Review: Clash of Kings by MJ Porter

Today, I'm thrilled to share my review of Clash of Kings, the third book in MJ Porter's gripping series surrounding the decisive battle of Brunanburgh that forged the idea of a united kingdom. Well worth checking out!

 

Clash of Kings is currently on Blog Tour with Rachel's Random Resources. Make sure to check out all the other posts and reviews!

 

 

Clash of Kings

MJ Porter

 

After having read and reviewed King of Kings and Kings of War, I was excited to continue reading this fascinating series. And the tension and intrigues continue unabated...

Clash of Kings begins with the aftermath of Brunanburgh – a brutal battle that saw the English forces win a decisive victory over the Scots, Irish Norse, and several Welsh kingdoms. The battle was a slaughter of men on all sides, but with important heirs vanquished for good, King Constantine of the Scots and Olaf, the Norse king of Dublin have retreated into misery. 

Athelstan, victorious king of the English, has gained control over large tracts of the British Isles, and Constantine and the Welsh kings are forced into submission. The sheer manpower and decisive leadership of the newly united English kingdom left no wriggle room following the bloody battle, and Athelstan is keen to use this to his advantage, imagining himself as ruler of all the various little kingdoms. An Emperor of the Isles. But for now, submission is the only way forward. 

In Scotland and Ireland, rivals are snapping at Constantine's and Olaf's heels, keen to wound the already subdued kings. Political intrigues abound as each man seeks his own path to become ruler. 

It all seems to go well for Athelstan, praised in glorious victory by the same scop who'd before sowed discontent in the courts on order of Constantine. But then, tragedy strikes, and Athelstan's younger half-brother, Edmund, is crowned King of the English, and at barely 18 years of age, he soon finds himself confronted by the reinvigorated ambition of the Scots, Irish, and several Welsh 'rebels'.

Will his youth turn into an advantage, or will he lose all Athelstan had gained? Find out in the novel!

 

Clash of Kings continues in the same manner as the first two books in this gripping series: we have political intrigues galore, as various rulers rush to take advantage of a supposedly weakened England following Athelstan's untimely death. Olaf, king of Dublin, manages to retake Jorvik, but the naked ambition also makes the other players vulnerable.

As the kings' loyalties changed (bouncing back and forth at times), the author gives us an in-depth glimpse at their thoughts and actions. Again, this novel is told by several points of view, which, I think, adds valuable personal detail to the story. We see each king's ambition – and at times that of the females of the family, such as King Edward the Elder's last wife's.

 

This first-person, personal touch works very well, as it shows the raw emotions, the joys and pains, the pure ambition, hatred, and the occasional glimpse of reluctant admiration. It is an aspect you normally don't get in limited, often third-person points of view of other historical novels. The spectrum shown is wider, and it reveals a rare glimpse into every ruler's actions and thoughts.

Of course, as with the previous books, it means that certain events are mentioned again and again, but given the different backgrounds of the rulers, I still feel that this provides us with valuable detail into enemies' minds. Well worth exploring!

Clash of Kings is an exciting, utterly compelling tale of ambition, loss, recovery, and early medieval political shenanigans that would leave every modern-day soap opera way behind.

Another highly recommended read by MJ Porter.

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Blurb:

The next bloody and thrilling instalment in MJ Porter's The Brunanburh Series. 

Can the Norse and the Scots exact their revenge over the mighty King Athelstan of the English?

AD937

After the slaughter field of Brunanburh, a defeated Olaf Gothfrithson of the Dublin Norse and Constantin of the Scots narrowly escaped with their lives. In their kingdoms, failure has left them demoralised and weak.

Olaf licks his wounds in Dublin, whilst Constantin and the Welsh kingdoms who defied King Athelstan, are once more forced to bend the knee. As Athelstan’s reputation grows stronger day by day, their need to exact revenge on the overmighty and triumphant Athelstan has never been greater.

Olaf sets his sights on reclaiming the lost kingdom of Jorvik only for tragedy to strike at the heart of England and a reluctant new King, Edmund steps in the fray.

While England mourns the death of their warrior King, her enemies gather on her borders and England stands alone against the might of the Norse, Welsh and Scots.

Can the new King be victorious and banish her enemies once and for all or will England, and its king lose all that’s been gained and succumb to a new pretender? 

 
An epic tale of kinsmanship, greed and power, perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom series.


Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/clashkingssocial

 

 

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About the Author:

 

MJ Porter

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.


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