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Geoffrey Gudgion
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Saxon's Bane Kindle Edition

by Geoffrey Gudgion (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 104 ratings
YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE PAST

Fergus’s world changes forever the day his car crashes near the village of Allingley. Traumatised by his near-death experience, he stays to work at the local stables as he recovers. He will discover a gentler pace of life, fall in love – and be targeted for human sacrifice.

Clare Harvey’s life will never be the same either. The archaeologist’s dream find – the peat-preserved body of a Saxon warrior – is giving her nightmares. She can tell that the warrior was ritually murdered, and that the partial skeleton lying nearby is that of a young woman; their tragic story is unfolding in her head every time she goes to sleep.

Fergus discovers that his crash is linked to the excavation, and that the countryside harbours some dark secrets. As Clare’s investigation reveals the full horror of a Dark Age war crime, Fergus and Clare seem destined to share the Saxon couple’s bloody fate.
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  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    25 Aug. 2013
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

'Once there was a great classical tradition of rural British horror from MR James to The Wicker Man. Now Geoffrey Gudgion has revived the style and modernised it to great effect, proving there's still nothing as creepy as the countryside.' --Christopher Fowler

About the Author

Geoffrey Gudgion was the scholarship boy who never realised he'd have been happier as a writer than a businessman. Until, that is, he had a spectacular row with his boss and stepped off the corporate ladder. Prior to that epiphany, he made his first attempts at writing fiction during long deployments in the Royal Navy, and consistently failed to reconcile writing with being CEO of a technology company.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00ESH8YWC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Solaris
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 25 Aug. 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1849976299
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 104 ratings

About the author

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Geoffrey Gudgion

Geoffrey Gudgion

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Geoffrey Gudgion grew up with his nose in a book, often one featuring knights in armour. A turbulent career including the armed forces and business has now settled into full-time writing. Since the publication of Saxon’s Bane and Draca he has gravitated to the fantasy genre and is the author, as G.N. Gudgion, of the Rune Song trilogy. The first in the series, Hammer of Fate, will be published on 1 June 2023 by Second Sky, an imprint of Bookoutoure/Hachette.

Geoff loves to create stories with complex, conflicted characters that a reader can bleed with, cry for, and perhaps fall in love with; stories with a strong historical slant but where women don’t have to be either beautiful damsels or witches. They live in worlds where you can smell the sweat and the sewers, as well as the roses.

He lives in a leafy corner of England, where he’s a keen amateur equestrian and a very bad pianist. He spends much of his time crafting words in a shed, fifty yards and five hundred years from his house.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
104 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great read with an intricate plot that combines historical elements with thriller elements. The writing is well-crafted with detailed descriptive prose, and customers find the characters believable.

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17 customers mention ‘Readability’17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great and intriguing debut novel, with one customer noting how it draws readers into its world and carries them through to the last page.

"...This novel is about laying ghosts to rest and fulfilment and it is a cracking good read, an historical novel and thriller combined. I loved it." Read more

"Saxon's Bane is a grat read and pulls you in quietly...." Read more

"...From the outset you tend to know the baddies from the goodies but a decent read if you just want a story you can pick up and put down...." Read more

"...The climax is gripping - and full of black humour. A truly delightful and intriguing read from start to finish. Richard Walmsley - author." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Plot’14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, finding it intriguing and intricate, with one customer describing it as a historical novel and thriller combined.

"...The narrative is superb. It involves not only a life changing experience but also a sense of how the past can stay in a place and haunt it...." Read more

"...The descriptive prose was detailed and realistic, the characters had a form that brought them to life...." Read more

"This story is intriguing and captivating from the word go. From the outset, it has a hint of the supernatural buried in the plot...." Read more

"Another haunting tale from Geoffrey weaving history and faith, dreams and reality that leaves you wanting more." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Writing quality’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written with detailed descriptive prose, making it an easy read.

