A Mighty Dawn

Description

Sworn to honour. Broken by betrayal. Hakan, son of Haldan, chosen son of the Lord of the Northern Jutes, swears loyalty to his father in fire, in iron, and in blood. But there are always shadows that roam. When a terrible tragedy befalls Hakan's household he is forced to leave his world behind. He must seek to pledge his sword to a new king. Nameless and alone, he embarks on a journey to escape the bonds of his past and fulfil his destiny as a great warrior. Whispers of sinister forces in the north pull Hakan onwards to a kingdom plagued by mysterious and gruesome deaths. But does he have the strength to do battle with such dark foes? Or is death the only sane thing to seek in this world of blood and broken oaths?

Theodore Brun studied Dark Age archaeology at Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology and an MPhil in History. He also rowed in the Boat Race for the university. Professionally, Theodore qualified and worked as an arbitration lawyer, in London, Moscow, Paris and finally Hong Kong. In 2010, he quit his job in Hong Kong and cycled 10,000 miles across the whole of Asia and Europe (crossing 20 countries) to his home in Norfolk. Theodore is a third generation Viking immigrant - his Danish grandfather having settled in England in 1932. He is married and divides his time between London and Norfolk. A Mighty Dawn is his first novel.

Brun is the real deal. Evocative prose, poetry, the brutality of the Viking world, it's all here, woven with a deft touch into a tremendous tale. Brun's prose draws you in, the story holds you fast... and his attention to detail is sharp as a blade. Brun is a brilliant new talent and A Mighty Dawn is a captivating debut. * Giles Kristian * Just when you thought the brilliant Giles Kristian had... the Viking crown for good, along comes another fine contender for the throne... Engrossing, spellbinding, A Mighty Dawn is exactly that. * Jon Wise * A masterly debut. ... If Bernard Cornwall and George RR Martin had a lovechild, it would look like A Mighty Dawn. I devoured it late into the night, and eagerly await the sequel. * Antonia Senior * Brun has a knack for describing combat... Very much in the vein of Bernard Cornwell's Warrior Chronicles, a warrior's battles are never done, at least, not whilst he still possesses the strength to swing his sword. * Bookbag * [The first of a] very fine historical, fantasy series * Nudge * A truly impressive debut that hints at a much larger story still left to be told. This novel has the potential to be an epic tale to rival the sagas of the ages. * The Eloquent Page * Weaving together history, fantasy and myth like the Norns twining the threads of fate in A Mighty Dawn, Brun has created an excellent debut and a top quality read. * The Tattooed Book Geek *