Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Northumbria, AD 864. Viking warlord Ragnar Lothbrok is captured and killed in brutal fashion, an event that will shape the future of the nation for decades to come.
Mercia, AD 868. Alfred, son of Wessex and heir to the throne, draws his first blood on the battlefield. It will not be his last.
A devastating scourge from the north is coming to Britain, one that will bring armies and entire kingdoms to their knees. Travelling along the whale road in their feared longships, the Great Heathen Army move fast, striking with a savagery unmatched, in a seemingly unstoppable tide of blood and iron.
One inexperienced warrior will prove the difference, a young man who will lead from the front and, in time, aspire to become the saviour of the Saxons… Alfred the Great.
A totally enrapturing historical adventure following the life of one of Britain’s most important ever kings.
Wow! Riveting start to what promises to be an excellent series. The Heathen Horde is a fabulous, gritty and entertaining story of how Alfred the Great became ‘Great.’
However…
I have to admit to a little trepidation when I started reading The Heathen Horde. Bernard Cornwell did such a fantastic job of recreating the period in his Last Kingdom series that I was not sure I was ready for another writer’s perspective. I was worried I would not warm to Steven A McKay’s version of the story.
How wrong I was!
And I am so happy that I gave it a go.
‘Look out, Alfred!’
The rider heard his brother’s warning just in time to raise his shield and the linden boards took the brunt of the axe which had been heading for his head, splinters flying as the wood shuddered, pain lancing through his arm. Baring his teeth in rage, Alfred swung his sword down, catching his attacker’s hand just as the axe had been about to strike again. There was a scream of pain as fingers were shorn through to the bone and then Alfred’s horse was past and cantering away from the battle.
‘Back,’ he grunted, tugging on the reins and bringing the horse around quickly. His heart was thudding in his chest and he felt light-headed but it was almost a joyful sensation. He was afraid, aye, but he was also excited, and eager to get back to the fight. He could see the axeman who’d tried to kill him, grimacing and eyeing his mangled hand as if he feared he might never hold a weapon properly again.
Alfred was charging back into the fight before he knew it, battle fever overtaking him at the realisation that he’d almost had his skull caved in. He headed straight for the axeman. The man had transferred his weapon to his left hand but could only wield it awkwardly and his wide eyes told of his fear at being forced to fight in such a manner. Alfred’s horse came alongside the Dane’s and, screaming an incoherent battle-cry, the young warrior smashed the edge of his blade into the enemy’s neck. The sheer force of the blow was enough to throw the man off his horse’s back despite the Dane’s long, mail neck guard. He lay on the ground, unmoving, as his mount bolted and the pounding hooves of the other combatants’ animals swirled around him.
Alfred grinned savagely, knowing that, if the Dane had somehow survived the attack and the fall, he wouldn’t last long before the weight of a horse crushed the life from him.
God be praised, one less sea-wolf to ravage Anglo-Saxon lands!
Admittedly, for the first 20 pages or so, I regularly found myself comparing Steven’s version of King Alfred to Bernard’s version. But I soon left The Last Kingdom behind and found myself enjoying The Heathen Horde for the fascinating story it is in its own right. Soon, I didn’t even notice Uhtred’s absence.
I love this version of King Alfred. His piety is evident, but not as all-consuming as Bernard Cornwell’s Alfred. His military and political prowess both play a greater role in the story. I even liked Alfred’s wife, Ælswith. The Heathen Horde starts when Alfred is merely a younger brother, not expecting to ever take the throne himself, serving his brother loyally and learning the art of war and politics. We see him grown into the role of military leader and develop his concept of a united kingdom – of England.
The story is rich in detail and brings the characters to life. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
It ends tooooo soon! I need to know what happens next – now!
The Heathen Horde is one of those books that you can’t wait to need to finish but want it never to end. It is unputdownable! I highly recommend you give it a go.
About the Author:
Steven A. McKay was born in Scotland in 1977. He is the author of two previous series of historical fiction, following Robin Hood and the warrior-druid Bellicus in post-Roman Britain. He plays the guitar, is the co-host of historical adventure podcast Rock, Paper, Swords! along with author Matthew Harffy, and lives just outside Glasgow with his wife and children.
To Buy the book: The Heathen Horde by Steven A. McKay is now available form Amazon.
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My Books
Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.
Out now: King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye
In a time when men fought and women stayed home, Nicholaa de la Haye held Lincoln Castle against all-comers, gaining prominence in the First Baron’s War, the civil war that followed the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215. A truly remarkable lady, Nicholaa was the first woman to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Her strength and tenacity saved England at one of the lowest points in its history. Nicholaa de la Haye is one woman in English history whose story needs to be told…
King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is now available from Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon.
Coming 15 January 2024: Women of the Anarchy
On the one side is Empress Matilda, or Maud. The sole surviving legitimate child of Henry I, she is fighting for her birthright and that of her children. On the other side is her cousin, Queen Matilda, supporting her husband, King Stephen, and fighting to see her own son inherit the English crown. Both women are granddaughters of St Margaret, Queen of Scotland and descendants of Alfred the Great of Wessex. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how these women, unable to wield a sword, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It show how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other.
Available for pre-order from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK.
Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:
Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, of the successes and failures of one of the most powerful families in England, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey is now available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org.
Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org.
Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org.
Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon, Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.
Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.
Podcast:
Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Bernard Cornwell, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.
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©2023 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS