I love this author. He has two superb series going right now. One is about a warrior monk named Hunlaf. That one is my favorite. That being said, they are both outstanding tales. I wait eagerly for each new installment.

A Night of Flames
(A Time for Swords #2)
by
Matthew Harffy

BLURB
A wild land. A lethal fanatic. A violent revolt.
Northumbria, AD 794.
Those who rule the seas, rule the land. None know the truth of this more than the Vikings. To compete with the sea-faring, violent raiders, the king of Northumbria orders the construction of his own longships under the command of oath-sworn Norseman, Runolf.
When the Northern sea wolves attack for the second year, the king sends cleric turned warrior, Hunlaf, on a mission across the Whale Road to persuade the king of Rogaland into an alliance. But Runolf and Hunlaf have other plans; old scores to settle, kin to seek out, and a heretical tome to find in the wild lands of the Norse.
Their voyage takes them into the centre of a violent uprising. A slave has broken free of his captors, and, with religious fervour, he is leading his fanatical followers on a rampage – burning all in his path.
Hunlaf must brave the Norse wilderness, and overcome deadly foes to stop this madman. To fail would see too many die...
REVIEW
A resounding sequel, my peeps and fellow readers. Chock full of action, drama, loss, victory, and the full spectrum of human emotion, A Night of Flames is one stunning tale. It didn't take long for me to become a fan of the Beobrand series; and this one has me hooked as well. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This sequel to A Time for Swords was better than the first one, I read it extremely quickly. The battles were awesome! Runolf and Hunlaf are great characters and I love their dynamic. My only complaint with this series so far is just how much it reminds me of Cornwell's Saxon Tales. But hey, being compared to such a great series isn't that bad.

The follow up to A Time for Swords is just as get as its predecessor, if not even better. In the style of Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales (but by no means a rip off – this is original and authentic), Harffy has become a master at weaving a tale worthy of the Norse Skalds of old.

Following Hunlaf and Runolf’s adventures across the North Sea and into Norway, we get a thrilling historical tale that mixes adventure with religion, heartbreak and action.

I found it a gripping journey, one that at times slows down, but never too much. It’s a brilliant book.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
Once again the Author produces a brilliant read totally engaging from first to last page. Well written and researched, though in his notes he admits to plenty of poetic licence, but when a story is this good who cares. There is a real feel for time and place, superb characters and plenty of well described but somewhat gruesome action. You feel totally immersed in the tale, so much so I felt my stomach heaving during the storm at sea, the tension towards the end of the story found me holding my breath.
Completely recommended.

This follows on from A Time For Swords, and we begin with Hunlaf - in old age - recounting his earlier years.

The motley group of warriors continue their quest - the search for the sacred book The Tree of Life, stolen in the Viking raid that set Hunlaf on the warrior path. But there is an added urgency to their quest, as one of their own must also be found.

Harrfy follows the well-trodden path of the "Hero's Journey" - in "A Time For Swords" we had the departure, wherein young Hunlaf leaves his ordinary existence for adventure, accompanied by his mentor - companion, Runolf. In this second of the series, we see Hunlaf undertake the initiation component, wherein during the course of his adventures he faces many trial and tribulations (or in this case, many battles) with the assistance of his loyal warband. Overcoming the enemy, there is the reward.

Harrfy's narrative is such that the reader finds themselves not only drawn into Hunlaf's world but posited into the warband itself. Again, Harrfy's extensive knowledge of this period comes to the fore. The next instalment is eagerly awaited.

For a student of the Anglo-Saxon period, this was an enjoyable and exciting read. The story is told in first person by an old monk named Hunlaf reminiscing about his life as a young warrior who had (temporarily, it seems) abandoned his monastic vows, but still clung to his faith by a thread.
The story begins with Hunlaf facing the terrible consequences of his terrible life choices, and it’s hard to like him at first. He grows on you, though. The Viking raid on Lindisfarne is a catalyst for the plot: Hunlaf’s lord concocts a plan to go to Norway and make a trade deal to prevent further attacks on the coast of Northumbria. The story really gets going with the sea voyage. Harffy paints such a vivid picture of the beauty and the terror of the open sea, the sounds and smells, the cold and wet, the rowing and the seasickness, that the reader feels like part of the crew. The crew, a culturally diverse assemblage, also gradually become familiar and distinct characters as they progress on their quest.
The descriptions of summertime Norway are lyrical. But the story takes a gruesome turn with a Manichaean cult leader holding hostages and terrorizing the Norwegian countryside. There are many suspenseful moments before the end. We know Hunlaf survives because he is telling the story many decades later. But what of the others? The last few chapters are very suspenseful. There is a pretty a high body count in this book and some scattered profanity. Well, they are warriors—and sailors.
Matthew Harffy has crafted an exciting adventure within the bounds of known historical fact. I appreciated his attention to detail, good characterization, and his clear effort to portray the worldviews of the characters sympathetically and with nuance.
Book received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it was well written with a captivating storyline and well developed characters. It was a gripping read full of adventure, I couldn't put it down.

News of a new Matthew Harffy novel has become one of the highlights of my year. Luckily, Harffy is quite a prolific writer, so I never have to wait too long for such news. A Night of Flames is Matthew Harffy’s 11th book in 6 years – that’s quite an achievement!

Especially as his storytelling keeps getting better and better.

The sequel to A Time for Swords, the story begins where the last book left off, with Hunlaf of Ubbanford having forsaken the monk’s cowl for the sword and determined to go in search of his cousin, Aelfwyn, carried off during the raid on Lindisfarne that heralded the Viking era in England. The erstwhile monk comes up with a plan to rescue his cousin and retrieve the highly influential and heretical book, The Treasure of Life, which will lead himself and his friends into the heart of Norway and a heretical band of marauders, made up of former slaves, fanatical warriors and women and children who are killing and spreading devastation wherever they go.

The story has all the ingredients for an exciting adventure. And I have to say, I loved the references to Matthew Harffy’s other series, The Bernicia Chronicles, and the story of Beobrand, with mention of a ballad to Beobrand and his love, Sunniva, or the fact that young Hunlaf was raised in Beobrand’s settlement of Ubbanford, thus interlinking the two very different series with a shared origin.

A Night of Flames is another fabulous rip-roaring adventure from Matthew Harffy, where not everything goes as planned for the heroes and the fight comes close to disaster. It is edge-of-the-seat drama that will keep the reader engrossed late into the night. The battles are vicious, the losses devastating and the outcome uncertain – this is Matthew Harffy at his best.

As has come to be expected with a Matthew Harffy book, the historical research is impeccable; the author’s knowledge of weapons, battle tactics and even sailing the whaleroad is woven into the story so that it is impossible to know where facts end and the author’s imagination begins. The extent of Matthew Harffy’s knowledge and research helps to draw the reader in and makes for a thoroughly engaging book.

The best bit, however – as always with Matthew Harffy – is the story! A Night of Flames is a fascinating, thrilling adventure.

If you like to lose yourself in a book, A Night of Flames by Matthew Harffy is perfect for you!

A Night of Flames is the sequel to A Time For Swords which saw monk Hunlaf forced to take up arms to defend the minster of Werceworthe (modern day Warkworth in Northumberland) from a Viking raid. The book is structured as Hunlaf’s memoir in which he looks back in old age at events in his life. Alongside recounting his many adventures, he reflects on the decisions he has taken and his actions, not all of which had the consequences he wished for. As he reflects, ‘Many times in my life, my pride has led me into trouble’. And he remains conflicted about having giving up his priestly vows for the life of a warrior, even if the latter seems to be one he was born for. He also confesses to having succumbed to temptation in the past, admitting ‘I have ever been a fool for a pretty face and swaying hips’. Hunlaf – what would Leofstan say!

With support from King Aethelred, Hunlaf and Runolf who, as well as being a fearsome warrior is also a master-shipbuilder, undertake the construction of a huge ship that will withstand a voyage across the Whale Road. The price of Aethelred’s support for the task is that they negotiate a peace treaty and trade agreement with the King of Rogaland whose nickname (which I won’t divulge here) gives a clear idea of the sort of man they’re dealing with. With the ship completed, they gather together a crew made up of fisherman and warriors, some of whom take time to find their sea legs. Their journey is perilous with the ship and its largely untried crew being severely tested by vicious squalls.

However, the hazards they face at sea are nothing compared to what they encounter when they reach Rogaland. The fear of Leofstan, Hunlaf’s mentor, that the content of the book known as The Treasure of Life may be put to dangerous purposes is proved correct. Its heretical teachings have become embedded in the warped mind of a religious fanatic, a man calling himself Ljósberari, the Lightbringer. In fact what he brings is just the opposite – a reign of terror and unspeakable cruelty. Much of the book is taken up with the quest by Hunlaf and his companions to reach Ljósberari’s encampment. (The author’s note provides details of the literary and cinematic inspiration for their journey.) The wonderful maps at the beginning of the book make it easy to follow their progress even if you can’t pronounce the names of the places they pass along the way.

As always, comradeship is a strong theme with some of Hunlaf’s companions from the first book returning as well as new characters arriving. Whatever their background and whether lined up in a shieldwall or pulling on the oars in stormy seas, they are a band of brothers each of whom are prepared to risk their own life to save a comrade. Sadly, it’s not always successful. We know Hunlaf will not die – although of course at the time he doesn’t – but his comrades, well that’s a different story. Much of the tension in the book comes from knowing that not all of those who start out on the journey may make it back. Although as Runolf is fond of saying, ‘Anything is possible’.

At the beginning of the book Hunlaf recalls advice he was once given, ‘Never turn your back on adventure, for your tomorrow will come too soon’. A Night of Flames has adventure aplenty including the sort of thrilling action scenes readers have come to expect from the author, depicted in all their bone-crunching, bloody and visceral detail. You really are immersed in the heat of battle or one-on-one combat so you feel every thud of axe or sword upon shield.

The book gives some tantalising glimpses of exploits Hunlaf has yet to tell us about – such as drinking a potent concoction of fermented mare’s milk in the smoke-filled tent of a Kumyk leader – leaving me, and I’m sure many others, desperate for the next volume of the Annals of the life of Hunlaf of Ubbanford.

In his author’s note, Matthew Harffy writes that A Night of Flames ‘is historical fiction with a capital F’. If you ask me, that ‘F’ stands for fabulous.

AD: 794. Welcome to the next instalment of cleric-turned-warrior Hunlaf's memoir. This sequel to the cracking A Time for Swords follows closely on from the success of Hunlaf and his companions to save Werceworthe from the marauding Vikings, but the threat of attack for the coastal communities of Northumbria remains high, and Hunlaf and oath-sworn Norseman Runolf have unfinished business that calls them to the wild Norse lands across the sea - Runolf to hold his wife to account for her betrayal with his own brother Skorri, and Hunlaf to rescue his cousin Aelfwyn from her fate as a Viking thrall and to track down the mysterious book called The Treasure of Life.

Now they need transport, and master-shipbuilder Runolf promises a ship the like of which they have never seen. The next part of their quest gets underway once they have secured the funds to build this sea-going marvel from King Aethelred himself, although their negotiations bring with them the added requirement to take along the King's man Lord Mancas on their journey to establish a peace treaty with the Vikings - nothing like adding to their already substantial burden.

After much trial and tribulation, and a little serendipitous push from the hand of fate, Runolf's ship Brymsteda is ready to sail. The crew is made of companions old and new and this will be a new adventure for them all. Their journey is perilous, with many hazards to overcome, but these are nothing compared to what faces them when they reach Runolf's homeland. An escaped thrall is rampaging through these lands gathering a hoard of murderous religious fanatics who call him Ljósberari, the Lightbringer, and there are rumours of terrible slaughter in his wake - it is a name Hunlaf has heard before, in the pages of the book he seeks. What darkness awaits them in these wild Norse lands?

The first book in this series, A Time for Swords, introduced some wonderful characters in Hunlaf, Runolf and his companions, binding them together through adversity against the Viking raiders, and then promising an intriguing adventure to come in the pages of this second book. Knowing this starts with established characters and an impending journey means this volume of the series has a different feel right from the off. Here you are aware that you are embarking on a quest of epic proportions with old friends, and Harffy not only fulfils this brief in spades, but he surpasses every expectation by taking you on a gripping adventure that encompasses the very best of immersive historical fiction, weaving in threads of mystery, fantasy and bloody horror along the way.

The story is more or less split into parts of a saga, which works beautifully in this setting. There are many trials to be undergone in the course of their quest, and each one calls on the members of our fellowship to use their various skills to propel the story onwards - a ship must somehow be built; a suitable gang of compatriots must be gathered together; a dangerous sea journey must be undertaken; and the perils of the Norse wilds must be overcome; not to mention that both Hunlaf and Runolf have personal business of their own to take care of. I love how Harffy threads the various stages of the adventure together, leading you onwards to what always promised to be difficult tasks and then throwing in a darkly delicious curve ball that channels Joseph Conrad's The Heart of Darkness in all its macabre glory. No spoilers from me dear reader, but I cannot remember the last time I was so terrified reading a work of historical fiction - the way Harffy builds suspense, ramping up to a tense and heart-in-the-mouth climax is impressive in the extreme. Would all our heroes survive? I was genuinely frightened for them all!

But of course, this is not just all about blood, guts and the clash of iron even those these parts are hugely entertaining. Many of the players in this saga undergo some interesting character development this time around. Hunlaf in particular is forced to confront exactly what it means to be a warrior; to find a way to reconcile love and loss with a sense of purpose; and to look at people in a different way. Runolf too shows his hidden depths, and he is not the only one. This brings a real poignancy to the story, and really tugs on the old heart strings - tears were shed...

Oh, and there are maps, dear readers... maps!!!

In what I now recognise to be classic Harffy style, there is a seductive pull into the next book in the series that suggests many more adventures for Hunlaf await - this time in much warmer waters. I cannot wait!

Posted as part of the blog tour -

Firstly I have to commended the author on creating a new series set away from his Serpent Sword series but at the same time offering subtle nods to his previous work. These litter eastereggs are there to find and really did put a smile on my face. I know the characters aren’t real but at the same time the investment you put into a story as the reader makes them real, so adding in these little extras triggers the memories and it’s great to see those adventures are still locked in my head 😊.

So we are back with Hunlaf, he’s firmly shed his monk robes for the touch of cold hard steel but that doesn’t mean he’s still not conflicted at times. Mainly because the warrior life has come easy to him and sometimes that doesn’t sit well with his soul. He’s about to be tested like never before.

Runolf wants to start building his boat to cross the sea to find out what has become of his family. Hunlaf has a desire more then most to join him after his kin was take in a previous Viking raid. Neither know how their loved ones fair so as you can imagine.. there’s a lot of nervous energy going around with them both eager to set sail.

After receiving the blessing of the King to build the boat and with orders to gain a truce with the Norse we see a few new faces join our band of heroes and at times tensions can run high but the call of the sea and the torment it can cause soon allows bonds to grow.. which will make future events even harder to swallow. The journey across the sea will be completed but comes at a price.

When eventually they arrive on Norse lands all is not well. A slave has revolted and is causing havoc. If Runolf and Hunlaf ever want to see peace and their kin again they must fight a new threat.. and this threat is a little bit crazy to say the least.

We learn early on that death will show it’s face so while I was kind of prepared it really didn’t help lessen the shock when events unfolded.

What happens next is beyond belief and is the best 10 – 15 chapters I’ve ever read in my life…the grizzly horror.. the bloodshed.. the pain.. it’s beautiful in it’s madness as Hunlaf tries to make it out of this one alive.. but nothing is certain, but.. Anything is possible.

If it’s even possible I think Harffy gets better and better which each offering and as this is still a relatively new series for the author it’s given him the ability to explore things a little more than with his established characters I feel.. he really let his creative juices flow on this one.

I always like to comment on writing style, chapter length etc but on this one I simple can’t.. I was so engrossed I just didn’t take that in.. I just ploughed through this one with a desire to learn the outcome.. We know Hunlaf makes it through this adventure as he’s the one recounting the tale to us but the rest is not known and there’s so much at stake… I really didn’t want to see loose anyone but it wouldn’t be a Harffy book without a few tears.

It’s a 5* from me without a shadow of a doubt.

It’s unreal how haunting amazing this book is.. how is it even possible to write something so disturbingly beautiful! There’s so many emotions that pass through you as you read this one and it’s something that will really stay with you.

Hunlaf is back and I thoroughly enjoyed this new book. This monk-warrior, his quest for a mythical book called The Tree of Life" and his cousin who disappeared during a Viking raid.
The old man he is now look back to the past and tell what happened, how ho found hard to understand his true calling, and saw and lived through fascinating adventures.
This book is quite slow burning, it takes a bit for the adventure to start but it was compelling and fascinating.
There's not a lot of historical documentation about the times when Hunlaf was living but the author did an excellent job in mixing facts and fiction.
Even if Hunlaf is a fictional character he could have been one of the uncountable monks who travelled and were warrior and monk at the same time.
The author did a good job in developing the characters and the background. The storytelling is excellent and kept my attention alive even if it's a bit slow at the beginning.
I can't wait to read the next book as it's full of promises and new places.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Night of Flames returns fans to the world of Hunlaf and Runolf. While book 1 focused on the initial raids against Lindisfarne, book 2, eventually, takes the reader further away to seek out the home of the Raiders. An intriguing idea, and an interesting way of keeping with the same characters, when there’s such a huge historical gap into those first raids, and the later, more sustained ones.

Throughout the book, Hunlaf constantly questions himself – is he a warrior or is he a man of God? There are some illusions, through foreshadowing in the narrative, to possible future adventures for Hunlaf, far from the shores of Northumbria. But for now, we have Hunlaf’s accounting of the building of a ship to brave the Whale Road, and the journey he subsequently takes, via Orkney to Norway. It’s a slow burner. Not until nearly halfway through the book does Hunlaf reach his destination. And even there, his journey isn’t at an end, and nor are the perils he must face.

The author, admits, in the endnotes, that this book is big on the fiction. This is understandable. There’s so little information about events at this time, and I confess to feeling a little sorry for him having to pick a new thread for this story of the late eighth century. It would be ‘easier’ to choose a later period when more is known, and yet, equally, it allows for a much wider scope. Hunlaf and his fellow warriors aren’t constrained by history to perform certain tasks.

Fans of the author are sure to enjoy book 2 in Hunlaf’s story. Book 3 promises to take readers even further afield, and I look forward to it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy. #BlogTour

Brilliant follow up to a Time for Swords, following Cleric turned Warrior, Hunlaf as he journeys to Norway. I enjoyed every moment of this thrilling historical adventure and I’m sure it will appeal to fans of Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series.

Just a top notch addition to the series that continues the tale of former monk, now warrior, Hunlaf and his companions in the wake of the attack on Lindisfarne. The pacing is terrific, there is lots of action which of course leads to deadly consequences for some and overall, it's a wonderful read!! After the attack, Hunlaf, Runolf and the rest of the warrior group do their best to help the survivors and settlement rebuild. But they all know they must get a ship so they can go north in search of Runolf's wife, Estrid, and Hunlaf's cousin Aelfwyn. In addition, there is the mysterious book, The Treasure of Life, which Hunlaf feels compelled to find. This journey takes the group to Bebbanburg and beyond before heading north into storms, trials, betrayal and finally culminates in a confrontation that will change many lives. The story flows so well, with the addition of new characters, that you are completely drawn in and knowing that some will not survive adds to the tension. Will certainly be looking forward the next book in Hunlaf's journey!! Highly recommend this series!!

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thanks to Head of Zeus books and Netgalley for the ARC.

At the end of the book it states historical fiction with a capital F and in that respect is quite right but it manages to entertain with a capital E. Hunlaf is a character committing his memories and adventures to “paper” and each book is like a chapter from these memories. In this, the second instalment, Hunlaf is drawn into helping put a stop to Viking raids and travels, with an able body of men, to see about trading rather than raiding whilst searching for (and hoping to recover) relatives snatched during one such raid. The price required for such a deal is high and literally heads must roll. Tense good adventure that draws you in and is a worthy read.

This was an amazing second installment in this fantastic series. I can't say enough how awesome this story and characters are in these novels. Don't waste time and go buy this book now. You will not regret it!

A night of flames is the second instalment in the series. I didn’t read the first book (however I might well do now) but it didn’t stop me understanding the characters or story lines past. Hunlaf is an easy to like character who himself is fighting with the light and dark within his soul as well as fighting that of the enemy.

I really enjoyed this book, starting on the shores of England and travelling across the ‘whale road’ to a kingdom that to the reader feels like some mythical land. This Viking era adventure quest with a group of strong willed warriors each with an individual skill set, is really enjoyable from start to finish dand I would certainly recommend fans of historical fiction or adventure novels to give this a read!

This is the only book in the series I’ve read and I liked that I didn’t have to read the first book to understand the plot. I also look forward to reading the next one. That said, this book suffers in comparison to Bernard Cornwall’s Last Kingdom series even though the two series are slightly different and the main characters are different. I sympathized more with Bernard Cornwell’s characters and found the storyline more believable, historically thinking.