Review - Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy

 Wolf of Wessex

By Matthew Harffy

 

AD 838. Deep in the forests of Wessex, Dunston's solitary existence is shattered when he stumbles on a mutilated corpse.

Accused of the murder, Dunston must clear his name and keep the dead man's daughter alive in the face of savage pursuers desperate to prevent a terrible secret from being revealed.

Rushing headlong through Wessex, Dunston will need to use all the skills of survival garnered from a lifetime in the wilderness. And if he has any hope of victory against the implacable enemies on their trail, he must confront his long-buried past – becoming the man he once was and embracing traits he had promised he would never return to. The Wolf of Wessex must hunt again; honour and duty demand it. 

Review:

I have heard many great things about Matthew Harffy's books, but this is the first book I have read of his. He certainly lives up to all the acclaim because this story was fabulous from start to finish. So much happens in this book, and Dunston is an unlikely hero, which made this book all the more enthralling.

The historical backdrop of this novel has been magnificently researched. It really did feel like I had stepped back in time. This may well be the first book I have read by Matthew Harffy, but it is certainly not going to be the last.

 

 

 

 

 

Review - The Secrets of Saffron Hall by Clare Marchant

 

The Secrets of Saffron Hall

 By Clare Marchant

 

Two women. Five centuries apart.
One life-changing secret about to be unearthed…

1538
New bride Eleanor impresses her husband by growing saffron, a spice more valuable than gold. His reputation in Henry VIII’s court soars – but fame and fortune come at a price, for the king’s favour will not last forever…

2019
When Amber discovers an ancient book in her grandfather’s home at Saffron Hall, the contents reveal a dark secret from the past. As she investigates, so unravels a forgotten tragic story and a truth that lies much closer to home than she could have imagined…

Review:

Hands up, this is not the usual genre that I read, but a dear friend of mine read this book and implored me to read it. I did so with a small amount of trepidation the Tudor era is not my go to era in history because I think the Tudors were a bunch of pretentious well, let’s leave it there. Anyway, I promised my friend that I would read this book, and so I did.

What I wasn’t expecting was to enjoy it as much as I did!

This novel really grabbed my attention from the opening and continued to hold it throughout the story. The duel timelines worked really well, and I never felt jarred or disjointed from the novel. Despite this period not being my thing, I very much enjoyed it.

 

Review - War Lord (The Last Kingdom Series, Book 13) by Bernard Cornwell

 

War Lord 

(The Last Kingdom Series, Book 13)

 By Bernard Cornwell

 

After years fighting to reclaim his rightful home, Uhtred of Bebbanburg has returned to Northumbria. With his loyal band of warriors and a new woman by his side, his household is secure – yet Uhtred is far from safe. Beyond the walls of his impregnable fortress, a battle for power rages. 

To the south, King Æthelstan has unified the three kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia – and now eyes a bigger prize. To the north, King Constantine and other Scottish and Irish leaders seek to extend their borders and expand their dominion.

Caught in the eye of the storm is Uhtred. Threatened and bribed by all sides, he faces an impossible choice: stay out of the struggle, risking his freedom, or throw himself into the cauldron of war and the most terrible battle Britain has ever experienced. Only fate can decide the outcome.

Review:

Guess who got a signed hardback edition? Yep, that would be me and it now has pride of place on my bookshelf along with the other 12 books in the series. 

I was both really looking forward to and dreading the final book in the series. I have invested so much time with Uhtred that the idea that his story was going to come to an end made my heart sore. 

This series has been amazing from beginning to end and this novel was no exception. I thought it was brilliant. I am just sad that there aren’t going to be any more books about Uhtred and his adventures.