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Matthew Harffy
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Blood and Blade: an exciting Anglo-Saxon adventure in the Bernicia Chronicles Kindle Edition

by Matthew Harffy (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,156 ratings
THE NEW BERNICIA CHRONICLES NOVEL FROM MATTHEW HARFFY, SHADOWS OF THE SLAIN, OUT NOW!

Warlord Beobrand must safeguard the life of his queen in this gripping, action-packed historical adventure in the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

AD 635. Anglo-Saxon Britain. Oswald is now King of Northumbria. However, his plans for further alliances and conquests are quickly thrown into disarray when his wedding to a princess of Wessex is interrupted by news of a Pictish uprising.

Rushing north, Oswald leaves Beobrand to escort the young queen to her new home. Their path is fraught with danger and uncertainty, Beobrand must try to unravel secrets and lies if they are to survive.

Meanwhile, old enemies are closing in, seeking brutal revenge. Beobrand will give his blood and blade in service to his king, but will that be enough to avert disaster and save his kith and kin from the evil forces that surround them?

'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' ANGUS DONALD
'Matthew Harffy's tale of England in the Dark Ages is nothing less than superb' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
'Murder, betrayal and vengeance fuel tribal warfare and personal combat. Beobrand is the warrior to follow' DAVID GILMAN
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  1. Book 3 of 10
    The Bernicia Chronicles
  2. Print length
    390 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
  5. Publication date
    1 Dec. 2016
  6. File size
    7.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 10 books in this series.

In this series (10 books)

Kindle Edition

From the Publisher

The Bernicia Chronicles

Historical Novel Society

David Gilman

Simon Turney

The Serpent Sword
The Cross and the Curse
Blood and Blade
Killer of Kings
Warrior of Woden
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Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 5,618
4.4 out of 5 stars 4,224
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,156
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,304
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,896
Price £2.99 £3.99 £4.31 £4.31 £4.31
The Annals of Beobrand AD 633 AD 634 AD 635 AD 636 AD 642
Storm of Steel
Fortress of Fury
For Lord and Land
Forest of Foes
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Customer Reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,735
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,000
4.5 out of 5 stars 3,049
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,886
Price £4.31 £4.31 £4.31 £4.31
The Annals of Beobrand AD 643 AD 647 AD 651 AD 652
A Gripping Action-Packed Historical Thriller Series

Product description

Review

With the lead character you can sense and feel the anger, confusion and passions that he is struggling with ... This is a series that gets better and better and one I highly enjoy' Parmenion Books.

'Harffy illuminates the darkness of the Anglo-Saxon world in this vivid depiction of heroes and warriors, priests and kings. This is a tough, full-blooded tale, set against the violent backdrop of a tumultuous age' Ian Ross, author of the Twilight of Empire series.

'An epic and intimate saga. Harffy's Anglo-Saxon world is up there with the best' Gordon Doherty, author of The Legionary series.

'In Blood and Blade, Matthew Harffy's recreation of the violent and crucial decades of 7th-century Britain reaches a new depth and resonance' Edoardo Albert, author of the Northumbrian Thrones trilogy.

'Harffy is one of the finest historical novelists around. He creates thrilling stories, full of twists, with memorable characters gripped by traumatic events. His is especially skilful at immersing the reader in what it must have been like to live in these ancient times' Martin Lake, author of A Love Most Dangerous; and The Lost King series.

'Battles, treachery, revenge and a healthy dose of Dark Age adventure' S.J.A. Turney, historical fiction and fantasy author.

'This is [a series] readers will want to follow because of the historical realism and the character development of not just Beobrand, but all those who contribute to the story and help it move forward' Judith Lesley, NetGalley.

Review

PRAISE FOR THE BERNICIA CHRONICLES SERIES:
'Matthew Harffy's tale of England in the Dark Ages is nothing less than superb' Historical Novel Society.
'A tale that rings like sword song in the reader's mind. Harffy knows his genre inside out and The Cross and the Curse proves it' Giles Kristian.
'Murder, betrayal and vengeance fuel tribal warfare and personal combat. Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman.
'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' Angus Donald, author of The Outlaw Chronicles.
'I was gripped from the very first sentence ... I thoroughly recommend it for all historical fiction readers' -- Martin Lake

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01I1KGM3E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 Dec. 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 390 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1784978846
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 3 of 10 ‏ : ‎ The Bernicia Chronicles
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 3,156 ratings

About the author

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Matthew Harffy

Matthew Harffy

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Matthew Harffy lived in Northumberland as a child and the area had a great impact on him. The rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline made it easy to imagine the past. Decades later, a documentary about Northumbria's Golden Age sowed the kernel of an idea for a series of historical fiction novels. The first of them is the action-packed tale of vengeance and coming of age, THE SERPENT SWORD.

