1 [T.H. Paul, Wes Covey, Andy Lindberg, Shane Thurston, Sarah Fensore] on The Legacy Chronicle: The Sword and millions of other books are available for Amazon .. the hero with a dark past (Ghost), the turncoat (spoiler), the strong woman . The plot and characters are amazing and will really draw you in and leave.
Table of contents
- The Dark of the Moon (Chronicles of Lunos #1) by E.S. Bell
- The Dark of the Moon
- Which world would you like to explore?
Or the begin of one. Or… not saying more. What happens when a dark hero meets a luminous heroine? Bastian is a conflicted hero. All in tones of grey with a bloody past. Side characters and friends are all adding layers to the story. Here too I predict a greater role in the second installment. Some side characters will die, some will be sacrificed some… because this is genius fantasy! Just know that I found it bloody brilliant, that I recommend it a thousand times and the only thing I regret is… there is a second book coming I do hope so that has no publication date yet!
Emma Scott is extremely talented as contemporary writer and E. Bell is genius as fantasy storyteller! Beware Of The Reader Facebook: Beware Of The Reader Facebook besties: Best Reading Blogs Ever Instagram: View all 16 comments. Aug 12, Claire Robinson rated it really liked it Shelves: If you have read this authors other work under her other name Emma Scott you will know that you are guaranteed a well written and emotive story.
The Dark of the Moon took it to a whole other level though.
The Dark of the Moon (Chronicles of Lunos #1) by E.S. Bell
There are a lot of pages, filled with a lot of beautiful words, you get to meet a lot of ch 4 - Find the light There are a lot of pages, filled with a lot of beautiful words, you get to meet a lot of characters, and the story is told through a lot of different POVs. I was a Summoner. Not for a thousand years had there been one such as me There are several plots playing out around the main story which is told by Paladin Selema Koren, who for all her worldly knowledge came across as vulnerable and a little naive at points, but you can attribute that to how she has spent the last ten years of her life.
Something bad for something good The Dark of the Moon is definitely just the beginning of that tale, and if the author carries on the story with the same level of skill as she did with this book, I can see it ending up on my book shelf right next to The Lord of The Rings trilogy. View all 4 comments. This is a fantastic fantasy book. Bell created is wonderful and so well built I felt I was actually there.
This book did just that. The characters were complex and well developed. I loved Selena and her kind, fierce heart. Can I just say I loved Sebastian? He is faced with a very hard choice, and I liked seeing him struggle with what to do. I really enjoyed the relationship between Selena and Sebastian, and how they helped each other out on so many levels.
Overall this was a great book. It had some great twists too that left me speechless. I highly recommend this book to everyone that likes a very well written, developed fantasy novel, with great characters and many adventures. By the way, I am recommending this book to all of my GR friends that like Fantasy. View all 15 comments. Aug 17, Dilinna rated it really liked it. I knw i knw i read this for so long So about this book Like pls the second book like yday pls This is why Emma will always be one of my best authors..
This was an immensely intricate fantasy book that u wont be expecting from a romance author at all So much is going on to the extent that i was confused sometimes. I loved the characters You knw a book is crazy intense when you end the book like Now i have soo many questions and i need answers answers answers! Thanks to the author for providing me with this ARC for an honest review View all 8 comments. Aug 15, Robin Hill rated it it was amazing Shelves: I'm not I wasn't a fantasy reader.
I am was strictly CR. But when Emma Scott decides to jump genres for a little while, you jump with her. I was am completely captivated by Lunos and the characters who inhabit it. I cannot let them go. I have yet to pick up another book; I've just been re-reading my favorite parts in this one.
And I have a gazillion favorite parts. TDOTM is epic in every sense of the word. And there's a lot to i I'm not I wasn't a fantasy reader. And there's a lot to it. Just take the ride and before you know it everything will fall into place. It's not a romance, but it has just enough romance in it to appease the romantic in me. Thanks for that, BTW. Like a complete and utter moron, I waited to read this. I'm convinced it gives me writer's block. But I couldn't stand it, so I caved. Did it give me writer's block? View all 20 comments. Aug 16, ImJaclyn rated it it was amazing Shelves: Bell for giving me my copy in exchange for an honest review!
I usually only stick to romance but when I found out that E. I was so engrossed with this epic story. There was pirates, magical creatures, sword fighting, magic, and so so SO much more! It tells the story of a young warrior named Selena Koren who has been cursed with an unusual wound. Selena has not felt warmth for ten years. She is sent on a mission to kill two dark priests and is told this will heal her wound, ending her cold suffering. Along the way she meets the deadliest assassin in all of Lunos although she does not know it's him and together they sail to find the people she is set to kill.
The assassin, Sebastian Vass, under the fake name, Julian Tergus has a mission of his own. But only after she kills her first target. Sebastian has been a "retired" assassin for four years but he agrees to take on this last job for a hefty sum of gold. During their journey, Sebastian and Selena begin to fall in love and- you'll just have to read the book to find out the rest!
While there is a love story in this book, it is NOT a romance. This is a true fantasy novel. I was worried that the lack of romance would be a problem for me but I couldn't have been more wrong! This story was amazing! It was one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read! Bell takes her readers on such a vivid and exciting journey. You will not want to miss out on this one!
I was transferred from the real world into the magical and sometimes dangerous world of Lunos. I am so excited to read more and see how everything ties together. The side characters were just as interesting as the main characters. It was an entertaining and fantastic journey all around. My only complaint is that the next book isn't out yet!! This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I adored this book.
It was pretty much perfect and if the rest of the series is any where near as good, I will have gained another favourite series! I don't want to explain the plot because it's so lush and rich I couldn't do it justice. What you really need to know ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What you really need to know is it is a beautifully written, that characters are fantastic and the world building is on point! I normally have one or two that I love but this time, even though all the characters were brilliant, Sebastian is my favourite. Did she actually just say she has an actual favourite character? Yes people, I did. The relationship between Sebastian and Selena is great and I especially adore that Selena is a powerful, strong character in her own right.
Softer than Sebastian but with the ability to obliterate islands But all I will say is this: She stayed strong and firm and I love her for that. I want them to end up together but it would have felt wrong for it to happen by the end of this book. I cannot wait for the next one. I haven't forgotten I need to do this review but I'm having such a hard time putting into words how much I loved this book! Try again tomorrow lol! I seriously loved this so much. Is this book for real!? This author surprised us all with a very unique story compared to what she has written in the past.
I admit I had a difficult time keeping up and remembering all the terms. I am blaming that solely on English as my second language though: Some of the vocabulary is hard for me to grasp, but I think the fantasy world has its own vernacular that you have to learn. Fortunately, the author provided a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book and that really saved my life. I usually scan the book at the beginning and the end, and then go through it slowly: I also want to point out that the story is long with many characters so you need to really pay attention to all of them and their roles.
The storyline is obviously very fascinating and unique. The heroine Selena is a skilled warrior who is gifted with a special magic. A decade before, during a war, Selena summoned the seas to destroy her enemy but unfortunately hundreds of innocent people died. As a result of that, Selena was left with a crescent-shaped hole in her chest which breathes icy breaths. Now, Selena is given an opportunity to heal her wound in exchange for killing two priests.
She is not sure she can kill without being provoked. Will Selena go through with the mission given her past actions that resulted in so much pain and suffering? The hero, Sebastian is a merciless assassin. What must he do? Murder Selena or betray the dark forces who hired him? The characters in this book are all complex and interesting. Sebastian seems dark, cold and dangerous but there is more to him than what meets the eye. All his life Sebastian wants blood revenge but he is tired of it all.
When Sebastian met Selena, he was intrigued by her kindness and courage. Selena is kindhearted, compassionate and so easy to love. As I mentioned the story is unique, complex, and nothing is quite as it seems. You have to use your imagination and get lost in this fantasy world. There is a lot going on — war, criminals, pirates, secrets and the vast ocean surround. Half the time you will be on the edge of your seat anticipating what will happen next.
If you enjoy magic, mystery, fantasy worlds action packed with twists and turns, strong heroes and heroines — this book is definitely for you. I find the story quite thrilling — it will hook and reel you in. I urge you to get a glass of wine, sit back, relax and enjoy. A movie on the horizon perhaps? Kind of reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean: View all 5 comments. Aug 14, Grey rated it really liked it Shelves: I received a copy of The Dark of the Moon to read and review in advance of its release.
The author is familiar to me, I'm not outing their identity here, others may, but that isn't my place. They chose a pen name for a reason on this novel, so I'll stick with that Bell definitely has a knack for the fantasy genre. The beginning of the book was a bit heavy to digest, just because of the content and world building that is required for all books of this nature.
