Bloodlines by Chris Bishop
Bloodlines by Chris Bishop
Bloodlines by Chris Bishop published by Red Door 2021. My thanks to the author and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Literally PR for inviting me to take part on the tour.
Synopsis
Wessex 898 as King Alfred readies his defences against another Viking invasion
Among his many concerns is the plight of Edward, his stable boy, who he believes to be the bastard son of Matthew, a renowned warrior who died fighting for the Saxon cause. If Edward's heritage could be proved , he would stand to inherit a vast fortune which Alfred fears would attract every fraudster in the realm. Worse still , given his noble lineage, the boy could well be used to usurp as King.
Alfred therefore sends Edward to the burh at Wareham on the pretext of having him train Fleet, a magnificent black stallion so spirited it's thought to be unrideable. The boy soon proves his skill with horses but is considered too puny to be a warrior. However, when the fyrd find themselves outnumbered and confronting a Viking warband, Edward's quick thinking and extraordinary courage leave no doubt about his bloodline.
My Review
Although this is the fourth book in The Shadow of The Raven series it reads incredibly well as a standalone in its own right due to the introduction of new characters. Also The Shadow of The Raven series was originally written as a trilogy which Chris has now extended to include a further two books. The fifth one of which, The Prodigal Son, is due out later this year.
This was a captivating read right from the very start and it takes you back to Wessex in 898 as King Alfred starts to ready himself for another Viking invasion. It cleverly follows the story of Edward, the stable boy , in such a way that you, as the reader, are watching out for his back all the way through.
There are so many storylines and developments throughout the book that you are kept enthralled continuously from start to finish with the story ever evolving. The characters , both human and animal, are strong and are developed in great detail throughout so that you are left feeling that you know them all personally by the end.
For me this was a gripping piece of historical fiction that takes you vividly back to the Wessex of 898 and what it was like to live under the threat of Viking invasion and treachery. I really did not want this enthralling book to finish and I am looking forward immensely to The Prodigal Son.
An incredible 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read from an author whose books I am looking forward to reading more of.
About the Author
Chris Bishop was born in London in 1951, After a successful career as a chartered surveyor, he retired to concentrate on writing, combining this with his lifelong interest in history. This is the fourth book in The Shadow of the Raven series, the first, Blood and Destiny, having been published in 2017, the second, The Warrior with the Pierced Heart, published in 2018, and the third, The Final Reckoning, published in 2019.
Follow Chris at ;
www.chrisbishopauthor.com
Twitter @CBishop_author
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