Author: Arthur Frazier (aka Kenneth Bulmer)
First Published: 1973
Pages: 112pp
Publisher: New English Library
Warning: there will be major spoilers in this review so I highly recommend you read Book 1, Oath of Blood before going any further. My review of the opening chapter is here.
Wolfs Head 2: The King's Death follows on almost immediately after the end of the first book. It's 1066 and Edric Ecgbertson, Beorn the freedman Viking and Edric's father, Ecgbert the Thegn of Furnaceden, are recouperating after the Battle of Stamford Bridge where they played a key role in the success of the army of King Harold. Ecgbert has suffered a grievous wound to his leg during the encounter that repelled the Norse hordes of King Hardrada.
The Normans on the other hand, are preparing thier armies for an invasion of England. Simon du Lac of Saint Laurent, has taken over from his father, Rolf, as the head of the du Lac family. Following the death of his father, who had been reduced to a cippled and mumbling idoit after being thrown down a set of stone steps - a fate Simon believes was carried out by the hand of Edric Ecgbertson - the young Norman Lord is bent upon revenge. He is driven by this desire to join the ranks of the other high families of Normandy to back Duke William, who has a rightful claim on the English crown and who is supported by the Church to cross the English Channel and become the one and true King.
Simon also has further reason to hate Edric. Although they had parted friends, Simon believes Edric is also responsible for stealing the Lady Ysabel from his brother, Odo the Fair. Odo's face was hideously maimed by Edric, and he travelled to England with his henchman, Gilbert, to kill Edric and bring back Ysabel. Odo died in the attempt - a wounded Gilbert escaped and on his return to Castle Saint Laurent told a less than truthful tale to Simon that cemented his hatred of his former Saxon friend.
(There is no showdown between Beorn the Viking and the Norman knight, Gilbert in this book, something I was looking forward too. In fact Gilbert is sidelined from the action for pretty much the whole novel, just a small dissapointment in an otherwise engaging episode. However the promise of Gilbert coming back in a later installment is somthing to anticipate. I hope that happens as he was a thoroughly nasty little henchman in book one.)
The Normans cross the Channel and land in Engalnd a few days after the Battle of Stamford Bridge. They find very little resistence, as King Harold had been busy fighting the invasion by the Norwegians to the North. He gathers his forces and heads for London to pick up more men and head down to Sussex to meet the latest threat to his rule.
Edric has to say goodbye to his father, the wound has not healed and it looks like Ecgbert will never fight again. Determinig that their home, Furnaceden must be protected at all costs, his father takes some men and heads back. Edric and Beorn take up with the main force travelling behind thier King.
The date is Ocotber 1066. The book is called The King's Death. The Normans have designs to build a castle outside a town called Hastings. It is clear that we are set for a grand showdown between Harold and Willaim, and the Battle of Hastings. Anyone who knows thier English history will know what is about to happen. But apart from the historical background, Bulmer is building towards a potential meeting onthe battlefield between Simon du Lac and Edric Ecgbertson. Simon is a frenzy of hatred, bent upon killing Edric, pouring manure on his grave and burning Furnaceden to the ground, or even taking it for himself as a spoil of war. He ingratiates himself with Earl William. If the battle is won, he hopes to gain as much as possible. Edric is intent on protecting his home and his country and defending the honour of his King with his one-eyed Viking at his side.
Once again, I was impressed by Bulmers storytelling. He weaves in history and fiction expertly, using old English words and phrases sparsely, but enough times to provide authentic atmosphere. He is in total control - never letting the action wane for too long, and pushing the plot forward at a satisfying pace. At just over 110 pages this novel doesn't mince words on how to create tapestry or basket-weaving!
The description of the Batlle of Hastings is fantastic, there are plenty of gut-wrenching wounds, arms, legs and heads flying left and right. The reader is thrust into the very heart of the mayhem of medieaval warfare between the Saxon shield wall and the Breton cavalry. The battle did not last long, and Bulmer does a grand job of making it feel real, dangerous and frightening.
Once again, as in Oath of Blood, Bulmer adds good supporting characters. In this book Edric and Simon are joined by Guy Vermeil, a young Norman lord, Roland the Minstrel and Alaric the woodsman. Alaric plays a pivotal role in the showdown between the invaders and the Saxons defending Furnaceden with their wounded Thegn.
Just one thing baffled me. After having a main character in book one named Odo. Bulmer introduces yet another character called Odo in the early parts of book two. This was a strange, and confusing, decision. I wondered if the second character was historical, and the author decided against renaming him (or renaming his fictional character)? Thankfully the second 'Odo' doesn't make too many appearances.
