In Pit of Vipers, the second book in the Sons of Kings trilogy, the lives of Alfred of Wessex and Eadwulf of Mercia continue to unfold against the ever increasing threat of Danish raids. Now back in his homeland, Eadwulf sets out on his determined quest for revenge, whilst Alfred’s leadership skills develop at the courts of his successive brothers. Before long, those skills will be put to the … to the test . . .
The Danish invasion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in 865 is merciless and relentless. Every year more Norse ships come to join their comrades in a quest to plunder for wealth and gain domination over the people.
The Wessex king is now Aethelred, Alfred’s last surviving brother, and Alfred becomes his trusted second-in-command. Whilst the Danes take kingdom after kingdom, the brothers wait with baited breath for them to set their sights on Wessex.
By 869 their worst fear is realised.
In the meantime, Eadwulf pursues the objects of his revenge.
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Eadwulf of Mercia has returned home and his heart is consumed with revenge. Alfred of Wessex, meanwhile, is learning the ins and outs of being king. All that he observes at the courts of his two brothers becomes invaluable to Alfred as his leadership rises. The threats of Danish raids escalate until 865 when the invasion is real. As each Anglo-Saxon kingdom falls, Alfred and Eadwulf fear Wessex will be next. Eadwulf seeks out revenge on those who killed his parents while also on the Danes who mistreated him while he was in servitude. Which side will Eadwulf choose when he is forced to choose?
If it’s possible, I loved Pit of Vipers even more than Shadow of the Raven. In this installment, we see much more action and battle scenes than we did in the previous book. There’s also more intrigue, revenge and violence in this book, which is fine by me. The Vikings (Danes) permeate every corner of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, leaving behind death, blood and destruction. The growth of Alfred and Eadwulf is immense and added to my enjoyment of the story. While Alfred is clearly a leader and soon to be king, he has a soft side not seen much during the Dark Ages. He’s a strong contrast to Eadwulf who is consumed by hatred, revenge and anger. Two young men destined for greatness but both fighting tooth and nail for survival.
Why is this a five-star read? Millie Thom describes in intricate detail what it was like living in the Dark Ages. The historical details blended with gripping storytelling makes this a must read. I read late into the night on several occasions because I couldn’t put it down. The characters and their motivations are what makes this a must-read. Treachery and deceit are all around yet Alfred and Eadwulf find a way to survive. The ending leads us right into the next book and I can’t wait to read it!
If you like spellbinding historical fiction with plenty of grueling action, you’ve got to read Pit of Vipers. Fans of the Dark Ages and The Vikings will love this book. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
A masterful mix of history, war, intrigue, the making of Kings and love
We are smack down in the middle bit of medieval Europe. Separated only by the stretch of the North Sea, the Danish often raid the Anglo-Saxon lands.
In what we know today as Great Britain, back then there were seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms rivaling each other (how else), a heptarchy, two of them being Wessex and Mercia. Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the very south of today’s England. Mercia was a larger Anglo-Saxon kingdom bordering Wessex on the north.
But whenever the Danes would raid the Anglo-Saxon lands, liking mainly the mouth of the Thames as an entry point for their ships, the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia would be forced to put their hostilities aside and face the common threat together. But can their rulings Kings forget their egos and past family feuds aside?
“Pit of Vipers” continues the storyline of “Shadow of the Raven” – book 1 in the “Sons of Kings” trilogy. It is thus a good idea to read from the beginning as following the timeline adds to the charm of the story. Spanning over seven years, between 864 and 871, “Pit of Vipers” looks at the lives of Alfred of Wessex and Eadwulf of Mercia.
The characters are masterfully penned, but I was drawn to the lives of the Mercians, especially those of Eadwulf and his brave wife Leoflaed. Eadwulf, or Ulf to the Danes, is the son of Beohrtwulf, former King of Mercia. He now found refuge on the grounds of Wigstan of Elston, a Mercian ealdorman and Leoflaed’s father. There is a heartwarming love story developing between Eadwulf and Leoflaed, built on trust and mutual respect. You will root for this young family and this is where Thom’s writing artistry shows itself – for she will bring you on the verge of tears. For being the son of a king comes with strings attached and on pursuing them Eadwulf has to leave his new-found family behind.
But it isn’t only love, “Pit of Vipers” has masterful intrigue and battles, torture fitting for the Middle Ages and the making of two great future kinds.
Another aspect I enjoyed tremendously were the tiny linguistic and visual details that pop up everywhere in the book. From the way the food was prepared to the everyday lifestyle, the market, the weather, even the health issues – these are gems of research masterfully introduced in the story. Without overwhelming, they draw you in and, before you know it, you speak the language and live the rough life of the 9th century.
Two of my favorite historical authors thus far are Philipa Gregory and Diana Gabaldon. Whereas Philipa Gregory mostly writes about the Tudor period and Diana Gabaldon weaves 18th century Scottish history into her time-travels, I am thrilled to add Millie Thom to my list of historical authors as one painting vivid images of the Anglo-Saxon and Viking times in her books – an era I am still discovering.