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A Day of Reckoning (A Time for Swords, 3) Hardcover – February 6, 2024
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Warrior-monk Hunlaf and his shipmates battle peril and intrigue on a dangerous voyage to Muslim Spain as they seek an object of immense power. A thrilling historical adventure set in the Anglo-Saxon era.
AD 796. Sailing in search of an object of great power, Hunlaf and his comrades are far from home when they are caught up in a violent skirmish against pirates.
After the bloody onslaught, an encounter with ships from Islamic Spain soon sees them escorted under guard to the city of Qadis, one of the jewels of the Emirate of Al-Andalus and the true destination of their voyage.
Hunlaf believes the Emir's lands hold the key to his search, but there are dangerous games at play. To achieve his goal, Hunlaf and his allies must walk a difficult path where friends and enemies alike are not always what they seem - and where a weapon deadlier than any yet seen could change the future of all the kingdoms in Europe.
The third thrilling historical adventure in the A Time for Swords series by Matthew Harffy, perfect for fans of Ben Kane, Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell.
Readers love A Day of Reckoning
'Top class adventure writing, with action that moves as fast and keen as a whetted blade.' Ian Ross
'A fascinating and thrilling tale set in eighth-century Europe, with vivid battle scenes and well-rounded characters.' Alex Gough
'Harffy is a master storyteller' Grimdark Magazine
'First-class adventure from a true master of the genre' Peter Gibbons
- Print length448 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHead of Zeus -- an Aries Book
- Publication dateFebruary 6, 2024
- Dimensions6.2 x 1.85 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-101804548545
- ISBN-13978-1804548547
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Prove[s] once again that Matthew Harffy is a master storyteller... stunning” ―Grimdark Magazine
“A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!” ―Christian Cameron on Matthew Harffy
“A Day of Reckoning is first class adventure from a true master of the genre. The next epic quest in the annals of Hunlaf sends him south into distant lands in a sweeping adventure packed with glorious historical detail. New weapons and new worlds await in a page turner for all fans of historical fiction.” ―Peter Gibbons
“A few issues ago I asked husband (aka the slowest reader in Stortford) to review the first two novels in the trilogy “A Time for Swords”. He totally loved this” ―Bishops Stortford Independent
About the Author
Matthew Harffy grew up in Northumberland where the rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline had a huge impact on him. He now lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters. Matthew is the author of the critically acclaimed Bernicia Chronicles and A Time for Swords series, and he also presents the popular podcast, Rock, Paper, Swords!, with fellow author Steven A. McKay.
Follow Matthew at @MatthewHarffy and www.matthewharffy.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book (February 6, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 448 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1804548545
- ISBN-13 : 978-1804548547
- Item Weight : 15.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.2 x 1.85 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,633,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,319 in Medieval Historical Fiction (Books)
- #6,944 in Christian Historical Fiction (Books)
- #7,680 in War & Military Action Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Matthew Harffy lived in Northumberland as a child and the area had a great impact on him. The rugged terrain, ruined castles and rocky coastline made it easy to imagine the past. Decades later, a documentary about Northumbria's Golden Age sowed the kernel of an idea for a series of historical fiction novels. The first of them is the action-packed tale of vengeance and coming of age, THE SERPENT SWORD.
Matthew has worked in the IT industry, where he spent all day writing and editing, just not the words that most interested him. Prior to that he worked in Spain as an English teacher and translator. Matthew lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and their two daughters.
For all the latest news and exclusive competitions, join Matthew online:
www.matthewharffy.com
twitter.com/@MatthewHarffy
www.facebook.com/MatthewHarffyAuthor
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's adventure and readability. They describe it as a great historical adventure, with wild journeys in the time of Spain when the Moors ruled. Readers appreciate the author's work and find this book to be no exception.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the adventure. They describe it as an outstanding historical adventure in the time of Spain when the Moors ruled. The book has a rich sense of time and place, with clearly drawn characters who change over the course of the series.
"...The story is full of adventure, twists and turns, and not a few surprises...." Read more
"...also pens The Bernicia Chronicles- another series of fun wild ride adventures type literature...." Read more
"...A true journey of journeys in which brotherhood is worth its weight in silver and a book is just a book. Well done, can’t wait for the next adventure!" Read more
"This series has enough rich sense of time and place, clearly-drawn characters who change and grow believably, and action to keep me going to the..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it a solid read and praise the author's work.
