Author Archives: Bairdy1985

BLOG TOUR – The Genius Killer by Mark Robson AUDIO REVIEW

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Today is my turn on the audio blog tour for The Genius Killer by Mark Robson

Here’s the blurb

The dark heart of a brilliant and ruthless psychopath

A celebrated but haunted detective

A determined young reporter hunting for justice – and the big story

Karl Jackson is a particularly vengeful sociopath with his unique way of ‘problem-solving’. DCI Tex Deacon suffers from the trauma of his beloved wife’s death and finds it immensely difficult to come to terms with it. As a Detective Chief Inspector specialising in murder and killer profiling, Tex has a relentless workload from his base on the edges of the mountains of the Lake District.

Tex is under pressure from his superiors to take a step back to grieve properly. It’s clear that Susan’s death has ripped out part of his soul. There is no doubt that Tex is suffering, but this DCI is a driven man. Tex’s welfare is the responsibility of his boss Chief Constable Barbara Bracewell, and she and Tex go back a very long way. However, Bracewell must do what is right for Tex and the Cumbrian police force.

Despite falling into a mental abyss, Tex’s instincts for the hunt never leave him. A hyper-intelligent and devious murderer appears in his crosshairs – the self-styled ‘Genius Killer’. So what will Tex do? What can he get away with doing with the Chief Constable monitoring his every move?

And then there’s Debbie Pilkington, a tenacious and hugely ambitious cub reporter at the local paper – The Rimpton Chronicle. Debbie has big stories and a big future in her own sights. A young journalist, a craggy and vastly experienced detective, and one of the most dangerous serial killers Britain has even seen. Their lives were about to intertwine. The chase to stop a cunning killer begins. Tex is a master at breaking down the thinking processes of those he hunts but with Tex enduring his own psychological meltdown, can he penetrate the mind of this supremely malevolent psychopath?

Review

The Genius Killer follows the life of Karl. Karl didn’t have the best upbringing… abused as a young boy he as a temper and an evil streak that’s just bursting to come out.. the thing about Karl though is he has patience.. he’s methodical.. each murder has a purpose.

Karl is quite the character; he’s got a good job as a chemistry teacher and uses the knowledge he’s gained to commit what he sees as the perfect crimes.

The issue for Karl is that he becomes overconfident leaving too many links.. but the question is can anyone find tangible evidence? Karl has thought of every little detail but surely he will slip up at some point?

Truthfully the younger Karl I didn’t like, his attitude, he struggles to hide his dark side.. not so as an adult… he’s perfected his image and uses this to manipulate people. It’s strange.. but I kind of liked the grown up Karl… his honesty..he’s a psychopath and he doesn’t feel empathy but for him feeling is just a waste of time…

I quite liked Tex too, this DCI has his own struggles but when the threads are there he knows how to unravel them.. the question is will he follow the trail the right way?

Oh, as ever, not to spoil anything but that ending!! What a finish.. it just summed up Karl perfectly and I think it would have been a shame to end the book any other way.

I can’t do an audio review without talking about the narrator – Anna Wilson-Hall.. smashed it! Absolutely nailed it and gave depth to the story of Karl. Such a good range of tone used to give differentiation between characters.

I’d be interested in seeing where the author goes next, very enjoyable, intense read. Flow was super smooth and easy it absorb.. more please. I’m interested to see how the character of Tex will develop too and if he will continue to team up with Debbie.

5* from me.

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ zooloosbooktours.co.uk for having me on the tour!

Why not follow the tour?

Author Bio

I’ve been a journalist and broadcaster for over forty years working almost exclusively in sport. I was employed for fifteen years by SKY Sports, eleven years by the BBC, and three years by UTV. Elsewhere I have worked on significant national contracts for ITV, Eurosport and Viaplay Sport and have freelanced for many top class broadcasters like BT and NEP. I have been involved in BAFTA and Sony award winning programmes. For the last number of years I have focused on rugby, my main sporting passion, as a commentator and reporter with SKY, as well as Premier Sport and, formerly, Setanta Sport and Eirsport. I’ve commentated on four Rugby World Cups and two football World Cups and covered the Olympics in Sydney in 2000. I was working on the Six Nations Rugby as a commentator for NEP when all sport stopped due to the corona virus pandemic, so, after some persuasion from my then girlfriend Petra, I decided to write my first novel.

The seed for the novel came from a comment made to me by a senior member of the fell running community who knew well many members of the amazing, life saving Mourne Mountain Rescue Team in Northern Ireland. We were out for a fell run one day and were talking about the thousands of rescues Mourne Mountain Rescue had carried out. Out of the blue my craggy companion whispered, “If you want to commit murder – and get away with it – the mountains are the perfect place to do it” Fell running has been a passion for me. I’ve run over a hundred races and competed in many navigation focused Mourne Mountain Marathons. Unbelievably, for me, I managed to crawl to the finish line in a couple of 50 mile Ultra races. One was in the Addo Elephant Safari Park in the Zuurberg mountains in South Africa and the other was the Grand Raid des Pyrenees. I was rubbish – always one of the stumblers right at the back of the field! I’ve hiked in the Andes, the Blue Mountains, the Picos de Europa, the Alps and other ranges around the globe so no surprise then that quite a bit of ‘The Genius Killer’ is set in the mountains. In this case the magnificent peaks of the Lake District.


Mark’s Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markrobsonauthor/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MarkRobsonAuthor

Twitter : https://twitter.com/rugbyjaffa

Website : www.markrobsonauthor.co.uk

Book Links

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128439226-the-genius-killer

Buy Links – https://mybook.to/geniuskiller-zbt

Sharpe’s Assassin by Bernard Cornwell – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing Sharpe’s Assassin by Bernard Cornwell. (The Sharpe Series, Book 21)

Here’s the blurb.

SHARPE IS BACK.

The global bestseller Bernard Cornwell returns with his iconic hero, Richard Sharpe.

If any man can do the impossible it’s Richard Sharpe . . .

Lieutenant-Colonel Sharpe is a man with a reputation. Born in the gutter, raised a foundling, he joined the army twenty-one years ago, and it’s been his home ever since. He’s a loose cannon, but his unconventional methods make him a valuable weapon.

So when, the dust still settling after the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington needs a favour, he turns to Sharpe. For Wellington knows that the end of one war is only the beginning of another. Napoleon’s army may be defeated, but another enemy lies waiting in the shadows – a secretive group of fanatical revolutionaries hell-bent on revenge.

Sharpe is dispatched to a new battleground: the maze of Paris streets where lines blur between friend and foe. And in search of a spy, he will have to defeat a lethal assassin determined to kill his target or die trying . . .

Review

I was lucky enough to receive this as a birthday present from the family. The wife usually struggles with books for me since I read so much but she managed to pick the perfect book for me!

As hard as this might be to believe this was actually my first foray into the works of Bernard Cornwell! As such an established author it was kind of daunting to consider picking up one of his books as much as I wanted too.. I just knew if I enjoyed it then it would spiral…and I was also a little worried.. what if I didn’t enjoy the book..

I was definitely familiar with the character of Sharpe though. As a young child before the days of the OnDemand tv and such I remember vividly may mam watching the TV show and even then I found it interesting.

So firstly.. book 21 in the series.. wow..it was clear from the early chapters that while reading the rest of the series might help you understand the characters it doesn’t set you up with any real disadvantage and the author effortlessly throws in detail when needed to bulk just where it’s needed for new readers to hope on board.

Plot wise.. oh my.. Napoleon has been defeated so you’d think it was time for Sharpe to relax.. not so.. Napoleon still has supporters.

Paris is restless but Sharpe has to navigate his way around, not knowing who he can really trust.. his current mission is now to free a mysterious prisoner.. but who is this man??

When one task is concluded another spawns and things escalate when his new task is to recover some paintings…an easy task you’d think.. but someone keeps trying to kill him..

Sharpe soon has an idea who tried to kill him but how does he prove it? And can Sharpe and his men clear Napoleon’s last few supporters to allow Sharpe the rest he so deserves.

There’s no massive military fights.. this is pure espionage style warfare. I’ve got nothing to base my judgements on other than this 1 book but I really enjoyed it and could tell that I’m going to enjoy the rest of the series as I work my way through it.

Flow wise I felt the book held a decent pace and there’s some adrenaline fuelled moments with Sergeant-Major Patrick Harper which made me to fall in love with the character straightaway!

An old face also appears, Major Charlie Morris, which give Sharpe the chance to get back at the man who had him flogged many years ago. While I haven’t read period yet I can honestly say I was hooked, and made eager to crack on with the series from the beginning so I can engross myself with the emotion at the time.. if this effort is anything to go by I know I’m going to love it.

Cracking read, so good that I ended you buying the rest of the series in paperback to read. It will be fun not only to see how this series progresses but also see what I’ve been missing by not reading a Cornwell novel before!

Final thought as a big historical fiction fan.. this was like a breath of fresh air.. I’m so used to fights with simply swords at a man’s disposal, or a good war axe. It was really interesting to change my focus and see a period when cannons and rifles are the weapons of choice along with a trusty sword.

Thoroughly enjoyed!

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Equinox by Michael White – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing Equinox by Michael White

Here’s the blub

A BRUTAL MURDER. A THREE-HUNDRED-YEAR CONSPIRACY. A DEADLY SECRET.

Oxford, 2006: a young woman is found brutally murdered. Her heart has been removed and in its place lies an apparently ancient gold coin. Twenty-four hours later, another woman is found. This time her brain has been removed, and a silver coin lies glittering in the bowl of her skull.

The police are baffled but when police photographer Philip Bainbridge and his estranged lover Laura Niven become involved, they discover that these horrific, ritualistic murders are not confined to the here and now.

A shocking story begins to emerge which intertwines Sir Isaac Newton with a deadly conspiracy which echoes down the years to the present day, as lethal now as it was then.

Before long those closest to Laura are in danger, and she finds herself the one person who can rewrite history; the only person who can stop the killer from striking again…

Review

The book starts strong with a brutal murder. This is will be the first of many.

We soon meet Philip and Laura, Philip is a police photographer, Laura is a writer and when Philip is called to a scene Laura can’t help but take a peak..

It’s clear from the start there’s something strange about these murders, there’s something ritualistic about them.

Laura has the gut instinct to follow the story and does her own digging.. helped by Philip who is a little naughty to say the least sharing the information  he’s privy to.

As the puzzle pieces slot together a connection with alchemy and astrology are found along with a striking connection to the past.. and a well known figure Sir Isaac Newton no less!

What I really enjoyed was the changing perspective when you were transported back to the time of Newton.. when a similar killing spree occurred. It breaks the chapters up nicely, keeping you interested. It was also a major plus that the chapters are short. Don’t get me wrong… I love any chapter length but since I read while commuting I hate when I need to stop mid chapter to get off the bus ha.

Now Laura, ah Laura.. I just didn’t gel with her personality.. she was annoying at times ha but whats great about her is she doesn’t give up and will use all the tools at her disposal to figure this one out! Luckily those closest to her have the skills between them to unravel the past… to save the day now.. but will they make it in time?

Plot wise I really enjoyed the idea, quite Dan Brown style, but I just didn’t feel the characters at times.. things were a little too easy for them but overall, it was a decent read. I think the story might have flowed more if the author hadn’t tried to build the relationship between the characters, as it just distracted from what was a promising plot.

3/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Dark Prophecy by Anthony E. Zuiker : Level 26 – Book 2 – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing Dark Prophecy by Anthony E. Zuiker. Book 2 in the Level 26 series.

I may be 12 years late to the party but my blog was set up with one main point other than honest reviews.. that being it will be a true reflection of my reading.

There’s so much choice out there and this has been on my radar for quite sometime so without further ado….

Here’s the blurb.

Steve Dark is a man on a mission. He is ready to embrace his destiny, and has nothing to lose . . .

Steve Dark was once a lost soul, torn between his family and his one-of-a-kind talent for hunting down serial killers – especially those so-called ‘Level 26’ killers whose depravity exceeds law enforcement’s official scale of evil. In his reluctant pursuit of justice Dark once crossed the ultimate line, a line that might cause a lesser man to lose himself completely.

Not Dark. When the world took everything from him, when it destroyed the very thing Dark once lived for, it sparked a transformation that, three years later, is only just complete.

Dark is now a man on a mission. A mission unbound by authorities. A mission that, at long last, allows him to embrace his destiny. Dark is finally ready – ready to take justice to the next level.

Review

We are back with Steve Dark.. the one man capable of hunting down the worst of the worst… Level 26s.. these are beyond the worst killers known to humankind.

After the events of the 1st book Steve is a broken man. He’s lost his adoptive family and recently the love of his life to a Level 26.. Steve managed to track him down in the end and claimed vengeance in the most horrific way..because of this Steve is no longer with the special circs team.. he lost control and he knows it would be so easy to lose control again.

While Steve tries to move on and live a normal life he knows that won’t be possible… he’s not the average person and he can’t let that side of his life go so while he’s not on the job any longer he does keep and eye out.. When a new killer appears it quickly catches Steve’s attention..

He’s not the only one interested in this killer.. not only are his old team in special circs on the case but there’s also a mysterious woman with seemingly deep pockets that temps him back into the field.. but it’s a race against time, not only to stop the killer but also to beat his old team to the scene…this isn’t a case they can work together…too much red tape.

This latest killer is on a twisted killing spree, leaving his victims posed as pictures depicted on tarot cards… but what’s the end game??

As with the previous book throughout the story you are linked to short video clips you can view online, you don’t need to view them to follow the book but it does make the book feel unique. Being released 12 years ago does mean the original website that hosted these is no longer valid but the clips are on YouTube so easily accessible.

Plot wise I loved the flow and development as Steve investigated the murders and tried to get himself into the mind of the killer but there are things that don’t make sense to Steve and I loved the development as the case progressed and these inconsistencies become resolved and the real motives are discovered.

What I also really enjoyed was Steve’s development as a character, he’s torn between grief, love for his daughter but also his urge to hunt these killers down… his mind is special..and there’s a hidden secret that may hint as to why..

Short chapters make this a quick enjoyable read.. you can always fit in one or two more chapters easy and I loved the changing perspectives and the divide between Steve and his old team that grows.

As a big fan of the CSI franchise, I really enjoyed this story and have already started on book 3.

4/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

The Heathen Horde by Steven A McKay: GIVEAWAY!!

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How would you like the chance to win a SIGNED copy of The Heathen Horde by Steven A . McKay?

This is McKay’s latest release and is hands down the best yet!!

To be in with a chance to win just click the image above! This will take you to Rafflecopter who I use to run any giveaways 🙂

Note this competition is open the UK residents only, if you are outside of the UK I’ll be happy to help arrange shipping but this would be at your own expense I’m afraid.

Do check out the competition for full details on how to enter!

ARC Review – The Last Line by Stephen Ronson

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Today I’m reviewing The Last Line by Stephen Ronson.

Here’s the blurb.

May 1940.

With Nazi forces sweeping across France, invasion seems imminent. The English Channel has never felt so narrow.

In rural Sussex, war veteran John Cook has been tasked with preparing the resistance effort, should the worst happen.

But even as the foreign threat looms, it’s rumours of a missing child that are troubling Cook. A twelve-year-old girl was evacuated from London and never seen again, and she’s just the tip of the iceberg – countless evacuees haven’t made it to their host families.

As Cook investigates, he uncovers a dark conspiracy that reaches to the highest ranks of society. He will do whatever it takes to make the culprits pay. There are some lines you just don’t cross.

THE LAST LINE is a blistering action thriller combined with a smart noir mystery, played out expertly against the taut backdrop of the British home front.

Review

Ooooo The Last Line was little gem of a read. A bit of noir during the war.. yes please.

John Cook is an ex-military man who’s still sharp. While he would love to be back at the front he’s got the important job of helping with the resistance efforts.

Trouble comes quickly for John when he meets a girl named Mary.. she’s doesn’t know who to trust but John shows her he’s a man she could rely on.

Little does John know that just a short time later that very same girl will be found dead..and her death is brutal.

John is the prime suspect at first as he was seen with the girl, but it soon becomes clear the police aren’t really that interested.

The girl was right though.. John is a man she can rely on… he’s going to find out who hurt the girl and will bring them to justice!

This won’t be easy.. John is only at the tip of the iceberg!

The Last Line is tagged as a blistering action thriller combined with a smart noir mystery and I can’t sum it up any better. Typically as a fan of noir films I wondered how well it could come across in a book but Stephen Ronson effortlessly give us a intricate plot, mixed with the cynical undertone I love in noir.. it just worked!

The setting of the book was spot on too.. it worked so well for the plot, as at the time of the war and children being shipped off for their own safety anything could have happened!

Pace wise the chapters are a decent length.. again this just ticked the box as nothing was drawn out unnecessarily, just believable characters and the action following perfectly.

I really don’t want to give anything too vital away but the depth of the story really reminded me of the noir detective type movies I used to love watching when I was younger… edgy..dark and gritty. There’s depth not only of character but also of the plot with clever and interesting scenes throughout.

There’s clearly been a lot of time and effort put in to this offering and I for one say it’s well worth a read.

5/5 stars.

My thanks go to Stephen Ronson for reaching out and to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

You can pre-order the kindle version for £6.99 but If I was you opt for paperback at £9.99 😊.

If you want to find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Georgia’s 1st solo review!!! Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo!

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So Abi has done her first review on the blog… it’s time for Georgia to join in to!

Georgia has chosen to review Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo!

Here’s the blurb.

An exciting adventure from Britain s best-loved children s author and the man behind War Horse, Michael Morpurgo.

Gracie and her friend Daniel have always been warned to stay away from the Birdman and his side of the island. But then they find a message in the sand and discover the Birdman is not who they thought. They build up a lovely friendship with him, but when the children get stranded on Samson Island they don t know whether to believe the birdman s story that the island is cursed. Set on a remote island against the backdrop of World War I this story will captivate and delight young readers.

Former Children s Laureate and award-winning author of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo, again demonstrates why he is considered to be the master story teller with yet another of his beautifully crafted war stories for children.

Review

The main character of the story is called Gracie Jenkins. Her best friend was called Daniel. Gracie was born in Bryher, one of the isles of Scilly. At the start of the story Gracie’s dad was shouting ‘’YOU KEEP AWAY FROM THE BIRDMAN GRACIE’’.

EVERYONE Was scared of the birdman because he lived on Samson, there were rumours about the curse of Samson and that if you ever step foot there you would be cursed.

They find a message in the sand that changes everything. The birdman is not who they expected, and they start to spend more time with him.

The birdman is almost deaf so the create a form of sign language to talk with him.

Gracie soon learns a war has broken out and Gracie’s dad leaves as part of the war effort.

While Gracie’s dad is gone the birdman takes care of her. He gave Gracie and her mam bread and honey without her mam knowing the source.

When Gracie’s mam finds out she’s surprised.

There’s a bad man called Big Tim who wants to hurt the birdman because EVERYONE other than Gracie and her mam have always believed he’s bad.

Eventually he tells the children the secret of why the whales came, and why the whales must go back into the sea.

I loved the last paragraph and the idea that the old, ruined cottages are still there on Samson Island.

I just like adventure stories and Why the Whales Came certainly took me on a wild adventure.

I rate this 5/5 Stars

N.B Georgia has been reading this as part of her reading from school. The book hasn’t been too tough for her but definitely kept her on her toes with a few words she didn’t quite know. Credit where credit is due.. the author had her hooked.. kids are easily distracted but she was committed to the story!

To find out more head to Amazon or any good local book retailor!

Abi’s 1st solo review!!! Demon Dentist by David Walliams.

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So if you follow my socials you’ll know one of my kids is a huge fan of David Walliams, so today Abi is taking over the blog for her first solo review of Demon Dentist!

Here’s the blurb

The jaw-achingly funny novel from David Walliams, the number one bestselling author! Make your appointment if you dare…

Darkness had come to the town. Strange things were happening in the dead of night. Children would put a tooth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, but in the morning they would wake up to find… a dead slug; a live spider; hundreds of earwigs creeping and crawling beneath their pillow.
Evil was at work. But who or what was behind it…?

Review

Demon Dentist is a story about a boy and his dad. His dad is disabled and has a carer to help around the house.

Alfie is a kind and sweet boy but he does not like to brush his teeth!

One day at school the kids get introduced to the new dentist in town, and she showed them her toothpaste..which was toxic and burnt a hole in the ground!

Alfie tries to hide from the dentist as much as he can, one way of doing this is by visiting his friend.. Raj the local shop keeper.

Alfie and his best friend Zoe have a suspicious feeling about the new dentist in town.

Winnie the carer has decide it’s time for Alfie to finally visit the dentist and this is when the dentist shows her true colours!

Towards the end people start to see the truth and it’s time for the dentist to leave.. but it’s not going to be easy.

It’s hard not to spoil it but there’s a shocking ending when the dad shows up to save Alfie and his friends.

I liked everything.. there were a couple of words I didn’t understand, my dad helped me with them, but I understood the storyline easily.

I think the characters were very good and fun. My favourite characters were Winnie and the Demon Dentist.

I really like the illustrations too.

I would rate is 5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads, Amazon or any good local book retailor!

The Child by Sebastian Fitzek – Audible Drama REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing the Audible Drama, The Child by Sebastian Fitzek.

I do love a good audiobook and truthfully I needed something to keep me sane while I did the housework.. much to my dismay I’m unable to read and iron clothes at the same time. Audio seemed like the perfect choice!

I also really enjoy audiobooks simply because sometimes I’m too tired to read.. but still want my fix..

Here’s the blurb

My name is Simon. I’m 10 years old. I’m a serial killer.

Robert Stern, a successful defence lawyer, doesn’t know what lies in store for him when he agrees to meet a new client in a derelict estate on the outskirts of Berlin. To his astonishment, the defendant is a 10-year-old boy – Simon, a fragile child with a chronic illness who insists that he was a murderer in a former life.

Stern’s surprise quickly turns to horror as he searches the cellar Simon has directed him to and discovers the skeletal remains of a man, the skull split with an axe – just as Simon told him he would. But this is only the beginning, as Simon tells Stern where to find even more victims whose bodies have lain undisturbed for years. Suddenly the present feels murderously dangerous as well….

The Child is a darkly twisting thriller that will make your heart pound with adrenaline.

Review

One night Robert Stern’s life is turned upside down as he meets a young boy, Simon.

Simon is only ten years only but is convinced he’s committed murder. At first Robert thinks this is a joke, but when he decides to go along with the story and take a look in the location of the murder a grizzly sight is found.

Robert can hardly believe it! Even more so when the murder seems to have been committed roughly 15 years ago! How is it possible this ten year old boy knows this?

Well Simon isn’t well, he’s time on this planet is going to be short and as a gift he attended a regression session, to help him see that maybe this isn’t the end and that life goes on and has been for sometime..but what no one expected was Simon to see glimpse of what he thinks is a past life when he was a murderer!

More murders are discovered but what’s even more surprising Is Simon has even predicted a murder.. he doesn’t know who.. but he does know where..

There’s clashes with the police who struggle to believe the tale they are being told so at times they even consider Robert a suspect!

Robert would love nothing more than to step away.. forget about this case..but he can’t he’s sucked in and with the help of Simon they will see this through to the end!

I was looking for a decent psychological thriller but what I didn’t expect was amazing plot. No spoilers from me but how they tied everything up towards the end of the tale.. super!

The story is pretty bleak in it’s stroyline.. the victims aren’t really nice people themselves and as they dig a seedy underground is exposed and motivations become more clear.

As I listened to the Audible Drama version I have to comment on the narrators. Wonderful! Having a few different cast members helped the story flow well as the tone changed as we heard from each character. I’m always conscious I can zone out if I’m listening to one voice for too long.. (that’s why those sleep stories work so well for me ha ha) but with The Child I found myself engaged at all times.

To find out more head to Audible.

If you’d like to hear listen to Unabridged version check out Amazon!

BLOG TOUR – Warrior Prince by J. C. Duncan

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Today is my turn on the blog tour for Warrior Prince by J. C. Duncan.

Here’s the blurb.

Prince. Mercenary. Exile.

The lost throne of Norway must be won in foreign lands.

1030 AD

Some men are gifted a crown. Others have to fight to claim it.

Exiled from Norway, Harald Sigurdsson, brother to murdered King Olaf, must battle mercilessly for survival in the lands of the Kievan Rus.

His brother’s legacy gifts him a warband of hardened warriors and entry to the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. By his wits, sword and skill in battle, Harald must learn not just to survive but to triumph.

He fights for glory, for fame, and to regain his family’s battle-stolen throne. But his greatest challenge may not come from battlefield foes but from those who stand by his side.

The first instalment in a remarkable story of an exiled boy’s incredible journey to become Harald Hardrada; The Hard Ruler and The Last Viking.

Perfect for fans of Matthew Harffy, Peter Gibbons, Bernard Cornwell and Christian Cameron

Review

With a tag line like “Perfect for fans of Matthew Harffy, Peter Gibbons” I immediately took notice.. these writers are my bread and butter.. they get what their readers love and give them it in spades full.. Did I have high expectations? Yep.

Firstly what I loved about this book from the start is that it felt fresh and new.. historical fiction is a well read genre for me but to see Harald Hardrada before he became the man most of know was fascinating!

After King Olaf dies in battle, Harold and Olaf’s other men are forced into exile or face death. It’s not much of a choice but being so downcast after their defeat means it’s even harder going. These men..they have lost everything.. but Harold also has the unenviable task of learning his role with the men and has to grow fast.

The depth of Harold was without fault..you see him struggle.. and adapt with the sheer strength he has within.. determination runs in his veins. I also loved that things didn’t come easy for him. Warriors look for leaders.. but it never felt like that was Harold’s role take on things..he doesn’t just want to become a leader.. he earns it.. he’s just got the passion burning that drives him forward and it’s this that the warriors ultimately see within him.

As is typical of the genre there’s plenty of battles but what sets Warrior Prince apart is the sheer amount of little details.. you can see how much research has went into the story to depict the characters, the period and the battles.

For fans for the genre I’m in no doubt you’ll love this and if I had to some up in one word it’s “depth”. Almost everything I’ve read about Harold has been fascinating but can’t touch upon the depth and intensity that’s been added by J. C. Duncan!

I was hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next in the series, I loved the connections Harold made with the men so excited to see how this grows.

5/5 Stars

To find out more head to Goodreads or to here

My thanks go to @rararesources for having me on the tour, as well as the author and publisher for supplying an ARC to aid my review. As usual though… I’ve bought the book too. At £1.99 It’s a bargain!

Author Bio –

J. C. Duncan is a well-reviewed historical fiction author and amateur bladesmith, with a passion for Vikings.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JCDuncanAuthor

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