Tag: bookreview

Blog Tour Review: Shield of Mercia – M. J. Porter

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Historical fiction fans rejoice! Today’s review is for the eighth and eagerly awaited Eagle of Mercia Chronicles – Shield of Mercia! Today, I’m reviewing this brand new release as part of the new blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources.

Before we get into my review, thank you to Rachel, Boldwood Books and the author, MJ Porter for the chance to read and review Shield of Mercia so I can feature the book/series.

FYI, I received a copy of the book in order to provide my review. However, this is an unbiased review and the views expressed within are entirely my own. 

 

Shield of Mercia – M. J. Porter

Genre: Historical fiction 

Pages: 337

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date:  03 Oct 2025

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

 

Goodreads – Shield of Mercia

 

Mercia is triumphant. Her king is safe. But Wessex was never Mercia’s only enemy.
Tamworth, AD836

Following a brutally cold winter, King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy. Even Wessex’s Archbishop of Canterbury extraordinarily ventures to Mercia to broker a religious accord. But,can the hard-won peace prevail?

Viking raiders threaten Wessex. These blood-thirsty warriors are fast, skilful and have no reticence about killing those who stand in their way. Their aim isn’t to rule but to overwhelm, slaughter and take ill-gotten wealth.

King Wiglaf is no fool. As the Vikings push to overwhelm Wessex, Mercia’s lands look insecure. King Wiglaf needs the shields of Mercia’s warriors to prevent the overwhelming advancement of their deadliest enemy yet.

To save Mercia, Icel must first prevail over the two men who mean to end his life; King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent and only then the marauding Viking army for whom boundaries have no meaning.

An action packed, thrilling historical adventure perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.

 

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/ShieldofMercia

 

My Thoughts 

 

Plot

In Shield of Mercia we return to a busy action-packed plot. War is on the doorstep, and the number of enemies keeps rising. Icel, a character who you may recall from Son of Mercia, aimed to be a healer. Instead, he became a renowned warrior. He always manages to find himself in the thick of the action, and in Shield of Mercia, in more danger than any book to date.

The gripping storyline and constant question of who could be trusted kept high tension throughout the plot. When eventually the pot boils over, we are treated to numerous battle scenes and conflicts that have us on the edge of our seat!

 

Setting

Events in Shield of Mercia are much like previous books in that travel is a greater element of the plot. Betrayal of Mercia felt like a bit of an exception to that rule, and I’m enjoying being back in the thick of the action. 

I love this series for its truly country spanning narratives. The political and geographical context of the story is really interesting and far more dynamic than we are today. It’s a great backdrop at the best of times, as life in Britain was far from peaceful anyway. Add Viking raiders into this already tumultuous era and you get an unputdownable action-packed historical fiction novel/series! As I can attest to – I read 75% of this book in one evening! 

 

Characters 

Uncertainty between Mercian and Wessex people is rife in Shield of Mercia. The two fractious communities come together in order to oust a Viking enemy. Trust, however, does not come easily. Icel, our main protagonist of the series, has more reason to be both suspicious and wary than ever. 

This feeds into a good portion of the plot, so the development of the characters and wider world within works hand-in-hand with driving the plot forward. It’s not therefore one at the expense of the other, but a great balance! 

Icel remains one of my favourite historical fiction characters in this period. He is so well-rounded and unlike your stereotypical warrior. His character arc is unique and even so many books on from his humble beginning in Son of Mercia, his core character values are still well-defined and fit into the man he has become out of necessity. 

 

Narrative Style

Shield of Mercia is very easy to read – as I’ve already alluded to, I read most of the book in one go. The style of narrative lends itself to a storytelling structure. With just one point of view, we’re able to get a deeper sense of Icel’s perspective on events. 

Rightly or wrongly, his views shape our perception of other characters in the book. For the first time in this narrative, I asked myself whether Icel perceives events a certain way as he has a dislike for certain characters. So far in the series, I’ve taken that perception as truth rather than opinion. However, I’ve enjoyed questioning the validity of the narrative as presented. Outside of historical fiction, I do enjoy an unreliable narrator! 

 

Summary

Shield of Mercia has been a fun eighth instalment to the Eagle of Mercia chronicles to read. I’ve especially enjoyed the greater action and overt conflict on this book as opposed to the political scheming of Betrayal of Mercia. That’s not to say this doesn’t underpin events in the book, because they absolutely do! However, balance has been restored, and I can’t wait to see what scrapes Icel inevitably lands himself with next… 

 

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: @coloursofunison

Book Review: Gran Familia – Kenji Hamada

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It’s rare I review a manga novel on the blog. However, as an emerging fan, I wanted to share Gran Familia with you as it’s just published and you don’t want to miss out! 

I really enjoyed Gran Familia and that shows in how quickly I devoured it. Seriously, I read this book in two sittings within 24 hours. I was intrigued by the character dynamics and truthfully, I’m already looking forward to seeing more from these characters. 

Let’s recap the details of the book/comic and then I’ll share my thoughts! 

 

Gran Familia – Kenji Hamada  

Genre: Manga 

Pages: 192

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Titan Manga

Publication Date: 14 Nov 2019

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Gran Familia

Dive into Gran Familia, where powerful vampire clans, hidden demi-humans and a dangerous turf war collide in a dark, action-packed battle for supremacy. Perfect for fans of supernatural crime thrillers.

In Gran Familia Volume 1, the delicate balance between humans and demi-humans teeters on the edge of collapse. In a world where super-powered beings, like vampires, werewolves, and other demi-humans, are forced to hide from human persecution, the legendary Grand Familia vampire clan controls the criminal underworld with an iron fist. But their reign is far from unchallenged.

Leo, the young heir to the Grand Familia, dreams of a future where both humans and demi-humans can coexist peacefully. However, when a violent turf war erupts between rival factions, the fragile peace between the two worlds is shattered and Leo is thrust into a dangerous conflict that could have devastating consequences for everyone involved.

As Leo grapples with the legacy of his powerful family and his own ideals, he must confront a world filled with betrayal, shifting allegiances, and moral dilemmas.

With each faction seeking dominance, the underworld becomes a battleground of supernatural forces, where loyalty is tested, and the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred. Amidst the chaos, Leo faces the most pressing question of all: can peace truly be achieved, or is war the inevitable price of survival?

Gran Familia Volume 1 sets the stage for a thrilling five-volume saga filled with action, suspense, and intricate family drama. A must-read for fans of supernatural crime stories, dark fantasy, and complex character-driven narratives, this volume begins an epic journey into a world on the brink of collapse.

 

My Thoughts

For a first volume, Gran Familia strikes a good balance of introducing the characters and locations. Neither light touch nor heavy-handed, I initiated myself into this world very easily and I wanted to read on to learn more! 

This doesn’t come at the expense of plot. The action in the book facilitates us learning about the characters, setting and events taking place. As can only be expected in a manga, the action is key to the storyline and the graphic novel leans into exaggerating these to maximum effect. 

The character dynamics in this book are the big driver for me in terms of plot. Imagine a mafia with supernatural abilities – that’s what comes together in this graphic novel for some fierce rivalries. However, what the author already made apparent in this relatively short page count is that the protagonist isn’t a one-dimensional, stereotypical character. As a result, this was achieved in the short space of time the author captured my attention. I hope this comes out more in future volumes. There is clearly more to Leo than we first appreciate through his actions and reputation. 

Manga is naturally very different to read from prose, and again from traditional western media. It’s read the other way around, for starters (right to left, back to front). It’s so unlike my usual reading material that it made a refreshing change! 

 

Summary 

I’m looking to reading future volumes of Gran Familia and I hope you are too! 

This was a fun manga series to start and I hope the wait isn’t too long for the next one. 

What is the latest manga novel you’ve read? Has Gran Familia caught your attention? 

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Book Review: Wolf of Wessex – Matthew Harffy

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Historical fiction fans are having a field day with my content right now! I have a lot of current and upcoming content in the genre. As of this post, I’m reading two further books that fit into this same setting and genre – Betrayal of Mercia by M. J. Porter and The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell. If you are looking for inspiration on what to pick up, be sure to check out my thoughts below on Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy.

 

Wolf of Wessex – Matthew Harffy  

Genre: Historical fiction 

Pages: 400

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 14 Nov 2019

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Wolf of Wessex

AD 838. Deep in the forests of Wessex, Dunston’s solitary existence is shattered when he stumbles on a mutilated corpse.

Accused of the murder, Dunston must clear his name and keep the dead man’s daughter alive in the face of savage pursuers desperate to prevent a terrible secret from being revealed.

Rushing headlong through Wessex, Dunston will need to use all the skills of survival garnered from a lifetime in the wilderness. And if he has any hope of victory against the implacable enemies on their trail, he must confront his long-buried past – becoming the man he once was and embracing traits he had promised he would never return to. The Wolf of Wessex must hunt again; honour and duty demand it.

 

My Thoughts

Plot

Compared to other books I’ve read in the genre, Wolf of Wessex is a little superficial in plot. That’s not necessarily a downer. If you’re looking for a light and easy read or are new to the genre, Wolf of Wessex is a good place you could start. 

In fact, Wolf of Wessex gave me insights into Saxon Britain that I’ve yet to read anywhere else. It’s a great perspective to read and helps me appreciate the time and history of the period, regardless of what I’m reading. 

That said, I wasn’t gripped by the plot line. It was perfectly acceptable to read, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was memorable. Prior to writing this review, my recollections of this book were that it contains a lot of violence. I did have to refresh myself on the events that took place, and the comments I shared in my Sunday Summary and monthly wrap-up post at the time. 

 

Setting

 Wolf of Wessex is a good entry-level book to the historical fiction genre, or even this time period, because it isn’t too heavy on historical background. There’s enough background included for the plot to make sense, so there are no concerns on this front. Beyond that though, it doesn’t matter if you are familiar with the historical context of the book or not. I have a personal preference towards more detail and depth in my narratives, that didn’t put me off reading this book. In fact, it contributed to this book being quite a quick read!

 

Characters

A bit like the plot development, I found some of the characters lacking any spark. Unfortunately, the female main character, Aedwen, served only to irritate me. She exists in the plot purely to be saved. She’s so docile, she may as well have not been there after the opening event. 

Dunstan isn’t much better. He’s defined throughout the book by his age and physical frailty, yet manages to keep up with all the young whippersnapper warriors? The messaging isn’t really consistent… or he’s an extremely lucky sod! 

The action throughout is entertaining, if predictable. At no point was I particularly concerned for the characters’ welfare or thought they were in real danger. 

 

Narrative Style

The book was very readable. Wolf of Wessex was a light, easy read. I read the book in just a few days. 

It’s this easy style that makes the book perfect for newcomers or anyone looking for a light reading experience. You don’t have to concentrate too much and the writing flows well. 

The book reads to a level of mature young readers, even if the content is not best suited. In terms of language, it’s appropriate for adult readers of all ages. The archaic time period and language differences don’t alienate readers, which again, helps with readability. 

 

Summary 

Wolf of Wessex has far higher praise online than I have to offer it here. Whilst I enjoyed the book, I don’t intend to go on and read any other of his books. It could be that I was in a bit of a reading slump at the time. If you read my review of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, the book I read before this one, you’ll see that was a middle-of-the-road review as well. 

Whilst this is a great introduction to the genre, there are other series I’d recommend if you prefer greater depth of detail. Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon stories, M. J. Porter’s Eagle of Mercia chronicles and Peter Gibbons’ The Saxon Warrior are a few. 

Ultimately, this book has its place and it’s a decent read, if not standout or remarkable. Admittedly, I’ve decided not to pursue reading any more books by this author, but maybe I’m missing out… 

Have you read Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy? 

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Blog Tour Review: The Atlantis Covenant- Rob Jones

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Hello readers! If you’re a huge fan of Indiana Jones, historical artefacts and high-stakes action, The Atlantis Covenant is the book I’d recommend for you! And good news – I’m reviewing it today as part of the ongoing blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. Buckle up and let’s get to it!

Before I give you the details, as always, a huge thank you to Rachel, Boldwood Books and the author, Rob Jones. It’s been a little while since I took part in a tour, but reading this fun, high-stakes book has inspired me to get back in the game.

Also, full disclosure here that I received a copy of the book in order to provide my review. However, this is an unbiased review and my views expressed are my own.

Now… let’s see more about the book!


The Atlantis Covenant – Rob Jones

Genre: Action/Thriller

Pages: 344

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date:  31 Aug 2025

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟


Goodreads – The Atlantis Covenant

 

The greatest mystery of all time is about to be revealed.

When world-famous archaeologist and ex-soldier Max Hunter finds a mysterious artifact in a tomb beneath the Gates of Nineveh, his lifelong dream of finding Atlantis comes one step closer.

But he’s not the only one looking for it…

His discovery unleashes a high-speed hunt for the lost civilization between a mysterious Swiss foundation, the FBI, and the world’s most secretive society.

From the dangers of the Iraqi desert to Cuba and the jungles of El Salvador to the enigmatic Valley of the Kings in Egypt, Hunter faces a race against time and murderous enemies who will stop at nothing to claim the greatest prize in history. As he fights for his life, it soon becomes apparent that his enemies are searching for something altogether more sinister than the lost city…

Hunter must use his unique ingenuity and knowledge to decipher the clues and find Atlantis – and its lethal treasures – before they fall into enemy hands.


Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/AtlantisCovenantbook

 

My Thoughts

Plot

If you are a fan of very fast-paced, action-driven books, The Atlantis Covenant is right up your alley! With danger lurking around every corner, Max Hunter and the FBI find their lives on the line as they look to uncover the truth of the lost city of Atlantis.

This is arguably a very plot-driven book. That’s not to say that aspects of world-building (history) and character development suffers, because they don’t. However, the motivation to read on each chapter is to uncover what happens next.

And there’s action in almost every chapter. Old rivalries and archaic, powerful forces come into play, and the secrets of Atlantis aren’t safe. With both sides racing to beat each other to discover the truth, everything is to play for…

Although this first book does naturally leave us on a bit of a cliffhanger into the next in the series, the action that takes place in The Atlantis Covenant is wrapped up in full. Looking at the synopsis for the next book, it doesn’t directly follow on from this first. I’m pretty confident that each of these could be read standalone. Whether you’re a fan of series or solo books, The Atlantis Covenant caters to all.

 

Setting

The Atlantis Covenant takes us across the globe. From the seas of Cuba to jungle rainforest, Egypt and The Valley of the Kings and to Arctic climes, the book features archaeological sites on every corner of the planet.

The jet-setting in this book is exciting to read about. As someone who really enjoyed history growing up, getting to hear about well-known sites such as the Valley of the Kings makes this thriller more interesting. I really enjoyed the archaeological aspects of this book and the emphasis this has on the storyline and places visited. It gives the book a lot of grounding, even when events carry us off rapidly to the next revelation (and inevitable gunfight).

I appreciate this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If that’s you, that’s okay. The relevance to the storyline is explained but not explored in any great length of detail. It gives context to the plot and moves on.


Characters

Throughout The Atlantis Covenant, we meet a variety of characters. From military men to goth girl hackers, the group pull together to help in his quest discover Atlantis and its secrets. The characters draw upon a wide variety of experience and skills, and not all from altruistic origins.

Now, I do confess, I do have one niggle about how some characters are introduced in this book. Pretty early on, I recognised a pattern of male characters being introduced for the action they’re involved in and women being introduced by their appearance. I wasn’t a big fan of this double-standard, but credit where it’s due, this stops after the first few chapters.

I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters that made up the main group. However, I can’t dismiss the wider cast introduced in this book either. Over the course of the book, we are introduced to a significant number of characters. So maybe even still, I am no trouble keeping trying (or at least, on which side they are).


Narrative Style

The Atlantis Covenant is fast-paced. Punchy. Full of action and eager to get there. Chapters are nice and short and snappy to fit this pacing. It works very well with the narrative and is a big driver to encouraging you to read ‘just one more chapter’ over and over.

Even though I personally lean towards a preference for longer, more detailed chapters, this was perfect for the book. It didn’t detract from my personal experience in the slightest and complemented the narrative.

As a result, The Atlantis Covenant is a pretty quick read. Having struggled and DNF’d another book right before this one, it was the fast-paced and engaging remedy I didn’t know I needed!


Summary

The Atlantis Covenant is a high-action, fast-paced novel. If you are a huge fan of Indiana Jones films, this book is just like these. With a balanced blend of action intertwined with archaeology, history, and conspiracy, this book piques my interest in the best of ways!

The good news is, you can continue to read the series already. If you want to read on, The Revelation Relic is the next book to whet your appetite.


Author Bio

Rob Jones has published over forty books in the genres of action-adventure, action-thriller, and crime. Many of his chart-topping titles have enjoyed number-one rankings, and his Joe Hawke and Jed Mason series have been international bestsellers. Originally from England, today he lives in Australia with his wife and children.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: @RobJonesNovels

Twitter: @AuthorRobJones

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/RobJonesNews

Book Review: The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi – Shannon Chakraborty

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Hello reading friends! Today I’m excited to bring you a long-overdue review for The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty. I read this book in April/May 2023, so a little while ago!

This book fell in the middle-of-the-road for me. There were some aspects I loved, but others that introduced resistance to my reading experience. Read on to find out more!

 

The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi – Shannon Chakraborty

Genre: Non-fiction

Pages: 492

Audience: Adult

Publisher: HarperVoyager

Publication Date: 02 Mar 2023

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi

 

A pirate of infamy and one of the most storied and scandalous captains to sail the seven seas.

Amina al-Sirafi has survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.

But when she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse, she jumps at the chance for one final adventure with her old crew that will make her a legend and offers a fortune that will secure her and her family’s future forever.

Yet the deeper Amina dives, the higher the stakes. For there’s always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savour just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.


My Thoughts


Plot

The plot of The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi manages to be whimsical with a high page count. For some, this fun and lightheartedness may suit. It’s an aspect of the story I was less keen on, if I’m honest.

It was a perfectly acceptable read, but not a book I rushed back to in order to finish it quickly. Perhaps the whimsy wasn’t quite what I was expecting, and therefore I didn’t enjoy this quote so much.

Otherwise, as plot goes, I enjoyed the sea-faring, derring-do action of the narrative.


Setting

The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi is an eastern fantasy. It’s always refreshing to read fantasy with these inspirations, especially as someone who has read a lot of, and grown up with, westernised fantasy novels on tap.

I loved the focus on non-western religious cultures. It was a new take for me and not what I expected from this fantasy novel. Its ties to well-known religions in real life helped give the book some grounding — much needed if you ask me. It also gave me an opportunity to get insight into Muslim religion and culture in a place I didn’t expect. Every day is a school day… and I felt this was a great touch for this book.

 

Characters

I love that the narrative is led by a strong woman. Piracy was typically a man’s game. Flying in the face of patriarchy, this spin on events is quite unexpected (especially considering some of the cultures featured in the book), but welcome.

Even in fairly modern fantasies, female narrative voices are only just starting to take centre stage. The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi does this – and does it well!


Narrative Style

Considering the whimsical nature of this narrative, the book took me longer to read than anticipated. It’s about a 500-page book, so not exactly small. Even so, I found the fanciful plot line at odds with some of the other elements in this book. Although this book is marketed at adults, I would argue some of the plot devices smack more of a young adult target audience.

 

Summary

The Adventures of Amina-al-Sirafi is a fun, adventurous and light-hearted read.

Whilst I wasn’t captivated enough by the book to motivate me to continue on with the series, I had fun at the time.

If you are looking for fantasy with positive multicultural and female rep, this book will still be up your alley.

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Book Review: Stolen Focus – Johann Hari

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If you enjoy the odd self-help book here and there, today’s post may just feature your next read. In April 2023 I read the eye-opening Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, and I was shocked. With staggering statistics like attention spans lasting only seconds, it’s no wonder we struggle to get anything done! That’s a little ironic given how long it’s taken me to publish my review. 

In my defence, it wasn’t a lack of attention but rather a streak of perfectionism that held it back until now. 

I confess, Stolen Focus has made me more aware of how often I get distracted, or try to multitask (tip – it’s not helpful in the long run!). If you’re intrigued, then I hope you’ll let my review distract you from whatever it is you are MEANT to be doing for just a few minutes… 

 

Stolen Focus – Johann Hari  

Genre: Non-fiction 

Pages: 357

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Crown

Publication Date: 06Jan 2022

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Stolen Focus

Our ability to pay attention is collapsing. From the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Scream and Lost Connections comes a groundbreaking examination of why this is happening–and how to get our attention back. 

In the United States, teenagers can focus on one task for only sixty-five seconds at a time, and office workers average only three minutes. Like so many of us, Johann Hari was finding that constantly switching from device to device and tab to tab was a diminishing and depressing way to live. He tried all sorts of self-help solutions–even abandoning his phone for three months–but nothing seemed to work. So Hari went on an epic journey across the world to interview the leading experts on human attention–and he discovered that everything we think we know about this crisis is wrong.

We think our inability to focus is a personal failure to exert enough willpower over our devices. The truth is even more disturbing: our focus has been stolen by powerful external forces that have left us uniquely vulnerable to corporations determined to raid our attention for profit. Hari found that there are twelve deep causes of this crisis, from the decline of mind-wandering to rising pollution, all of which have robbed some of our attention. In Stolen Focus, he introduces readers to Silicon Valley dissidents who learned to hack human attention, and veterinarians who diagnose dogs with ADHD. He explores a favela in Rio de Janeiro where everyone lost their attention in a particularly surreal way, and an office in New Zealand that discovered a remarkable technique to restore workers’ productivity.

Crucially, Hari learned how we can reclaim our focus–as individuals, and as a society–if we are determined to fight for it. Stolen Focus will transform the debate about attention and finally show us how to get it back.

 

My Thoughts

Content

I love that Stolen Focus doesn’t seek to blame, but to convince readers that a loss of focus is a societal issue. Whilst there are things we can all individually do to help, ultimately, the world we live in and the pace of living is the most limiting factor. 

Technology is one of the biggest leeches of our attention. You’ve probably seen families out for gatherings at restaurants and every member at the table is on a personal device. I have on many occasions, and it will only get worse. Johann shares a personal story in which a young relative is addicted to these devices. It’s an alarming trend, but not surprising since the apps and services are designed to hook our attention and hold it. This was also discussed in another book I recently finished, The Anxious Generation. I definitely recommend this as further reading. 

Hustle culture and stress is in part responsible too. Sleep deprivation is no joke. With more and more people forfeiting shuteye in favour of time on personal devices, or paid work, it’s no wonder focus is shattered. Work smarter not harder friends! It’ll pay the same dividends and you’ll feel a whole lot better for it! 

 

Narrative Style

I don’t often break reviews down into sections for non-fiction reviews. It’s not always appropriate. However, I did want to make a special mention to the structure of Stolen Focus. 

The book is broken down into several smaller chapters, each one an explanation of why we struggle to focus in our modern day life. As a result, the book is really approachable to read. If you don’t have a lot of time to read, you could even cherry-pick your chapters of interest to take from the book what you want. 

 

Summary 

Stolen Focus is the kind of book I’d recommend everybody read in their lifetimes. It would especially help those who pressurise themselves to do better, go bigger or otherwise set themselves high bars. As someone who does this to a certain extent, it should help you appreciate and accept life’s  limitations. It’s not about you, and Stolen Focus does not seek to blame. 

The book also offers some practical advice, so we’re not powerless. Stolen Focus strikes the perfect balance of providing information and tips on what to do with that information. Really, it’s a book from which you can take as much as you want. 

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Book Review: The Mad Ship – Robin Hobb

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In today’s post, I review the second book of Robin Hobb’s The Liveship Trader series, The Mad Ship. If you haven’t caught yourself up with this series yet, I reviewed the first book of this trilogy, Ship of Magic, back in January. If you need to start back at the very beginning, my review of Assassin’s Apprentice is here. 

I really enjoyed this second instalment. Whilst it took me a little while to get into the story of Ship of Magic, I had no such trouble with The Mad Ship.

 

The Mad Ship – Robin Hobb  

Genre: Epic fantasy 

Pages: 906

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Publication Date: 04 Feb 2008

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – The Mad Ship

The Farseer trilogy continues the dramatic tale of piracy, serpents, love, and magic. The Vestrit family’s liveship, Vivacia, has been taken by the pirate king, Kennit. Held captive on board, Wintrow Vestrit finds himself competing with Kennit for Vivacia’s love as the ship slowly acquires her own bloodlust. Leagues away, Althea Vestrit has found a new home aboard the liveship Ophelia, but she lives only to reclaim Vivacia and with her friend, Brashen, she plans a dangerous rescue. Meanwhile, in Bingtown, the fading fortunes of the Vestrit family lead Malta deeper into the magical secrets of the Rain Wild Traders. And just outside Bingtown, Amber dreams of relaunching Paragon, the mad liveship …

 

My Thoughts

Plot

If there is one thing Robin Hobb can’t be accused of, it’s that her books lack in action. There is always so much going on in these books, but it’s cleverly written so we can follow events spread across multiple locations and characters. The narrative we experience in The Mad Ship spans a vast part of the world.

From political turmoil to a daring rescue attempt, The Mad Ship does not lack for events keeping us on our toes! Combined with the world-building and developing character arcs throughout the book, there isn’t a dull moment. Seemingly separate characters and events start to make connections in this book, but the full truth doesn’t truly get unveiled until Ship of Destiny. For the eager-minded trying to work out what’s happening before the revelation, you won’t be disappointed. 

For a book that is a dense 900 odd pages, I read it pretty quickly! I finished it in around two weeks, and made over 550 pages’ progress in one week alone. If that doesn’t sell how captivating I found the book, I don’t know what will… 

 

Setting

If you are a regular reader, you’ll know that I love world-building. The Mad Ship (and the rest of the Realm of the Elderlings series to date) allows for lots of this! Set across a huge fictional world spanning multiple continents and cultures, there is a lot to take in. From the current state of events to the history of the world, no detail is left untouched. Throughout the narrative, there is a wide variety of locations in play at any one time. It allows us to explore world lore and history in detail, and never get bored! 

Not only do we get the benefit of events being spread across multiple locations, but we get to enjoy these places from different perspectives too. Characters are very active in this book in moving around. Not only does that help keep the action flowing, but it gives us the chance to revisit places through fresh eyes. 

Plus, it wouldn’t feel right to have a book about sentient ships that don’t go anywhere… right? 

 

Characters

The titular ship, Paragon, is one of my favourites in the trilogy. He’s a complex and far from noble character. That’s what makes his story interesting. Most of the Liveships are loyal to their masters and are largely unremarkable. Vivacia is interesting for her recent sentience and the power struggle over bonding with her. Otherwise, though, the liveships are almost one and the same. Until we get to Paragon. The Mad Ship. The disowned ship, left abandoned on the shore and threatened with being broken up by its owner, the Ludlucks. 

Amber saves Paragon from this fate, and her attempts to bring him back to himself are admirable. Paragon is also childish, and in some ways reminded me of Malta’s petulance. However, Paragon is a far more complex character. The root cause of this doesn’t come out straight away, but it makes perfect sense and the mystery about him has us reading on. Until that revelation, Paragon is demonised as mad, having murdered his crew several times. 

There are characters I love in this series, and there is one I love to hate. It feels a little unfair to say because in book three, Malta’s character arc redeems her a lot. She grows, but not yet. In The Mad Ship, she is her usual petulant, selfish, and childish self. Although I loved the book in general, I found Malta’s chapters the hardest to read. They give a lot of information on current events, so they are worth it. But man, I’m sure I ground my teeth a lot enduring her chapters… 

The cast goes on! I could sit here and talk about each of the characters, but this would be a very long post. These two are the main standouts for me, but every character has a strong position in this world. Not with any character have I felt that their place was superfluous or not contributing to the narrative. 

 

Narrative Style 

Given there is so much going on with these books, it’s important to get the pacing right. Take events too quickly and you can lose readers. Take them too slowly and readers get bored. Although I would describe Robin Hobb’s pacing as slightly slower than average, I think this is needed to give readers the chance to absorb what is going on. Plus, this isn’t done at the expense of our interest. Like my recent read of The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, there’s a benefit to slowing things down a little so we can appreciate the intricacies of the world created and what is going on. 

 

Summary 

The Mad Ship is a great second instalment to this three-part series. It’s also a very long book at over 900 pages. If you’re looking to cosy in with an epic fantasy trilogy this summer, I can guarantee this will not disappoint! 

Have you read The Mad Ship or any other books by Robin Hobb? My next read from the series is Golden Fool – what’s yours? 

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Book Review: Death of Kings – Bernard Cornwell

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My review of Death of Kings comes two years after I read the book. To say I needed to refresh myself on the events is an understatement! That’s why this post is out a day later than usual. Rather than rushing and putting out something I wasn’t happy with, I wanted to take my time and make sure I got it right. This book deserves that justice!

One of the reasons I’m glad to review Death of Kings is that it’ll remind and inspire me to continue reading the series. It’s been two years, but I’m yet to pick up the next book, The Pagan Lord, even when I said after I finished it I wanted to continue on soon. I’m somewhat familiar with the story as a whole as I watched the TV series and final film too. Even so, the books are always better and it was a while ago now since I watched them. As to what specifically happens in the next book, I’m not sure…


Death of Kings – Bernard Cornwell

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 335

Audience: Adult

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: 29 Sept 2011

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Goodreads – Death of Kings


As the ninth century wanes, England appears about to be plunged into chaos once more. For the Viking-raised but Saxon-born warrior, Uhtred, whose life seems to shadow the making of England, this presents him with difficult choices.

King Alfred is dying and his passing threatens the island of Britain to renewed warfare. Alfred wants his son, Edward, to succeed him, but there are other Saxon claimants to the throne as well as ambitious pagan Vikings to the north.

Uhtred‘s loyalty – and his vows – were to Alfred, not to his son, and despite his long years of service to Alfred, he is still not committed to the Saxon cause. His own desire is to reclaim his long-lost lands and castle to the north. But the challenge to him, as the king’s warrior, is that he knows that he will either be the means of making Alfred’s dream of a united and Christian England come to pass or be responsible for condemning it to oblivion.

This novel is a dramatic story of the power of tribal commitment and the terrible difficulties of divided loyalties.

This is the making of England, magnificently brought to life by the master of historical fiction.

 

My Thoughts

Plot

King Alfred hopes to leave behind a united England in death. However, with him ailing further, the peace and unity he strives for seems a long shot.

As ever, Uhtred finds himself stuck in the middle. Whilst he has a degree of loyalty to King Alfred, he also longs to undertake his own goal – to return to his homeland of Bebbanburg. He has no fealty or ties to Alfred‘s intended successor, Edward. Whilst Alfred hopes Uthred will support his claim, he doesn’t feel inclined to do so.

The result of all this internal conflict is that the Danes feel like they can take advantage of a weakened England. As in other books, there are numerous battles and skirmishes throughout!


Setting

As a key man taking part as a warrior, messenger, negotiator, and savour, Uhtred gets around a bit. The narrative roams all across the country of England as we know it today. Whilst there is a lot going on, this is well managed in the narrative so it’s easy to follow where events are taking place.

The constant action and changes of location keep the narrative interesting. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of books with a plot line involving politics, there is plenty of action in this book to counterbalance this. The frequent relocations of our main character keep us on our toes.


Characters

In Death of Kings, we get to see a mischievous side to Uhtred. In this instalment of the series, we actively see him undertaking the role of both the Saxon and a Dane and stirring up conflict. I quite enjoyed seeing the side of the story and this aspect of his character. It’s both entertaining to read, but also gives opportunity for a lot of internal conflict within Uhtred and testing where his loyalties lie.