Publisher: New English Library
Warning: there will be major spoilers in this review so I highly recommend you read Book 1, Oath of Blood before going any further. My review of the opening chapter is here.
Wolfs Head 2: The King's Death follows on almost immediately after the end of the first book. It's 1066 and Edric Ecgbertson, Beorn the freedman Viking and Edric's father, Ecgbert the Thegn of Furnaceden, are recouperating after the Battle of Stamford Bridge where they played a key role in the success of the army of King Harold. Ecgbert has suffered a grievous wound to his leg during the encounter that repelled the Norse hordes of King Hardrada.
The Normans on the other hand, are preparing thier armies for an invasion of England. Simon du Lac of Saint Laurent, has taken over from his father, Rolf, as the head of the du Lac family. Following the death of his father, who had been reduced to a cippled and mumbling idoit after being thrown down a set of stone steps - a fate Simon believes was carried out by the hand of Edric Ecgbertson - the young Norman Lord is bent upon revenge. He is driven by this desire to join the ranks of the other high families of Normandy to back Duke William, who has a rightful claim on the English crown and who is supported by the Church to cross the English Channel and become the one and true King.
Simon also has further reason to hate Edric. Although they had parted friends, Simon believes Edric is also responsible for stealing the Lady Ysabel from his brother, Odo the Fair. Odo's face was hideously maimed by Edric, and he travelled to England with his henchman, Gilbert, to kill Edric and bring back Ysabel. Odo died in the attempt - a wounded Gilbert escaped and on his return to Castle Saint Laurent told a less than truthful tale to Simon that cemented his hatred of his former Saxon friend.
(There is no showdown between Beorn the Viking and the Norman knight, Gilbert in this book, something I was looking forward too. In fact Gilbert is sidelined from the action for pretty much the whole novel, just a small dissapointment in an otherwise engaging episode. However the promise of Gilbert coming back in a later installment is somthing to anticipate. I hope that happens as he was a thoroughly nasty little henchman in book one.)
The Normans cross the Channel and land in Engalnd a few days after the Battle of Stamford Bridge. They find very little resistence, as King Harold had been busy fighting the invasion by the Norwegians to the North. He gathers his forces and heads for London to pick up more men and head down to Sussex to meet the latest threat to his rule.
Edric has to say goodbye to his father, the wound has not healed and it looks like Ecgbert will never fight again. Determinig that their home, Furnaceden must be protected at all costs, his father takes some men and heads back. Edric and Beorn take up with the main force travelling behind thier King.
The date is Ocotber 1066. The book is called The King's Death. The Normans have designs to build a castle outside a town called Hastings. It is clear that we are set for a grand showdown between Harold and Willaim, and the Battle of Hastings. Anyone who knows thier English history will know what is about to happen. But apart from the historical background, Bulmer is building towards a potential meeting onthe battlefield between Simon du Lac and Edric Ecgbertson. Simon is a frenzy of hatred, bent upon killing Edric, pouring manure on his grave and burning Furnaceden to the ground, or even taking it for himself as a spoil of war. He ingratiates himself with Earl William. If the battle is won, he hopes to gain as much as possible. Edric is intent on protecting his home and his country and defending the honour of his King with his one-eyed Viking at his side.
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| Battle of Hastings, 1066 |
The description of the Batlle of Hastings is fantastic, there are plenty of gut-wrenching wounds, arms, legs and heads flying left and right. The reader is thrust into the very heart of the mayhem of medieaval warfare between the Saxon shield wall and the Breton cavalry. The battle did not last long, and Bulmer does a grand job of making it feel real, dangerous and frightening.
Once again, as in Oath of Blood, Bulmer adds good supporting characters. In this book Edric and Simon are joined by Guy Vermeil, a young Norman lord, Roland the Minstrel and Alaric the woodsman. Alaric plays a pivotal role in the showdown between the invaders and the Saxons defending Furnaceden with their wounded Thegn.
Just one thing baffled me. After having a main character in book one named Odo. Bulmer introduces yet another character called Odo in the early parts of book two. This was a strange, and confusing, decision. I wondered if the second character was historical, and the author decided against renaming him (or renaming his fictional character)? Thankfully the second 'Odo' doesn't make too many appearances.
I sought out a paperback copy of this second novel in the Wolfs Head sequence. As far as Iam aware they are still not readily available in eBook format. Other Bulmer books have been converted and released. This series being left out remains left out is a tragedy.
The King's Death is highly recommended - its worth the time to seek out, and they aren't yet so scarce as to be expensive purchases.....yet.
1 comment:
An interesting review. The characters sound intriguing.
You may find this adventure novel a good read:
https://theappointedtime.blog/
I’d welcome your review.
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