Review: Kings of Conflict by MJ Porter

August 09, 2024

Review: Kings of Conflict by MJ Porter

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome back one of my favourite historical fiction authors: MJ Porter. I'm going to share my review of the last installment in the cracking Brunanburh series – Kings of Conflict. Read on!

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

Kings of Conflict

The Brunanburh Series

MJ Porter

Well, well, well.

We've reached the final book in the riveting Brunanburh series, and I was pleased to find that the political intrigues and machinations haven't stopped.

As a reminder, the books in this series are told from a range of first-person points-of-view. In Kings of Conflict, we have – in addition to some minor characters – the English King Edmund; King Constantin of the Scots (later Lord Constantin, following his enforced removal by Mael Coluim); King Mael Coluim of the Scots; Ildulb, Constantin's son, and Mael Coluim's heir to the throne; Anlaf and Bakari, the Norse kings of Jorvik (York); and other major and minor players in this thrilling 10th-century game of thrones on the British Isles.

Edmund is keen to expand his kingdom. He is young and ambitious, coveting the small kingdoms of Jorvik and Strathclyde, and ultimately – the kingdom of the Scots. The Norse remain a thorn in his side which he wants to remove, once and for all. He regards himself as rightful lord of the whole isle, not just the southern parts. The large manpower he has amassed across the ancient English kingdoms gives him a great advantage over the other, much lesser populated, kingdoms. It was ever thus...

Constantin, now old in years, remains a plotter, even following the usurpation by his heir, Mael Coluim. The Scots line of succession alternated between two families, and in Kings of Conflict, we continue to see the squabbles between them as each respects the ancient rules, but still covets the crown for themselves.

But it is the squabbles in Jorvik that ultimately present Edmund with his best chance. With Anlaf and Bakari – descendants of Ivarr the Boneless – both vying for the strategic throne, usurping one another, Edmund just has to sit back. When Ildulb, with Constantin's tacit approval, gets involved, it turns even uglier.

But then we have another twist in the already exciting plot: a couple of scheming monks and a fearsome Norse warrior with ambitions of his own. Will Edmund be able to see them off? Or will the Norse remain firmly in place, ridiculing him?

Who will win in this intriguing game of chess? Read the book to find out!

Conflict of Kings continues to tell us of the struggles for power in 10th-century Britain. The isle is not big enough for so many determined and ambitious players, and as they remain firmly at each others' throats, there can only be one winner.

As with the previous three books, we discover events and news from different angles, which increases the intensity of the story. The ambitions of each man – and of the occasional lady – are laid bare in MJ Porter's immersive style of storytelling. We see kings lose power, and their replacements struggle. The novel shows us one thing in particular: that ambition may lead you to your goal, but once there, you have to fight to stay put, and take actions you never anticipated.

Mael Coluim of the Scots is such a character. Shifty, keen on pushing Constantin off the throne, he struggles with the political machinations hitting him from all sides. Actions and decisions have consequences, and his submission to Edmund is one that has repercussions to this day (although, of course, he wasn't the first).

We find little change in Wales in those days, as Hywel is busy working on his renowned laws, keeping on Edmund's good side. But even he knows his peace is only temporary.

Edmund is arrogant and determined to bring the rest of the isle under his direct control, and the author reveals his ambitions brilliantly through his thoughts and actions. He has wise counsellors, and together, they react when needed. His huge force gives him the edge over the other kings, and he knows it. A petulant streak is just enough to show off his arrogance perfectly.

But I enjoyed the most the parts with the Norse kings, Bakari and Anlaf. Not completely historically accurate (as the author explains in the Author's Note at the end), I really enjoyed their characterisation: both were chancers, with the Norse attitude of taking what you want, whichever way you want it, an overrated self-belief, and a really dry sense of humour. Those two men were different from the others not only in looks and actions, but also in outlook. It was great fun to read about them.

Told from the characters' point-of-view in first person, we get a real sense at the innermost thoughts of all the major players. We see their ambitions, but also their fears and concerns. We see the reasons for their actions, and the occasional realisation that those at times weren't the best decisions. And we see their weaknesses, their distrust of others, and the constant threat to your life and position. This really helps immerse yourself into 10th-century politics. There was no certainty in anything, and allegiances changed with the wind.

I also enjoyed the wry sense of humour MJ Porter infused into the narrative, and I had a few laugh-out-loud moments, which were brilliant.

Kings of Conflict is a worthy conclusion of the brilliant Brunanburh series, which helps us understand the background to the wars between the kingdoms. The series takes us back to the early days, when England emerged from the smaller kingdoms, to become a political and military powerhouse; and when Scotland needed to do the same, but was still divided, as Strathclyde was separate. The origins of the suzerainty of the English king over all the other domains on the British Isles lead back to those early days, when Scots kings had no choice but to comply with the English kings' wishes (though they clearly never meant to keep that side of the agreement).

It's also an era where the influence of the Norse appears to wane, but even then, they weren't quite finished yet. If Edmund had known there'd be a Danish king of England a century later, I'm sure he'd have been spinning in his grave...

Kings of Conflict is a riveting, fast-paced medieval adventure that draws this series to a close perfectly, and ends with a perfidious act that shocked the isle. A brilliant finish to an utterly compelling series of political intrigues. Check it out!

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Blurb:

The final, thrilling instalment in MJ Porter's The Brunanburh Series.

Can King Edmund of the English banish the Norse invaders from England one final time?

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In the wake of the agreement reached at Lincoln between Edmund and Anlaf Sihtricson of the Norse, Edmund returns to Wessex to reflect and rebuild, impatient to reverse his losses at Lincoln.

But this is the winter of discontent. In Jorvik and the kingdom of the Scots, those who’ve waited too long to become kings in their own right grow restless.

As the enemies of the English turn on themselves, Edmund senses the opportunity to reclaim all his brother, the victor of Brunanburh, managed to gain before his untimely death plunged England back into war with her many foes.

With his sights set firmly on York, can he recreate the England his brother built, or will the enemies of England realise the error of their ways and once more unite to drive Edmund back to Wessex, leaving York in the hands of the Norse?

A thrilling conclusion to MJ Porter's epic retelling of the consequences of the battle of Brunanburh.

Buy Link: https://mybook.to/KingsofConflict

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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. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author's writing destiny was set.