Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Independently published
Pub date: 26 November 2020
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Mercia lies broken but not beaten, her alliance with Wessex in tatters, her new king a warrior, not a ruler. And Coelwulf has done little but fight against overwhelming numbers since being declared Mercia’s king, and it’s far from over.

Northampton is secure, but the Raiders persist in infiltrating Mercia. Coelwulf has enticed them away from their stronghold at Grantabridge, and now he must rout the Danish Jarl, Guthrum, once and for all.

The year is AD874 and Mercia lies threatened, but Coelwulf and his loyal warriors have vowed to protect Mercia with their lives.

This is the fourth book in MJ Porter’s Ninth Century Series and I was already a huge fan!

If you haven’t read any of this series then prepare for violence, battles, gore and a lot of humour! I knew to expect those things and still found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion reading this. 

This time Coelwulf and his warriors are in Northampton which they had taken back from the raiders and fortified. Not willing to give it up, the raiders arrive ready for battle but it’s not just them Coelwulf needs to worry about, is there a traitor amongst them?

The characters in this series have become so well known to me I can almost visualise them. Each is different but all are amazing. I was pleased to see Coelwulf’s aunt play a more prominent role in this book she’s a strong independent female and the only one all the warriors seem to be a little afraid of including Coelwulf who she can almost reduce to a naughty child.

The banter between the warriors is as ever hilarious. The battles are just as gory and brilliantly written, you can almost feel like you’re with them yelling ‘For Mercia’. Rudolf, Coelwulf and Haden are my personal favourites but I really like how each warrior has developed through the series and how their experiences change them but never affects their loyalty to Mercia or each other.

I’m not sure what else I can say about this series other than I absolutely love it, I love the characters more with each book.

There was a moment in this one I almost didn’t want to keep reading I just felt like something bad was about to happen and didn’t want it to but I finished it and can honestly say I cannot wait for the next instalment. I know MJ is currently working on something else so I will have to wait a while but that gives me time to read them all again!

The Last Enemy is released on Thursday but is available for pre-order now

I’m very excited to say that MJ will soon be joining me on my blog for a Guest Post!!! Until then, take care everyone and happy reading.