Release: September 3rd 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, B&N
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A brilliantly conceived Viking epic set in eighth-century Sweden and medieval Constantinople. Bernard Cornwall meets George R.R. Martin in this ambitious, masterful series.
Erlan Aurvandil has turned his back on the past and his native Northern lands, taking a perilous journey to the greatest city in the world, Constantinople. But as his voyage ends, a powerful Byzantine general brutally betrays, captures and enslaves Erlan .
Meanwhile, Lilla Sviggarsdottir, Queen of Svealand, has lost her husband and with him, her father’s kingdom. Her life in danger, Lilla escapes to find Erlan, the one man who can save her, following his trail to the very gates of Constantinople.
But corruption infests the city, and a dark tide is rising against the Emperor from within his own court. As the shadows darken and whispers of war begin to strengthen, Erlan’s fate becomes intertwined with that of the city. Are they both doomed to fall ? Can they win freedom in the blood of battle?
About the Author:
Theodore Brun studied Dark Age archaeology at Cambridge. In 2010, he quit his job as an arbitration lawyer in Hong Kong and cycled 10,000 miles across Asia and Europe to his home in Norfolk. A Burning Sea is his third novel.
A Burning Sea Review:
This book is a gripping historic, epic adventure novel, with a touch of the supernatural, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I have not read the previous two books in the series, but I had no problem reading this as a standalone. True, there are some minor references made which I didn’t comprehend, but otherwise I loved this epic fantasy! Honestly, I did not even notice the time fly by while reading it. The author jumps right into adventure from the first chapter.
Moreover, the author balances the character development and the fantasy adventure together in a beautiful way. I loved Erlan and Lilla as the main characters. Erlan is the perfect archetype, and you immediately root for him. He goes through a LOT in the story, from meeting the Bulgars, being dragged in the hole and travelling to Constantinople. However, at times, I liked Lilla more than Erlan and my heart went out to her. She goes through so much in the story to get back the kingdom after losing her husband. I also liked the supporting characters like Einar, Leo and Katāros. In fact, I really enjoyed Einar as I felt he lightened the tale with his humor.
Also, it is clear that the author has done his research for the world building. He also wrote the book in a simple, yet captivating way that just catches your attention. The chapters alternate between multiple story-lines with different characters, which gives us a bigger picture of what is happening. There’s a bit of supernatural, fantasy, and lots of action, adventure, politics, scheming and power.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel I would have loved it even more had I read the previous books in the series.
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A Burning Sea by Theodore Brun Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