Also, I feel it important to point out I felt smarter after reading this book, that's for sure! Now, about the book! I don't do spoilers, you know that. But, I can tell you that I felt I was there The characterizations were on pointe. Multidimensional, all the facets, the different layers that were exposed and hinted at in the most subtle of nuances, were nothing short of brilliant. You'll be treated to multiple points of view This was a great read for me. I look forward to next installment in the Chronicles of Lunos series and appreciate the author sending me an ecopy in advance of the book's release for review.
Nov 28, The Captain rated it really liked it Shelves: Ahoy there me mateys! So here be me honest musings. Ships, magic, islands, assassins, dragon-kind, merfolk, gods, and so much more. Of course the cover drew me in but the main idea in this book is what tickled me fancy. A woman named Selena possesses magic in exchange for service to the Two-Faced God. Ten years prior to this story, Selena used her magic to destroy a naval army.
Only she lost control Ahoy there me mateys! Only she lost control and killed the hundreds of innocents she was meant to save. In retribution, the god marked her breast with an icy hole in the shape of a crescent moon. The wound does not heal and Selena has never been warm since her mistake. These ten years later, an order has come that may lead to her redemption.
She swore she would never kill again. But will she if it means she might be warm at last?
The Dark of the Moon
So Selena was an excellent character. I loved following her journey. She does appear a bit naive at times but I chalked it up to being raised in a temple and the ramifications of that. Her magic is awesome. She can summon the sea and heal and such. But because of her grievous mistake, she is wary of using her own power and it causes extreme internal conflict. Her wound is creepy and otherworldly. It is a void that she can put her hand into up to the elbow! The other characters are also extremely fun and multi-faceted. There is the assassin, Sebastian Vass, who has taken one final job to get out of the business altogether.
Snarky, intelligent, and ruthless. There is Selena's companion, Ilior, who is a dragon-like creature and her best friend and self-appointed protector. Caring, stoic, and faithful. There are bad folks who have actual reasons for being evil and other folks that I remain ambivalent about in the best ways possible. Best of all, these characters change and grow as the plot progresses!
The world-building was lovely too. I loved the island world and its reasons for existing. I would certainly find adventure sailing in those waters. Some more dangerous than others. The religion of the world was very interesting. The ramifications are only hinted at in this book but what ideas were there were thought-provoking, and to me mind, fun. The only downsides for me were the somewhat uneven pacing and the romance. The book is over pages and there was a little too much filler for me taste. Mostly at the beginning. That said, the majority of the book kept me avidly flipping pages.
Also I would find meself thinking of the characters when I put the book down and would be excited to pick it up again. So a minor grumble. The romance itself was overall fine and it certainly isn't all perfect rosy goodness all the time. But I found meself wanting them to get over the angst. Of course then I got a sex scene that just seemed out of place. I was glad when the deed was done. I very much enjoyed the voyage and certainly want to read the next book which I believe comes out in I couldn't find the e-book version on sale.
But being as I read an e-book it's likely out there somewhere. Check out me other reviews at https: Jul 30, Sejla rated it it was amazing Shelves: This was one of the most amazing and mind-blowing reading experiences I've ever made. My heart and mind are still caught within the pages of this epic book because I can't let this story and the characters go. I want them back and need the next book in this saga like my next breath! I love the fantasy genre and the way it challenges my imagination. And let me tell you that this book was fantasy at it's best!
The excellent writing and plotting was otherwordly! I'm in awe of E. The brothers are forced to flee with the Skull Bearer on their heels. They take refuge in the nearby city of Leah where they find Shea's friend Menion , the son of the city's lord. Menion decides to accompany the two, and he travels with them to Culhaven, to meet with Allanon.
The party sets out for Paranor. But along the way, Shea falls over a waterfall and becomes separated from the group. Allanon spurs the group to continue to Paranor. Once there, the party gets into a battle with minions of the Warlock Lord and find that the Sword of Shannara has already been removed. The party then learns of the Warlock Lord's invasion of the Southland, and decide to split up to do what they can to stop it.
Disguised by Allanon, Flick infiltrates the enemy camp and rescues the captive Elven King, Eventine Elessedil ; at the same time, in Kern , Menion saves a woman named Shirl Ravenlock and falls in love with her. They organize an evacuation of Kern before the Northland army reaches the city. Balinor returns to Tyrsis to activate the Border Legion only to find that it has been disbanded. Balinor is then imprisoned by his insane brother Palance Buckhannah , who has taken control of Callahorn's rule. His advisor, Stenmin , has driven Palance insane with drugs, making him his pawn.
