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The Serpent Sword (The Bernicia Chronicles) by [Matthew Harffy]

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Matthew Harffy

The Serpent Sword (The Bernicia Chronicles) Kindle Edition

by Matthew Harffy (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

2,423 ratings

Book 1 of 9: The Bernicia Chronicles

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'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

Print length

347 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
Publication date

June 1, 2016
File size

9273 KB
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

“Like the different stories that make up a man’s life. The more twists in each story, and the more stories that are beaten together by life’s adversities, the stronger the man,”
Highlighted by 118 Kindle readers
“That you cannot know the mind of those around you. You must judge them on their actions, not on what they say.”
Highlighted by 71 Kindle readers
He had decided long ago that dwelling on the past was for fools. You could not go back and change your actions, so why go over and over your mistakes in your memory?
Highlighted by 58 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A stunning debut." —Manda Scott

“With strong, believable characters and plot, this is a remarkable debut novel.” —Historical Novels Review
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Matthew Harffy lived in Northumberland as a child and the area had a great impact on him. The rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline made it easy to imagine the past. Decades later, a documentary about Northumbria's Golden Age sowed the kernel of an idea for a series of historical fiction novels that became THE BERNICIA CHRONICLES.

Matthew has worked in the IT industry, where he spent all day writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him. 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 lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.

Matthew was the singer in Rock Dog.

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01DBZ51FO
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book; 1st edition (June 1, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 9273 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #105,857 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #10 in 449-1066 History of UK
- #13 in Medieval Military History
- #93 in General Great Britain Travel Guides

Customer Reviews:
2,423 ratings

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Matthew Harffy lived in Northumberland as a child and the area had a great impact on him. The rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline made it easy to imagine the past. Decades later, a documentary about Northumbria's Golden Age sowed the kernel of an idea for a series of historical fiction novels. The first of them is the action-packed tale of vengeance and coming of age, THE SERPENT SWORD.

Matthew has worked in the IT industry, where he spent all day writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him. Prior to that he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator. Matthew lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.

For all the latest news and exclusive competitions, join Matthew online:

www.matthewharffy.com

twitter.com/@MatthewHarffy

www.facebook.com/MatthewHarffyAuthor

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

2,423 global ratings

5 star		52%
4 star		37%
3 star		8%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Solid debut

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 8, 2023

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While there are some things that didn’t quite work for me in this book, overall I still think this is a solid start to a new series.

Usually I am really not a fan of third person omniscient storytelling. I can’t say I have a preference for first or third person but I prefer it to be limited to one character’s point of view at a time, knowing only their thoughts and feelings rather than multiple people’s within the same paragraph or chapter. Harffy did such a great job at using omniscient narration though that I hardly even noticed it at first and even after realizing it, it still barely stood out to me. So I am very impressed by that. It shows how smoothly he can write in my opinion.

I struggled to connect to the characters and really root for the MC. I like that the author was able to introduce the main character to a wide range of emotions in this one book and that we really saw his character grow and evolve up close but wouldn’t have minded to see a little bit more detail in the supporting cast in that regard also, especially because of the narrative choice. I did enjoy though that his writing can be a bit deceptive about some of the characters sometimes, which added an extra layer of fun to it. Sadly the few characters that I did get really attached to didn’t get as much page time as I would’ve liked until the end (for one of them).

There definitely was a strong historical feeling to the story and it felt well researched. I don’t have a lot of experience with historical fiction so I don’t know how it compares to other books in the genre, but I found it quite atmospheric. I like the contrast between Coenred and Beobrand, and between the old gods and new. I’ve also rarely ever felt the level of dread that the author was able to conjure up with his story so I do commend him for that.

While I sadly didn’t connect quite as much with this story as the rest of the buddy reading group and never fully felt invested in the MC’s journey, I do think this is a solid debut novel and am looking forward to continuing on with the series since I was told they only get better from here.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 3, 2023

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“You were born to fight. I have seen you wield the sword. But the way of the sword is not rife with happiness. The sword is like a serpent. You can try to tame it, but it is venomous and will often bite the hand that holds it.”

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 6, 2022

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I have finally found a new historical series. Harffy has drawn a character both flawed and strong. I look forward to more of his adventures.

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Darian

Historial Fiction at its best

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 23, 2020

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The Serpent Sword is, in my mind, a great piece of historical fiction that deserves the attention of every fan of the genre. Taking place smack-dab in the middle of the European Dark Ages in early 7th century Great Britain, the author succeeds in transporting me to this chaotic and violent world, where warlords vied for supremacy and the people struggled to survive. Focusing on a likeable and complex main character, Beobrand of Cantware, I felt that the character developed a fleshed-out personality over the course of the story that made him feel like a real human being. With this debut novel, Matthew Harffy has shown an ability to weave together a story that can stand alone and as part of a saga. He joins my list of other favorite historical fiction authors such as Adrian Goldsworthy, Harry Sidebottom and Eleanor Cooney.

