A Night of Flames (A Time for Swords)
Following directly on from the very successful A Time for Swords, Hunlaf, a young monk turned warrior, continues to develop not only his martial skills, but also as a man. With the aid of the oath-sworn Norseman, Runolf, he persuades the King of Northumbria to build and man a longship, ostensibly for trade and to combat the increasing raids by the Norsemen. However, both Hunlaf and Runolf have plans of their own and scores to settle. The fates laugh, and the trading mission becomes involved in a fight for survival against a group of religious fanatics who are destroying Norse lands with flame and sword. Will the young warrior succeed, with his plan—and survive?
This is the second novel in the series but can be read as a standalone. Fans of the author will know what to expect: a taut plot, strong characters and exciting, without being overly graphic action scenes. The development of Hunlaf as he matures as a skilled fighter and a man, learning from his mistakes and realising that his actions have consequences not only for himself, but also for others, is a strong theme throughout the book and gives it depth. A brilliant read from an author at the top of his game. Highly recommended, and I can’t wait for the next instalment.
