Brace yourself for a gripping, high-stakes adventure in Peter Gibbons' latest historical masterpiece. From the very first chapter, readers are thrown into a world of political intrigue, fierce battles, and simmering unrest, all set against a richly detailed historical backdrop.
Enemies of the Crown by Peter Gibbons
Series: The Saxon Warrior #5
Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction

A weakened crown. A country besieged by Vikings, suffering under the oppression of a powerful church.

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King Aethelred the Unready’s rule falters. Policies recommended by the controlling bishops invite more attacks upon his Saxon kingdom as Sweyn Forkbeard, Viking battle-king of the Danes, grows in power; bloodthirsty for conquest.

Beornoth, Viking-killer and kings thegn believed his days in the shield wall to be over until summoned by the king to enforce a policy of retribution against his enemies.

In a time of shifting loyalties, alongside a savage warband of cruel Norman warriors, Beornoth embarks upon a brutal quest to rid England of King Aethelred’s so-called Viking enemies.

However, when this murderous campaign leads to the door of an old friend, Beornoth must choose sides, as his loyalty to king, country, and his brothers of the sword are put to the test.

Can Beornoth triumph over insurmountable odds in this shield splintering battle for the future of England itself?

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Sword of Vengeance, Pendragon

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review

King Aethelred’s grip on the English throne grows more precarious by the day. His misguided policies—shaped by his inner circle of bishops—have not brought peace, but instead opened the floodgates to further Viking incursions. Sweyn Forkbeard, the fearsome battle-king of the Danes, is growing ever more bloodthirsty and relentless in his quest to conquer England.

Beornoth, once a legendary warrior, had long since laid down his sword, believing his days of bloodshed were behind him. But when the king summons him to carry out a brutal policy of vengeance, Beornoth finds himself drawn back into a violent world he thought he’d left behind.

Teamed with a band of ruthless Norman mercenaries, Beornoth sets out on a mission to crush the Viking threat. Yet as the campaign unfolds, it becomes clear that this war is about more than just strategy and steel. Shadows of Beornoth’s past reawaken, and he is soon forced to confront personal demons and face decisions that will shape not only his own fate, but the fate of the kingdom itself.

Enemies of the Crown is a masterful tale of vengeance, ambition, and sacrifice. Peter Gibbons brings the chaos of 11th-century England vividly to life with gritty realism, dynamic battle scenes, and a cast of characters as complex as the world they inhabit. Beornoth’s journey is one of moral struggle and heroic defiance—a powerful exploration of what it means to fight for a cause, and the cost of leadership in a fractured world.

This is historical fiction at its finest—raw, fast-paced, and impossible to put down.

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