"...Given the depth of writing in this story, Gudgion's excellent character construction and his fine writing he might in time give King serious..." Read more

"Saxon's Bane is a grat read and pulls you in quietly. The descriptive prose was detailed and realistic, the characters had a form that brought them..." Read more

"An OK easy read, not having to think too much about the storyline to be honest...." Read more

"...The mingling of past and present is beautifully created. The story constantly evokes the spirit of our long distant past...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Character development’6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are believable.

"...As a consequence he meets an engaging gallery of characters who drive the story's narrative through a series of thrilling events and physiologically..." Read more

"...The descriptive prose was detailed and realistic, the characters had a form that brought them to life...." Read more

"...The location and cast of characters are so wonderfully described that I felt I was more a viewer than a reader...." Read more

"...It's an excellent story with engaging characters, and horrible baddies! An author to watch." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • CAROL MCGRATH
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Glorious Mix of Past and Present
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2013
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    The opening to Saxon's Bane contains vivid depiction that immediately draws a reader into its world. When Fergus and Kate are in a car crash travelling on a quiet road that runs through woods close to Allingley, a 'normal' English village. Fergus sees something so shocking that it haunts him as he recovers from his injuries. Fergus' life is changed by the crash and when he recovers he determines to investigate what really happened to cause this fatal accident. As a consequence he meets an engaging gallery of characters who drive the story's narrative through a series of thrilling events and physiologically powerful incidents. These characters are created as rounded personalities and as such they leap off the page.

    The narrative is superb. It involves not only a life changing experience but also a sense of how the past can stay in a place and haunt it. Wealas is the Saxon label for 'otherness' as Geoffrey Gudgion points out, 'those not of this tribe.' Clare the novel's second protagonist understands this because she is an archaeologist and a researcher who discovers two Anglo-Saxon corpses in an English garden. One of the copses is preserved just as Tolland man was in a previous time. They provide the novel's time slip element,a parallel element in the story's past/present narrative.

    Gudgion understands the mind set of this early medieval period. He also integrates this with a folk lore element that haunts the present. The Anglo-Saxon past story becomes a driving force in this novel. The characters are reflective of past and present and the character Jake could have walked out of a Stephen King novel into this one. Given the depth of writing in this story, Gudgion's excellent character construction and his fine writing he might in time give King serious competition. The narrative contains adventure, flashback chapters to the Anglo-Saxon past, romance, and horror.

    A character remarks, ''I believe we are only truly fulfilled when body, mind, and spirit are in harmony.' Eadlin spoke in a soft, measured way with breaths between each phrase, an oasis of calm in the midst of a noisy bar.' This novel is about laying ghosts to rest and fulfilment and it is a cracking good read, an historical novel and thriller combined. I loved it.
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  • Dawn
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2013
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    Saxon's Bane is a grat read and pulls you in quietly. The descriptive prose was detailed and realistic, the characters had a form that brought them to life. While not a traditional spook fest this book had me holding by breath at points, unable to put it down, causing some late night reading!
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  • Hectordog
    3.0 out of 5 stars An OK easy read, not having to think too much about ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2014
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    An OK easy read, not having to think too much about the storyline to be honest. From the outset you tend to know the baddies from the goodies but a decent read if you just want a story you can pick up and put down. Worth a read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Riccardo Q.
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intelligent and intriguing thriller - with many a dark twist in the tale.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This story is intriguing and captivating from the word go. From the outset, it has a hint of the supernatural buried in the plot. But the "real" world and the "ghostly" world are so entwined that you are never quite sure about where the characters stand; just as in real life, where the spiritual forces in our lives remain intangible. The mingling of past and present is beautifully created. The story constantly evokes the spirit of our long distant past. The plot is intricate and skilfully handled throughout. The author's use of the English language is precise and evocative.
    I have read other reviews of this book. As a story in its own right, I think this novel stands alone; I would not want to compare it to any other novel - or author.The climax is gripping - and full of black humour. A truly delightful and intriguing read from start to finish. Richard Walmsley - author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • DozyDragon
    5.0 out of 5 stars A cracking good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2024
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    Another haunting tale from Geoffrey weaving history and faith, dreams and reality that leaves you wanting more.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Alexander Kreator
    4.0 out of 5 stars I liked the ethereal and spiritural parts - less sure about the rest.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Cover 4.0 Simple and to the point Title, Author and a hook. I found Geoffrey via Canada and Mary Tod's web site awriterof history and her book Unravelled. Following a read of the first two chapters on preview I thought the book would be worth a read and downloaded a copy. I did not start to read what all the trouble and evil might be about until last night after being prompted by the arrival of Geoffrey's short story booklet earlier in the day. The car crash description was my second of the day having heard about Peter Billings in the afternoon being the catalyst to Seize the Day. I like the ingredients and their mixing, pace, style and structure of the early chapters setting up the story and the characters. I read on ...

