Raven Books

A Viking adventure, packed with battles, blood and gore, Raven is historical fiction at its very best, and marks the debut of an outstanding new talent. For two years Osric has lived a simple life, apprenticed to the mute old carpenter who took him in when others spurned him. But when Norsemen from across the sea burn his village, Osric is taken prisoner by these warriors. Their chief, Sigurd the Lucky, believes the Norns have woven this strange boy’s fate together with his own, and Osric begins to sense glorious purpose among this fellowship of warriors. Immersed in the Norsemen’s world and driven by their lust for adventure, Osric proves a natural warrior and forges a blood bond with Sigurd, who renames him Raven. But the Norsemen’s world is a savage one, where loyalty is often repaid in blood and where a young man must become a killer in order to survive. When the Fellowship faces annihilation from ealdorman Ealdred of Wessex, Raven chooses a bloody and dangerous path, accepting the mission of raiding deep into hostile lands to steal a holy book from Coenwolf, King of Mercia. There he will find much more than the Holy Gospels of St Jerome. He will find Cynethryth, an English girl with a soul to match his own. And he will find betrayal at the hands of cruel men, some of whom he regards as friends. From the Trade Paperback edition.

In the heart of the ninth century, ferocious men wielding swords and gleaming axes dare face a massive Crusader force. And in Giles Kristian’s thrilling series, history comes alive as vividly as the crash of clashing steel. The Norsemen have come across the Channel, up a winding river in the land of the great Frankish emperor. In the belly of their fearsome dragon ship, beneath warriors and weapons, is a book wrapped in cloth, guarded by an English monk who alone knows the true worth of his prize. And by the side of their leader is Raven, with a blood spot in his eye and magic in his soul. Accompanied by the woman he loves, Cynethryth, runaway daughter of an English king, Raven is plunging into an epic clash of men and faiths. "A brilliant story, beautifully told.”— Sunday Express “Impressive ‘world-building’ . . . The pace of the novel is unrelenting. . . . The series is among the best adventure historical fiction today.”—Fantasy Book Critic “An excellent read which compares favourably with writers like Bernard Cornwell and Conn Iggulden.”—Historical Novels Review “Gripping . . . splendidly conjures up the sounds, sights, and smells of Dark Age Britain.”—Harry Sidebottom, author of the Warrior of Rome series, on Raven: Blood Eye

They came from the North and fought their way through France and Spain. Now this fearless band of brothers sets sail for the greatest city in the world. Plunging through the living hell of Pope Leo’s shattered, perverted Rome, the dragon-faced ships of Sigurd the Lucky are manned by a strange and fearsome crew: bearded Norse raiders who sacrifice their vanquished enemies to Odin, brave Greek warriors, a Moor, and an English monk. Among the Norsemen is Raven, a young man of uncertain parentage who is able—from the depths of his blood-spotted eye—to glimpse the future. Robbed of the woman he loves, Raven is destined to play a cunning role in the boldest of attacks. For the Vikings are on their way to glimmering Constantinople to put a deposed emperor back on his rightful throne—and claim the most magnificent prize of all. “ A masterly achievement. ” — Daily Express “A great tale that held me spellbound.”— New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell Praise for Giles Kristian’s Raven series “Storming, magnificent . . . one of the best Viking series of all time . . . This is tale-telling at its rip-roaring best.”—Manda Scott, author of The Crystal Skull “An all-action adventure . . . beautifully told.”— Sunday Express