King of Kings by M. J. Porter

series

Chronicles of English/Brunanburh #1
genre
historical fiction
published
February 10, 2023
number of pages
340

Goodreads || Amazon

rating❤❤❤❤

cover❤❤❤❤

I loved reading the book, it's been a while since I read an excellent historical fiction book. You know, that kind where you are totally lost for a little while, but the story starts to come together and before you know it, you are pulled back in time and sucked into the events.

The story is set in the 10th century, England and centres around the Battle of Bruhanburh and all the events leading up to it. 

There is a lot of political intrigues. Fragile alliances are being forged, but everyone has their own agenda and motivation and no one can be trusted.

The story spans multiple years and multiple narrators. It took a bit of time to sort out who was who, and the pace is on the slower side, but it works well with the story. The story is set in a time that I know very little about (it's been a while since high school:) ), and I found myself totally sucked into the story.

Highly recommend it to everyone who loves a good historical fiction book.

synopsis

In the battle for power, there can be only one ruler.

 AD925

Athelstan is the king of the English, uniting the petty kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia, the Danish-held Five Boroughs and York following the sudden death of his father, King Edward.

His vision is to unite the realms of the Scots and the Welsh in a peace accord that will protect their borders from the marauding threat of the Norse Vikings.

Whilst seemingly craving peace and demanding loyalty with an imperium over every kingdom, Athelstan could dream of a much bigger prize.

But danger and betrayal surround his best intentions, namely from his overlooked stepbrother, Edwin, who conspires and vies for what he deems is his rightful place as England’s king.

As ever, powerful men who wish to rule do not wish to be ruled, and Constantin of the Scots, Owain of Strathclyde, and Ealdred of Bamburgh plot their revenge against the upstart English king, using any means necessary.

An epic story of kingsmanship that will set in motion the pivotal, bloody Battle of Brunanburh where allies have to be chosen wisely…

about the author

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. They were raised in the shadow of a building that they believed housed the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia – so their writing destiny was set. The first novel in their new Anglo-Saxon series for Boldwood Son of Mercia was published in February 2022.

happy reading,
anie

thanks to Boldwood Books for the book, all thoughts are my own