Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Storm of Mercia, via Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources
Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been her only enemy.
Wessex, AD836
The Viking raiders’ devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.
King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King’s bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it’s not all about the seax and shield.
Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?
With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?
My Review (4 stars out of 5)
King Wiglaf must oust the Vikings from the border with Wessex. He commands Icel and Ealdorman Ælfstan’s warriors to set off and locate the Viking raiders. But Icel’s mission is plagued by difficulties which could prevent him getting back to Tamworth.
This is book 9 in the Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. I don’t recall if it’s usual in Ms Porter’s other historical novels, but I think the dialogue in Storm of Mercia is easier to understand than in some of the other books. The character names, as always, confused me a little, and it wasn’t easy to keep track of who everyone is. One of the things I really like about the books is the author’s talent for scene-setting—the sights and sounds (and in this case) particular the various aromas, such as the ‘stink’ of the enemy, and the sweat of battle really add to the action. There are plenty of swishing swords and hacking axes, along with ship chases and lots of blood and guts for those who like that sort of thing.
Another rollicking adventure by this talented author.
Author Bio
MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to
Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a
building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant
that the author’s writing destiny was set.
Social Media Links
Facebook: @MJPorterauthor
Twitter: @coloursofunison
Instagram: @m_j_porter
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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mj-porter
Colin Garrow 