Today is my stop on the blog tour for Storm of Mercia by MJ Porter!
Here’s the blurb!
Wessex has never been Mercia’s ally, neither has it been her only enemy.
Wessex, AD836
The Viking raiders’ devastation has been halted once more by the shields of Mercia as opposed to Wessex. But their whereabouts are unknown.
King Wiglaf of Mercia is keen to ensure the Viking raiders are swept from his shared border with Wessex but these Viking ships are quick and difficult to track and Icel is once more deployed with Ealdorman Ælfstan warriors to do his King’s bidding. However, Icel’s quest is beset with many more obstacles and it’s not all about the seax and shield.
Worrying news from home overshadows Icel’s every deadly encounter. Will the storms of war keep him away or has he time to make one more desperate journey back to Tamworth?
With raging seas driving him ever further from Mercia’s shores, and the threat of a new conspiracy against the Mercian kingship will Icel overpower the sands of time, or will he be defeated by his deadliest nemesis yet?
Review
We are back with Icel for book 9 in the The Eagle of Mercia series! It feels crazy to see how far we’ve come but things aren’t over yet!
Icel is still reeling from previous battles and near death.. He’s got the wounds to show but do you think he’s got time to rest? Nah.
Merica and Wessex may not be friends but there’s one thing they probably both hate more.. The Vikings! It’s up to Icel and the other Sheilds of Mercia to ensure any Vikings are pushed from their shores..
The biggest issue is they don’t really know how many their are still, many have perished but some remain.. But where are they? Have they already boarded their ships?
What always surprises me is how fast the action flows but at a natural, unforced pace.. There’s so much happens but nothing is rushed and you really get the time to feel the depth of the tale..this talent shines through almost imemdately..
Icel and the other shields stumble upon the Vikings, they are outnumbered but innocent people are at risk of death/capture.. They have to act.
Heart and honour overpower commonsense and Icel lands in a little trouble! That’s to put it mildly.
Icel has no time to heal.. He’s willing to sacrifice everything for what’s right.
I always try not to give away spoilers but lets just say Icel’s skills as a sailor are called upon… yeah he isnt one ha ha.
I really loved how quickly the authour managed to put real emotion into the tale, not only battles but pain for the innocent..those left behind.. Eadfrith..this young lad plays a big part in the build-up and emotion of the tale, it’s beautifully harrowing.
Depth and meaning is also added into the mix nicely, the other characters, especially Oswy and Cenred, their relationships with each other, their own fears projected, jokes and sly digs.. But also strong depictions of the area, the ships movements, shrubbery, animals and such..it efforectlessly paints a picture.
Giving this is Icel’s 9th outting you can be forgiven for worrying if the series had the legs left in it.. Then again I never worried.. I know MJ Porter’s writing and talent for delivering a cracking series.. Nevertheless I’m always astounded how good the plot is.. Detailed and gripping from the first page to the last.
I think for me the biggest selling point is it ticks all the boxes for fans of the genre.. You prefer plot.. It’s got it.. You like historical details.. It’s got it.. You want pitch perfect character development.. You’ve got it..everything just blends to make the story feel real.. It’s really a series you get invested in and just gets better with each instalment.
5/5 Stars
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour!
Why not follow the tour?
Tempted yet?
Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/StormofMercia
Author Bio –
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.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @MJPorterauthor
Twitter: @coloursofunison
Instagram: @m_j_porter
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MJPorterNews
Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mj-porter
David's Book Blurg 