BLURB
A war to shape the future of a nation. Betrayed by his kinsmen, his forces overrun by Danes, King Alfred of Wessex has retreated deep into the marshes of his homeland, lying in wait for his chance at redemption.
The scourge of the heathen horde that has ravaged the kingdom for decades is at its peak. Led by the fearsome Viking warlord Guthrum, the fate of the men, women, and children at their mercy appears all but sealed. But underestimate the great king at your peril…
Gathering allies and bannermen to his cause, and building a strategy that will hopefully ensure victory, Alfred sets out to undermine the strength of the complacent invaders, and establish Wessex as the greatest territory in the British Isles.
A final showdown awaits. Not only with Guthrum and his savage warriors, but with destiny. As the battle lines are drawn, the destiny of not just Wessex, but of every Anglo-Saxon in Britain, rests firmly on Alfred's shoulders.
An utterly ferocious and gripping adventure, covering the fascinating middle years of Alfred the Great's reign, one of Britain's most influential monarchs.
395 pages, Kindle Edition Expected publication July 4, 2024
REVIEW
I think it's safe to say, my peeps and fellow readers, that the author was on his A-game with the second episode of his Alfred trilogy. His creative grasp on the material, even the bits that are well-known, is on full display from the marshy bog of Athelney to the triumphant expulsion of the Danes from Wessex. We see Alfred as a victorious leader, as a far-sighted dreamer with plans to strengthen his kingdom, and as a pious follower of Christ, but we also see his weaknesses; showing Christian mercy when wrath is required, and the painful bouts of an intestinal illness. The narrative flows along at a nice easy pace, but like a battle scene on a river filled with the flotsam debris of destruction, the tale is packed with dramatic twists and turns. Characters, whether Saxon, Dane, or Norse are vividly portrayed, their manners, camaraderie, and loyalties are just a few of the qualities created by the author that keep one turning those pages. Now, we wait for the third episode, and judging from the end of number two…well, you'll have to see for yourself. 5 STARS
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