The Hidden Crown: Northland - 1166

This is by no means the best take on this subject- Stephen Baxters "conqueror" did it better, but overall i really rather enjoyed this. Starting with the concept that William the conqueror got over the Channel before Harold Hardrada but was defeated and it was the Norse who defeated the Anglo-Saxons but were unable to take over the entire country is a clever idea- It leaves the country split into a Danelaw and a realm of Wessex long into the later mediaeval period and it is in this dragons den the story is set. Characterisation is excellent, the whole of the northern parts of the book are very well written (especially with sense of place- ive been to a lot of these places and its uncanny), and it keeps up a cracking place.The problems- the ending is rather rushed and a bit confusing (i wont spoil it), the southern locations are not as well written as the northern ones, and if you arent British you will sorely miss a map especially as he uses ancient forms of the names of towns and cities (my archaeology degree did come in handy for something here!). Overall though I found it a good read and enjoyed the experience.

The story takes place a century after 1066, but things had happened differently in that year because William attacked and invaded first was killed and defeated by Harold who, in turn, was defeated and killed by Harald Hadrada and his Norse army. This is the reverse of what happened historically and, as the beginning of the story shows, maybe it could have happened if the weather had been better and William of Normandy had crossed the Channel a month before he actually did.The consequences of this alternate history is that the victors - Harald and Tostig - shared England, with the former taking the Danelaw and the later becoming King of and England reduced to Wessex, East Anglia and the southern part of what had been Mercia. The two kings, and their successors after them, swore the "Oath of Morcar" in order to keep the peace between the two Kingdoms of England and Northland, and they did for a century.The alternative history piece is mostly plausible. The Normans were not invincible and even after a hard fought battle in the North, force-marching back to the South and with not all of his forces assembled, Hastings (or Senlac, as some call it) was a rather close run thing. A battle where Harald Hardrada had not been caught by surprise, and allegedly had their mail coats on them, would also have been a much harder one for the Anglo-Saxons - not that the battle that actually took place was "easy". I was not quite convinced with the oath of Morcar, partly because the historical character does not seem to have been very trustworthy - he certainly did not hold to the oaths he made to William - and partly because I rather doubt that such an oath could have been held for a century.Then there is the story itself, with the heiress to the throne of the old and dying king having been sent to Scotland sometime after the King has lost his wide and only son in a shipwreck which seems inspired from that of the "Blanche Nef" in which the son and heir of Henry I Beauclerc was drowned. However, the reasons for sending his grand-daughter to a foreign kingdom are not entirely plausible. There seem to be an implication that the King believed she would be safer than at his side or in his kingdom, which does not say very much about his authority or power.The English King's over-ambitious nephew - Swegen - is the arch-villain of the story. He stops at nothing, almost frothing at the mouth at the slightest obstacle and is quick to murder just about anyone who happens to get in his way or becomes inconvenient. I could not help finding that he was "a bit too much", although he could be loosely inspired from historical characters (I thought of Swein, Godwin's eldest son, and of William Rufus). The old archbishop of Canterbury seems to be inspired by Anselm, with perhaps a touch of Lanfranc as well since he is far from being the old fool detached of worldly issues that he initially seems. Hakon, King of Northland, seems loosely based on King Swein Forkbeard and his son Knut (Hakon's son bears the same name).The other characters, those of the heroes of the story, are mostly archetypes: the little child-princess, the young, rash and outspoken son of the most powerful earl of the kingdom, the brave and "loyal-to-the-death" young housecarl. The later character was the most sympathetic to me, partly because he is entirely devoid of the slightest selfishness and partly because he makes a quite plausible 11th century elite bodyguard. There are a number of examples where household troops and houscarls died fighting around their lord in the typical way of the Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons, Hastings being just one of them.As you have certainly realised by now, the plot is not exactly original. It is even a bit implausible and you may have to suspend belief at times. The characters are mostly well drawn and appear convincing on the surface, although perhaps less so when you really start thinking about it, and that includes our novice housecarl who seems to know exactly what to do when on the run.The book also includes a number of nice touches about the urbanisation of both York and London, where an Anglo-Saxon version of the Tower is built, and about the countryside, including the rather dangerous tides on the north-west coast. I'll refrain from being more specific to avoid spoilers. There are also some good fights - three if I remember correctly, although here again, you might have to suspend belief at times. Finally, I found that the end of the story was both abrupt and not entirely plausible.Having mentioned all this, I also very much liked the way in which the author played with the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle at the end and having it present what would have been the very "politically correct version" of the time. Presumably, it was written under the direction of the cynical and very pragmatic Godric, Archbishop of Westminster (who is inspired by quite a few historical characters!). I also liked, this time right at the beginning of the book, the exercise where, by changing a dozen words in the setting of the record, the actual history is modified into the alternative scenario.By and large, this was an entertaining, good and thoroughly enjoyable read. It is, as another reviewer noted, loosely inspired from some of Stephen Baxter's books (and perhaps not only "Conquest"), although sufficiently different to be much more than a pale copy. Four stars.

I really enjoyed this book and have now begun reading the next Northland book, The Sheriff of Jorvik: Northland 1185, which is equally enjoyable. This is not a genre I would normally choose, but have to say I am now 'hooked'! A really good story that I can recommend.

Had not heard of this author but it was recommended to me by a friend after discussing "what ifs" of William being defeated. Like another reviewer, took me a couple of rereads of the prologue and first chapter to get to grips with everyone's names, and whilst I wasn't too sure which place names were being referenced (e.g.: I had no idea Lonborg was Lancaster until I came to this page to write a review), I didn't find the lack of geographical knowledge to be a hinderance.Overall a very good book -- one that I could easily see being made into a TV show. The characters are well written, the pacing is fantastic and it gives you that "just one more chapter" feeling all the way through. Would highly recommend.

This was a very enjoyable book and an interesting take on the genre.The key characters were well developed and the description of the scenery helped the visualisation.Like most romance fiction, albeit a reimagining, it uses some archetypal elements and characters and I found this to help, rather than hinder the development of the plot.

A thoroughly entertaining alternate history. It's extremely well-paced, the characters are interesting, and even plot points that you expect are well-executed and don't feel cliched. The ending was slightly rushed, but as a first book, it's really well-done. Compelling, fun, detailed and a bit bloody. Would happily read more by this author.

Author provides an interesting merger of accurate depictions of Anglo Saxon life/society and a fantasy adventure story.While the plot is ficticious, it is well paced and the characterisation easily keeps you engaged. The details of lifestyles, politics and geography of the period are well researched and provide added enjoyment for anyone with a knowledge of northern England or Anglo Saxon history.Overall an excellent beginning for a new author and look forward to future publications.

I couldn't put this book down. It had me from almost start to finish. I say almost start because it took me a few re reads of the first few pages to get my head around the main characters. Once I'd done this I was away.I know I have shouted at the TV a few times, when the end of a film hasn't been what I hoped for. I found myself shouting at this book at the end, as the main baddie was so loathed by me by the time he got his comeuppance that I was disappointed he was just killed, without a bit of pain being inflicted first!!I would recommend this this book to anyone. For me it was just a damn good read.Come on David, get the next one out!!