What do you think?
Rate this book
Danelaw Saga #1
The Dragon Sword
An enthralling new Griff Hosker Viking series, The Danelaw Saga, begins.
This story is set at the end of the tenth century and charts the journey of a young warrior, whose father, Bersi, is killed during a raid on Wessex. Sven Bersisson has to grow up quickly and to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sweyn Skull Taker, his uncle, becomes his foster father and they raid Wessex and Frankia where the young warrior becomes a man. King Sweyn Forkbeard, the King of Denmark, uses their clan to help in his dream of defeating the Norwegians and then taking the throne of England. Sven becomes part of those plans but when he takes possession of a fabled Dragon Sword, his life changes and he becomes greater than his father could ever have dreamed.
Set in the late tenth century, The Danelaw Saga follows the hugely successful Dragonheart series and precedes the Saxon trilogy, Housecarl.
This story is set at the end of the tenth century and charts the journey of a young warrior, whose father, Bersi, is killed during a raid on Wessex. Sven Bersisson has to grow up quickly and to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sweyn Skull Taker, his uncle, becomes his foster father and they raid Wessex and Frankia where the young warrior becomes a man. King Sweyn Forkbeard, the King of Denmark, uses their clan to help in his dream of defeating the Norwegians and then taking the throne of England. Sven becomes part of those plans but when he takes possession of a fabled Dragon Sword, his life changes and he becomes greater than his father could ever have dreamed.
Set in the late tenth century, The Danelaw Saga follows the hugely successful Dragonheart series and precedes the Saxon trilogy, Housecarl.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2021
105 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Griff Hosker
305 books419 followersI was born in 1950 in Lancashire and attended a boy’s grammar school. After qualifying as an English and Drama teacher in 1972, I worked in the North East of England for the next 35 years. During that time I did write, mainly plays, pantos and musicals for the students at the three schools in which I worked.
When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.
My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.
griff-signature-360x57
When I stopped teaching I set up my own consultancy firm and worked as an adviser in schools and colleges in the North East of England. The new Conservative Government ended that avenue of work and in 2010 I found that I had time on my hands; having started work at the age of 15 I found the lack of work not to my liking and used the time to research the Roman invasion of Britain and begin to create a novel. The result was The Sword of Cartimandua.
My decision to begin writing was one of the best I have ever taken.
griff-signature-360x57
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 22, 2022
Another great read from Griff Hosker. A tail of a young Viking coming into his own. He ends up with a unique sword and wants to find out where it came form. He learns that it's a Dragon Sword.
The story is fast pace an in great detail.
The story is fast pace an in great detail.
March 22, 2021
Story grabs you immediately
Once again Griff Hosker proves there may be a few as good as him but none better than he is in the genre. His books are not only filled with action but also delve into the personal side of his characters making reading more enjoyable. Now I am anxious for the second book of the series to follow!!
Once again Griff Hosker proves there may be a few as good as him but none better than he is in the genre. His books are not only filled with action but also delve into the personal side of his characters making reading more enjoyable. Now I am anxious for the second book of the series to follow!!
June 22, 2025
20 Oh dear. When I read the synopsis, I thought that it sounded like a version/similar vein of. the series of books by Bernard Cornwell featuring the one and only Uhtred - and I mean the one and only. I am not surprised that this effort paled before the original. This is probably more my fault than the author's but there it is.
March 26, 2021
As with all of Griff Hosker's books it's too short.
This book starts a new saga and I look forward to reading the next. I always enjoy the action in his work whether fighting Saxons or enormous boars. I have read all of Mr. Hosker's books and this is right up there with the best.
This book starts a new saga and I look forward to reading the next. I always enjoy the action in his work whether fighting Saxons or enormous boars. I have read all of Mr. Hosker's books and this is right up there with the best.
May 7, 2021
Another Great Griff Hosker Story!
This was another example of Griff Hosker's superior writing skills,weaving an exciting and compelling story. Griff Hosker's books always hold my interest, and The Dragon Sword did not fail me.
This was another example of Griff Hosker's superior writing skills,weaving an exciting and compelling story. Griff Hosker's books always hold my interest, and The Dragon Sword did not fail me.
November 23, 2021
Another good good'un
Griff Hosker can always be relied upon for a good reading this is no excepion. Well researched, well written and with a fast paced plot, it is an excellent start to a new series.
Griff Hosker can always be relied upon for a good reading this is no excepion. Well researched, well written and with a fast paced plot, it is an excellent start to a new series.
September 20, 2022
A Blockhead and a Saber
How does a young, know-nothing scalawag with a nasty temper always pop up shiny and adulated for killing efficiently??
Would he be right at home in today’s world?
How does a young, know-nothing scalawag with a nasty temper always pop up shiny and adulated for killing efficiently??
Would he be right at home in today’s world?
January 24, 2024
A fun viking tale not quite as beefy with regards to character development and battle details as similar series such as the saxon series by Bernard Cornwell but does manage to scratch that viking itch. Quick and easy read as well
April 18, 2021
First Class
Excellent storyline. Action packed throughout. Could not put this down. Cannot wait for book two in the series. Thank you.
Excellent storyline. Action packed throughout. Could not put this down. Cannot wait for book two in the series. Thank you.
May 27, 2021
Hutchison
Gyttyy high hhhh John. Gg. Jjggv ytffgh juggernaut jugfvh juggernaut jhgfvh Highgate hhggvh hhggv serger hugghj jihghjj Huggett jhgfvh jhgfvh
Gyttyy high hhhh John. Gg. Jjggv ytffgh juggernaut jugfvh juggernaut jhgfvh Highgate hhggvh hhggv serger hugghj jihghjj Huggett jhgfvh jhgfvh
November 3, 2021
Danes Saxons and Vikings
Very similar to Bernard Cornwall but not quite so well written
Well worth a read if you like this kind of story
Very similar to Bernard Cornwall but not quite so well written
Well worth a read if you like this kind of story
January 18, 2022
Griff Hosker ranks at the top with Bernard Cornwall !!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Danes. I always enjoy historical fiction and Griff ranks at the top of that genre!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Danes. I always enjoy historical fiction and Griff ranks at the top of that genre!!
July 1, 2023
Another excellent book from this author. Unlike my recent reads this concerns "Danes" raiding England rather "Norse" in France and England.
October 7, 2025
I find this similar to the other chosen one stories out there. Nothing really separates this from the rest of the pact.
December 5, 2022
Review for the full trilogy:
Sven’s father is taken from him when he is young. When his uncle steps in to be his foster-father, Sven begins to learn leadership and warrior skills from the clan leader. Sven is much more of a thinking than his father. What I love about these stories is that you learn about the structure and hierarchy of the Norse cultures while being thrown into the center of the story. Griff is a fantastic storyteller! Battles, slavery, honor, thievery, blood, hate and love. All of that is in spades in these books.
Sven’s father is taken from him when he is young. When his uncle steps in to be his foster-father, Sven begins to learn leadership and warrior skills from the clan leader. Sven is much more of a thinking than his father. What I love about these stories is that you learn about the structure and hierarchy of the Norse cultures while being thrown into the center of the story. Griff is a fantastic storyteller! Battles, slavery, honor, thievery, blood, hate and love. All of that is in spades in these books.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews