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Of Gods and Kings #3
Warrior King
From the author of The Chronicles of the English and the Earls of Mercia, a step back in time to the founding years of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Before England, Scotland and Wales formed, a disparate set of kingdoms stretched their way across the British Isles, expanding and compressing with the personalities and successes of their warrior kings, more war-leaders, and more often than not, owing allegiance to one overlord, one over mighty king exacting tribute from whomever he could.
The year is 655 and the great warrior king, Penda of Mercia, stands in a position of power, with allies in every kingdom, from the northern Pictish lands to the southern kingdom of the West Saxons, from the British states to the West, to East Anglia where its king now rules with his backing.
Just one kingdom stands aloof, just one realm chafes against Penda’s influence, Bernicia, ruled by Oswiu, the brother of the long dead Oswald of Northumbria, who, in the fourteen years since his brother’s death, has failed to claim the combined Deiran and Bernician kingdoms for himself, but who schemes for a unified Northumbria, despite Penda’s desire to truncate those wishes.
As Penda and Oswiu align themselves for one more final battle of survival and supremacy, alliances will be made and broken, and the victory will go to the man most skilled in war craft and statecraft. Or will it?
The ebb and flow of battle will once more redraw the lines of the petty kingdoms stretching across the British Isles.
There will be a victor and a bloody loser.
Before England, Scotland and Wales formed, a disparate set of kingdoms stretched their way across the British Isles, expanding and compressing with the personalities and successes of their warrior kings, more war-leaders, and more often than not, owing allegiance to one overlord, one over mighty king exacting tribute from whomever he could.
The year is 655 and the great warrior king, Penda of Mercia, stands in a position of power, with allies in every kingdom, from the northern Pictish lands to the southern kingdom of the West Saxons, from the British states to the West, to East Anglia where its king now rules with his backing.
Just one kingdom stands aloof, just one realm chafes against Penda’s influence, Bernicia, ruled by Oswiu, the brother of the long dead Oswald of Northumbria, who, in the fourteen years since his brother’s death, has failed to claim the combined Deiran and Bernician kingdoms for himself, but who schemes for a unified Northumbria, despite Penda’s desire to truncate those wishes.
As Penda and Oswiu align themselves for one more final battle of survival and supremacy, alliances will be made and broken, and the victory will go to the man most skilled in war craft and statecraft. Or will it?
The ebb and flow of battle will once more redraw the lines of the petty kingdoms stretching across the British Isles.
There will be a victor and a bloody loser.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
26 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Porter
111 books256 followersI'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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 2, 2023
As always, MJ writes her story with an incredible amount of historical accuracy weaved in with an entertaining plot.
The use of multiple povs really pays off in this story, as you get to see the story unfold from every direction. MJ did a great job nailing the ending too
A brilliant read
The use of multiple povs really pays off in this story, as you get to see the story unfold from every direction. MJ did a great job nailing the ending too
A brilliant read
January 15, 2024
This took me a while to finish because I was listening not reading. But it wasn’t long and it was totally engaging. We have gotten to know the important characters and the inevitable battle to come.
These were early days for Christianity in the northern lands. It’s taking time for it to spread to all people. Penda, a great warrior king, is a pagan, but he is much more likable than Oswiu. Oswiu has embraced the new religion so he has church leaders on his side.
All the characters and their relationships were interesting to read about and follow. So one king has many allies across the lands and I hoped for better outcome because of this, but it does not happen.
The authentic flavor of the times is so real to me. I can’t imagine how horrid everyone’s breathe and body must have been. So many teeth are bashed out in fights. There’s barely a mention of cleaning dirt and grime off your body, only your weapons! But most of these men are in great shape and don’t need a workout gym. Sadly the women are only needed as political pawns to ally kingdoms and as mothers. We have come a long way but some cultures still see women as chattel.
This was great historical fiction and if you like the early Middle Ages or Dark Ages, please consider this trilogy. I don’t see enough in this time period, so I thoroughly enjoyed my time.
Thanks to the author for giving me the audio on Spotify.
These were early days for Christianity in the northern lands. It’s taking time for it to spread to all people. Penda, a great warrior king, is a pagan, but he is much more likable than Oswiu. Oswiu has embraced the new religion so he has church leaders on his side.
All the characters and their relationships were interesting to read about and follow. So one king has many allies across the lands and I hoped for better outcome because of this, but it does not happen.
The authentic flavor of the times is so real to me. I can’t imagine how horrid everyone’s breathe and body must have been. So many teeth are bashed out in fights. There’s barely a mention of cleaning dirt and grime off your body, only your weapons! But most of these men are in great shape and don’t need a workout gym. Sadly the women are only needed as political pawns to ally kingdoms and as mothers. We have come a long way but some cultures still see women as chattel.
This was great historical fiction and if you like the early Middle Ages or Dark Ages, please consider this trilogy. I don’t see enough in this time period, so I thoroughly enjoyed my time.
Thanks to the author for giving me the audio on Spotify.
July 31, 2023
Winwaed, the final part in the Gods and Kings trilogy, follows the continuing story of Penda the Pagan, Overlord of Britain, and his relationship with Oswiu, King of Bernicia, the brother of the now dead Oswald, King of Northumbria, as events begin to spiral toward the almost inevitable test of strength, and the battle that must come.
I like it!!:)
I like it!!:)
April 12, 2022
Warriors
Well I've read all your books and enjoyed the stories I wish there were more maps and some pronunciation assist but it's been great. Even your fantasy one was fun. So what's next? Because I do hope more comes
Well I've read all your books and enjoyed the stories I wish there were more maps and some pronunciation assist but it's been great. Even your fantasy one was fun. So what's next? Because I do hope more comes
October 25, 2016
Very disappointed that this series is over. I was completely immersed in the story of Penda and Paeda. The only complaint I have is that there were quite a lot of grammatical errors which kept distracting me.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews