From bestselling author MJ Porter, comes the brand new book in the thrilling Earls of Mercia series

Book IX in the epic Earls of Mercia series

England, AD1045

King Edward has married into the powerful House of Godwine, alongside making his wife’s brother, Sweyn Godwineson, Earl of Hereford. The House of Leofwine has received nothing, despite their continuing loyalty to the new king.

With the kingdom threatened by the pretensions of King Magnus of Norway, seeking to make good on the claim that he and Harthacnut agreed to inherit each other’s kingdoms should the other die first, King Edward is determined to build a ship army to counter anything his enemy might attempt.

But while the king’s eye is on external enemies, there are those closer to home determined to cause the king problems, most notably Sweyn Godwineson, who allies with the Welsh king responsible for the death of Eadwine Leofwineson, and then abducts the abbess of Leominster, refusing to give her up. With his sister as the king’s wife, Sweyn believes he can’t be touched until the church acts against him and he’s excommunicated and outlawed.

And Sweyn Godwineson hasn’t finished causing his king problems. When he returns to England without the king’s permission, desperate to recover his landed wealth and possessions, Sweyn finds more than just the House of Leofwine determined against his reinstatement.

Desperate men will take desperate actions, even the king’s brother.

Can Leofric and Ælfgar weather yet more storms for the House of Leofwine, or will the House of Godwine finally triumph?

The King's Brother is the eleventh book in the (main) Earls of Mercia series, retelling the story of the last century of Saxon England through the eyes of the powerful Earls of Mercia, the only noble family, apart from the House of Wessex, to hold their position for nearly a century.

The Earls of Mercia Series
The Earl of Mercia's Father
The Danish King's Enemy
Northman Part 1
Northman Part 2
The King's Earl
The Earl of Mercia
The English Earl
The Earl's King
Viking King
The English King
The King's Brother

Side stories
Wulfstan
Swein: The Danish King
Cnut The Conqueror
Lady Estrid

PRAISE FOR THE EARLS OF MERCIA SERIES

"This is a fantastic series of books by an author who knows his subject. I was into the Roman invasions but am rapidly converting to the Britons!" Amazon Reviewer

"A must-read for fans of Viking age England. This promises to be a very good series of which I can't wait for the next instalment." Amazon Reviewer "Intriguing, well-written stories about the early days of Great Britain between Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror... at the time Athelred was King... the story is written from the perspective of one the emerging Earl's who sits on the Witan (counsel). The time period shows the interplay between Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries (Viking raiders) as well." Amazon.com Reviewer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I'm an author of historical fiction (Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest) and fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed), born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building and told from a very young age that it housed the bones of the long-dead kings of Mercia, it's little wonder that my curiosity in history ran riot. I can only blame my parents! I like to write. You've been warned!

Find me at www.mjporterauthor.com, www.mjporterauthor.blog and @coloursofunison on twitter

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