the times of the peasants and the nobles and the struggle and eventual conversion of the Vikings into a ‘peaceful’ life, integrating the Angles and the Danes.
The manner of Broughton’s writing enables the reader to move at a pace, enjoying the thrills and spills of this adventure whilst absorbing with clarity the complex politics of the day and the powerful influence of belief and faith.
If you have only the faintest interest in history of this period then I recommend these books and, if you just like a rollicking historical adventure, you will not be disappointed.
I recommend this novel, but read book one first – 5 stars.

[Brian Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thundering great sequel to t] Yr

uu him to recount more of the lives of the people of the period. His research must have been quite extensive as I found myself 'falling into' the narrative of the everyday lives of the men and women of the time period.
Whether Cynn succeeds or not I will leave to other readers to discover, with the hope they will find the tale as entertaining and intriguing as I did.
I will be eagerly looking forward to the third book in the trilogy, which I hope will be following in the near future.