Thrilling adventure tale set in 10th century England. As the first millennium closes, Anglo-Saxon England is gripped by fear and expectation of the end of the world. But an ancient prophesy foretells a hero, a man of destiny who will redeem the people. But who is he, and can he be found in time, as Viking raiders plan invasion and conquest? The second of his "Mercian Trilogy" series, this new story by Martin Wall is based on two Anglo-Saxon sagas which were lost after the Norman conquest --- the saga of Edmund Ironside, and the saga of Edric Streona, the most dastardly villain in English history. The darkest period of Anglo-Saxon times, the disastrous reign of King Ethelred "the unready" forms the backdrop for this epic tale of one man's quest as he traverses a country stricken by internal division, intrigue, and invasion by the Vikings.

The story of a medieval Boudicca, Alfred the Great's daughter, and her struggle to restore her people and reclaim their land

The discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard in 2009 has captured the imagination and stimulated renewed interest in the history and culture of the Anglo-Saxons. The discovery poses some interesting questions. Who owned the treasure and how did they acquire it? Was it made locally or did it originate elsewhere? Why was it buried in an obscure field in the Staffordshire countryside? To answer these questions, Martin Wall takes us on a journey into a period that still remains mysterious, into regions and countries long forgotten, such as Mercia and Northumbria. This is a story of the 'Dark Ages' and the people who lived in them, but darkness is in the eye of the beholder. This book challenges our notions of these times as barbaric and backward to reveal a civilization as complex, sophisticated and diverse as our own.