With help from Menion, Balinor escapes and confronts both Palance and Stenmin. Practically cornered, Stenmin stabs Palance as a distraction and flees. Now commanded by Balinor, Callahorn's reformed Border Legion marches out of Tyrsis and engages the Northland army at the Mermiddon River , killing many Northlanders before being forced to pull back; the Border Legion retreats to Tyrsis and make preparations for defense.
During the siege of Tyrsis, Hendel and Menion come upon Stenmin and some of his supporters. Hendel is killed, but Menion kills Stenmin. After three days, the Border Legion is beaten back from the Outer Wall of Tyrsis as a result of treachery—the wall falls when the traitors destroy the locks on the main gate, jamming it open. At the defenders' last stand on the Bridge of Sendic, the Northlanders abruptly break and run. Infiltrating the Warlock Lord's fortress in the Skull Mountain, Shea reaches the sword and unsheathes it.
He learns about its true power, the ability to confront those with the truth about their lives. The Warlock Lord materializes and tries to destroy Shea, but the youth stands his ground and confronts his enemy with the sword. Although immune to physical weapons, the Warlock Lord vanishes after being forced to confront the truth about himself: The Sword forces him to confront this paradox, and it kills him.
Keltset sacrifices himself to save his companions during the Skull Kingdom's destruction. In the south, the Northland army retreats after the Warlock Lord's downfall. Allanon saves Shea's life and reveals himself as Bremen's centuries-old son, before disappearing to Sleep.
Peace returns to the Four Lands. Balinor takes up his country's rule, while Dayel and Durin return to the Westland, and Menion returns to Leah with Shirl. Shea and Flick reunite and return to Shady Vale. Brooks began writing The Sword of Shannara in [10] when he was twenty-three years old. From then on, Brooks knew that he had found a genre he could write in. Greg Hildebrandt remembers the Del Reys as being "obsessed with the project.
It was their baby. The original inspiration for The Sword of Shannara was Brooks' desire to put "Tolkien's magic and fairy creatures [into] the worlds of Walter Scott and [Alexander] Dumas". Brooks was inspired by J. Brooks decided not to use historical settings like these works.
I would set my adventure story in an imaginary world, a vast, sprawling, mythical world like that of Tolkien, filled with magic that had replaced science and races that had evolved from Man. But I was not Tolkien and did not share his background in academia or his interest in cultural study.
So I would eliminate the poetry and songs, the digressions on the ways and habits of types of characters, and the appendices of language and backstory that characterized and informed Tolkien's work. I would write the sort of straightforward adventure story that barreled ahead, picking up speed as it went, compelling a turning of pages until there were no more pages to be turned.
He admits that he was very influenced by The Lord of the Rings when writing it, being his first novel, but that he has evolved his own style since: Tolkien approached it as an academic, and he was writing it as an academic effort, not as popular fiction. And I think that you're right, too, about the fact that I was heavily under the influence of Tolkien when I wrote Sword of Shannara and it shows in that particular book.
Brooks also made decisions about his novel's characterization and use of magic, saying that the magic "couldn't be dependable or simply good or bad". Brooks credits Tolkien with introducing this theme of mundane heroism into fantasy literature and influencing his own fiction.
It was Tolkien's genius to reinvent the traditional epic fantasy by making the central character neither God nor hero, but a simple man in search of a way to do the right thing. I was impressed enough by how it had changed the face of epic fantasy that I never gave a second thought to not using it as the cornerstone of my own writing. The Sword of Shannara is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, [15] where chemical and nuclear holocaust devastated the land in the distant past. Get in now, so you too can say "I told you so! Apr 14, Samantha rated it it was amazing Shelves: I'm typically somewhat tough to impress, but I loved everything about this book.
The time period, the battles, the twists and turns Beobrand is a complex character who struggles to define himself in a turbulent world. Escaping an abusive father only to learn that his brother has been murdered, Beobrand is tempted by the glory of violence himself. This comes as no surprise as the kings of the land that would one day become England use cutthroat methods to grasp at supremacy.
I loved I'm typically somewhat tough to impress, but I loved everything about this book. I loved watching Beobrand evolve into an honorable, thoughtful young warrior after fighting ghosts of his past and very real physical enemies. Harffy has expertly recreated the 7th century in this novel, especially the mingling of pagan and Christian beliefs. Though Beobrand becomes close friends with several people in a Christian community, he remains staunchly loyal to the old gods, trusting even more in his own strength. Though most of this novel is gritty, gory, and not for the weak of heart, there is a touch of romance for young Beobrand.
This part of the story was just enough to show Beobrand soften a little, put someone else ahead of himself, and fully push him into maturity. If you like Bernard Cornwell's Uhtred, you will love Beobrand. Matthew Harffy has a recording of the prologue on his blog. Now I even like this guy's voice! You will be powerless to not read more.
View all 8 comments. Others may think this a pale reflection of the Cornwell series, but I personally enjoyed it much more. May 25, Peter Jones rated it really liked it. New author, new genre for me. But it was a great experience. Harffy's writing was descriptive yet to the point. Never did it get boring or repetitive. I love history, but have always been more interested in the two great wars and the settling of the wild west than Roman history.
Now, thanks to Harffy's endeavors, I have a new area of interest to pursue. I am looking forward to the next in this series. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Set in the 7th century, this book looked to be right up my street.
The narrative starts with a prologue which draws the reader into the story, getting off to a promising start. The premise of the story is of a young lad who travels north to seek his brother only to find that he is dead - most likely murdered. Beobrand is distraught, but manages to find his way into the warband of King Edwin of Bernicia. Unfortunately, Edwin and most of his army I was given this book in return for an honest review.
Unfortunately, Edwin and most of his army is destroyed but Beobrand survives and is determined to find his brother's killer. This first book in the Bernicia Chronicles is about the rites of passage as our young hero goes from southern country boy to a northern hero who is taught warrior craft by the man who eventually becomes his enemy. Mr Harffy has the beginnings of a fantastic trilogy, he writes well and considering, as he tells me, he has done his own editing, he does a pretty good job of not leaving in errors or typos.
However I did pick up some minor issues such as one of the character's wearing a 'ponytail' or 'sported a thick blue wool cloak' and a not so minor issue and a real irritant - he uses the name 'Cathryn' which was not an Anglian name and would not have been in use in England until around years later. His characterisation of his main players were thoughtful and reasonably well fleshed out. The narrative itself gives this series a good kickstart into what is likely to be a very successful one. The bigger problem for me was head hopping, going from one POV to another in very short spaces was somewhat jarring; trying to figure out whose head I was meant to be in detracted from the story.
Head hopping is widely considered a bad technique among most good editors and publishers. Had the author obtained a good professional editor, I feel that this could have been done much better. An example being that in one of the battle scenes, the point of view swept from one warrior to his opponent and back again within a couple of paragraphs, diminishing the drama. If the book was rewritten with the POV changes made smoother,this would allow Mr Harffy to present his work far more creatively, making way for more story 'showing' rather than telling.
Much of the back stories and character perspectives that the author is so eager to portray to us could easily be shown to us by clever use of dialogue and prose. It is a shame as he is restricting himself and he has the makings of a very good writer. The Bernicia Chronicles promise to be a sweeping epic historical tale that readers are going to be enthralled by and will love. The Serpent Sword has it all, love, betrayal, intrigue and blood and gore a plenty. Mr Harffy is already onto a good start with the intrepid plot and I think he is very courageous to put a book out there set in the stomping grounds of other AngloSaxon Warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburgh.
Move over Mr Cornwell! Mar 27, George BuriedInBooks rated it it was amazing. Warning- Contains murder, gore, rape and lots of violence. This book is amazing, definitely one of my favourite ever books. Matthew really knows how to write an amazing historical fiction and this is just the first in the series.
The story follows a young man called Beobrand who leaves his homeland to become a warrior in s Warning- Contains murder, gore, rape and lots of violence. The story follows a young man called Beobrand who leaves his homeland to become a warrior in service to a lord. In the end I give this book the highest rating I can at 5 stars because of the story and the characters as well as the way the book is written.
Thanks for reading this review and please check out my blog and twitter using the links on my page! Jan 13, Ruth Downie added it. I was very taken with the hero Beobrand, a gifted young warrior who has to find his way forward with no family and no lord to lead him. This is the sort of book that makes you look forward to bedtime! Probably not fair that I've just read Bernard Cornwell's latest book.
Sep 30, Stephanie rated it it was amazing. Any comparison to Bernard Cornwell's popular Saxon series intrigues me, and this book was no exception. I must admit that I picked it up a bit skeptically, wondering how in the world Matthew Harffy would pull it off -- there can only be on Uhtred of Bebbanburg after all, so how would he manage to keep me interested?
I needn't have worried. Just because I like a book doesn't automatically qualify it for 5 stars. But this book -- this book -- kept me coming back, hungry to read more, to find out wh Any comparison to Bernard Cornwell's popular Saxon series intrigues me, and this book was no exception. But this book -- this book -- kept me coming back, hungry to read more, to find out what was next, and where the characters were going and how they were growing.
When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it. Beyond that, Harffy does several things with this book which led me to a 5 star review. Beobrand is young, hot-headed, and he makes so many mistakes. The plot doesn't hold back anything authentic -- there is violence and gore some of which may be difficult for some readers to handle , but it's what happens to Beobrand that makes it significant to me -- he learns, he wrestles with what happens around him, he thinks about it, suffers through it, and it changes him in ways both good and bad. But it's all authentic, and I found myself cheering him on every step of the way.
Secondly, Harffy doesn't just write to progress the plot. He tells a story in a way that makes it feel like it's happening all around me as I read. Descriptive detail, language use, sentence structure, etc. I felt hungry, thirsty, sick, injured, and tired whenever Beobrand was. I could feel the cold water splashing on my face as he washed in the early morning. Harffy writes in a way that invites us into the pages of the book.
I highly recommend this book to HF readers, to Bernard Cornwell fans, and to anyone wanting to learn more about a period of history often overlooked by modern readers. I eagerly await the next book and will be worried about Beobrand until it comes out! I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
I started it with some trepidation as it is not my usual choice of genre and I didn't know quite what to expect from this first time author. There was no need to worry though, as it quickly became apparent that the author clearly knows his craft. He has beautifully captured the transformation of the hero Beobrand from farmer to warrior, with love, loss, and plenty of action along the way.
It kept me reading to the early hours of the mo I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. It kept me reading to the early hours of the morning on more than one occasion. I had an advance copy of this book to read. It's not my usual reading, but is well written, the plot is believable as are the characters. Aug 05, Tarn Richardson rated it it was amazing. Now this is really something special. Set in the Dark Ages of England, Harffy sets himself a challenge to bring across the unerring savagery and desperation of a period in history where very little is known, where life, from what we do know, was barren and grimly cheap, and present it in a way which sparkles and possesses the reader utterly.
To write such a riveting story, with one that feels rich with historical detail but not burdened down with too much, takes real skill and appreciation of th Now this is really something special. To write such a riveting story, with one that feels rich with historical detail but not burdened down with too much, takes real skill and appreciation of the subject, which thankfully Harffy has in spades.
Following the adventures of Beobrand, from his first years as an acolyte soldier to when he establishes himself a master warrior, from the get-go we are drawn in by the murder of his brother and Beobrand's at the beginning naive desire to find the killer and exact revenge. This naivety is key because you have a real sense of growth of Beobrand throughout the book, not just in terms of his sword arm, but also the confidence in himself, his intelligence, his appreciation of others, the slow embrace as a leader, someone to inspire, to make the right decisions.
To one day lead. Why this novel sets itself apart from many other historical novels and you could put into a wider genre category is that Beobrand does make mistakes at the start, does fall in with the 'wrong crowd', does somehow find himself fighting and a lot worse alongside the main antagonist and his grim militia of thugs. All this makes his character, and those around him, feel very believable, fallible, and, because of this, it heightens the sense that anyone in the book at any moment is liable to show very human characteristics in order to fit in or simply survive and do something unexpected and selfish in order to benefit or keep their head.
As a result, threat and risk hunts everywhere and everyone. No one is safe. Heroes early on are dispatched. Hated villains survive to live another day. Take this, and fill it with battles, love, allegiances and broken promises, torture and wicked trickery, and you're left with a dazzlingly good story that rattles along at a rate of knots. And the best news is this is the first in a long line of Beobrand books. Saddle up, it's going to be a long and exciting ride! In the course of my perusing for books to read I am occasionally offered the chance to read a book prior to it being released. Set in 7th century Britain, a time of unsettled violence where the prowess of warriors and the shield wall determines the fate of kings among the disparate factions that inhabit the island.