    Book finished 5 10 13. I really liked the ethereal and spiritural parts up to about 60% through, some wonderful writing, then a few sections afterwards which supported my initial four star rating. However, my rating nearly slipped back to three as I am less sure about the remaining because I finished the book far less satisfied than I had been at the two thirds mark. The more I am reading, following Stephen King's advice to writers, perhaps the more demanding I am becoming of others and myself in quality of story writing. I may try and read a hard copy. Alexander of Allrighters and Ywnwab.
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  • The Stork 245.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 November 2020
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    Fact - Fiction - Past - Present, all brought together to produce a book that you won't want to put down. A superbly written novel, that is sure to please. The location and cast of characters are so wonderfully described that I felt I was more a viewer than a reader. Saxon's Bane is a quality read that I highly recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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  • musiclover
    3.0 out of 5 stars fair to middling
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2014
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    OK but there's nothing new in this - nothing that hasn't been done time & time again. The "goodies" and "baddies" are immediately obvious, even without the clue of the names. Not a book to be treasured & reread, so it can be added to the growing charity shop pile.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • CMG1960
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Debut!
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 October 2013
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    What a wonderful novel! This book is a superb blend of history and the supernatural set in a totally believable present day, real-world. The characters are finely drawn and genuine; easy to relate to. The plot is well-paced and moves along without hesitation.
    Mr. Gudgion's attention to detail is astonishing. His love for English history and legend is obvious. I had to constantly remind myself that Saxon's Bane is the product of a writer who is new to the publishing world and not a much more well-known author. It is a towering achievement. I eagerly look forward to Mr. Gudgion's next foray as a fiction writer.
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  • Jules H.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable but not perfect
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 November 2013
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    When I read the description of Saxon's Bane and gave it a quick flip through, I realized I would enjoy this book simply based on the setting: "quaint" English village, an archeological dig, a sense of spirits, mystery, and ancient curses. Those things did not disappoint, however, much is left to speculation in the end. Our protagonist, Fergus Shepherd, has a ghostly vision at the beginning of the book while he is in the throes of pain trapped in a car accident which just happens to coincide with the moment the bog body of a Saxon warrior is discovered. Clare Harvey, the archeologist on the Saxon's case, has dreams that tie in to the dig site, and also involve visions of Fergus' business partner, Kate, who was killed in the car accident. Clare never met Kate, so we don't know *exactly* why Kate's visage appears in Clare's dreams. It's left up to the reader, and Clare, to decide. On one hand, I enjoyed this subtlety and interpreting for myself, and on the other I would have liked harder answers. It all boils down to a question of individual belief.

    I also appreciated the character of Eadlin, whose peaceful practice of the Old Ways is a refreshing and positive take on paganism. However, I wasn't sure if the author only skimmed the surface of research on Wicca, or if he meant to be so obscure; except for a comment that it is a modern practice (and it is), he continuously tried to tie it into Satanism with the baddy, Jake Hearne (whose name is even taken from a pagan spirit/god), constantly making the sign of the horns, or as the author sees it, the Horned God. Wicca has nothing to do with Satanism, though I tried to look at it as basically Jake not knowing what he was doing and messing with something that he twisted around into something dark (for example, Wiccans do not make the sign of the horns like a bunch of metal heads, and esbats are not ceremonies designed around building a curse). Eadlin, likewise, is someone raised on the Old Ways, so to her, modern Wicca takes on an intrusive role when compared to the quiet, healing practices which have been a family tradition for generations; by looking at it from this angle, I had no problem with it at all.

