Son of Mercia

Eagle of Mercia Chronicles #1

by M.J. Porter

The start of a brand new series from bestselling author MJ Porter.


Tamworth, Mercia AD825.

The once-mighty kingdom of Mercia is in perilous danger.

Their King, Beornwulf lies dead and years of bitter in-fighting between the nobles, and cross border wars have left Mercia exposed to her enemies.

King Ecgberht of Wessex senses now is the time for his warriors to strike and exact his long-awaited bloody revenge on Mercia.

King Wiglaf, has claimed his right to rule Mercia, but can he unite a disparate Kingdom against the might of Wessex who are braying for blood and land?

Can King Wiglaf keep the dragons at bay or is Mercia doomed to disappear beneath the wings of the Wessex wyvern?

Can anyone save Mercia from destruction?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Fantasy, Medieval, Anglo Saxon, Audiobook

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2022

About the author

I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English (before 1066)/Viking) and now five 20th-century mysteries..

The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles (featuring a young Icel from The Last King series) is now available from Boldwood Books. As is the complete Brunanburh Series and the first two books in the Dark Age Chronicles, my foray to before Saxon England was Saxon England. Enjoy.

The Ninth Century Series (The Last King), are stories of ninth-century England, but not as it's been written before, (featuring an older Icel and some other familiar faces too).

The Erdington Mysteries now has a third book in the series—The Secret Sauce. (Did you know Erdington would have been in Mercia back in the Saxon period? I know, you can't get me away from the place.) The Barrage Body is coming soon.

The Royal Women Who Made England, my first non-fiction book about the royal women of the tenth century, is available now.

I like to write. You've been warned.

Find me at
www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing!
https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor
https://mjporterauthor.sumupstore.com

You can join my monthly subscriber newsletters and gain access to the restricted page on my blog at the same time.
https://BookHip.com/MGWHLDC (Saxon stories)
https://BookHip.com/THPKCKP (mysteries only)


(I have odd reading tastes - there's no need to notice though!!) I'm also exceedingly anti-social - that you may notice but must accept!

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A new author for me who seems quite a prolific author for this period. A period which I’ve been trying to find a new author/series to follow for quite a while now since I finished the Saxon Stories of Uhtred fame, a hard act to follow, which is perhaps why ive struggled to find a series in this period. Although, must admit I do like James Nelson’s (Norseman Saga) series, but its hard to pick up this side of the pond.

Anyways back to this yarn…. Its very narration heavy (very) as seen through the eyes of a young (teen?) apprentice to a wizened woman healer, whose uncle is a veteran warrior to the Mercian court, the lad, and it’s difficult to follow that he’s a lad at times, is called Icel. His best friend is training to be a warrior but they both appear to be outcasts to the court. The history & the set-up is all as seen through Icel, telling us through the narration…. There is little dialogue at all through 100 pages. The writing flows well enough but it’s devoid of any action despite everything that’s going on in & around Mercia at the time, we’re kind of stuck with Icel, who doesn’t seem to venture far from his teacher… I still have no idea how old he actually is? Near as tall as his uncle but acts like a child (girl?) for the period?

Bit run of the mill for me, nothing really leapt out & grabbed me, nor warrants a second entry into the series, a prolific writer it seems but not for me. In the end I bailed at around the ½ way mark as the story was devoid of any action & I had no real affinity with the characters where in truth Icel was just getting on my pip.

Have to give it a mark as I got past the 100 page demarcation but I’m struggling to give it even a two….

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I could drip my last into this ground, and still, I would stand. For Mercia.”

This heartfelt Anglo-Saxon coming of age story, of young Icel’s unique upbringing was very well written. Icel is raised as an orphan by the village healer (one of my favorite characters) and his honorable uncle Cenfrith. Instead of wanting to become a legendary warrior like most young boys, Icel would rather heal people. While learning the healing arts, he witnesses the rise and fall of Mercia’s many kings in a short period of time. It’s so intriguing to capture this time period through this young perspective! I really enjoyed the authors writing style, the amount of emotion he evoked through these characters and the frustration with the monarchs was excellent! Although a little slow paced at times, this read like a great historical epic and I couldn’t help but root for our main characters the entire time. If you love the Anglo-Saxon time period, I would recommend reading this book.