Angles, Seaxons, Waelisc vie for control and into the mix brought about by the chaos of war is a lawlessness per In the course of my perusing for books to read I am occasionally offered the chance to read a book prior to it being released. Angles, Seaxons, Waelisc vie for control and into the mix brought about by the chaos of war is a lawlessness perpetrated by bands of desperate and ruthless outlaws. Beobrand, a young farmer from Cantware Kent travels to Northumbria to seek and join his brother, a warrior in the household of King Edwin.
Beobrand has lost his mother and sisters to a plague and his father to a mysterious fire and his wish is to become a warrior like his brother. The tale is one of suffered loss and helplessness as Beobrand strives to avenge the murder of his brother and the paths he takes to ease the burdens of his troubled mind. The author has done a splendid job in crafting a tale that is not only historical but very entertaining as well. He captures the mood of the times in such a fashion that the reader feels the strife and tensions of this brutal time from the ethos of the warrior class to the peasants and craftsmen who struggle to survive the violence and the conflicts of competing religions and peoples.
Which world would you like to explore?
The author also makes you feel what it is like to stand in the shield wall as warriors perform heroic deeds or as they fall in the attempt. It is a stunning debut from Mr. Harffy and I look expectantly for more from him as he continues the story of Beobrand. A two thumbs up recommendation and 5 stars. A bit about the author. Matthew Harffy is currently writing a series of novels set in seventh century Northumbria.
The first book is The Serpent Sword. The sequel is The Cross and The Curse. Prior to that he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator. He has co-authored seven published academic articles, ranging in topic from the ecological impact of mining to the construction of a marble pipe organ. Matthew is outnumbered at home by his wife and their two daughters. When not writing, or spending time with his family, Matthew sings in a band called Rock Dog. Apr 30, Chris rated it it was amazing. A good general knows when to fight and where to fight. That same rule applies to British Historical fiction Novellists.
The pond is already quite overcrowded, and quite a few of the same histories are told and retold over and over again. Buying those can be a recipe for disappointment. Matthew Harffy however picked his spot perfectly. I always wanted to read about the Old North, and Matthew Harffy has delivered with verve in his debut alb A good general knows when to fight and where to fight. The man knows how to write and how spin a good tale. He cleverly weaves his storyline from the basic idea of a young man trying to make his luck and fortune as a sword-warrior in the turbulent times of Old North.
Harffy's historical research and sources are sound, and the tale has all the ingredients, carefully dosed and balanced, of a savoury reading dish. All of this results in a gripping and credible warriors tale of Dark Ages Britain. Of course we have Bernard Cornwell plowing that Dark Ages Britain field as well, but where —to my opinion- his mischievous pagan warlord Uthred of Bebbanburg is losing his impetus rapidly in his last three novels- just to the point where you think..
I think that with Beobrand entering the stage Uthred is old news now. Need I say that I was very impressed by the Serpent Sword? The Bernicia Chronicles could make for years of reading pleasure. I think Harffy has the skills and the talent for hat. Set in the 7th century Anglo-Saxon Britain, in the year of our Lord Written in third person point-of-view, we follow the story of the protagonist Beobrand, a farm boy from Cantware who - dreaming of becoming a warrior - left his hometown for Bernicia, in search for his fate.
For a debut author, Harffy did a great job in his character development. Beobrand often dwells on his past and sometimes becomes irritating so I find him gloomy, but I guess that is what the author wants us to see. Pacing is good, there are just some situations I find repetitive. View all 9 comments. Review Once again its been one of those occasions where i feel privileged to be asked to read and review a book by a debut author, anytime someone trusts you with something which has been their passion and that has consumed hours, days weeks and months of their life is something you should and i do cherish.
At the same time it does not earn you a free pass to a good review. What does earn you praise is something new, something set in a period where many others have not gone before, when you can co Review Once again its been one of those occasions where i feel privileged to be asked to read and review a book by a debut author, anytime someone trusts you with something which has been their passion and that has consumed hours, days weeks and months of their life is something you should and i do cherish.
What does earn you praise is something new, something set in a period where many others have not gone before, when you can couple together plot, great characters, scene setting and action packed fight scenes. This is just what you get with Serpent Sword. Read the rest of the review here: The book's blurb says "perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell," but that isn't going to do this book any favors, because it does not live up to such hype. In fairness to Matthew Harffy, few could live up to Bernard Cornwell anyway.
But even without the hype, this book was a bit of a disappointment. As I am finding with many novels, it's the characterization that is lacking.