Bright Blade:
(The Byrhtnoth Chronicles,
Book #3)
By Christine Hancock
Byrhtnoth thinks only
of killing the man who stole his sword and wounded his wife. But the blade of
revenge can strike both ways.
Erik Bloodaxe has broken his oath and claimed the throne of York. In his anger, King Eadred sends his army to ravage Northumbria.
Erik Bloodaxe has broken his oath and claimed the throne of York. In his anger, King Eadred sends his army to ravage Northumbria.
Sent north with the ships, Byrhtnoth suffers storms at sea and fire on land.After an encounter with an old enemy he is left broken, in mind and body.
Can Byrhtnoth survive until help arrives?
Will he ever fight again?
"Does
the king think that by laying waste to the country, he will make peace? He
can't kill everyone in Northumbria..."
Who
says he cannot?
King
Eadred is determined to bring Northumbria back to heel, and most of his earls
were in favour of war. For Thegn Byrhtnoth, his first duty would always
be to his king, and Lord Athelstan. Which means that even though Byrhtnoth had
no desire to fight in King Eadred's war with the North, he has no choice but to
obey. Byrhtnoth's search for his father and his vow to avenge his wife against
the man who had used her so terribly would have to wait — for now, at least.
By
order of the King, Byrhtnoth finds himself in Devon and overseeing the
repairing and the preparation of a small fleet of ships that had long since
been abandoned by the sailors who grew tired of waiting for the money owed to them
by King Eadred. To get these ships ready in time is an enormous undertaking,
but with wit and coin, Byrhtnoth is determined to have the boats as prepared as
they can be on such short notice.
Yet,
this war, when it comes, would be unlike anything Byrhtnoth had ever witnessed.
This is a war on the people of the North, not just her army and her king. Such
a war can only bring out the very worst in men. While Byrhtnoth tries to bring
order to the chaos, and stop his men from murdering and raping
indiscriminately, he is naively unaware that his old enemy, Egbert, is closing
in on him.
Only
time will tell if Byrhtnoth will ever see his wife and his beloved Essex again.
From
doubts of a king's fitness to rule, to the burning of the monastery at Ripon,
and a fight against time to save a man's life, Bright Blade (The Byrhtnoth
Chronicles, Book #3) by Christine Hancock is the memorable story of Thegn Byrhtnoth as he tries to balance the want of his king with his own desire for
revenge.
Bright
Blade is the impressively dramatic account of King Eadred's wrath on the North, seen through the eyes of a young Thegn. Hancock immerses her readers in the turbulent world that was the 10th Century. This was a time when loyalties were sorely tested, and war left a bitter taste in the mouth as well as blood on the ground. Hancock has masterfully brought this world back to life.
We experience the preparation, the raids
and the war on the North through Byrhtnoth’s eyes. Byrhtnoth has a sharp
intelligence and such a loving heart, which made his character utterly
irresistible. Here is a hero that a reader can really get behind, and get
behind him I did. He is a man of deep morals and one that I enjoyed reading
about very much. As a historical character, Byrhtnoth is quite challenging to
pin down, but I thought Hancock did an excellent job of bringing this little
known 10th-century Saxon Ealdorman back to life.
As
before with Book #2, I adored the characterisation of Saewynn. Saewynn was
subjected to terrible abuse in Book #2, and in Bright Blade, we see the
consequences of this abuse. Her bravery, her courage, and her determination to
face her fears, made for an unforgettable read. Her narrative, particularly in
the latter half of this book, really drove the story forward and made this book
unputdownable.
Throughout
this novel is a thinly concealed menace that means neither Byrhtnoth nor
Saewynn can ever feel completely at ease. Egbert is as vile in this book as he
was in the last one. His desire to harm both Byrhtnoth and Saewynn is an
ever-present threat. He really is an utterly despicable character. But, Hancock
lets her readers glimpse into the reason why he behaves how he does. It, in no
way, excuses him, but Hancock has given her readers a little insight into what
is going on in his mind.
Hancock
pays meticulous attention to the historical detail while having a keen eye on
what makes for an entertaining read. In particular, Hancock's depiction of the
preparation, sailing, and the battles on the ships was incredibly realistic in
the telling. These scenes, especially, were written with a great deal of
imagination and energy. Hancock has an intuitive understanding of what makes
history worth reading, and she has shined a light into this somewhat dark
period in British history.
Hancock
writes with both grace and authority, and although Bright Blade is book #3 in
this series, it stands very firmly on its own two feet. The impressive
narrative is not only enthralling, but it is also unashamedly compelling. I was
utterly enchanted with the story from start to finish. There was nothing about
this book that I did not like. It is an immensely readable tale and a very
enjoyable one as well.
If you
are looking for your next great historical fiction novel series set in the Dark Ages,
then look no further than The Byrhtnoth Chronicles.
I
Highly Recommend.
Review
by Mary Anne Yarde.
The
Coffee Pot Book Club.
Pick up your
copy of
Bright Blade
Christine
Hancock
I was born in Essex and moved to Rugby,
Warwickshire when I married. I have a husband, two sons and two lovely
grandchildren.
I am a long-term family historian,
leader of the local history group and town guide.
I had never thought of becoming an
author – I just wanted to write about some of my ancestors. In 2013 I joined a
writing class. The class turned out to be about writing fiction. Before I knew
it, I was writing a novel.
Byrhtnoth was a real warrior who died in
the 991 Battle of Maldon, made famous by the Anglo-Saxon poem of that name.
Growing up in Essex, I visited Maldon often, and attended the 1000 year
anniversary of the battle in 1991.
I wanted to find out what made Byrhtnoth
such a famous warrior.
I finished the book but found it had
become a series – how long, I have yet to find out.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx