Historical
After being wounded in the Battle on the Ice, Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Alexander, intrigued by his captive’s story, instructs his scholar to assist Richard in writing about his life.
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Sword Brethren (Book 1 of The Northern Crusader Chronicles)
Bound by faith. Forged in battle. Haunted by doubt.
1242: Wounded at the Battle on the Ice, English knight Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Intrigued by his captive, Alexander orders his scholar to record Richard’s life story.
Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when betrayal shatters his training for knighthood and forces him to flee England. In Lübeck, he finds work with a ruthless salt merchant and becomes entangled in an illicit affair – until scandal and violence drive him onward once more.
Seeking purpose, Richard joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, a militant order bent on bringing Christendom to the pagan Baltic. In the harsh outpost of Riga, he faces not only enemy tribes beyond the walls, but suspicion, ambition, and betrayal within – while grappling with doubts that threaten his faith.
When a vast pagan army threatens to overwhelm the commandery, Richard must choose what kind of man – and believer – he will become.
Sword Brethren is Book One of The Northern Crusader Chronicles, a gritty, historically grounded series focused on realism, moral ambiguity, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
Standout of the genre. I rarely leave written reviews, but this book (the first of a trilogy) is a standout in a genre where there's a surplus of solid reads. There's a clear coming of age element with a talented but flawed protagonist, and a compelling story with solid pacing & satisfying pay-offs. Highly recommend.
Enjoyable but violent medieval thriller. An interesting, enjoyable and easily read novel about deceit, survival, love and warfare mostly set in an area of Central and Eastern Europe rarely covered by authors. The strict delineation of the feudal system, the power of the Catholic church and the precarious hold that most people had on life in the Medieval period come over clearly as we follow the career of a young teenager cheated out of his inheritance and forced to flee. His ordeal as an impoverished refugee and an apprentice Crusader knight lead the reader on an interesting journey of which I hope this novel is only the beginning of the saga. I received an Arc copy but the views are my own.
Akin to Cornwell. As an avid fan of Bernard Cornwell books, I was intrigued to read this story based on an ageing warrior's recollections of bloody battles. It doesn't disappoint, transporting the reader to a bygone age where crusades were fought and realms overtaken. From the standpoint of one brave warrior, this tale regales one with blood, battles, brethren and bravery. A great read that engages from the first page.