Matthew has worked in the IT industry, where he spent all day writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him. Prior to that he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator. Matthew lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.

For all the latest news and exclusive competitions, join Matthew online:

www.matthewharffy.com

twitter.com/@MatthewHarffy

www.facebook.com/MatthewHarffyAuthor

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
3,156 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fantastic read with an engrossing story from start to finish, particularly praising Beobrand as a likeable hero. The writing is well-crafted, and the book is well-researched, with one customer noting how the author manages to convincingly immerse readers in the world. Customers appreciate the action content, with one review mentioning plenty of blood and blade action, and they consider it a great addition to the series.

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79 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’79 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fantastic and entertaining, with one customer noting that each installment in the series gets better.

"...This is the best yet from Harffy, who has put so much time into crafting and developing such a rich and invigorating tale.. more than once I gritted..." Read more

"What an underrated series, just as good as The Saxon Stories!" Read more

"...Blood and Blade is the most mature and coherent novel in the series to date...." Read more

"...This is a fantastic successor to the first two books and I look forward to reading more from Matthew Harffy...." Read more

64 customers mention ‘Story quality’64 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging from start to finish, describing it as a gripping tale of Beobrand that flows well throughout the series.

"...The plot for this one really was brilliant, there are lots of strands to the tale to make it wonderfully full and complex but so well written it’s..." Read more

"...earlier, I think Harffy's characters are more rounded and interesting than Cornwell's." Read more

"What an underrated series, just as good as The Saxon Stories!" Read more

"...This is the real strength of the story - a world that has been fleshed out with a code of honour, tinged with impact of male bloodlust...." Read more

21 customers mention ‘Character development’21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the believable characters in the book, particularly the likeable hero Beobrand, and one customer notes how the landscape adds depth to the narrative.

"...series, albeit set 300 years earlier, I think Harffy's characters are more rounded and interesting than Cornwell's." Read more

"Fast paced tale interesting characters you can care about action scenes well written and descriptive mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs" Read more

"...The landscape also has a character and we are drawn into closeness to nature which can be lyrical or disquieting...." Read more

"...The characters are very real for their time - it’s not modern sensibilities pasted on an early medieval setting...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Writing style’16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book.

"...The first few chapters are written so well to hook you in but also remind the reader of some of the main characters in the tale...." Read more

"...paced tale interesting characters you can care about action scenes well written and descriptive mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs" Read more

"...Harffy writes exceptional prose. It is deftly executed, but does not shy away from the brutal realities of Seventh Century England...." Read more

"...With tighter writing than the first two books, I found this one even harder to put down...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Depth’12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book, noting it is well researched, with one customer highlighting how the author convincingly immerses readers in the world.

"...Beobrand has been wonderfully developed over the last two tales in the series that he’s grown and I felt this growth allowed for the plot of this..." Read more

"...can care about action scenes well written and descriptive mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs" Read more

"...influence are often poorly done, but Harffy manages the immersion in his world convincingly. There were no jarring anachronisms or WTF? moments...." Read more

"...Ladies, fighters and women in general in a book that gives a good insight into life in 7th century Anglo- Saxon England." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Series’12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book as a great addition to the series.

"...An excellent third addition to the series. Highly recommended." Read more

"...Had a problem putting the book down. Recommend the series." Read more

"Book 3 of this fantastic series. Great balance of history and action. Currently reading book 4 having just read 1, 2 and 3 in succusion" Read more

"...On to the next in this excellent series." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Action content’6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the action content of the book, with one review specifically mentioning the warfare and battles.

"...It is filled with love, warfare, Royal alliances, kidnapping, revenge and death if this is what you are into then it is all here...." Read more

"Another great read Blood and Blade,plenty blood and action.A worthy read,the storyline in the series flowing...." Read more

"...Plenty of blood and blade action, shieldwalls, and intrigue. An action packed exciting story and one you should read." Read more

"Epic adventure of love, loss, battles and strength. Our hero has become a rounded and strong character as the series continues...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • David Baird
    5.0 out of 5 stars This author gets better and better
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 December 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I’m so glad to be back in Beobrand’s world..it’s not been that long since the last book but I’ve been chomping at the bits and boy did Harffy use the time well!