Thank you to MJ Porter and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this coming-of-age story of Icel Son of Mercia. Growing up without a father and a dead mother, only wanting to be a healer but fate has other plans for him.
this was my first MJ Porter book and I did not know what I was getting myself into but I really enjoyed the world-building, characters and the story of Icel's journey. I felt his hardship, his emotions and the harsh environment he was in. The book has you rooting for him.

[David Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a fan of MJ Porter but being prolific with the releases I find it hard to keep up ha! I jumped at the chance to get onboard with this new series early!

The story follows young Icel whose past is shadowed in mystery.. his mother unfortunately died and he’s never known who his farther is so he’s been raised by his uncle Cenfrith. Icel has trained in the arts of healing but there’s something in him just waiting to come out.

King Ecgberht is looking to expand his reach and senses weakness in Mercia. He’s right I guess as King Wiglaf seems to disappear but why? And have we been given the full story?

When King Ecgberht descends Icel is forced to flee to safety with his uncle and his friend Edwin. Along the way Icel learns a little of past events but only what his uncle allows. Will he ever learn the full truth?

What happens next was the most amazing few chapters I’ve ever read! I can’t spoil it but Cenfrith is an amazing character who supports Icel and keeps him safe. When the opportunity comes for Icel to save Mercia he sets out to find King Wiglaf.

The tension mounts and battle commences.. it’s time for Icel to learn more about himself than he ever thought possible.

Son of Mercia is a real coming of age tale for Icel as he learns what kind of man he’s destined to be… although there’s certainly more to come.

I can’t give this anything less than 5*. The plot was astonishingly gripping. I’ve struggled the past few months to devote time to reading but I was hooked as soon as I picked this one up and it’s helped me fall back in love with books again.

What a cracking read! I look forward to more!

[Stacy Townend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by

Stacy T, Reviewer
Last updated on 16 Dec 2021
My Recommendation
Having read MJ Porter series The Last King,I was aware of the character Icel.

I enjoyed the book looking at the early life of a youth apprenticed to an old woman to learn medicine.

Great title 👏
Great characters
Great history of the turbulent years of the kings of Mercia.
Wonderful idea to focus on the early life of Icel
His Uncle a true warrior who would inspire you.
Torn between his loyalty to the weak kings and that of his sole relative Icel.
Wonderful to read of the struggles the fights for land between the kings.
The story flows well, the characters have depth which makes you feel for them.
Of course I knew, Icel would make some great gesture to highlight his hidden talent of fighting.
I found the historic side really interesting as I’ve not read anything around era.
I enjoyed the read as generally most authors write about Wessex & her kingships this was a great refreshing change to the norm.
Wonderfully Written live-action scene you feel you could be stood in the shieldwall., Sweating heart pounding & short of breath.
Icel & his uncle Cenrith true noble warriors putting all to protect Mercia .

For me yet another great book from you. Wonderful to read and hard to put down , I can’t wait for more of Icel.

[Samantha Hehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of The Last Kingdom, Bernard Cromwell, etc.

This story takes place in ninth century Britain around a squeamish young man, Icel, who vomits at the sight of guts and is unfortunately on the run for his life. With his best friend Edwin and his uncle to aid in protecting from raiders and warring neighbours, it turns to young Icel to forage for food and herbs to keep them nourished and healthy. But when Edwin is left behind to join a de-throned king’s fortress, and Icel’s uncle is injured and feverish, Icel feels alone and useless in protecting himself. Does the Medieval world have a place for a boy who can’t fight?