    My main cons are that I just got a little tired of Fergus' regular trips into lechery when he leered at Eadlin's or Clare's bottoms or took advantage of looking up Clare's shirt. The character began to remind me of Richard Coyle as Jeff Murdoch in the series 'Coupling' shouting "Nipples!" at every possible opportunity. Again, on the one hand, I appreciated that Fergus was depicted as a rather goofy and awkward straight male, but on the other it got a little distracting after a while, like. . . enough with the bums and boobs. The other is that I was a little disappointed in one of the directions Clare was taken. I felt that she devolved somewhat, from a strong academic figure into a weak, whimpering girl, and from there she began to remind me of that character in a horror movie who goes into the basement, despite all warning signs that it's a bad idea. Anyone here who finished the book will know exactly what I mean.

    So, read for fun, setting and atmosphere, but be prepared for a little indulgence on the author's part, and to come to your own conclusions about what exactly happened in the end.
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  • Dorothy Shamah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Saxon's Bane - A Hell of a Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on 8 January 2014
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    review Loved the vulnerability of the protagonist. Enjoyed the strong female characters. Took pleasure in the puns and the imagery. Enjoyed stepping into small town, rural England. Enjoyed the mythological/historical background. Descriptions like 'morning light sharp enough to cut glass' and 'he parked her words in the mental corner as'...delightful details, nasty bad guys, a great tale written by a man who obviously loves women and has had a fine experience with horses. A page turner. I read on a Kindle..so didn't realize there were so many pages. They flew past.
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  • P.D. Pabst
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Characters
    Reviewed in the United States on 12 December 2013
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    At first glance, the cover lured me in with promise of an ancient past from viewing the medieval joisting helm with a stag, to a story of present with the paved road below. Upon opening the book, I was hooked with the first few sentences. Geoffrey Gudgion perfectly weaves the ritual murder of a Saxon warrior with Fergus' life thru nightmares of his new archaeologist friend, Clare. Realizing Fergus might be doomed for the same fate, I got drawn in wanting to learn why the Saxon was sacrificed and if Fergus could prevent his own demise. The story takes places in an English village named Allingley and is described so richly I thought the town existed in real life. The layers of the characters unfolded in a way I wanted to engage with them, even the villain, Jake, of whom I fantasized slapping the crap out of. When this happens, the author has done his job properly.
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  • D. Safir
    2.0 out of 5 stars Not a horror story, but sort of a romantic oneness with old ways, Saxon history, nature and a lot of description! Not for me!
    Reviewed in the United States on 28 June 2017
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    Looks like I'm the only negative reviewer, so far. Sorry. I just found this book dreadfully dull. Towards the end I did a lot of skimming so I could just get finished with it. The problem may be that I get most of my recommendations from Book Bub. They put each book in a category that corresponds with your chosen genres. This must have been listed as a horror novel, as that's what I've been choosing, having plenty of thrillers already loaded on my Kindle. This really does not fit well into the category of horror. Frankly, I don't know what genre you would classify this. Somewhat of a romantic adventure, with supernatural and historic overtones. That doesn't even quite seem right. To me the pace was as slow as molasses. There was so much description!!! Very little actual action. Most, if not all, of the supernatural came in the form of dreams to the female protagonist (one of the two female protagonists, both of whom were constantly ogled by the main character, Fergus). Fergus seemed to love looking up women's shirts. If you're into slow, descriptive books that deal with a visionary history of Saxons and Welsh ritual atrocities, romantic enlightenments of a oneness with nature and the old ways, good and bad guys, looking up women's shirts, and lots and lots of description, but definitely not HORROR, this book may be for you. It wasn't for me.
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