    Straight from the off the book just felt tighter, more defined. Beobrand has been wonderfully developed over the last two tales in the series that he’s grown and I felt this growth allowed for the plot of this tale to become the best one yet of the series.

    Fans of Harffy won’t be disappointed with this one, Beobrand is haunted by his past more than ever and this time things are taking more of a toll on our hero. Beo isn’t fully healed after the injuries he received in the last book..he’s getting older but he’s as sharp and deadly as ever.

    Harffy easily brings you back into the world he’s created. The first few chapters are written so well to hook you in but also remind the reader of some of the main characters in the tale. I won’t spoil it for you but these early chapters stood out for me.. it set the tone of the tale and included some very moving moments with Beo’s closest. We really see how much the events in the past have changed Brobrand..he’s one death away from a complete breakdown.

    Beo is a man torn. He misses his wife and the events surrounding her death still haunt him, although there’s a potential love on the cards for him in this tale. You can really tell how hard this must be for him.. he loves his wife.. but he yearns for physical love..I feel he’s lost so much he just needs someone by his side, to keep him warm, to make him feel alive..and to give him something to live for.

    While performing his duties for King Oswald Beo still has his own issues to deal with.. namely Nelda and Torran who don’t seem to want to give up on the idea of vengeance any time soon.

    The plot for this one really was brilliant, there are lots of strands to the tale to make it wonderfully full and complex but so well written it’s effortless to follow and understand.

    One of the highlights for me was how well the author dealt with changing attitudes towards religion and medicine. There are some really great scenes with one of my favourites Coenred but if I say any more it will really ruin the enjoyment for you.

    The major thing I really like is Harffy’s ability to remind you of the events of the previous books..even just mentioning the name Cathryn brings me back to the first book in the series.. the emotions I felt at the time flowing back.

    This is the best yet from Harffy, who has put so much time into crafting and developing such a rich and invigorating tale.. more than once I gritted my teeth and shouted obscenities in my head (I don’t like to swear while on public transport :) ). I’ve really been taken into the series and credit to the author I really care about how things play out.. from the moment I open the book the world around me shuts off and the only thing that exists is this wonderfully brutal and harsh world Beo lives in.

    I must admit towards the end of the tale I wasn’t sure if Beo could make it out alive or not..there’s some brilliant twists to this tale and fans of Harffy will know anything is possible…I had my hand over my mouth a number of times thinking it was the end for Beobrand.

    I’m excited to see what the author comes up with next but at the same time I’m truly scared. I don’t want this series to end..

    Overall this is a whopper of a book, Harffy builds on his well-developed characters and throws in a super plot. It’s the brutal dark gloomy tale we expect for Beo but the author always leaves you with that feeling that Beo can right the wrongs that have been done and that although he can’t change the past there is always hope.. Things can in time.. hopefully..get better..

    Let’s wait and see.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • John Hopper
    4.0 out of 5 stars another good entry in this series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is the third in the author's series of novels set in 7th century England featuring Beobrand, a Kentish thane who is in service of King Oswald of Northumbria. As a break from fighting Picts, the main plot centres around Beobrand accompanying his master down south so the latter can form an alliance with King Cynegils of Wessex by marrying his beautiful daughter Cyneburg. However, escorting her separately to her new home, Beobrand loses her when she is captured by a band of Mercians. Of course he eventually tracks her down. The overall story arc of war against the Picts resumes though in a final battle to capture their stronghold in what is now Edinburgh, mirrored by Beobrand's personal war against the Nathair family. As I have remarked before, while covering very similar ground to Bernard Cornwell's Uhtred series, albeit set 300 years earlier, I think Harffy's characters are more rounded and interesting than Cornwell's.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Prometheus.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What an underrated series, just as good as The Saxon Stories!
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  • Christopher Mohan
    5.0 out of 5 stars the Legend of Beo continues
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Another strong entry in the story of Beobrand. His life and body bears the trials and notches that his conquests have taken from him. The people he has lost, the change in his body, the oaths he has taken.

    Blood and Blade is the most mature and coherent novel in the series to date. Beo knows his place in the world, yet is conflicted about how to deal with the responsibilities of his station, while balancing his own desires and foibles. He remains a flawed character but is aided by having devoted people around him.

    The set pieces and storytelling continue to flow with excitement, purpose and gravitas. Each scene is tinged with survival but with a sense of dread for what it means for the rest of the story. This is the real strength of the story - a world that has been fleshed out with a code of honour, tinged with impact of male bloodlust.

    Looking forward to exploring the world and spending more time as one of the gesithas.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Fast paced tale interesting characters you can care about action scenes well written and descriptive mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs
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  • Martin Lake
    5.0 out of 5 stars AN EPIC TALE OF VIOLENT DAYS
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 October 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is the third book in Matthew Harffy’s Bernicia Chronicles. The young thegn, Beobrand is once again the unwilling plaything of fate, blown from one dire situation to another. He is a man of great melancholy but there are plenty of reasons for this, many of them caused by the ambition and malice of others.

    He is also a man of great integrity and this, more than anything, leads his steps to great danger.

    The events of this book are complex and far-ranging and Harffy plots it like a master. The book is full of surprises but ones which seem reasonable, even inevitable. No easy feat.

    The characters, both male and female are well drawn, whether heroes or villains, men or women. The landscape also has a character and we are drawn into closeness to nature which can be lyrical or disquieting.

    This is a fantastic successor to the first two books and I look forward to reading more from Matthew Harffy.

    Martin Lake author of Land of Blood and WaterLand of Blood and Water (The Long War for England Book 1)
    One person found this helpful
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  • Darius
    3.0 out of 5 stars Humour, what humour.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I hate giving 3 star reviews because they are neither here or there. However, I found the storyline in Blood and Blade fairly basic without any dramatic parts or any excitement come to think of it. Perhaps I make the mistake of comparing Beobrand with Uhtred. And of course these characters should not be compared. One is far superior to the other in what he does, what he says, how he thinks. But what is lacking with Beobrand is a hint of humour. The Bernicia chronicles are overly serious and Blood and Blade is the weakest of the three books so far. I hope to see an improvement in the next novel in the series as I shall continue to follow Beobrand's expoits because I enjoy the genre.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tonto Kowalski
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beobrand navigates difficult politics in Dark Age Britain
    Reviewed in Germany on 17 August 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Beobrand is still devastated after the events in book 2 but he gets called upon to accompany his King Oswald to a state visit for King Oswald to enter into an arranged political marriage. Beobrand then gets tasked with escorting the new Queen home to Oswalds castle. Shenanigans and battles ensue.

    Beobrand is a fighter, no doubt about it, but he also develops further and takes responsibility for actions and his people. It is entertaining to see this development over time.
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  • Tacitus Kilgore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Spain on 27 January 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Another excellent book of the Bernicia Chronicles. Harffy keeps the good work and I literally devoured words to know more about Beobrand's adventures
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  • e
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Australia on 31 March 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The book had you entertained through out the story and kept you reading to the end to see what happens next in the series of books.
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  • ravenwendigo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Blood and Blade - A great book :)
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 April 2017
    Verified Purchase
    In 'By Blood and Blade', Matthew Harffy takes us through Wessex, Mercia and bleak war-torn Pictland in this beautifully crafted dark age novel. Totally readable and with a flowing storyline, the reader once again follows Beobrand's life-thread as he struggles with responsibilities, ruthless enemies and dark memories which resurface from the past. It is a great addition to the series and the final section is so tense I was glued to the book and could not stop reading till I was finished. Death, suffering and war are major components of the tale but there are light, jovial moments and one cannot help but smile when reading conversations between Beobrand and Acennan, one of his close companions. I will eagerly pre-order Killer of Kings!! - Andreas Azzopardi
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  • Robin Isard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Takes you away to Anglo Saxon England
    Reviewed in Canada on 1 February 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Taking off right where The Cross and the Curse ended, Blood and Blade sees Beobrand head south to Wessex with his king and getting wrapped up in all kinds of mischief along the way.

    I enjoyed the traveling storyline as it moves through different parts of England. I might have enjoyed it too much because I found myself inspired to play Total War Thrones of Britannia when I should have been reading. I see this as a testament to how well Matthew Harffy can bring the world of Anglo-Saxon England to life, which is one of the great features of his writing, and one of the things I love most about reading historical fiction: being swept away to a new time and place.

    It was great seeing Beobrand mature, as his character develops through his various adventures. Beobrand’s interactions in the king’s court created interesting new personality clashes, particularly around King Oswald’s brother and Eowa, a pince of Mercia, and I’m very curious to see how these new plotlines will be weaved into the next book.
    As interesting as the traveling sections are, the last couple of chapters throw things into overdrive with both Beobrand and his enemies showing some exceptional cunning. I read them in a rush.

    I’m looking forward to seeing where all this leads in the next book!
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