[Melisende · Rating 2 out of 5]

First in a new series from MJ Porter though the main character, Icel, is not new. This is the story of his early years, and as such the build up is slow and steady, any action taking place in the last quarter of the narrative. Will be interested in seeing how the second in the series progresses - have not read the existing tome where a much older Icel appears.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and good read. Loved the history embedded in almost tongue in cheek, humorous language

[John Mccormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Well written and researched with excellent characters throughout, atmospheric descriptive with a real feel for time and place. It's the coming of age story of Icel who wants to learn the ways of healing unlike his contemporaries, who train as warriors. Action wise the story is a slow burner, though engaging and interesting throughout, but when it comes to our heroes debut in the shield war it's gripping and gruesome in equal measure. There is also the underlying mystery of Icels heritage, hopefully more will be revealed in book two, which I look forward too.
Recommended.

[S.J.A. Turney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am primarily an author and reader of Roman fiction. I occasionally stray from that, but I have always claimed a general lack of interest in Dark Age England. Indeed, when Canelo persuaded me to write something of that era, my stipulation was that is was far removed from the usual Dark Age NW Europe, and I ended up writing in the Caucasus and the Byzantine world, which is more in my sphere. So where does this leave me with the Dark Ages in England? Well, I am extremely choosy. I am no great lover of Cornwell’s Dark Age books (while I love his Sharpe series), and various other similar series have left me cold. I have enjoyed Giles Kristian and Robert Low’s Viking adventures, but of England, until recently the only books that truly grabbed me were James Wilde’s Hereward series, and Matthew Harffy’s Beobrand books. That being said, M J Porter is an author who has been on my radar for a while, thanks to a number of mutual friends, and when I discovered her new novel on Netgalley, I was inclined to give it a try.

I did not read the blurb before I began. In fact, I went into the book completely blind, other than loving the cover. They say never judge a book by its cover, but to some extent we all do it. This one is lovely.

I will get my niggly negative out of the way immediately, as it is a matter of personal choice and may well not affect other readers. Simply: I do not find the first person present tense easy to read. I am comfortable reading in first or third person, but usually in past tense. That being said, Son of Mercia is well enough written that after a while I found myself not only accepting the tense, but actually appreciating some of the immediacy it lends the story.

Son of Mercia takes place entirely in what is now the English midlands region (ancient Mercia, surprise, surprise), centering largely on the capital of Tamworth but with cameos of other places including Offa’s Dyke. Much of the action, however, takes place in the wilderness. Recorded knowledge of Ninth Century England is sparse enough that much of what we need to picture of the world of the novel is born from our imagination, nudged in directions by the skilled author. The milieu Porter builds is vivid and realistic, familiar and deep, the detail teased from our own imagination by the writing.

The history on which the story is based is recorded in chronicles, as we learn in the author’s note, but, just like the Roman texts I use, these chronicles are subject to spin and bias, and so in order to build a realistic view of the world in which the tale is set, sometimes it is necessary to bridge gaps in logic. Porter is fortunate, perhaps, in having chosen a character and a series of events that directly affect this history, while largely taking place in the unrecorded periphery. This allows her to narrate great events while telling a much more personal story, the two becoming closer and closer aligned as the tale goes on.

What of the characters, then? The principle character is a young man named Icel, related to a renowned warrior, but himself tied to a well known healer as her apprentice. As political and military disasters unfold, and Mercia stands on the brink of oblivion, facing rule by the King of Wessex, Icel’s uncle, one of the king’s warriors, decides the time has come to flee this foreign control, He takes Icel and another young warrior and rides away, seeking somewhere to stay out the way. But over the many months hiding, events gradually conspire to pull them back to the world.

What really grabs me, character-wise, in this book, is Icel’s character. In Dark Age/Early Medieval novels there is a propensity to make every major character a warrior, hard as nails and invincible. Icel is not one of these stereotypes. He is a passive, pacifistic, nervous, quiet academic sort, low born and unimportant. As such he is a true breath of fresh air as a protagonist. Indeed, the freshness of this is not confined to Icel. His companion, the young would-be warrior is a frustrated, untrained lad, and even the uncle, who is clearly a great warrior, seems to spend much of the book undergoing repeated treatment for horrible wounds. He is a great warrior. He fights, he kills and he survives, but he does not walk through it all untouched. He suffers through it.