He may have been born Saxon, but he was raised as a Dane, and in today’s society, we would say he identifies as a Dane. As to which side of the fence he should actually sit on is something that thus far in the series has swung backwards and forwards. I expect more of this conflict in future books, and I can’t wait to read on.


Narrative Style

If you like your historical fiction full of action, Death of Kings won’t disappoint. With numerous conflicts, both physical and political, throughout the book, there’s plenty to keep us occupied.

For me, the pacing of Death of Kings and the wider series as a whole suits me; there are moments of intense action, and the pages just fly by. Equally, there is enough time to reflect on what has happened and what the consequences are. The action doesn’t compromise the world-building, and overall, Death of Kings strikes an ideal balance between the two.


Summary

I’m a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell‘s Saxon stories series, and the latest instalment, Death of Kings, has lived up to the high expectations set by earlier books. This review hopefully encourages you to pick up the book but has likely also achieved its goal of reminding me of the series and giving me a nudge to pick up the book soon.

Have you read Death of Kings? What are your thoughts on this book or series?

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Book Review: Soul Identity – Dennis Batchelder

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In today’s book review, I feature a book which brings together the science fiction and thriller genres. I was intrigued by the combination and the synopsis. I also enjoyed talking to my dad about this book, which doesn’t happen very often and made a fun change.

Shall we take a look at the details of the book, and then get stuck in?

 

Soul Identity – Dennis Batchelder

Genre: Science fiction

Pages: 355

Audience: Adult

Publisher: NetLeaves

Publication Date: 16 Nov 2007

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads –  Soul Identity

 

You can’t take it with you…but what if you could?

Most people believe their souls outlive their bodies. Most people would find an organization that tracks their souls into the future and passes on their banked money and memories compelling. Scott Waverly isn’t like most people. He spends his days finding and fixing computer security holes. And Scott is skeptical of his new client’s claim that they have been calculating and tracking soul identities for almost twenty-six hundred years. Are they running a freaky cult? Or a sophisticated con job? Scott needs to save Soul Identity from an insider attack. Along the way, he discovers the importance of the bridges connecting people’s lives.


My Thoughts


Plot

From starting the book at the very beginning, I found the concept of the plot compelling. Regardless of your beliefs, the idea of soul reincarnation is an interesting idea. Being able to follow those ‘soul lines’ and pass on memories and fortunes to your future self, well, doesn’t that sound great?

Naturally, however, if someone were to find out about Soul Identity and the assets they held, you can be sure somebody would attempt to steal it. And that’s where the action kicks in!

Scott is hardly your regular superhero. Working in the tech industry, Scott’s job is to safeguard Soul Identity’s network and protect them from hacking and other digital crimes. When he took the job, I doubt he thought he’d find himself in the position he ends up in!


Setting

Soul Identity is set in a very realistic, everyday world like ours. Retina scanning technology as the latest key to unlocking Soul Lines is already in our hands. It makes the premise even more believable.

Even the security, although desirous of being tight, is easy for us readers to understand. Although this book is based around technology, it’s easy enough to follow. I’m far from advanced in terms of IT knowledge (I can turn it off and back on again, and do some basic troubleshooting). Still, I could follow the narrative very well. The familiarity of technology and concepts lends itself to making the story approachable to all readers. It perhaps helps to read in the science-fiction genre, but not overwhelmingly…


Characters

Scott is a pretty relatable main character. He’s funny, clearly quite clever, and like us, comes to the entity of Soul Identity without knowing who they really are. Through his eyes, we come to learn about the organisation and the events that unfold thereafter.

Regardless of your beliefs in reincarnation or such, Scott is a good middleground character. Whilst he acknowledges that the idea is a nice one, he doesn’t necessarily subscribe in either direction. It makes him a good neutral standing point and avoids alienating readers who may have a specific belief or not.

If you enjoy a little romance in your books, Soul Identity has you covered. Whilst it isn’t something I actively look for in my stories, I didn’t find this to be a distraction from the main story going on. I’m sure for some people, this adds to the narrative, but for me, the relationship between Scott and Val was a bit of unnecessary filler. 

My one gripe with the narrative is that female characters aren’t treated equally. Rather, their primary ‘selling point’ is how they look; any brains or unique personality quirks come later. It’s a shallow perspective that could be interpreted as a failing on either Scott or the author – I’m not sure which yet. It was obvious enough for me to pick up on it pretty quickly. It is only a small friction point in the grand scheme, but it did bring my review down to four stars.


Narrative Style

Soul Identity is fairly easy to read. Well, put it this way – I read the book in a matter of days. I also read it at a time when I was bordering on a reading slump. Other books I’d read the same week had not gone down well. Soul Identity was the pick-up I needed.

From what I recall, the book had short, digestible chapters. I think this suited the style of the book better than long and detailed ones would achieve.

The book nicely blends the science fiction and thriller genres. Regardless of your preferred genre, Soul Identity is approachable to fans of either genre in any quantity. If you love both, well, you’re in for a treat!


Summary

I’m looking forward to continuing with the sequel, called Soul Intent.

Have you read Soul Identity or anything like it?

