The Serpent Sword

Matthew Harffy

Jun 2016 · Head of Zeus Ltd

About this eBook

'HISTORICAL FICTION DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS' ANGUS DONALD

AD 633

Beobrand is a young man with a shadowy past. As an outsider in the kingdom of Bernicia, he is compelled to join his brother, Octa, as a warrior in the household of King Edwin. He must learn to fight with sword and shield to defend the war-ravaged kingdoms of Northumbria.

In a period of great upheaval for Dark Age Britain, all he finds is death and war. Men and women strive to seize control of their destinies in a time of despair, and the land is rife with danger as warlords vie for supremacy and dominion. Amongst the blood and the betrayals, Beobrand learns of his brother's near-certain murder. Inexperienced but ruthless, Beobrand must form his own allegiances and learn to fight as a warrior with sword and shield.

Driven by a desire for vengeance and a relentless pursuit of his enemies, he faces challenges which transform him from a boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall. As he closes in on his kin's slayer, can Beobrand mete out the retribution he craves without sacrificing his honour... or even his soul?

Praise for Matthew Harffy:

'Nothing less than superb... The tale is fast paced and violence lurks on every page' Historical Novel Society

'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman

'A tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind' Giles Kristian

'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron

'A terrific novel. It illuminates the Dark Ages like a bolt of lightning' Toby Clements

'Battles, treachery, revenge and a healthy dose of Dark Age adventure' Simon Turney

'Matthew Harffy tells a great story' Joanna Hickson

'Harffy's writing just gets better and better... He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown' Jemahl Evans

'Harffy has a real winner on his hands... A genuinely superb novel' Steven McKay

'A breathtaking novel that sweeps the reader into a dark and dangerous world' Paul Fraser Collard

Ratings and reviews

I first came across the name Matthew Harffy whilst engrossed in reading Bernard Cornwall's 'Uhtred books'. I imagined that the similarity in genre and, at first glance, protagonist, would render the 'new book' a pale imitation of Cornwall's well-established literary flair. Yet thankfully I was very wrong. Harffy has written a saga that is very much a worthy addition to the genre in its own right. I was soon hooked into the gripping story and was intrigued enough to want to know more and more details about the time period and the fictional storytelling woven into it. Having just finished reading the first in an exciting saga, I anticipate a very enjoyable 'ride' with Beobrand and his successive adventures in this carefully crafted coming-of-age saga from our darkest past.

I just hope this ebook doesn't do like some of the others....one letter per page for a line to a paragraph. If it does I'm gonna trash you like the others

Massive fan of the genre and this book was a hidden gem. Excellent story and well written. Book had me enthralled from start to finish. Just purchased book 2. New fan here. Highly recommended.

About the author

Matthew grew up in Northumberland where the rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline had a huge impact on him. He now lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.