Review: Sword of the Saxons by Steven A. McKay

Blurb

A war to shape the future of a nation.

Betrayed by his kinsmen, his forces overrun by Danes, King Alfred of Wessex has retreated deep into the marshes of his homeland, lying in wait for his chance at redemption.

The scourge of the heathen horde that has ravaged the kingdom for decades is at its peak. Led by the fearsome Viking warlord Guthrum, the fate of the men, women, and children at their mercy appears all but sealed. But underestimate the great king at your peril…

Gathering allies and bannermen to his cause, and building a strategy that will hopefully ensure victory, Alfred sets out to undermine the strength of the complacent invaders, and establish Wessex as the greatest territory in the British Isles.

A final showdown awaits. Not only with Guthrum and his savage warriors, but with destiny. As the battle lines are drawn, the destiny of not just Wessex, but of every Anglo-Saxon in Britain, rests firmly on Alfred’s shoulders.

An utterly ferocious and gripping adventure, covering the fascinating middle years of Alfred the Great’s reign, one of Britain’s most influential monarchs.

My Review

In Volume two, our Alfred is finally strong enough to venture out of his hiding place in the marsh and swamplands that have sheltered him after the great betrayal. It hasn’t been easy, but little by little he and his men built a fortress strong enough to withstand the first attack by overconfident Norsemen. And finally, it was beginning to look like “now or never”; he needed to raise his people and push the invaders out of Wessex. It was a risk. Would they come and fight for him? Soon enough, he had his answer as thousands came in answer to his summons:

‘Speak to them, my love,’ Ealhswith urged. ‘Now, while everyone is so happy. Go on, climb up on top of the stone.’
Nodding, Alfred released her and scrambled up the lichen-encrusted rock which was almost as tall as he was. Making sure his feet were firmly planted, he drew himself up to his full height, one hand resting on his sword’s pommel, eyes scanning from left to right, and on, all the way around the hillside he looked, turning as he did, smiling the whole time.
‘My people!’ he finally shouted, lifting his arms and holding them out, as if drawing those loyal men of Wessex into his embrace. ‘My people! It is time to crush the Danes once and for all!’

This was a time for forgiving old grievances, accepting remorseful turncoats back into the fold. But Alfred knew that giving a second chance to those who abandoned him was more important than harboring his resentments. He was even willing to be merciful to Danes in his power, when the offending Norse took advantage of his compassion—at least once. It didn’t end well, much to his humiliation. Alfred has yet to distinguish between naïve belief in the power of his religious faith and the nastiness of the real world. But he’s a good learner, and next time won’t be so easy. We really feel his pain in this book, and his frustration. But there definitely is a light at the end of the tunnel.