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Blog Tour Review: Enemies of the Crown – Peter Gibbons

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It’s an absolute pleasure to bring to you the next instalment to Peter Gibbons’ The Saxon Warrior series. I’ve featured several books in this series on my blog to date. I’ve had a sizeable break from sharing blog tour posts. However, reviewing Enemies of the Crown is a no-brainer. I want to keep up with this series anyway, so why not do that as and when books are published?

As always when sharing blog tour posts, I like to thank both the author and Rachel at Rachel‘s Random Resources for organising. The other important thing to note is that I am providing this of my own free will; the thoughts expressed within are entirely my own.

If you enjoy historical fiction, in particular books set around the time when Vikings came to Britain, read on to find out more about this fifth instalment to The Saxon Warrior series!


Enemies of the Crown – Peter Gibbons

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 338

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date:  02 April 2025

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Enemies of the Crown

A weakened crown. A country besieged by Vikings, suffering under the oppression of a powerful church.

994AD

King Aethelred the Unready’s rule falters. Policies recommended by the controlling bishops invite more attacks upon his Saxon kingdom as Sweyn Forkbeard, Viking battle-king of the Danes, grows in power; bloodthirsty for conquest.

Beornoth, Viking-killer and kings thegn believed his days in the shield wall to be over until summoned by the king to enforce a policy of retribution against his enemies.

In a time of shifting loyalties, alongside a savage warband of cruel Norman warriors, Beornoth embarks upon a brutal quest to rid England of King Aethelred’s so-called Viking enemies.

However, when this murderous campaign leads to the door of an old friend, Beornoth must choose sides, as his loyalty to king, country, and his brothers of the sword are put to the test.

Can Beornoth triumph over insurmountable odds in this shield splintering battle for the future of England itself?


Purchase Link


My Thoughts


Plot

If you enjoy internal conflict present in the likes of Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom, you’ll enjoy Enemies of the Crown. Like Uhtred, Beornoth finds himself with conflicted loyalties. Between the King he is honour-bound to serve and a Dane he loves as a brother, who does he choose? It seems an impossible decision.

As with all books in the series to date, there is plenty of action to keep us readers engaged. Between Saxon, Norman and Danish factions, it’s hardly surprising there’s a constant power struggle.

The pacing of the storyline and events suited my preferences. I was able to read most of this book in a day. That’s very fast, but it doesn’t have to be read that way either. I guess what I’m saying is the plot and writing are so engaging that I was motivated to!

I can only hope there are more books to come based on the ending – because it sounds like the conflict is not yet over.


Setting

The setting of Enemies of the Crown spans much of England as we know it today. Even if you are unfamiliar with historic town and city names (e.g Somersaete), I feel confident readers can follow along well. As a big fan of the genre through books and television, I’m pretty versed in this knowledge. It’s certainly not a requirement though.   

From a political setting point of view, events have moved on since earlier books in the series. Aethelred’s mother is back in a position of influence, and this is not to Beornoth’s liking. Ælfthryth set herself against Beornoth in the past. So, he is naturally wary of her power and influence over the King of England.

There is a good deal of travel that takes place within this narrative, but the vast majority takes place behind the scenes. This keeps the action moving along and helps keep pace and readers engaged.


Characters

I’ve enjoyed seeing a more vulnerable side to Beornoth this time round. In the earlier books of the series, he was a younger man – better able and more physically fit to fulfil his duty in purging Britain’s soil of marauding Vikings. In Enemies of the Crown however, he is starting to show his age. He isn’t quite as quick as he was, and it does land him in danger.

Beornoth is also quite a different character to the man we met in the first book of the series, Warrior and Protector. He is more at peace with his past and emotionally he is far more mature. I have enjoyed his character arc and progression without the series to date, and that includes in Enemies of the Crown.

The final conflict in Enemies of the Crown is an interesting development and thorough it we see a lot about Beornoth. His past traumas come into play and I found his reactions and perspective in this almost repeat scenario interesting.


Narrative Style

By now, Peter Gibbons way of narrating the series is familiar and well-loved. It’s been very easy to get back into the series. Even though the book gets into action quite quickly, there is enough recap included to remind us readers of prior events. As somebody who reads a lot of books, I appreciate these hints being dropped in. It makes for a better reading experience when you can recall what’s happened rather than having to look it up.

With relatively short chapters and a punchy, action driven narrative style, there was always something going on and Enemies of the Crown. And, that’s true for the whole series. I’ve really enjoying the pacing of the storytelling-there’s plenty of action to keep us engaged, but not so much that it feels like we barely take a breath before the next big event is happening.


Summary

Fans of historical fiction, and especially Viking-era Britain will love both Enemies of the Crown and the earlier books in the series, starting with Warrior and Protector. If you have yet to read it, I strongly suggest you do! It’s a series I love and will be keeping up with as soon as the next book is out!


Author Bio

Peter is the winner of the 2022 Kindle Storyteller Literary Award, and an author based in Kildare in Ireland, with a passion for Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and of course writing! Peter was born in Warrington in the UK and studied Law at Liverpool John Moores University, before taking up a career in Financial Services and is now a full time author. Peter currently lives in Kildare Ireland, and is married with three children. Peter is an avid reader of both Historical Fiction and Fantasy novels, particularly those of Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, David Gemmell, and Brandon Sanderson.

His books include the Viking Blood and Blade Saga, the Saxon Warrior series, and the Chronicles of Arthur.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @PeterGibbonsAuthor

Twitter: @AuthorGibbons

Instagram: @PeterMGibbons

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Bookbub profile: @petermgibbons1