OUT NOW: THE BLOOD OF THE IUTES, BOOK 1 OF THE SONG OF OCTA – SEQUEL TO THE SONG OF ASH – #1 Bestseller in Norse Historical Fiction in UK, Canada and Australia! – The old world is burningA hero will rise from its ASH.Thirty years passed since Britannia voted to throw off the Roman yoke. Now, the old world crumbles. Pirates roam the seas, bandits threaten the highways, and barbarian refugees from … bandits threaten the highways, and barbarian refugees from the East arrive on Britannia’s shores, uninvited. The rich profit from the chaos, while the poor suffer. A new Dark Age is approaching – but all is not lost.
Ash is a Seaborn, a Saxon child found on the beach with nothing but a precious stone at his neck and a memory of a distant war from which his people have fled. Raised on the estate of a Briton nobleman, trained in warfare and ancient knowledge, he soon becomes embroiled in the machinations and intrigues at the court of Wortigern, the Dux of Londinium, a struggle that is about to determine the future of all Britannia.
A child of Saxon blood, an heir to Roman family, his is a destiny like no other: to join the two races and forge a new world from the ruins of the old.
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“In The Saxon Spears James Calbraith gives us a fast-paced, immediate, raw look into the dark times of the fifth century. (…) James Calbraith’s Ash is a sympathetic protagonist, full of mystery and a yearning to discover the secrets of his past and the truth of his destiny. The Saxon Spears is a great read.” – MATTHEW HARFFY, author of Bernicia Chronicles
★★★★★ “Rich, detailed writing and compelling characters.” – Jessica Belmont, Jessica Belmont
★★★★★ “A truly intriguing and impressive start to a new series.” – Liberty Ireland, Historical Graffiti
★★★★ “A fine beginning indeed to what promises to be an exciting series.” – Paul Bennett, Hoover Book Reviews
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The Saxon Spears is the first volume of the Song of Ash, a fast-paced, gripping historical fiction saga, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell’s “The Last Kingdom” series, Matthew Harffy and Conn Iggulden.
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Thank you HFVBT and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Saxon Spears:
An Epic Of The Dark Age
By: James Calbraith
*REVIEW*
I can’t imagine living in a time literally called The Dark Age to have been great in any way. Rather, it seems raw and gritty. In The Saxon Spears, Ash, the main character, is separated from his people by a ravaging storm at sea. Later found washed ashore, Ash has little recollection and only a rune stone around his neck. Ash is ultimately, and fortunately, taken in by a Roman master of a villa, and raised with the master’s own son. Over time and with training, Ash shows great skill as a warrior. Feeling called to be a warrior puts Ash in a tread lightly situation. The political climate of the day is treacherous terrain for everyone, but Ash is particularly exposed as a threat. Ash is of unknown heritage and foreign people, most likely, plus a soon to be warrior, so he can easily be perceived as a threat. It comes down to a decision for Ash. Does he seek out his biological family, or does he remain with his adoptive family? Ash is just a guy in a situation fraught with danger, and I felt sorry for him at times. He’s a strong character with genuine attributes of time and place. Speaking of which, I know next to nothing about The Dark Age, so The Saxon Spears was educational for me. I found this story fascinating and thought provoking, as well as slightly brutal here and there. It has everything I look for in a good historical fiction read. I’m interested to see what happens next, and in the meantime, I’m going to learn more about this tumultuous time period. Try The Saxon Spears if you have any interest in The Dark Age because it’s very good!
The Saxon Spears by James Calbraith is Book One of the Song of Ash. Ash is a little boy that was rescued from a sinking boat as a small boy and sold at a slave market where he was seen by a fine Roman lady and taken home. He was given to and old man and woman who were slaves on the property and after a few years, when he w as six or so, Ash started going to work with his “father.” They worked at the baths in a tunnel under the baths near they boiler where the water was heated. One day there was an accident and Ash escaped but his father did not. It is unclear when he was found but by then he was long dead. Ash might have had something to do with it, or not. The story follows Ash as he grows and becomes a member of the noble family who own him. They educate him along with their own son and he spends all his time with him. Ash falls in love with the daughter of a tradesman and eventually comes to understand he will never be allowed to marry her but will have to make a more politically advantageous marriage. The book follows him as he becomes a young man. He discovers he is probably a Saxon prince, but at this point nothing really changes for him except he questions, typical of the age.
This was an interesting storyline but kind of tough to read. I write that up to being by a British author. It is obvious the author is quite knowledgeable about the time period, after the Roman army has left Britain but many Romans still there are clinging to the life. It is the end of the 5th Century BCE and England is very splintered and still partially under the influence of the Romans who remain. Ash is a good character but the writer keeps us from knowing him intimately despite the fact we know intimate things about him. The Saxon Spears is not a book for the casual reader of historical fiction. It is perfect for the serious reader of British historical fiction. For that reader, I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of The Saxon Spears from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own.
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