Today I’m reviewing Stamford Bridge 1066: A Viking Anthology!
Here’s the blurb
Thirteen writers. One battle. The same afternoon, told from both sides of the bridge.
Giles Kristian · Matthew Harffy · Angus Donald · Tim Hodkinson · Peter Gibbons · MJ Porter · Justin Hill · Theodore Brun · Eric Schumacher · Will Dowling · M. Thomas Kingsley · Mark Oxbrow · Åsli & Bakkejord
On 25 September 1066, a Norwegian army lay resting on both banks of the Derwent, seven miles from York. They had beaten one English army five days earlier and taken the city’s surrender, and the fighting was done. Most of them had left their mail at the ships.
They were not expecting Harold Godwinson.
The battle that followed ended the Viking age in England. Three weeks later it helped decide a second one, on a hill near Hastings, that everyone remembers instead.
A king who has spent his life outrunning the end of an age. A skald asked to praise a man he no longer believes in. A priest tends the wounded on the eve of a battle nobody knows is coming. A lone axeman on the bridge, and the Englishman in the water beneath him. Afterwards, a farmer walks the field looking for his son, and twenty years later an old earl sits in a Norman prison, still deciding what to tell his gaoler.
The man who holds the bridge in one story is watched from the water in another. Thirteen stories, one day.
Over 100,000 words of Viking historical fiction, published on the 960th anniversary of the battle
Review
1066 is a period well known in history, with numerous tales surrounding those fateful days. So, what makes this anthology so good?
First, the mix of authors is, quite frankly, amazing. Many are well known to me and my blog, while those new to me offer glimpses into their writing, teasing me and ensuring my TBR list will continue to grow.
Each story is well formed around a specific event, and the flow between the stories is smooth. There are some overlaps, but the transition is effortless. What really makes it work, though, is the range of viewpoints portrayed.
What each author did so fantastically was bring these individuals to life: the men, the smells, the fear, the rush of adrenaline they felt and the extraordinary feats those in battle put themselves through. They just felt so real!
The whole anthology, for me, was one big ballad, with each author becoming a scop, regaling us with tales and earning our respect through their ability to keep readers utterly mesmerised. They ignite the flames of passion for history, not only for those who already love it but also for those new to the genre, adding the passion that I feel is sometimes missing when learning history at school.
What really shines is the narrative. The story unfolds from multiple perspectives and, for me, feels rather unique.
The pace and flow are sublime. It’s enthralling, and you can just tell how much effort has gone into making the transitions between stories so smooth. The excitement builds with the action, but the authors manage to infuse emotion throughout, meaning that, for me, this has been the best 1066-based story I’ve read to date.
I have to give a special mention to Justin Hill, The Bridge Keeper! No spoilers from me but the power oozed from the pages.
An earth-shattering 5/5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
To find out more head to Goodreads, ask you local bookseller or grab a copy from Amazon!
