What do you think?
Rate this book
The Briton and the Dane #2
The Briton and the Dane: Birthright
Travel back in time to 9th Century Anglo-Saxon Britain and the reign of Alfred the Great who successfully repelled the Viking threat and drove the formidable Danish King Guthrum out of his Kingdom of Wessex. Journey throughout Britannia where Lord Richard and his children risk their lives in the service of their King; where treachery and treason threaten the uneasy peace; where the outcome of one battle determines the course of history.
484 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2011
3 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 23, 2014
The Briton and the Dane: Birthright is a beautiful story. Mary Ann Bernal writes with such passion and authority. She brings you back to a time none of us have lived through. This time piece brings the reader back in time but human emotion is the same as it is today. Love and passion will always bring heartache, misery and bliss.
This suspenseful adventurous story captivated my senses and glued me to the pages. I loved the massive escape that was not my life. Such a thrill to go through all the trials and tribulations from this time period. Thought provoking and moving. This intense series caught my attention from the first book, The Briton and the Dane. The descriptions were so vivid I felt I was part of the surroundings. The scenes are set like a movie. The images are so clear making a perfect visual. These books would make great films. Would love to see the action, drama and adventure played out on the big screen. Very exciting!
You can tell the author has spent a great deal of time researching everything that has to do with the time period. Very impressive. There are so many layers that kept falling away that made me more and more intrigued as the story unfolded.
I was entertained all the way through and read until I could not read any longer. Highly recommend this series and everything else by Mary Ann Bernal. Her stories do not disappoint!
This suspenseful adventurous story captivated my senses and glued me to the pages. I loved the massive escape that was not my life. Such a thrill to go through all the trials and tribulations from this time period. Thought provoking and moving. This intense series caught my attention from the first book, The Briton and the Dane. The descriptions were so vivid I felt I was part of the surroundings. The scenes are set like a movie. The images are so clear making a perfect visual. These books would make great films. Would love to see the action, drama and adventure played out on the big screen. Very exciting!
You can tell the author has spent a great deal of time researching everything that has to do with the time period. Very impressive. There are so many layers that kept falling away that made me more and more intrigued as the story unfolded.
I was entertained all the way through and read until I could not read any longer. Highly recommend this series and everything else by Mary Ann Bernal. Her stories do not disappoint!
June 10, 2011
This book was very interesting. It took historical events and people and made a fiction story about them. This was about King Alfred and King Guthrum in the Ninth Century. It tells of how Christianity was becoming popular in Great Britain and how the other gods who were in the country were losing their power over the people.
King Guthrum has to fight his illegitimate child for his throne and the book is about the conspiracies that are going on in the illegitimate son’s camp before the ballets begin. There is a lot of intrigue to the story. There are kidnappings, murders of whole villages, and more in the book.
They use the monasteries that have been left by the Romans as places of refuge for the women and children who are losing their homes and lands or will be killed by the opposing army. Some women are taken there and help until the battles are over so that they will be protected and not do anything that could get their husbands and family killed.
The way this book was written made me want to read more. Even though it was written with words that would have been period I could understand it and the few words I did not know were in the glossary. I really enjoyed this book and will read any more that are written.
King Guthrum has to fight his illegitimate child for his throne and the book is about the conspiracies that are going on in the illegitimate son’s camp before the ballets begin. There is a lot of intrigue to the story. There are kidnappings, murders of whole villages, and more in the book.
They use the monasteries that have been left by the Romans as places of refuge for the women and children who are losing their homes and lands or will be killed by the opposing army. Some women are taken there and help until the battles are over so that they will be protected and not do anything that could get their husbands and family killed.
The way this book was written made me want to read more. Even though it was written with words that would have been period I could understand it and the few words I did not know were in the glossary. I really enjoyed this book and will read any more that are written.
June 8, 2019
“Treason is punishable by death, no matter the bloodline...”
It has been two years since Alfred, King of Wessex, accepted the surrender of Guthrum, the leader of the Great Heathen Army. Due to Alfred’s terms, Guthrum has turned his back on his pagan ways and embraced the Christian God. By doing so, he now rules the land from Kent to Northumbria. It is enough. No longer does he hunger for the desire for more land and the blood of the battlefield.
However, there are those who see Guthrum’s surrender to the Christian faith as a weakness, and there is one among them which threatens the tranquil peace that Alfred and Guthrum have worked so hard to embrace.
Rigr, Guthrum’s illegitimate son, seeks the throne of his father. However, because of his illegitimacy, Guthrum refuses to recognise him as his heir. Driven by the desire for power, Rigr plots to overthrow his father and to his delight, he discovers that many would not only support his claim but fight alongside him. His course is set. He will win the Daneland from his father, no matter what the cost...
Set in a world of superstition, blood feuds, and revenge, The Briton and the Dane: Birthright (The Briton and the Dane Book #2) by Mary Ann Bernal is the utterly captivating fictional story, set in the time of King Alfred of Wessex and Guthrum of East Anglia.
I have already read several books in The Briton and the Dane series and I was very much looking forward to reading Birthright. I had high expectations for this book, and I am pleased to say that Bernal did not disappoint. Bernal has presented a story that is not only rich in historical detailing but one with an almost tangible realism.
From the opening sentence, I was hooked. The short chapters and quickly changing scenes worked surprisingly well. There is also a huge cast of characters which drove this book forward. Putting all of these things together made this novel unputdownable. In fact, I was so engrossed in this story that I read it in one sitting!
The period of history Bernal chose to base this book on is one where minimal primary sources have survived and although there are many works by Historical Fiction authors about Alfred the Great and his war with Guthrum, the period straight after is one which is sorely neglected by authors, and because of this Bernal's story is wonderfully original.
There are many characters in this book that a reader will love to hate — Rigr being one of them. His anger at his father is like an uncontrollable burning fire inside of him. He is ambitious, and it seems that nothing can thwart him in his quest to become King.
This book is not just about those who desire power. Like with Book #1, I was particularly taken with the character of Elizabeth, who despite being contradicted continuously, is convinced that her husband, who has been missing for two years, is still very much alive. I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth’s story.
From the onslaught, this book is filled with non stop drama and cliff-hanger tension. Bernal writes with a vivid imagination and an energy that threatens to memorise. She has a novelist eye for human frailty, and her characters are authentic in the telling.
Tense, powerful and utterly compulsive. I thoroughly enjoyed the second book in this fabulous series.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
September 8, 2011
Where to start? I loved the first book Briton and the Dane but there was so much unresolved that I was eager to read the next book, yet having waited several weeks between finishing book one and starting book two I was a bit apprehensive that I would be lost. I dug out the notes that I took during the reading of book one, but I needn’t have worried; it all came back to me. I was excited as soon as read the prologue. I can’t really go into specifics because I feel that would be spoiling parts of both books if you hadn’t read them, but I’ll do my best.
I think that Birthright is my favorite (so far) of the series. I liked book one a lot, but I loved this one. There are so many plot twists and so many things to figure out. I do have to mention though that I thought I had something figured out and admittedly it was kind of far-fetched and I almost caved and had the author tell me whether my theory was correct when she offered, I’m glad that I declined because the wait was worth it. (My theory was correct by the way). I also had a near break down during a heartbreaking moment for one of my favorite characters. I don’t want to tell you which one, you’ll just have to read it.
I love the way that the story is told as well. There are so many characters doing so many separate things but you know they’re all going to meet in the end. (Think of how the movie Love Actually is told). It’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s a wonderfully easy and fairly quick read. After a few chapters, you get a flow of the characters and which side they are connected to and as more characters are introduced, they fit in seamlessly. I love the mix of historical background, family/love bonds and adventure. It makes the book such a great read.
I also love the format of the book. Don’t be deceived, it looks daunting due to its length, but it’s not. It’s larger font than books usually have, with paragraphs with what looks like double spaced lines and the chapters are short. While that doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but I love when books are formatted in such a way especially when they fall under the category of epic adventures. It makes me as a reader feel like I’m reading faster than I am without getting overwhelmed.
There were a lot of cliffhangers in this book and I cannot wait for the next one! I’ve perhaps gotten a little too attached to these characters.
I think that Birthright is my favorite (so far) of the series. I liked book one a lot, but I loved this one. There are so many plot twists and so many things to figure out. I do have to mention though that I thought I had something figured out and admittedly it was kind of far-fetched and I almost caved and had the author tell me whether my theory was correct when she offered, I’m glad that I declined because the wait was worth it. (My theory was correct by the way). I also had a near break down during a heartbreaking moment for one of my favorite characters. I don’t want to tell you which one, you’ll just have to read it.