Another aspect I enjoyed is the small detail. This is evident in much descriptive of locales, of structures and of the landscape and nature, but nowhere is it more evident than in the treatment of medicine and surgery. I am used to Rome, which is a strange mix of magic/folk cures and actual true medicine. The Dark Age healing Icel and his teacher display here are a mix of herbalism and folk cures, but there is less true medical and surgical knowledge now, and time and again a wound is completed with searing closed and hoping. That being said, the knowledge of herbs, poultices and natural cures and their application is excellent, and gives the book all the more depth and colour.

In short, Son of Mercia is a profoundly personal book, centering on believable and sympathetic characters, telling us of momentous events in 9th century Britain through the eyes of the nobodies on the periphery. The story at times seems more an introspective personal journey for Icel than any kind of saga, but as the tale progresses, and politics drag our characters back into the crucible, war is inevitable. The battle scenes are as as deep and personal as the rest of the book, and no lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed.

Son of Mercia is personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.

[Bonnie Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I recieved an eArc of this from NetGalley.

I liked this book. I had a hard time getting into it, mostly I think because I wasn't in the mood for the story. But overall I found it interesting, well written, and there were some pretty good battle scenes.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

So easy to read, and excellent historical context. Looking forward to starting Wolf of Mercia. Great reading.

[Mireya · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Note: I receive an e-ARC from netgalley in exchange of an honest review]
What a ride has this book been😂. First liked it, then I didn't know what to think about it, then loved it, then hated it, and, in the end, is a conflict of emotions.
A *lot* has happen in the book. And, even if sometimes I didn't know where we were going, I've come to enjoy it.
Icel is such a lovable character and protagonist. I liked seeing the changes Mercia suffered through his eyes, taking an angle different that, probably, the one his uncle or even Wynflæd would have taken. And his growth and development was quite interesting.
Well, really expecting book two because I need to know what happens next with Icel and Mercia.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this is the first book I have read by M.J. Porter, I didn’t know what to expect when I came into this book, I only knew that I loved the sound of it and the cover was incredibly eye-catching. Yes, I am that shallow and go on how attractive book covers are. LOL!

Sons Of Mercia has a real coming of age/young adult feel about it, it’s not a hugely heavy read. I have read books set in this era before and I have thought at times they have been heavy and long-winded, but this wasn’t like that. It’s got the historical richness and brutality that you would expect from the era, but it’s a lot lighter than I expected it to be and that made for enjoyable reading.

The characters are great, each one brings something to the story I really liked Icel isn’t your stereotypical Anglo Saxon, I enjoyed the subplot surrounding his parentage and history but what I really loved is the village healer aspect of the story, which fascinated me.

Despite my personal issues with never being able to pronounce names (why do Saxon’s have to have such complicated names?) I really enjoyed this book. I liked how easy it was to read, the plot is intricate and compelling, the writing is so clear and exciting you are pulled into the story and swept away in the adventure, I did feel as though the first part was a little on the slow side but once the action kicks off you see the author was building the story up for a gripping and interesting finale, a finale which leaves you questioning hat will come next.

This is incredibly detailed, the author’s descriptions of battles, settings characters are richly immersive and vivid, it is a little bloody and gruesome at times, but again we are talking about an era where they settle feuds with swords and dicing up body parts so that’s to not a surprise, it may be a little too much for those who aren’t a fan of this genre. But as I said earlier in this review, I do think it is a lot milder than most in this genre.

Overall, a great start to what is set to be a thrilling and gripping new series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So...this was an audio read for me, and WOW! I don't normally read this genre and I'm not sure why! I thoroughly enjoyed this! So much so that I immediately went to listen to the next installment (and am still listening), THE WOLF OF MERCIA.

This is a story of kingdoms, kings, nobles and the wars in order to keep their kingdoms. It was thrilling, exciting and enthralling for me, as a novice to this type of book!

This is the story of Icel, a boy whose mother dies in childbirth, doesn't know who his father is and the Uncle who is watching out for him. Icel just wants to be a healer not a warrior. He is being trained as such when the king dies and years of bitter in-fighting and cross border wars leave Mercia (his home) exposed to her enemies. When King Ecgberht of Wessex strikes revenge on Mercia, the kingdom fears King Wiglaf has been forced into hiding, or worse...is running scared. Icel and his uncle flee the kingdom until King Wiglaf can be found or returns. Will Mercia be overtaken by the Wessex King?

If you are looking for an escape from the dysfunction of our country...this may be the breakout story you need. If you are looking for romance in this fantastical read, it won't be here. This is a bold and masculine type of book. I was pleasantly surprised!

[Terry Rudge · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ Porter is one of my favourite authors in HF.
I have read a good number of her books and had really high expectations. (I brought a signed copy, before I read a page)

This is a new series telling the origin story of one of her most loved characters in a different series .

As always the action scenes are epically told and the world is so clear in the minds eye

The story started a bit slow for me and took me a whilst to get into. But the final third was fricken awesome and moved this to a 4 star read. Can't wait to pick up book 2

World building 9/10

Characters 7/10

Prose and style 7/10

Plot 7/10

Entertainment value 8/10

38/50

[09/01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

M. J. Porter certainly knows how to put together a really entertaining start to what looks to be a great series. Onwards to the next instalment.

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read, I just couldn’t put it down and finished it in just over a day! In Tamworth, the capital of Mercia in 826AD, the kingdom is in trouble when King Beornwulf is killed in battle. Icel watches as a new king takes his place, but can the new king stop the invasion of the Wessex, and is Icel’s part in the future of Mercia more important than he thinks.

I enjoyed this book from the first pages. Icel is an interesting character, being only eleven when the book begins in 826AD. With Icel narrating all but one chapter in the book we follow him as he works hard learning how to be a healer while watching the rising problems of rule in Mercia. I liked Icel’s character from the start, the fact that he wants to be a healer unlike his friend Edwin who wants to be a warrior, makes for interesting reading. I enjoyed how this book progresses through several years, each part initially taking place in the summer of subsequent years until Icel is a teenager.

What happens to Icel and some of the other characters is interesting and I like how things move on from Tamworth and what happens with Icel and his uncle as they later leave and have to fend for themselves in the middle of nowhere. I liked this journey the characters went on and how Icel slowly grows as a character, experiencing the fear and gore of some fighting and his point of view as wanting to be a healer rather than a fighter. I have to admit to working out a secret that was revealed about Icel in a later chapter, quite early on, long before it was revealed via a different character’s narrated chapter, but this didn’t bother me as I had hoped it would play an important part in the story.

The story narrated from Icel’s point of view kept me glued to the pages, always wanting to read just one more chapter! As the story moves towards the ending, I did like what happened and did honestly expect Icel to respond the way he did. I like how this story is a bit of a coming-of-age tale about Icel, all taking place during the battles Mercia faced. The story ends well for him, it was a satisfying ending, mostly, although I did wish there was something more revealed at the end. There were a couple of opportunities for characters to reveal something to Icel about his past or their secrets but it felt like this was either saved for a future book or not seen as important in the end. I do wish this book had a bit more detail in that respect but after reading the author notes and knowing that Icel is a young version of a character in one of the author’s other books, I’m now curious to know if anything is revealed about him in those books or in future ones in this series.

There are a few uses of the s swear words and some milder ones, not too many though. There are also some descriptions of violence, battles and details of some injuries and deaths. This may seem a bit gory but I found it less gory than some books I’ve read of a similar time period, though there is a lot of blood and other bodily excretions! There are author notes at the back of the book which are interesting to read and show how realistic some aspects of the story actually are. There is also a map at the start showing you the key parts of Mercia and the surrounding area at the time.

