This wasn't for me. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to any of them.

The next instalment in Peter Gibbons' action-packed Saxon Warrior series.
A weakened crown. A country besieged by Vikings, suffering under the oppression of a powerful church. Kept me on the edge of my seat and then on the edge of my bed until late at night as I just could not put it down!!!… Perfect… Addictive, page turning… I LOVED it

I admit, I’ve not read the first four books in this series, although I want to. However, I didn’t feel like this was too much of an issue in Enemies of the Crown as it worked as a standalone. For me, this is a sign of a strong series, where a book can work with others but also in its own right. There was a lot of backstory to Beornoth, that is covered in the earlier novels, but Gibbons succinctly summarises it, giving the reader enough of a sense to understand what has happened previously. Ideal as a recap if you have read the preceding books, but also enough if you haven’t.

Gibbons is fast-becoming one of my trusty and satisfying go-to authors for anything with a bit of blood and grit. Having read the first in his Arthurian series, Excalibur, Gibbons is consistent with his visceral description of blood, gore, death and savagery. The book has an excellent ratio of action to no action (in that you’re guaranteed a battle scene in most chapters). Given the brutality of the time and the setting, the action sits in nicely with its historical context and realistically portrays the life of a man fighting for the crown, and also fighting for freedom.

Beornoth is not just a massive veteran. Although he has a fearsome reputation, he is shown as more complex, and as having had a difficult life of loss, trauma and sorrow. He is a grizzled, older character, which is refreshing to see amongst so many younger protagonists often in this genre. He’s viscous and brutal, but also loyal and builds camaraderie with his small band of Saxon warriors. He’s kind to his friends and savage to his enemies like the odious Odo de Warenne.

We catch glimpses of authentic rural Anglo-Saxon England as Beornoth travels across it; from the farmsteads to fields and the reliable bad weather. Gibbons also builds in the significance and context of the Danelaw, making it a keystone of the novel and plot, whilst educating the reader about its political significance and those living within it.


Overall, this was another satisfying, gritty, and meaty read from a writer swathing his way through the historical fiction genre.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

An action filled story of the times of a sworn Kings man during the reign of Aethelred the Unready. The book is well written so that you feel you're standing in the presence of the Saxons, Normans and Danes who are fighting for control of England and their lives. Beo, Brand, Wigs are just some of the awesome characters, and I'm ashamed to say I descend from the de Warrene family. Read the book and you'll know why.