A Brother's Oath

Hengest and Horsa Trilogy #1

by Chris Thorndycroft

The Untold Story of England’s Beginning.

Denmark, 444 A.D. Two brothers – the cold and calculating Hengest and the intrepid but headstrong Horsa – find their separate worlds thrown into turmoil by royal treachery and an evil cult thought long dead. Reunited by an oath sworn in their youth, they set off on a journey that will define their destiny and set them upon the path to greatness.

When Hengest’s family is kidnapped by an unknown enemy, Horsa knows his oath has become more than a thing of words and he infiltrates the crew of one of the most feared raiders in the northern world to find out who took them. Meanwhile, Hengest struggles to unite his rag-tag group of followers into a united people. His heart yearns for a safe haven for his family; a land that he and his followers can call their own for generations to come.

This is the first part of the thrilling saga of the two warriors who spearheaded the Anglo-Saxon migrations to Britain and whose names became legendary as the founders of the land that would one day be called England.

Genres: Historical Fiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2015

About the author

Chris Thorndycroft is a British writer of historical fiction, horror and fantasy. His early short stories appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Dark Moon Digest and American Nightmare. His first novel under his own name was A Brother's Oath. He also writes under the pseudonym P. J. Thorndyke.

Join his mailing list here: https://mybookcave.com/d/4c5837a7/

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

At parts the audiobook of this was very interesting and easy to get invested in but at the end I've lost my spark to be very intrigued by the story. Not sure if it's was due to my mood or that I simply lost interested. But overall an interesting and good read

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

audio by Guy Barnes fills a sparse bit of during 410 ad when the Romans left Britain and the forming of Angeland by ALfred TG.
Illustrates that the raiders were mix of different northern Germanic tribes. These particular characters actually existed ans were Jutes from Juteland, which is a peninsular now part of Denmark.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of a three-book series that has all the earmarks of being great. It is based on two actual historical people - Hengest and Horsa - who were the among the first Anglo-Saxon leaders in what was to become England. Although highly fictionalized, the book depicts life as it likely was in the immediate post-Roman period of Europe. It was a hard scrabble and often bloody time. This first book covers Hengest and Horsa's younger years in Jutland (modern day Denmark) as they come of age and find themselves exiled by their own father. Had this not happened, at least in the book, the rest of the series likely would be far less interesting.
The Fifth Century is very poorly covered in historical chronicles so much of what we know comes from legends and archaeological research. Fictionalized accounts like this trilogy provide a lot of insight into this fascinating era.
Fans of Bernard Cornwell, Mathew Harffy and others will like this series. I look forward to reading the next two books.

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pick this Story up an enjoy the great read.

What a outstanding read. Less then half way through I stopped reading. I decided to do some research on Horsa, an Hengest. Read Beowulf poem an read more history on the 2 brother's. Even though each read was a little different from the next. I found it very interesting an a better understanding of the historical events. This story from Mr. C. Thorndycroft is one of the best story's I have read so far with history to back it. The story of the 2 brother's is not all known. But this retelling by the author is a amazing work.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

copy from hfvirtualbooktours.com
review at: booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com
"A Brother's Oath" by Chris Thorndycroft is the first book in the "Hengest and Horsa Trilogy". I thought it was a great introduction to the 444 A.D. time period. I liked the relationship between the two brothers and the quick pacing of the novel. Since I know very little about the Anglo- Saxon history I thought this book provided me with a lot insight into the struggle of the warring parties. Hengest was a great hero and I liked the insight that the author provided into his character and what drove him. I loved that the story was action packed and that the author let the reader feel like a part of the story.

I look forward to reading more by this author and can't wait to see how he continues the story of Horsa and Hengest.

[Geoff Boxell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book for the faint hearted: however, if you know your history of the times, especially if you have read translations of the contemporary heroic poetry, you will not be shocked or surprised. Blood, guts, oaths sworn, betrayal, vengeance, bl0od feuds, raiding, slavery: it is all there.
Four stars? It took me a while to get into it, so a two day book became a five day book as I could put it down and do other things, well, at least till I was 150 pages or so into it.
The basics of the story are not dissimilar to other "Viking" style novels around. One thing that sets this apart is that the bones of the story are to be found in both historical records and two poems - "The Finnesburgh Fragment" and "Beowulf". Both Hengest and his brother Horsa are actual men it seems. The other is the way the book is written giving a chapter to each character as events unfold so you get to see the story from more than one aspect.
Now for book two in the trilogy.

[S. Nomakeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I was attracted to this story by the description and excited to learn more about historical Britain far before Lindisfane. I was not disappointed. There was however one scene that put me off a bit. The depiction of revenge of a sinister enemy was very graphic and disturbing. It changed my opinion of one of the main characters. Still there is no softening of the harsh reality of those who lived in these trying times. The narration was very well done.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this start to a 3 part series. The story of two brothers with very different temperaments caught up in political maneuverings in Northern Europe around 400 AD. While a very different writing style than Bernard Cornwell, it share that sense of immersion and vividness that Cornwell also creates. You believe in the time and place and beliefs of the characters.

Enjoyed it, good plotting, and looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Storter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent writer

I thoroughly love reading Chris Thorndycroft books. The guy does his research really well and then turns it into an incredible story. I've got to put him up there with Cornwell at the top of the heap of historical fiction writers. Now I'm going to read the second book of this trilogy and anything else that this guy writes.

[darren hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A proper Man book.... Enough said lads.

I would advise a horn full of beer and a lusty bar wench, perched upon one's knee before you commence this swashbuckling adventure.

Failing that, a good cup of tea.

Top do.

[Joe Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first fiction book I have read since leaving secondary school and I could not put it down. It is also hard to find historical non fiction books for this time period and its historical accuracy helps paint a picture of life in Northern Europe during the 5th century

[Babylon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of what Hengest and Horsas early years could have been about. Interesting, giving a sense of the time, and a few dramas to keep interest throughout. Thanks.

[Leonard Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

5th century pre Viking historical novel

Excellent research by author enabled him to flush out “truth” from ancient Danish and Germanic fables. An interesting and easy read.

[Glyn Evans]

To me not an adult read more a boys adventure book ( 10 or 11 yrs old) very slow and transparent , so its a big NO NO bye bye mr thorndycroft.

[camryne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Darek Zawisko · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[FCD · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5

Coulda been 3.5 for the interesting historical interpretation, but removed 2⭐️ for the r*pe at the end committed by one of the MCs

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pending my full review to post to the HNS website. But the short version: I liked it! A worthy read.

HNS link: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...

A Brother’s Oath is the first of a trilogy about brothers Hengest and Horsa, Scandinavian raiders who were instrumental in the migration of the Vikings to England. This tells the story of their youth, which is unrecorded, and is thus rich subject matter for authors of historical fiction. The novel opens with good action, though it stalls a bit while the characters are built up and the various plot lines are introduced with approximately a third of the way through the pace picking up again. Once it did, this was an exciting read.

Hengest, the favoured elder son of a local warlord, and his brother, Horsa, fall out of favour with their father. Horsa decides, sooner than Hengest, to find his own way in the world and makes a name for himself as a raider. Hengest eventually makes a life with a woman of his own choosing. The brothers are reunited years later through treachery, hardship, and adventure.

Thorndycroft does a nice job throughout of showing the action rather than telling about it, and the imagery is vivid. Character development is similarly thorough, though parts felt more rushed than necessary. The book could do with another copy edit as there were quite a few minor punctuation errors, though they did not detract from the story itself.

The details of Viking culture are well researched and draw on extant Anglo-Saxon literature as a primary source. I especially enjoyed the poetry and phrases Thorndycroft worked into the dialogue and at the beginning of each new section.

[Ghost Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10
-Fast paced and action packed, switches between characters
-Norse mythology elements using older names
-Mini horror story within the book