Shield of Mercia

Mercia is triumphant. Her king is safe. But Wessex was never Mercia's only enemy.
Tamworth, AD836**
Following a brutally cold winter, King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy. Even Wessex's Archbishop of Canterbury extraordinarily ventures to Mercia to broker a religious accord. But, can the hard-won peace prevail?
Viking raiders threaten Wessex. These blood-thirsty warriors are fast, skilful and have no reticence about killing those who stand in their way. Their aim isn't to rule but to overwhelm, slaughter and take ill-gotten wealth.
King Wiglaf is no fool. As the Vikings push to overwhelm Wessex, Mercia's lands look insecure. King Wiglaf needs the shields of Mercia's warriors to prevent the overwhelming advancement of their deadliest enemy yet.
To save Mercia, Icel must first prevail over the two men who mean to end his life; King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent and only then the marauding Viking army for whom boundaries have no meaning.
An action packed, thrilling historical adventure perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to
Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a
building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant
that the author's writing destiny was set.