Overall I have really enjoyed this book. I liked Icel’s character from the start and knew he would go on a difficult journey to become more than just a healer, but I like how his story begins and how everything works out for him in the end. The descriptions of battles and what was happening were good, and there were some descriptions of the area, but if I’m honest I would have liked even more descriptions of the scenery and area to really immerse myself a little more in the 800s AD setting as it’s sometimes hard to picture something so far back in time. However, this is still such a good book and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of this series in future! 🙂
-Thanks to the publisher for a free copy for review.

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son Of Mercia is an extraordinary book. I was thoroughly drawn in from the beginning and my attention was held right to the end. I will absolutely be awaiting the next book in this new series with eagerness.

The story is told from the main Character, Icel’s point of view. We learn about the life and struggles taking place Mercia. The subsequent kings that take, what they feel is their rightful place only to make things for Mercia and it’s people ever worse.

Icel is a young boy being cared for by his uncle, His Mother died in child birth and he does not know who is Father is. No one else appears to know either. We do find out but I am not going to spoil that revelation but does Icel ever learn the truth? would he really want to? he is a caring young boy helping the old woman healer prepare her medicines and potions. He watches her closely and learns a lot ftom her as she tends to wounded warriors returning from battles. This knowledge proves helpful to Icel as his journey into manhood continues.

MJ Porter skilfully portrays the hardship felt by Icel and his brother Edwin. Edwin is not really his blood relative but they are brought up together. Edwin wants nothing more than to be a brave warrior, whilst Icel is content with his healing. He compares himself often to Edwin and admires him greatly, but is betrayal round the corner? The writing is wonderfully descriptive and holds the readers attention. I found myself caring about Icel and willed him to find a life that he wants.

The author’s notes are really interesting and shows the extent of the research into this era that MJ Porter has gone to and this shines through his writing. I have always loved historical fiction surrounding Scottish Clearance Novels and Irish history and for me the Son of Mercia is right up there with the best of them. This is a well written, well rounded story that takes you on a journey of a child, becoming a man and living in treacherous times. He has to survive not only betrayal but a great loss along the way and I can not wait to see what becomes of Icel. Based on true historical facts alongside some artistic licence, Son of Mercia is an entertaining story of Anglo-Saxon history with a damn fine story thrown in.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Son of Mercia by MJ Porter is a surprisingly accessible story, taking place in the 800's in Mercia, at that time one of the kingdoms found in England. It's been a rough few years with one kind abdicating (or being pushed out) and others following in quick succession. The new kings didn't seem to understand what their jobs were: some didn't even fight. It was a raw and violent time with a constant battle for leadership, mindful of the childhood game, Kind of the Hill. Along with a new king came a new queen, and sometimes a new heir, although that wasn't really the way it worked then. Icel led a simple life, working with Wynflaed, the crone who was the healer for the community. He ran errands, hunted herbs, mixed potions and meals, and generally did as he was told. His uncle, Cenfrid, strolled in and out of his life as the battle for Mercia raged on and Cenfrid was a soldier. He had not father and no mother. He didn't even know who his father was.

The latest king had abandoned Mercia and Cenfrid felt it was time to leave, before the king of Wessex came and took the land. He, Icel, and Icel's friend, Edwin, packed what they could, took Cenfrid's horse, Wine, and hit the road, seemingly with no destination in mind. Edwin was a warrior-in-training. Icel was not. They avoided people as they could except for Cenfrid's irregular trips into villages for supplies. They lived off the land. This was a relatively accurate view of life in the Dark Ages. It was no fun, it was not clean, and it was certainly not safe. Porter has written it all down: the misery, the insecurity of life, the fights for power. Death was nearby at all times. Icel told the story so we see life through his eyes, the eyes of a frightened teenager with no home And yet, with all the darkness, Porter has written this amazing story of a young man coming of age, with the world, not as it at seemed, and opening up before him. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Son of Mercia by Boldwood Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #boldwood #mjporter #sonofmercia

[Amy McElroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have been more excited when I realised who the main character of this book is.  It is one of my absolute favourites from MJ's First Viking Age Series.

Son of Mercia tells Icel's story from a young boy until he emerges as a warrior. Although I was aware of what kind of character Icel would become I loved how his story develops his character giving those of us that have read the First Viking Age Series more insight into this incredible warrior and how he came to be so. Dont worry tho you don't have to have read the other books this is brilliant on its own!

There are some great characters in this book, including Icel's uncle Cenfrith, Wynflaed and Edwin. Each of these play an important role in Icel's life and how he matures. He spends his early life under the protection of Cenfrith whilst apprenticed to healer Wynflaed. Icel, u like his friend Edwin has no desire to become a Mercian warrior but his fate says otherwise. When Mercia is threatened, Icel and those he loves have no choice but so escape. Along the way there are many battles Icel and Cenfrith face to stay alive.

MJ writes battle scenes perfectly, you can almost hear Cenfrith's seax twirling through the air. The descriptives of his fighting are brilliant and definitely a little gory!

There is a little mystery running through the whole book which MJ has created a fine balance of letting me think I know what's going on to nope not a clue.

MJ has used real events to create a narrative that had me fully immersed in the book. The authors note provides the reader with further information about the events at the time and explains how MJ has used gaps in the Chronicles to give us Icel's story.

If you're looking for something with excellent battle scenes, humour and a sadness then this is perfect. I cannot wait for the next instalment I really did love this book.

[Leah Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the full review here - https://www.theverybookish.com/2022/0...

I would firstly like to thank Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a space on this blog tour. This historical fiction book is like nothing I've read recently. It is set WAAAY earlier than any book I've ever read (825 CE) which in itself brings so much excitement when reading it as it was so different to every other historical fiction I've read.

Once I got in to the book, which I will admit did take a bit of time, it was a really immersive read. Despite it being a world so different to the world we live in today, I was able to really clearly visualise everything that was happening throughout the book, which I found amazing. M.J. Porter writes this so well in order for the imagery in my mind to be so vivid.

The only real downside is that it did take me a little longer than usual to get into this book. I'm not sure whether it was due to it being such a different experience with it being an Anglo-Saxon based book, or something else - I can't really put my finger on it. There are some books that naturally take me a bit longer to get in to, so maybe it was that.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. It was a world I was able to imagine so well due to the fantastic writing by M.J. Porter and I look forward to seeing about any new releases in the future!

[Satia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book. Captivating from the start and I really wanted to know how Icel and Cenfrith were getting on! The setting is C9th Mercia which is in a state of war with other kingdoms. The world is seen through the eyes of a boy who is born and raised in Mercia but finds himself out in 'no-mans land' between kingdoms, with his warrior uncle, Cenfrith. I think Cenfrith is amazing - a noble and honourable man who is courageous and kind. Icel (the main character) has a beautiful and funny personality. Actually I loved the little bits of dry humour throughout the entire book. One of my favourite things about this book is the way the author shows the human-animal interaction when warriors rely on a good horse and treat them like gold dust. Icel has a loving nature and a natural affinity with animals and healing. There were some questions that were unresolved in this book concerninng Cenfrith though.

*Spoiler (next two paragraphs)

Why did Cenfrith lie about King Wiglaf on the battlefield? What was Cenfriths relationship with the former Kings wife?

I have bought the next book in the series and maybe the answers will be revealed there. Cenfrith was wonderful and it is a shame what happened. He could easily have been the main character in his own right. Icel continues onwards though, and his destiny is sure to be an interesting one.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic tale of war, danger and treachery, historical fiction fans will love M J Porter’s Son of Mercia.

The kingdom of Mercia is in jeopardy. King Beornwulf is dead and the many years of infighting between the nobles and cross border wars have left the kingdom exposed. Lives are at stake and there is danger round every corner and ruthless adversaries driven mad by power will do whatever it takes to destroy this kingdom. King Ecgberht of Wessex cannot afford to lose any more time. He needs to strike now in order to exact his revenge on the kingdom and he cannot dally – so he orders his warriors to strike and to make sure they leave nothing but chaos and devastation behind them.

King Wiglaf has claimed his right to rule Mercia, but does he have what it takes to unite this fragmented kingdom? With Wessex baying for blood and desperate to get his hand on his land, will Wiglaf emerge victorious in this battle against a terrifying rival intent on destruction? Will Wiglaf manage to keep Wessex at bay? Or is Mercia destined to be destroyed and decimated?

M J Porter’s Son of Mercia is an exciting, action-packed and unpredictable historical novel pulsating with royal intrigue, political chicanery and heart-stopping tension that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. M J Porter has created a world full of larger than life characters that come to life from the moment they appear on the page leaving readers absolutely glued to the pages of Son of Mercia.

The first title in a captivating new series, M J Porter’s Son of Mercia will go down a treat with readers who like bold, enthralling and evocative historical novels.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[M.J. Pankey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent intro into a series. Very vivid world building and realistic conflicts of the time period, including daily life, social hierarchy, disease, hygiene, and of course, war and politics. The main character, Isil, is flawed and behaves like a person of his age should, which was awesome to see. I really felt grounded in his character. Because of how realistic the author has created this story to be, I had no expectations about any of the characters coming out of this unscathed. And that really kept me hooked.

Even by the end when Isil's beginning to grow into his arc more, it's a very natural progression that takes place, and a very natural rate of progression too. The challenges he faces were very realistic.

The narrator sounded a bit like Aunti Whispers from Over the Garden Wall, which took some getting used to, but by about chapter 7 I was fully engaged in the story, and I honestly think he did a great job.

Highly recommend this novel for historical medieval fiction readers. Excited to start the second book and see where Isil's journey takes him.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an incredible read and at times I didn't realise I had held my breathe as I was reading it! The writing style of the author I'd incredibleb it is like you are sat there watching it all play out infront of you.

This book is set in AD825 , we are in Mercia, (what is now the Midlands in England) and there is action in every direction! This isn't an era I have read in many books but I definitely would do again ! We are right in the action of years of battles and bloodshed.

Anyone who is a fan of historical fiction will love this it is brilliantly written , flows quickly throughout the book , very easy to get hooked on to

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super start to new series

When I saw this book available on kindle Unlimited, I gave it a try. I finished it it in a day, immediatelywrapped up in a good story with an engaging character. What's more, the novel is set in ancient Britain, a period that I have come to know about thanks to the wonderful novels of Bernard Cornwell.
Marcia a kingdom under attack and with a weak king as seen through the eyes of a youth ,Icel, who is a student to the village healer and who finds himself fleeing for his life. His adventures and troubles are enough to fill many books, so I look forward to reading more of this series.
Notes: Lots of anglosaxon-isms,blood and gore.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting historical fiction tale of Mercia

Icel, our young protagonist, loves to learn about the healing arts. He has no interest in becoming a warrior. He tries to live under the radar and do his own thing. The world building of these dark times is vibrant. The battle for Mercia will shape Icel’s life as he tries to do the right thing by his uncle, Cenfrith. But his own family ties is a mystery to him. As he transitions to another position in Mercian lands, what will be in his future?

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent first in series

I really, really enjoyed this book in the Eagle of Mercia series. I haven’t read any of MJ Porters other books so I was pleased to find this one so well written with a bit of a different story to it. The battle story comes later and it was good to read about the boys early, hard life. Will definitely be reading the rest of this series and other books by this author.

[Shymsal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong historical work. Porter has a knack similar to Ellis Peter's. Their speech "feels" medieval without using "thee"s or "thou"s and old style conjugations. Accuracy in one's history and ability to really make you sink into the time period while telling a powerful story is difficult to come by. Well done!