757

The start of an epic, brand NEW series from bestselling author MJ Porter - The House of Mercia. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy

This is Mercia. The year is 757.

A king will fall. A king will rise.

But first, civil war will rage.

King Æthelbald's forty-year vice-like rule over Mercia has been rigid. But he lacks a legitimate heir despite his insatiable bedchamber antics.

Offa must stand hostage to his family's good behaviour, when his father missteps in removing his mother from Æthelbald's bed. Shockingly, his younger sister now replaces her.

But the king isn't finished with his denigration of Offa's noble House. When his parents are traitorously killed, Offa's resentment grows, compounded by the ridicule heaped on him by King Æthelbald's oathsworn warriors.

With the king's health deteriorating, the matter of the succession becomes paramount. There are plenty who share a claim to the kingship.

Discord threatens to fracture the mighty realm, and those with sword and shield, seax and spear are prepared to risk it all to be the future king of Mercia.

Praise for M J Porter:

'Immediate and personal. MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' - Matthew Harffy

'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Son of Mercia is personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' - S.J.A. Turney

'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories, grab a copy of Son of Mercia. You won't regret it!" - Eric Schumacher

'Refreshing... I was reluctant to put the book down' - Historical Novel Society

' A story of hidden agendas, excellent read. Great read, fast paced with the usual betrayal. Lots of characters that have their own agendas. Overall it's a page turner, exciting.' - Reader Review

'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' - Reader Review

'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' - Reader Review

'I found the pages flying by... A great book' - Reader Review