REVIEW: A Savage Moon by Theodore Brun
A Savage Moon is the latest book in Theodore Brun’s The Wanderer Chronicles starring Erlan Aurvandil, a crippled warrior weary of war and currently in the service to the Byzantine Emperor. Set in Byzantium 718 AD to start with, A Savage Moon is a fast-paced historical fiction novel set in the Middle-Ages and lands full of conflict and battle.
My bar is high with historical fiction. Bernard Cornwell, Matthew Harffy, Ian Ross, and others have produced great works set in the same era as A Savage Moon but Brun’s work still managed to capture my attention and keep me going with this gripping tale. Following a messy heist, Erlan and his allies travel north towards home in the hope of reclaiming a stolen kingdom from his lover Lilla Sviggarsdottir. Crossing Europe at a time of conflict and change with clashing religions and ideologies allows for plenty of meat on the bone for Brun to play with. Add in a darker element focusing on Werewolf Mythology and you have an intriguing tale and something that feels fresh and unique. It is fascinating to see Brun’s historical knowledge shine through the story with the grounded wolfmen twist being something that I had not read in any such novel previously. The clash of old and new religions and the uncertainty that arises from it also adds a further element of intrigue. With a dark pagan cult, wolf warriors, and the demands of an ocean of blood, this is certainly one for grimdark fans.
The characters in A Savage Moon feel real and fleshed out. Erlan reads as a weary warrior who has been through much but still finds himself dragged into further battles when perhaps a moment or two to relax and think about the next steps would be worthwhile but fighting seems to come naturally to him. He reminded me of Uhtred from The Last Kingdom at times, no longer a fresh-faced young warrior but one who has seen much and can’t find a way out. As with all good historical fiction, the characters feel as though they are living and breathing in their times and not modern folk dropped into the past. There is enough description to put the reader in the setting but not so much that it feels forced and takes you out of the scene. The story moves along at a fast pace and there is action aplenty.
A superb historical fiction tale to add to the list of greats. A Savage Moon is a dark historical tale full of intrigue, betrayal, and blood. A journey worth taking for both new and old fans of Theodore Brun and I am already waiting for the next book in the series!
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