Tag: HF Reading Challenge

Book Review – The Blazing Sea by Tim Hodkinson

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About the Book

Front cover of The Blazing Sea by Tim Hodkinson

Einar and the Wolf Coats have angered most of the kings of Northern Europe. With England no refuge, their only solution is to set sail across the Whale Road.

A chance encounter with a slave trader leads them to Muslim Spain, but what starts as a joyous homecoming for one of the crew ends in the Caliph’s infamous dungeons.

The Mediterranean proves a perilous sea. Byzantine warships roam, armed with liquid fire that can torch man and ship alike. Viking mercenaries and pirate lords alike spill blood for gold or glory.

With a chance to retake his stolen kingdom of Orkney, Einar must first save an innocent life… and risk his own and those of his crew once more.

Format: Paperback (320 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 11th September 2025 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

The Blazing Sea is the eighth book in the Whale Road Chronicles featuring the adventures of Icelander Einar Unnsson and the fearsome band of warriors known as the Wolf Coats. (In case you’re wondering, the ‘whale-road’ is a very old poetic term for the sea.) I first discovered this series when I read book four, The Serpent King, and I regret that since then I’ve only managed to fit in one further book in the series, Eye of the Raven. Some day I hope I’ll find the time to go back to the beginning.

As the book opens, Einar and the Wolf Coats are far from their homeland, in the unfamiliar territory of the Mediterranean hoping to turn a ship full of slaves into gold. For Einar, it would provide the means to return home with enough troops to reclaim his kingdom. For the others, well, there’d be beer and women for a start. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned after a particularly dangerous run-in with a vessel equipped with the devastating incendiary weapon, ‘Greek fire’. Suddenly the slaves are gone and with it the fortune they’d hoped for. Now a gruesome fate awaits them unless they agree to take on a dangerous mission on behalf of the Byzantine Empire.

To achieve their objective they must penetrate a pirate stronghold on the island of Frumentaria (the Spanish island of Formentera). The pirate camp is protected by strong defences, both natural and man-made. What’s more they have managed to find the means of creating Greek fire, supposedly a closely guarded secret of the Byzantine Empire. With that guarding the harbour, no ship can hope to enter. It’s going to take courage and cunning to infiltrate the camp from the landward side. But as Einar knows sometimes a small band of men, even heavily outnumbered, can achieve what an army cannot.

As before, the action comes thick and fast. The pace really accelerates towards the end of the book as Einar and the Wolf Coats navigate one tricky situation after another with a combination of guile, daring, epic fighting ability and, not least, luck. All the Wolf Coats possess different skills whether that’s stealth, acute hearing or eyesight, expert seamanship or fearsome ability with an axe. One of my favourite characters is Affreca, the sole female member of the Wolf Coats, who is an incomparable archer and the secret (or perhaps not so secret by now) object of Einar’s affections.

As always the author’s knowledge of the period really comes through in the authentic detail of everything from weaponry to social and religious customs. There are particularly vivid descriptions of the city of Constantinople, which is a world away in size and sophistication from anything Einar and the Wolf Coats have ever seen.

Fans of the series will be pleased to learn The Blazing Sea contains all the full-on action of previous books. Nevertheless, by the end of the story, things will have changed forever for the Wolf Coats. Maybe a new quest awaits . . .

I received a review copy courtesy of Head of Zeus via NetGalley.

In three words: Action-packed, authentic, exciting
Try something similar: A Day of Reckoning by Matthew Harffy

About the Author

Tim Hodkinson grew up in Northern Ireland where the rugged coast and call of the Atlantic ocean led to a lifelong fascination with Vikings and a degree in Medieval English and Old Norse Literature. Tim’s more recent writing heroes include Ben Kane, Giles Kristian, Bernard Cornwell, George R.R. Martin and Lee Child. After several years in the USA, Tim has returned to Northern Ireland, where he lives with his wife and children.  (Photo: X profile )

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Book Review – Cairo Gambit by S. W. Perry

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About the Book

Front cover of Cairo Gambit by S. W. Perry

In the heat of the desert, will the trail go cold?

Cairo, 1938. Archie Nevenden is many amateur archaeologist; theatre impresario; absent father; potential defector. And now, he’s a missing person. His daughter, Prim, hasn’t seen him for nearly fifteen years. But she’s never given up on him, and now she’s on her way to Cairo to assist in the search.

Harry Taverner claims to work for the British Council, but Prim knows there’s more to it. He clearly has a theory about what happened to Archie, one she’s not going to like.

As Prim and Harry uncover the layers of Archie’s existence in Cairo, they find themselves drawn in to more than one conspiracy. And soon they’ll discover that Archie may not be the only one in danger…

Format: Hardcover (400 pages) Publisher: Corvus
Publication date: 7th August 2025 Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller

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My Review

I really enjoyed Berlin Duet, the author’s historical thriller set in pre-WW2 Europe. British Intelligence Officer Harry Taverner returns in this book having been ordered back from his posting in Berlin to assist (without revealing his real role) Primrose ‘Prim’ Nevendon’s search for her father who has gone missing in Cairo. ‘He had apparently vanished off the face of the Earth like desert mist at sunrise.’ Archie works in the oil industry and with the world seemingly on the path to war the British government fear he may possess information that would be valuable to Britain’s enemies.

Despite the fact he abandoned her and her mother fifteen years ago and that her only contact with him in the meantime has been via the occasional letter and postcard, Prim seems to hold a romanticised view of her father: intrepid adventurer rather than errant husband and absent father. She clings to childhood memories of digging for ‘treasures’ hidden for her to find in the grounds of the house. Although understandable she should worry for his safety, it seemed to me it was just as much the prospect of adventure that motivated her decision to travel to Egypt to try to find him, a chance to get away from her rather uninspiring life in England.

Arriving in Cairo she finds a turbulent political situation with the sixteen-year-old King Farouk on the throne. Although Egypt has gained its independence, the British still retain a presence in the country in order to defend the Suez Canal. In a chilling echo of current conflicts, there is increasing violence between Arabs and Jew in Palestine, at that time under British control. Add to this the prospect of a European war and it’s perhaps understandable that the priorities of the authorities in Cairo and the British Embassy are elsewhere, and they are unwilling to commit resources to help Prim in her search.

The only help she has is from Harry Taverner, whom she met on the flight to Cairo and who purports to be a representative of the British Council. The reader knows their meeting was no accident. Actually, it’s not the only information we’re privy to that Prim isn’t, thanks to some dream-like interludes that hint at deeply felt loss and guilt.

Prim soon finds herself way out of her depth as it becomes apparent Archie has got himself involved with some very unpleasant people. They’re just as keen to find him as she is, but for entirely different reasons. As Prim and Harry slowly uncover clues – a faded photograph, a theatre programme, flight plans – it becomes clear the mystery of Archie’s disappearance can only be solved by venturing beyond Cairo and into the unforgiving deserts and mountains of the Sinai Peninsula. Both settings are vividly brought to life.

Those who’ve read Berlin Duet know they need not fear for the life of one of the characters but there is plenty of jeopardy for others. The author manages to keep the tension high with some dramatic scenes. As for Prim, well, let’s just say what she learns about Archie puts a whole different slant on things.

Cairo Gambit is a compelling historical thriller that oozes atmosphere and will keep you turning the pages.

I received a review copy courtesy of Corvus via NetGalley.

In three words: Gripping, intriguing, atmospheric

About the Author

S. W. Perry was a journalist and broadcaster before retraining as an airline pilot. He lives in Worcestershire with his wife.

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