The Books

The Bernicia Chronicles


THE SERPENT SWORD


633AD. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, powerful, action-packed historical thriller about vengeance and coming of age. The Bernicia Chronicles are perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Beobrand is compelled by his brother's almost-certain murder to embark on a quest for revenge in the war-ravaged kingdoms of Northumbria.

The land is rife with danger, as warlords vie for supremacy and dominion. In the battles for control of the region, new oaths are made and broken, and loyalties are tested to the limits.

With no patronage and no experience Beobrand must form his own allegiances and learn to fight with sword and shield.

Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, he faces challenges which transform him from a boy to a man who stands strong in the clamour and gore of the shieldwall.

As he closes in on his kin's slayer and the bodies pile up, can Beobrand mete out the vengeance he craves without sacrificing his honour … or even his soul?


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THE CROSS AND THE CURSE


634AD. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and second instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Warlords battle across Britain to become the first king of the English.

After a stunning victory against the native Waelisc, Beobrand returns a hero. His valour is rewarded with wealth and land by the king of Northumbria. He retires to his new estate with his bride only to find himself surrounded by enemies old and new.

With treachery and death on all sides, Beobrand fears he will lose all he holds dear.

On a quest for revenge and redemption, he accepts the mantle of lord, leading his men into the darkest of nights and the bloodiest of battles.


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BLOOD AND BLADE


635AD. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and third instalment in The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Oswald is now King of Northumbria. However, his plans for further alliances and conquests are quickly thrown into disarray when his wedding to a princess of Wessex is interrupted by news of a Pictish uprising.

Rushing north, Oswald leaves Beobrand to escort the young queen to her new home. Their path is fraught with danger and uncertainty, Beobrand must try to unravel secrets and lies if they are to survive.

Meanwhile, old enemies are closing in, seeking brutal revenge. Beobrand will give his blood and blade in service to his king, but will that be enough to avert disaster and save his kith and kin from the evil forces that surround them?

BUY BLOOD AND BLADE
Published 1st December 2016

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KILLER OF KINGS



636 AD. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the fourth instalment in The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Beobrand has land, men and riches. He should be content. And yet he cannot find peace until his enemies are food for the ravens. But before Beobrand can embark on his bloodfeud, King Oswald orders him southward, to escort holy men bearing sacred relics.

When Penda of Mercia marches a warhost into the southern kingdoms, Beobrand and his men are thrown into the midst of the conflict. Beobrand soon finds himself fighting for his life and his honour.

In the chaos that grips the south, dark secrets are exposed, bringing into question much that Beobrand had believed true. Can he unearth the answers and exact the vengeance he craves? Or will the blood-price prove too high, even for a warrior of his battle-fame and skill?

BUY KILLER OF KINGS
Published 1st June 2017

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WARRIOR OF WODEN


AD 642. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the fifth instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Oswald has reigned over Northumbria for eight years and Beobrand has led the king to ever greater victories. Rewarded for his fealty and prowess in battle, Beobrand is now a wealthy warlord, with a sizable warband. Tales of Beobrand's fearsome black-shielded warriors and the great treasure he has amassed are told throughout the halls of the land.

Many are the kings who bow to Oswald. And yet there are those who look upon his realm with a covetous eye. And there is one ruler who will never kneel before him.

When Penda of Mercia, the great killer of kings, invades Northumbria, Beobrand is once more called upon to stand in an epic battle where the blood of many will be shed in defence of the kingdom.

But in this climactic clash between the pagan Penda and the Christian Oswald there is much more at stake than sovereignty. This is a battle for the very souls of the people of Albion.

BUY WARRIOR OF WODEN
Published 1st April 2018

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STORM OF STEEL


AD 643. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the sixth instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Heading south to lands he once considered his home, Beobrand is plunged into a dark world of piracy and slavery when an old friend enlists his help to recover a kidnapped girl.

Embarking onto the wind-tossed seas, Beobrand pursues his quarry with single-minded tenacity. But the Whale Road is never calm and his journey is beset with storms, betrayal and violence.

As the winds of his wyrd blow him ever further from what he knows, will Beobrand find victory on his quest or has his luck finally abandoned him?

BUY STORM OF STEEL
Published May 2019


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FORTRESS OF FURY



AD 647. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical thriller and the seventh instalment in the Bernicia Chronicles.

War hangs heavy in the hot summer air as Penda of Mercia and his allies march into the north. Caught unawares, the Bernician forces are besieged within the great fortress of Bebbanburg.

It falls to Beobrand to mount the defence of the stronghold, but even while the battle rages, old and powerful enemies have mobilised against him, seeking vengeance for past events.

As the Mercian forces tighten their grip and unknown killers close in, Beobrand finds himself in a struggle with conflicting oaths and the dreadful pull of a forbidden love that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.

With the future of Northumbria in jeopardy, will Beobrand be able to withstand the powers that beset him and find a path to victory against all the odds?

BUY FORTRESS OF FURY
Published 6th August 2020


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FOR LORD AND LAND


AD 651. Anglo-Saxon Britain. Greed and ambition threaten to tear the north apart.

War rages between the two kingdoms of Northumbria. Kin is pitted against kin and friend becomes foe as ambitious kings vie for supremacy.

When Beobrand travels south into East Angeln to rescue a friend, he unwittingly tilts the balance of power in the north, setting in motion events that will lead to a climactic confrontation between Oswiu of Bernicia and Oswine of Deira.

While the lord of Ubbanford is entangled in the clash of kings, his most trusted warrior, Cynan, finds himself on his own quest, called to the aid of someone he thought never to see again. Riding into the mountainous region of Rheged, Cynan faces implacable enemies who would do anything to further their own ends.

Forced to confront their pasts, and with death and betrayal at every turn, both Beobrand and Cynan have their loyalties tested to breaking point.

Who will survive the battle for a united Northumbria, and who will pay the ultimate price for lord and land?

BUY FOR LORD AND LAND
Published 1st July 2021


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FOREST OF FOES


AD 652. Beobrand has been ordered to lead a group of pilgrims to the holy city of Rome. Chief among them is Wilfrid, a novice of the Church with some surprisingly important connections. Taking only Cynan and some of his best men, Beobrand hopes to make the journey through Frankia quickly and return to Northumbria without delay, though the road is long and perilous.

But where Beobrand treads, menace is never far behind. The lands of the Merovingian kings are rife with intrigue. The queen of Frankia is unpopular and her ambitious schemes, though benevolent, have made her powerful enemies. Soon Wilfrid, and Beobrand, are caught up in sinister plots against the royal house.

After interrupting a brutal ambush in a forest, Beobrand and his trusted gesithas find their lives on the line. Dark forces will stop at nothing to seize control of the Frankish throne, and Beobrand is thrown into a deadly race for survival through foreign lands where he cannot be sure who is friend and who is foe.

The only certainty is that if he is to save his men, thwart the plots, and unmask his enemies, blood will flow.
Published 8th December 2022


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WOLF OF WESSEX


AD 838. Deep in the forests of Wessex, Dunston's solitary existence is shattered when he stumbles on a mutilated corpse.

Accused of the murder, Dunston must clear his name and keep the dead man's daughter alive in the face of savage pursuers desperate to prevent a terrible secret from being revealed.

Rushing headlong through Wessex, Dunston will need to use all the skills of survival garnered from a lifetime in the wilderness. And if he has any hope of victory against the implacable enemies on their trail, he must confront his long-buried past – becoming the man he once was and embracing traits he had promised he would never return to. The Wolf of Wessex must hunt again; honour and duty demand it.

BUY WOLF OF WESSEX
Published 14th November 2019


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A TIME FOR SWORDS


There had been portents – famine, whirlwinds, lightning from clear skies, serpents seen flying through the air. But when the raiders came, no one was prepared.

They came from the North, their dragon-prowed longships gliding out of the dawn mist as they descended on the kingdom's most sacred site.

It is 8th June AD793, and with the pillage of the monastery on Lindisfarne, the Viking Age has begun.

While his fellow monks flee before the Norse onslaught, one young novice stands his ground. He has been taught to turn the other cheek, but faced with the slaughter of his brothers and the pagan desecration of his church, forgiveness is impossible.

Hunlaf soon learns that there is a time for faith and prayer... and there is a time for swords.

BUY A TIME FOR SWORDS
Published 10th December 2020


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A NIGHT OF FLAMES


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 seafaring raiders, the king of Northumbria orders the construction of his own longships under the command of oath-sworn Norseman, Runolf.

When the Vikings attack again, the king sends cleric turned warrior, Hunlaf, on a mission to persuade the king of Rogaland into an alliance. But Hunlaf and Runolf have other plans; kin to seek out, old scores to settle, 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, 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. Can he prevent a night of flames and slaughter?

BUY A NIGHT OF FLAMES
Published 3rd March 2022

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A DAY OF RECKONING



The third thrilling historical adventure in the A Time for Swords series by Matthew Harffy. Hunlaf battles peril and intrigue on a dangerous voyage to Muslim Spain.

AD 796. The high seas are a deadly place full of foes. Sailing in search of an object of great power, Hunlaf and his comrades are far from home when they are caught up in a violent skirmish against pirates.

After the bloody onslaught, an encounter with ships from Islamic Spain soon sees them escorted under guard to the city of Qadis: one of the jewels of the Emirate of Al-Andalus, the true destination of their voyage.

Al-Andalus is a realm of learning and incredible wealth. Hunlaf believes the Emir's lands hold the key to his search, but his task is not a simple one. There are dangerous games at play, and to achieve his goal, Hunlaf and his allies must walk a difficult path where friends and enemies alike are not always what they seem – and where a weapon deadlier than any yet seen could change the future of all the kingdoms in Europe.

PRE-ORDER A DAY OF RECKONING
Published 5th October 2023

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KIN OF CAIN


630 AD. Anglo-Saxon Britain. A gripping, action-packed historical novella set in the world of The Bernicia Chronicles. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell.

Winter grips the land in its icy fist. Terror stalks the hills, moors and marshes of Bernicia. Livestock and men have been found ripped asunder, their bones gnawed, flesh gorged upon. People cower in their halls in fear of the monster that prowls the night.

King Edwin sends his champion, Bassus, with a band of trusted thegns, to hunt down the beast and to rid his people of this evil.

Bassus leads the warriors into the chill wastes of the northern winter, and they soon question whether they are the hunters or the prey. Death follows them as they head deeper into the ice-rimed marshes, and there is ever only one ending for the mission: a welter of blood that will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.

BUY KIN OF CAIN
Published 1st March 2017

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22 comments:

  1. Hello Matthew, I have read the first two books in paperback and really enjoyed them. Do you know any details of the next three books appearing in paperback please?

    Many thanks

    Bill

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    1. Hi Bill,

      Thanks for the message and I'm glad you enjoyed the first two books. The other books should all be available as paperbacks from Amazon on, or shortly after, their release dates.

      All the best,

      Matthew

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  2. Thanks Matthew, that's great news.

    Kind Regards

    Bill

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  3. Just pre-ordered Blood and Blade at Amazon, not long to wait!

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    1. Thanks, Bill! I hope it is worth the wait. :-)

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  4. Half way through the first book and really enjoying it! Been looking for a series to sink into but nothing was cutting it for me until I’ve started yours and can’t put it down! Thanks

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    1. So glad you're enjoying the series so far. Long may it continue (the series and your enjoyment!).

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  5. Hi Mathew, I have just completed book 7 of the Bernicia chronicles which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Are there any plans for book 8, I need to find out what happens to Boebrand and Cynan. Thanks.

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    1. Glad you've enjoyed the books. I'm writing book 8 at the moment, so it should be published in the second half of 2021. All the best, Matthew

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  6. Just finished book 7 after reading the previous 6 in a row. Wow. Looking forward to your next 7!
    Great stuff Mr.Harffy.

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  7. I just finished book 7 and I have to say, this is the best book series I've ever read! How many more books are you planning to write for this series?

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    1. Thank you! Praise indeed!

      I'm just finishing book 8 and I have a few more planned... Perhaps 12 in total.

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  8. Some kind person, with my reading tastes, gave me all the Chronicles. I have just finished the last which I think was the best! Obviously the ending pointed to more in the series to come, and I see from your replies that is the case. Fantastic. Just a bit worried that Cynan, who is my favourite, might be heading for some worthy but bloody end. Thanks for the books.

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    1. Wonderful! Thank you for letting me know. It is good to hear you thought the last was the best - shows I'm doing something right! If Cynan is your favourite, you'll like For Lord and Land, as he has a major role to play... but will he survive?!

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  9. Hi. I have nearly finished for lord and land. All your books are just excellent. Will there be another Bernicia chronicle soon? I only discovered them a few months ago and I've read them all back to back. We'll done on such a great story

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  10. Thank you, Steve. You'll be pleased to know I'm starting book 9 in the series soon, and have a few more planned after that.

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  11. Thanks for replying. I've only got 50 pages left to read for lord and land. Such a good book.

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  13. Hi Matthew, I stumbled upon your work via Audible and after listening to Wolf of Wessex I'm halfway through the Bernicia chronicles.. All I can say is wow, the banter and the little details you go into make this a riveting series. Can't wait to see it on-screen too, Beobrand makes for one of the most memorable heroes ever written about !

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  14. Hi Matthew. I’ve been fortunate enough to read the entire series back to back. I love the characters, the story and all the details. You are a masterful storyteller! I’m wondering when the 9th book will be released? Looking forward to continuing the adventure. Thanks very much.

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  15. Hi Matthew, I have just finished Forest of Foes and was surprised that there is no authors notes. Is this the last one in the series?

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