The King's Earl

The Earls of Mercia #5

by M.J. Porter

Ealdorman Leofwine, bereaved and betrayed by the new Danish king of England, hides away from the politics of the Witan, desperate to forget his past links with Cnut and his father Swein but Cnut won’t let his most trusted ealdorman go quite so easily. He knows that for his fledgling kingship to survive, he needs the old guard from the previous king’s reign to add legitimacy to his own. His new men, the men who’ve followed him from Denmark, know how to rule, but not how to rule the English. And Cnut has his eye on an even bigger prize than England alone.
Leofric, left reeling by the murder of his older brother and with an aging father, and dying mother, turns to his own band of warriors and his wife to try and hold onto his family’s position against the sudden and magnificent rise of the family of Godwin, the newly promoted Earl of Wessex. As much as he despises the new King, he knows his family’s position needs to be upheld. His father has sacrificed too much to allow a usurper to claim the position that is rightfully his.
With Cnut’s view increasingly focused on conquering and ruling the Scandinavian lands, with bloody arguments between the Scandinavian men threatening the stability of the Crown, can the House of Leofwine survive the kingship of the new Danish king and keep their place at the heart of early eleventh century politics whether they want it or not?

Genres: Historical Fiction

300 pages, ebook

First published September 25, 2015

About the author

I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English (before 1066)/Viking) and now five 20th-century mysteries..

The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles (featuring a young Icel from The Last King series) is now available from Boldwood Books. As is the complete Brunanburh Series and the Dark Age Chronicles Trilogy, my foray to before Saxon England was Saxon England. Enjoy.

The Ninth Century Series (The Last King), are stories of ninth-century England, but not as it's been written before, (featuring an older Icel and some other familiar faces too).

The Erdington Mysteries now has a fourth book in the series—The Secret Sauce. (Did you know Erdington would have been in Mercia back in the Saxon period? I know, you can't get me away from the place.) The Barrage Body is coming soon.

The Royal Women Who Made England, my first non-fiction book about the royal women of the tenth century, is available now.

I like to write. You've been warned.

Find me at
www.mjporterauthor.com or at www.mjporterauthor.blog where I blog about books and films and sometimes, writing!
https://linktr.ee/MJPorterauthor
https://mjporterauthor.sumupstore.com

You can join my monthly subscriber newsletters and gain access to the restricted page on my blog at the same time.
https://BookHip.com/MGWHLDC (Saxon stories)
https://BookHip.com/THPKCKP (mysteries only)


(I have odd reading tastes - there's no need to notice though!!) I'm also exceedingly anti-social - that you may notice but must accept!

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Leofric’s rise to distinction. Although Leofwine is still a strong and loyal advisor to king Cnut of England and Denmark, it’s time for Leofric’s to make his mark. Slowly the baton will pass to him. We have some good political intrigue and misdirection going on here. Godwine has the king’s ear like Eadric did with Æthelred. Will Cnut make the same mistakes and not listen to other voices? His mind is divided at time between England Denmark. Can he hold on to both and be a good king to both?
Thorkell has switched sides between kings of England and he sees what best suits him. Is he loyal to his foster son, Cnut or does he want power for himself? Some very good events occur which put his loyalty to the test. As always Leofwine and now Leofric must navigate these treacherous waters. Leofric also is tested in battle and we witness his coming of age warrior. Porter always does battles so well. You are in the thick of things.
Leofric must learn to handle these situations deftly:
“We need to be seen to be for the royal family, and we need to show that we mean our words.” Leofwine is the most honorable character. You never doubt his motives not like almost every other character.
Even with all the political intrigue and an interesting misdirection, we get to see the hounds. The interaction between the family and their dogs brings such a personal touch and makes these characters more believable.
As there’s a change of the head of the family, there’ll be more changes in store for England and her Danish born king.

[Reluctanthistorian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another stunning instalment in the Earls of Mercia Series, charting the aftermath of Cnut's usurpation of the English kingdom and his attack on the House of Leowfine through the eyes of both Ealdorman Leofwine, and his son Leofric. A good, solid, easy read which could be used as a jumping off point for those who don't wish to read the earlier books, although I recommend you do.

[Linda Susan Garman · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Be King

This is the on going adventure of a ruling lord of a Saxon Earl and his dealings with his Danish conquers,. How he comes to make peace with them for the benefit of people and to insure his
families place in the Kingdom was secure. This book like the previous five are believable and excellently written. With the correct name places and historical facts.

[Tammy Killingbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this character; I felt bad at the end of the book! Still a lot of editing clean-up to do for this book but it was an exciting read.

[Scott Vinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of same

Love the history
Love the research
Love the interpretation
Love the fiction
Hate the editing and mistakes. Correct these for 5 stars.
Moving on to the next book.

[M.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 in the Earls of Mercia series.