I love the way that the story is told as well. There are so many characters doing so many separate things but you know they’re all going to meet in the end. (Think of how the movie Love Actually is told). It’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s a wonderfully easy and fairly quick read. After a few chapters, you get a flow of the characters and which side they are connected to and as more characters are introduced, they fit in seamlessly. I love the mix of historical background, family/love bonds and adventure. It makes the book such a great read.
I also love the format of the book. Don’t be deceived, it looks daunting due to its length, but it’s not. It’s larger font than books usually have, with paragraphs with what looks like double spaced lines and the chapters are short. While that doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but I love when books are formatted in such a way especially when they fall under the category of epic adventures. It makes me as a reader feel like I’m reading faster than I am without getting overwhelmed.
There were a lot of cliffhangers in this book and I cannot wait for the next one! I’ve perhaps gotten a little too attached to these characters.
July 7, 2011
I was given a copy of The Briton and the Dane: Brirthright through Goodreads First Reads.First impressions of the cover were that this book is going to be full of action and medieval references which are both appealing.
The format that this book is written in is small chapters which are each split into sections which deflect to different scenes and characters with each small section generally being about two or three pages long. This structure led me to never get involved in the book. It took me about half the book to sort out which characters were related to whom and where and what each was heading towards.
The plot of this novel was interesting and origional and with a change to the structure and the style it is written itcould become amazing but unfortunatly this was not. One thing in particular which got on my nerves was the repetition of certain phrases such as 'she loved her like a sister', 'we share the same fate' or 'he kissed her tenderly', each phrase used with slight variation each time but still making the text very tedious and I found myself willing the book to end.
Not all was bad though, the book includes maps of the British Isles and character lists which helped with understanding the story. A glossary of terms was also included at the end as there was a few refernces to archaic language like 'Garderobe' which means toilet. Discussion questions were also included a few of which I will answer...
Did the language help transport you back in time?
Yes, though I wasn't transported into the whole story and didn't feel any emotional involvement with the characters.
Were you engrossed in the story?
To put it simply, no.
Are you anxious to read the third book in the trilogy?
No, but I would give it a try to see if it is any improvement on this book.
The format that this book is written in is small chapters which are each split into sections which deflect to different scenes and characters with each small section generally being about two or three pages long. This structure led me to never get involved in the book. It took me about half the book to sort out which characters were related to whom and where and what each was heading towards.
The plot of this novel was interesting and origional and with a change to the structure and the style it is written itcould become amazing but unfortunatly this was not. One thing in particular which got on my nerves was the repetition of certain phrases such as 'she loved her like a sister', 'we share the same fate' or 'he kissed her tenderly', each phrase used with slight variation each time but still making the text very tedious and I found myself willing the book to end.
Not all was bad though, the book includes maps of the British Isles and character lists which helped with understanding the story. A glossary of terms was also included at the end as there was a few refernces to archaic language like 'Garderobe' which means toilet. Discussion questions were also included a few of which I will answer...
Did the language help transport you back in time?
Yes, though I wasn't transported into the whole story and didn't feel any emotional involvement with the characters.
Were you engrossed in the story?
To put it simply, no.
Are you anxious to read the third book in the trilogy?
No, but I would give it a try to see if it is any improvement on this book.
May 10, 2016
This is not a standalone book. Being part of a series, it is impossible to understand the relationships between characters before 50% of the book.
Anyway, the real issue is the cinematic prose of the writer. She moves like she was using a camera, very quickly, shifting restlessly from one scene to the other, one character to the other. The reader is dazed and a bit sick and hope the chapter to end soon.
Anyway, the real issue is the cinematic prose of the writer. She moves like she was using a camera, very quickly, shifting restlessly from one scene to the other, one character to the other. The reader is dazed and a bit sick and hope the chapter to end soon.
April 23, 2011
I loved it. I hope there is another coming up. After I read it, I took a deep breath to make sure I was in this world not in the time portrayed in the book. Everything came to life. Wonderful writing.
September 27, 2025
was an okay book but its not my style of book so I found it hard to get into
June 14, 2012
After reading The Briton and the Dane I bought Mary Ann Bernal's second of the series, Birthright. I quickly caught up with the story. With so many characters it took my serious attention while reading .. And I do so love a book that keeps my attention. Thanks for this. Fascinating cover too.
January 9, 2012
Will read again and look forward to reading more.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews