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Review: Enemies of Mercia by MJ Porter

Today, I'm thrilled to share my review of Enemies of Mercia, the latest adventure involving young (initially reluctant) Mercian warrior, Icel, by MJ Porter. It's the sixth instalment in the utterly gripping Eagle of Mercia series.

Enemies of Mercia is currently on blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. My thanks to Rachel and Boldwood Books for a copy.




Enemies of Mercia

The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles

MJ Porter


The previous book, Protector of Mercia, saw young Icel rescue Lord Coenwulf's children – but the people who were really behind their abduction – and their motivation – remained obscure. So what do we learn here?

Icel doesn't have long to recover before King Wiglaf of Mercia sends him out on the trail of those conspirators. He has to head straight into the heart of the enemy's lands – to Winchester, capital of Wessex. This is, as so often with Icel, a trip fraught with dangers, secrets, and suspicions. It doesn't help that he's not able to prove any involvement by the scheming Queen Cynethryth of Mercia, who he suspects has sided with Wessex.

And just what is their goal? Now that the children are in safety, Icel can focus on chasing the conspirators, and, as always, he has the backing of powerful Ealdorman Ælfstan.

Will Icel discover the identity of those who ordered the children killed? Or is not everything as simple as it appeared? Find out in the novel!

 

 

I'm a great fan of this series, and even after six novels, it's still exciting to follow Icel's progress. We're not finished with him yet. Still a young man in his early 20s, he is loyal and honest, but has learned fast about political intrigues and plots. He is suspicious, and rightly so, having been betrayed before.

Icel's learning curve, as he matures into a proper warrior, is steep, fraught with dangers, injuries, and disappointments. But his determination to protect Mercia, his homeland, and its king, never wavers. He may not be a great fan of King Wiglaf, and even less so of the plotting queen, but his loyalty to Mercia comes first.

Of course, this novel sees him in skirmishes, and as his fighting ability grows, he is turning into a reliable man, one who, even when injured, does not waver to follow his king's command. One man a king can proudly call a trusted follower.

I find the political intrigues the most fascinating aspect of this series. A king's life could be short and fraught with dangers lurking behind every corner, and there's no shortage of potential candidates to take over. In the midst of this, we have a young man trying to do his best for his kingdom.

Enemies of Mercia is an exciting story as Icel goes on the hunt for the conspirators, and I wonder what the author has next in store for him.

 

 

One word of advice, though: read the series from the beginning! I think it's important to follow Icel's story from the start, as it gives readers a complete picture of the political upheaval of 9th-century Mercia (and Wessex and Vikings). Events are interlinked, and it's much easier if you follow the thread.

Enemies of Mercia is a gripping adventure, expertly researched, that takes you right back in time. If you haven't met Icel before, it's high time you did!

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Blurb:

 

A King's command. A warrior’s quest for the truth…

Tamworth AD835

Following Icel’s epic rescue of Lord Coenwulf's children from their almost certain death, King Wiglaf is forced to call upon Icel’s loyal services once more.

Furious that the conspirators behind the audacious move to snatch the children have yet to face justice, he despatches Icel to hunt down the enemy of Mercia and discover who seeks to conspire against the throne.

The dangerous mission will take Icel into the heartland of enemy-held Wessex to Winchester and onto Canterbury. As the web of lies and deceit grows, Icel must battle to discover the truth whilst keeping himself and his allies safe.

But those who conspire against the King have much to lose and will stop at nothing to prevent Icel discovering the truth.

Once more, Icel’s life is endangered as he tries to protect Mercia from her enemies who threaten Mercia’s kingly line.

 

International Buy Link:  https://mybook.to/EnemiesofMerciasocial 

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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



Connect with MJ: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coloursofunison
 


 


 

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