Rather than risk spoiling the story, I will list the pros and cons of this story below:

Pros
*Atmospheric and immersive writing

*Mostly fleshed out characters

*Riveting plot of revenge (if a little derivative)

*Good pacing

*Bloody action scenes (described in vivid detail)

*Attention to historical accuracy and detail

Cons

*Main character felt a little overpowered in his fighting ability

*Villain should have been more rounded out and less derivative, given a better motivation for their actions. It has been said that the greatest and most fascinating villains are those that you can understand and empathize with on some level.

13 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

This Is A Series And An Author To Watch And Read!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 12, 2015

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I've bought and read a lot of first-books by new authors, and have to say that I was really impressed with Matthew Marffy's The Serpent Sword. I have made a lifetime study of the Viking Age, and love ancient history in general. Those who have read my reviews know that I can be brutal on an author in reviewing their books. I don't give out Five Stars easily. I want a historical fiction that is written in that order history + fiction. It must stay true to the times of which it covers, and the fiction itself needs a reason to exist, a well developed story, and hopefully, some good grammar beyond simply running it through a spell-checker. This book has it all. You begin liking the main character, you start to think you are going to hate him, then you begin to root for him as he matures. Even though I began reading this book at a time when I was heavily burdened with work, I could not help but breeze through this book in an amazingly short time, considering my workload. I won't give away the story-line any more than the author has, but will say this book covers a very interesting point in British History when everything was in flux, and the very fabric of the country and people were undergoing constant change, and while that turmoil would not have made for a good time to be alive, it is the stuff that good stories come from. Matthew Harffy has a good grasp of the times, and the people who lived then, and it shows in his writing. Many people rave about Bernard Cornwell. Personally, I think he is much overrated. He is competent, to be sure, but the last couple books of his that I read, had me yawning. Quite frankly, I think that Matthew Harffy is a better writer. If I had to compare him to another writer, I would say perhaps Giles Kristian or Robert Low earlier in their careers would be a better comparison. It is with great anticipation that I look forward to reading Matthew Harffy's next book. Mr. Harffy, my hat goes off to you, and thank you for a great read!

2 people found this helpful

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Clive

UNSURE

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 23, 2020

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Hmmmm, I'm really not sure about this book but, as I intend to buy the next in this series, perhaps my three-star rating is a little harsh.

Book seven in this series is centred on Bebbenburgh castle or, Bamburgh castle as it is today, just down the road from where I live so, as that tweaked my interest, I thought that I'd better start at the beginning of this series, with 'The Serpent Sword'.

Here's the problem; the story itself is pretty good, well constructed with rounded out characters and it moves along nicely, but the writing style leaves much to be desired and has the naivety of a young and inexperienced author. The poor writing style jars the whole story and I found myself, after the first couple of chapters, deciding that I'd flog through to the end but not buy any more from Mr Harffy. At that point, this wasn't a book that drew me back to it, keen to read the next thrilling installment; I was getting through it because I very, very, rarely fail to complete a book once I've started it.

Gradually, things changed. The story drew me in and it seemed to me that the writing style improved a little; it now felt as though it had been written by a sixteen year old rather than a twelve year old. When i reached the end, I was hooked on the story and I want to know what happens next so, on that basis, I'm prepared to give Mr H another chance and I'll buy the next in this series. If his writing improved over the course of one novel, then perhaps his next outing will show some further improvement.

So, on the basis that I do intend to read the next in this series, I wanted to give a three and a half star rating and, as you can see, I opted for three rather than four. Harsh but, hey, that's me!

10 people found this helpful

Martin Lake

Stunning and engrossing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 19, 2015

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The Serpent Sword is a stunning book. I can’t recall when I read a book as engrossing and entertaining. It’s a gripping story told with style and verve.

This is an epic tale of men and women swept up by terrible events. The hand of fate lies heavy on them but they strive their utmost to seize and shape their destinies. In doing so they court disaster and despair. The novel is powered by an intricate interplay between character and plot, each driving the story forward with unstoppable momentum.

Matthew Harrfy creates a world of unforgettable characters. Beobrand is a young man forced to face terrible choices. Sometimes he chooses wisely, other times less well. His journey is one of pain and peril and kept me reading non-stop. His enemy, Hengist, is a masterly creation, complex, beguiling and utterly ruthless. Other characters, men and women, are drawn so well I almost felt I’d met them. I walked with them in the wilds of 7th century England.

The story moves at a fast pace, with one heart-stopping event followed hard on the heels by another. There’s no time to rest for the characters in the novel and no time for the reader to do so either. I read the book in one sitting. I went to bed thinking about it and woke up the same.

Matthew Harrfy is a master story-teller; the Serpent Sword a wonderful book. I can’t wait to read the sequels.

