The Sundered Kingdom (coming soon)

The Eagle Will Rise – The Sundered Kingdom Book 1 -coming soon

I do know this might not be quite what readers are anticipating, and just to make it clear, I’ve not finished with the story of Coelwulf, but I gave two suggestions for my next series with Boldwood. Ultimately, they opted for The House of Mercia, but the other idea has taken a firm hold in my mind, not least of all because I’ve always planned on continuing the story after, well, after what we all know must happen when a book is called The Last King. (I never thought the series would become quite so long, but the characters are just so much fun to write).

So coming soon – I am currently working quite hard on the title so I’m hoping for early this year – I give you The Eagle Will Rise.

Here’s the blurb

The king is dead, for Mercia to survive, another must take his place.

AD880

Coelwulf, Mercia’s last king, is dead. His legacy, and right to rule Western Mercia, has been claimed by Alfred of Wessex, but all know Alfred was never to have Mercia. Neither were the Viking raiders, who once more sit at Repton, commanding the eastern parts of Mercia.

Icel, the bastion of Mercia’s wars against Wessex and the Viking raiders, lies dying, but he refuses to abandon his beloved kingdom to her long-standing enemies.

Rudolf, the once-young ally of King Coelwulf the second, is summoned by Icel to attend upon him. Grudgingly, he arrives at Budworth, the task laid before him, audacious to say the least; rescue Coelwulf’s acknowledged heir, Æthelred from Wessex, and then rally support for him in western Mercia, and in that way, make Mercia, Mercia once more.

But, as ever, Mercia has many enemies. The Viking raiders, under the leadership of the Mercians’ longstanding enemy, Guthrum, hold parts of eastern Mercia and will not welcome a new Saxon ruler, while the Welsh have an even newer grudge against Mercia for, as one of his final acts, King Coelwulf killed their king.

King Coelwulf might be dead, but his loyal warriors, spear-headed by Rudolf, and those who survived the battle of Edington and the fight with the Welsh will ride again. 

The fate of Mercia’s survival rests in the hands of a man who should long have been in his grave, and Rudolf, a boy who’s become a man in the most trying of circumstances. They must forge Æthelred into the emblem of Mercian survival. Or die trying. 

Preorder coming soon. Watch this space.