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The Serpent Sword (The Bernicia Chronicles Book 1) by [Matthew Harffy]

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Matthew Harffy

The Serpent Sword (The Bernicia Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Matthew Harffy (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

1,702 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
Publisher

Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
Publication date

June 1, 2016
File size

8601 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 103 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 62 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 50 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 (June 1, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 8601 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1508995702
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #60,263 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5 in 449-1066 History of UK
- #7 in Medieval Military History
- #59 in General Great Britain Travel Guides

Customer Reviews:
1,702 ratings

About the author

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Matthew Harffy

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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:

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Customer reviews

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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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.

10 people found this helpful

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Mara S. Hardy

The making of a warrior

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2016

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When I purchased this book I wasn't sure that it wouldn't be a Bernard Cornwell knockoff. Cornwell's Saxon Tales are a hard act to follow. The Serpent Sword is set several centuries earlier but the historical situation was very similar. Harffy introduces Beobrand, a farming boy who becomes unmoored and sets out to find his brother who has made a name as a warrior. Upon hearing that his brother is dead he becomes certain that it was murder. He vows to find the killer. Step by step he learns the ways of the warrior, under the tutelage of Hengest, a superb swordsman with a mercurial temperament. This book is both a coming of age story and a quest to find his brother's killer.
The book is well written. There is a lot going on, but there is no confusion. I was impressed by Harffy's knowledge of that era; it seems very well researched. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. The characters are well developed, not a single cardboard cutout among them.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was certainly worth taking a chance on. I have already preordered the next installment of the Bernicia Chronicles. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in England in the early Middle Ages.

38 people found this helpful

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Reader

Lovers of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Series need to read this!

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2015

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Any comparison to Bernard Cornwell's popular Saxon series intrigues me, and this book was no exception. I must admit that I picked it up a bit skeptically, wondering how in the world Matthew Harffy would pull it off -- there can only be on Uhtred of Bebbanburg after all, so how would he manage to keep me interested? I needn't have worried.

Just because I like a book doesn't automatically qualify it for 5 stars. But this book -- this book -- kept me coming back, hungry to read more, to find out what was next, and where the characters were going and how they were growing. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it.

Beyond that, Harffy does several things with this book which led me to a 5 star review. First, his characters. Beobrand is young, hot-headed, and he makes so many mistakes. The plot doesn't hold back anything authentic -- there is violence and gore (some of which may be difficult for some readers to handle), but it's what happens to Beobrand that makes it significant to me -- he learns, he wrestles with what happens around him, he thinks about it, suffers through it, and it changes him in ways both good and bad. But it's all authentic, and I found myself cheering him on every step of the way.

Secondly, Harffy doesn't just write to progress the plot. He tells a story in a way that makes it feel like it's happening all around me as I read. Descriptive detail, language use, sentence structure, etc. all are polished throughout, even when a battle is raging. I felt hungry, thirsty, sick, injured, and tired whenever Beobrand was. I could feel the cold water splashing on my face as he washed in the early morning. Harffy writes in a way that invites us into the pages of the book.

I highly recommend this book to HF readers, to Bernard Cornwell fans, and to anyone wanting to learn more about a period of history often overlooked by modern readers. I eagerly await the next book and will be worried about Beobrand until it comes out!

26 people found this helpful

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B Daven

You won't put it down

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021

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This is my first Matthew Harffy book. After hitting him up on Twitter about which of his books he'd suggest to read, he referred me to "The Bernicia Chronicles" for a series, or Wolf of Wessex" for a novel. I went here first (ordered Wolf of Wessex too) because I wanted a series, and I'm telling you, there are few authors who grip you right out of the gate and hold you all the way to the end. Haffry has an excellent style that keeps you turning the pages. I'd look at the clock & think "I can get a few more in". This happened so often that finished the book in 2 & half days. Thing is, I only read at night from 10pm until I fall asleep because of family and work. I've already ordered the next 2 in the series and getting ready to start Wolf of Wessex. He knows his history, and is great at filling the gaps. You get emotionally attached to characters while literally hating others, and that I believe is his real talent in this book. He's masterful at it, so get ready to cheer, hurt, and love with The Bernicia Chronicles, because it's undoubtedly going to happen!

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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!

7 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

Andy Whitley

Brilliant read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

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

Alex

A really fast paced and immersive historical fiction!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

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

John Hopper

Gripping novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 7, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is the first in a series of novels set in early 7th century Anglo-Saxon England. Beobrand is a young warrior from Kent who, seeking to avenge his murdered brother, now finds himself in the north of the country in the kingdom of Bernicia (the northern half of what would later be Northumbria). This is a time of struggle between the Saxons and the "Waelisc", or Celts, and between emerging Christianity and the old Celtic and Saxon gods. The atmosphere in this feels a lot like Bernard Cornwell's Uhtred series, though that is set some three centuries later. While I have got slightly tired of the latter series over the years due to the endless setpiece battle scenes, The Serpent Sword feels like a more plot-driven book and Beobrand is a more sympathetic central character (after an initial morally dubious sequence and a horrible murder and rape incident in which he is peripherally involved and fails to prevent). I will pursue this series.

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The Serpent Sword (The Bernicia Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

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

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