43 people found this helpful

Alex

A really fast paced and immersive historical fiction!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 18, 2021

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The Serpent Sword was such a fast paced, thrilling read, that I listened to on audiobook.

Our main character is Beobrand, who is easy to love and root for, and his coming of age story is a fast tracked one which helps us get to the action faster.

Matthew Harffy brings edge of your seat action and an eye for historical detail, expertly capturing the atmosphere and setting. I liked the fact at the end of the book, Harffy explains his thought processes behind many of the historical references, where creative liberties were taken etc. and it really puts into perspective how much work went into making the book as true to the time period as possible whilst maintaining the excitement and action that makes Beobrand’s tale particularly engaging.

There isn’t a reliance on adrenaline alone to propel the story though and I really liked Beobrand’s honest internal strife and the inner turmoil he goes through, weighing up the man he wants to be and questioning his own ethics.

This links into what is probably the heart of the book, which is revenge. It’s tricky to make a reader care enough to share the character’s passion for vengeance and this is another aspect that makes this such a page turner in that you do share these feelings and each encounter has you willing Beobrand on. There are some despicable characters, and there are those that commit despicable acts that are otherwise portrayed as good people. It serves as a good reminder that when taken out of ‘normal’ stress free circumstances, there is a primal, animalistic nature within some humans – yet this should not serve as an excuse for heinous actions.

There is one scene in which Beobrand has to weigh up whether to seek justice against one such character, and it is satisfying to see justice served and actions having consequences rather than our protagonist taking the easy route. Beobrand is definitely in the Goldilocks zone in terms of not being too cold or barbaric to relate to, whilst also being real enough not to develop into a shining hero of chivalry – he can be brutal and there is a level of fear he invokes in other men at times, but there are moments we see his softer side. This is a theme that runs through the book and is done very well; characters are human, with flaws, layers to their personalities, loyalties and betrayals, grabs for power and acts of both kindness and evil when you might not expect them.

The Serpent Sword is a real page turner, full of entertainment, brutality, emotive moments and well researched history. If you like historical fiction and a good dose of action, I’m confident you’ll love this.

One person found this helpful

Andy Whitley

Brilliant read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 1, 2020

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I have returned to this book after finishing the 6th in the series.
I feel a review is required in case anyone checks before reading. From the beginning I loved this book and the following ones. If you want adventure great fighting and wonderful descriptions through out these are the books for you.
I can't wait for number 7. Mathew Harffy has a great skill of story telling and within each book is a poetic descriptive phase which I read over and over it was that captivating. I won't reveal one as each person is different. But this writer has class.
I have read lots of these historical tales and can say, for me , these books are amongst the best.

6 people found this helpful

Clemens A. Schoonderwoert

A Stunning Beobrand Of Bernicia Opener!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 6, 2021

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This amazing book is the 1st volume of the "Bernicia Chronicles" from the author, Matthew Harffy.

Storytelling is of a top-notch quality, all characters, whether they are real great historical or fantastic fictional, are believable and lifelike and they come vividly to life within this wonderful historical adventure, and the atmosphere of Albion in the Dark Ages comes splendidly off the pages.

Right at the inside of the book you'll find two well-drawn maps of Albion in AD 633, and of Northumbria, divided in Bernicia, Deira and Elmet, with their neighbours in the west, Hibernia, and north, Dal Riata.

At the beginning of the book you'll find a short passage by the Venerable Bede in Latin and English, as well as Place Names with places that will play an important part in this tremendous tale.

At the back of the book you'll notice a superbly documented Historical Note, where the historical details concerning this terrific story are wonderfully explained by the author.

The book is set during the years AD 633-634, in Bernicia, where our protagonist Beobrand has arrived by ship from Cantware in an effort to find and unite himself with his brother Octa, only to hear that his brother is already dead, and later to find out that his brother has been murdered by Beobrand's deadly foe, Hengist.

What follows overall is a tremendous historical tale about the Kings of Bernicia and their fates and deaths, one due to war, King Edwin, and one due to treachery, King Eanfrith, and in this environment of hostility and war Beobrand must find a way to become a worthy warrior of Bernicia, but it also an environment where his love and devotion for his woman Sunniva will grow, where camaraderie between him and the warriors of Bernicia, especially Acennan and the bard Leofwine will also mean everything to him, and finally where desperate battles will have to be fought against the forces of King Cadwallon of Gwynedd and against his foe Hengist, before he and his fellow warriors are safely within the walls of the mighty fortress of Bebbanburg, to fight another day for the new king of Bernicia, Oswald.

Highly recommended, especially for lovers of the Bernard Cornwell's Uhtred series, simply because this Beobrand of Bernicia is just as formidable in his cunning, deeds and loyalty to his Kings and Lords, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Stunning Beobrand Of Bernicia Opener"!

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