From author MJ Porter comes a thrilling new hero.They sent three hundred warriors to kill one man. It wasn’t enough.Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters.Coelwulf, a fierce and bloody warrior, hears whispers that Mercia has been betrayed from his home in the west. He fears no man, especially not the Vikings sent to hunt him down.To discover the truth of the … down.
To discover the truth of the rumours he hears, Coelwulf must travel to the heart of Mercia, and what he finds there will determine the fate of Mercia, as well as his own.
Praise for The Last King
“A well-written book from start to finish, full of action with lots of strong characters that you soon love. Really, truly loved it. 5 stars from me. Smashed it.”
“I feel as though I’m sat astride a horse, sword in hand, screaming like a banshee as I charge.”
“Action-packed and hard to put down.”
“I really loved this book, great strong central characters that grow on you. Fantastic read, the book had me gripped. Excellent storyline , fast-paced, full of action, bloody action and violence you feel like your stood in the shield walk or charging on a horse with the blood & sweat of man & beast around you as you help battle the impossible odds. The stories main character Coelwulf is a true warrior of royal blood & the only man with the skills & presence to pull the lords of Mercia together. He stands tall with his band of warriors & draws men to him to do battle. A true hero of old.” Stacy T Netgalley Reviewer
“To say this book is excellent would be an understatement. it’s a blood and gore fest for any fan of the period.” Amazon Reviewer
“The Last King starts with a punchy opening paragraph that instantly draws you into the story. Coelwulf is a fierce and skilful warrior with a formidable band of fighters at his side. Readers are invited to join them in the shield wall and follow them to the last bloody moments of every hectic battle. The Last King is a spirited novel; drenched in gore and positively ringing with the sound of seaxes on shields. This novel suits anyone who prefers a fast-paced tale with plenty of action. If you are a fan of Bernard Cornwell’s Uhtred series then this could help ease the wait till the next instalment.” Netgalley Reviewer
“an instant page-turner.” Netgalley Reviewer
“The battle scenes were really well written.” Netgalley Reviewer
“Coelwulf is a fierce warrior with an honourable battlefield moral code. Coelwulf’s character is one that you soon learn to respect and admire, along with his men. With plenty of gory battle scenes, MJ Porter’s descriptive writing really brings Coelwulf’s battles to life.” Netgalley Reviewer
“Fast-paced, deep character development, page-turning action, what more do you need.” Netgalley Reviewer
“A tale that moves fairly swiftly, breathless at times, with great battle scenes and just the right amount of humour.” Netgalley Reviewer
The Ninth Century Series
The Last King
The Last Warrior
The Last Horse
The Last Enemy
The Last Sword (coming soon)
MEET THE AUTHOR
I’m an author of historical fiction (Early English/Viking) and fantasy. I write A LOT, you’ve been warned.
Find me @coloursofunison or at www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing!
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BLURB
They sent three hundred warriors to kill one man. It wasn’t enough.
Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters.
Coelwulf, a fierce and bloody warrior, hears whispers that Mercia has been betrayed from his home in the west. He fears no man, especially not the Vikings sent to hunt him down.
To discover the truth of the rumours he hears, Coelwulf must travel to the heart of Mercia, and what he finds there will determine the fate of Mercia, as well as his own.
REVIEW
When I got the request to read and review The Last King, I accepted immediately. I’ve read a few of this author’s prodigious portfolio of early Britain prose, and she has found my weakness, or perhaps my longing, for tales of this time period. The immediacy of my response, however, did have the side effect of being given January 11 as my posting date for the tour, which as it turns out, is the kickoff date. No pressure whatsoever for this humble scribbler of reviews and novels. So, without further ado, or prattling, I welcome one and all to The Last King Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tour.
Well now, that is one badass group of warriors. The raiders sent 300 to get him, hah, even Leonidas and his 300 Spartans would have succumbed to Coelwulf and his warband. An intense series of encounters with Raider bands are the highlights of this action packed saga. A warrior without equal, a man with fierce loyalties to his men, a leader reluctant to assume the title king; Coelwulf is dedicated to one thing – protecting Mercia, no matter the overwhelming odds against his success. The Raiders, no longer content with hit and run tactics are, under the leadership of Halfdan and Guthrum, looking to stay, and only Coelwulf stands in their way. The process of Coelwulf coming to terms with this savior role, and the prospect of being chosen King of Mercia, is deftly portrayed by the author, as are the men of his warband. All of them deadly killers, but each with their own personalities, though it will become apparent that they all share the same all purpose expletive. If you are familiar with The Big Lebowski, there is a scene where The Stranger asks The Dude, “Do you have to use so many cuss words?” The Dude’s response is undoubtedly the same one that would be uttered by Coelwulf, or any of his men for that matter, “What the fuck are you talking about?” Yes, my fellow readers, this is a tale of cunning, bravery, loyalty, and of a man finding his destiny, however reluctantly. A page turning, thrilling delight awaits. 5
I am a big fan of M. J. Porter, especially the Lady Elfrida books and the Tenth Century series. So I was very pleased when Netgalley and the publisher allowed me to read and review this new book The Last King. This book takes place in ninth century Britain in the kingdom of Mercia and is about King Coelwulf II. The Danes have given King Burgured and his Queen the offer of their lives in exchange for their kingdom, an offer they hastily accepted. They have since fled to Rome. The Danish leaders have now sent their 300 best men looking for Coelwulf, the last living member of the previous Royal family, to get him to join them or to kill him as he is the only one left in Mercia who could stop the Danes take over. So begins a tale that moves fairly swiftly, breathless at times, with great battle scenes and just the right amount of humor. I gave it 4 stars because of some of the language though I realize fighting men curse it was a lot. I will be glad when book 2 comes out.