"...first two books in the Time for Swords series, I was anticipating a great read, and I wasn't disappointed...." Read more
"...His work never disappoints and this book is no exception. Hunlaf sets out on an expedition to Muslim Spain in search of a mysterious book...." Read more
"...These books do not disappoint and you will find yourself falling into the books like a dream. Happy reading!" Read more
"I love this authors work. I have loved all 3 books but this is best so far. Now I have to wait for the 4th book. Keep writing Mr. Harffy" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023After enjoying The Bernicia Chronicles, and the first two books in the Time for Swords series, I was anticipating a great read, and I wasn't disappointed. As a matter of fact, A Day of Reckoning is, quite possibly, my favorite of Harffy's books so far. In the third installment of this series, the warrior monk Hunlaf and his companions embark on a mission that takes them to Andalusia. I really enjoyed the authors descriptions of the region, as it must have appeared to northern Europeans coming from a very different environment and culture. At the time, Andalusia was, of course, under Moorish rule, and in many ways was more advanced than the rest of Europe. I live in Andalusia and have visited some of the historical places that are mentioned - the description rang true to me. The story is full of adventure, twists and turns, and not a few surprises. I look for books that both entertain, and take me on an imaginary trip to a different place and time. A Day of Reckoning filled the bill nicely. There were hints towards the end that Hunlaf will be traveling and going on to new adventures - I'm looking forward to reading future books in the series when they are released.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023An interesting look at more of Dark Age Europe and the Saxon World. Just one quibble, sails weren’t typically made out of wool. Wool is WAY to heavy and becomes too matted when wet, as it becomes felt.
Sails were made of waxed linen or silk until the invention of polyester because the material was light even when wet.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024There are a lot of excellent authors producing work in the Post-Roman (Dark Ages) Britain genre but Matthew Harffy is among the best. His work never disappoints and this book is no exception. Hunlaf sets out on an expedition to Muslim Spain in search of a mysterious book. His crew mates consist of warriors from various backgrounds-Picts, Celts, Norse. All of them are hoping for riches and adventure and they find plenty of each.
Harffy's battle scenes are graphic. No question about that. But the era he writes about was intensely brutal at times, so the scenes are not gratuitous.
If you like historical fiction, particularly Middle Ages fiction, and authors like Bernard Cornwell, you will like Matthew Harffy.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2023High seas and wild adventures in the time of Spain when the Moors ruled. I really loved being transported to another time and place where our heroes manage to escape one daring escapade after another by sword fights and even an ancient sort of mega Molotov cocktail. It’s an exciting ride and keeps you up page turning until the very end. The author also pens The Bernicia Chronicles- another series of fun wild ride adventures type literature. These books do not disappoint and you will find yourself falling into the books like a dream. Happy reading!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023Another great tale from Mathew Hardy! Hunlof and his band of warriors are off to a far away land with a emissary that may be friend or foe and only time will. There are riches and knowledge to be had but deceit and death weigh heavy in the air. A true journey of journeys in which brotherhood is worth its weight in silver and a book is just a book. Well done, can’t wait for the next adventure!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024I love this authors work. I have loved all 3 books but this is best so far. Now I have to wait for the 4th book. Keep writing Mr. Harffy
- Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023I wasn't overly blown away and I don't love Hunlaf the way I love Beobrand but this is a solid series where everything is done well.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023Another author that quickly became a favorite. Hunlaf is once again faced with many challenges and it is not all good but he makes it through with bloodshed and his wits. I am ready for the next book in this great series.
Top reviews from other countries
- JOHN TAYLORReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A time for adventure
Love all history,books well written great characters as I live on the North east coast this has interested me , great 3 books.
- L.M. SchaafsmaReviewed in Germany on November 14, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Once again praise for Matthew Harffy in taking us on a wonderful journey and exciting new places. Hopefully Hunlaf will be able to write another tome of his life’s adventures. Highly recommended book.
-
TinouReviewed in France on October 10, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Romans addictifs !
Ces livres mériteraient d'être traduits en plusieurs langues pour en faire profiter un maximum de lecteurs ! Bravo!
Si vous pouvez lire en anglais et êtes intéressés dans ce type de lecture, allez-y les yeux fermés ! Il ne reste plus qu'à trouver à Hunlaf un bon gériatre pour qu'il puisse continuer à écrire et à nous faire voyager ! Merci à l'auteur !
- Paul A PawlakReviewed in Australia on November 11, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Matthew Harffy beauty
Those of you familiar with Mr Harffy’ s work will be familiar with the “Bernicia Chronicles” series and the quality of his writing and plot twists in those books.
This story is the third in Mr Harffy’ s “A time for Swords” series, where Hunlaf is the hero that has gone from being a monk to a warrior.
This books takes us away from what we would expect in Dark Age fiction, and immerses us in cultures that the band of warriors have never accounted.
I’m a huge fan of Mr Harffy’s work, and “A day of Reckoning” maintains the brilliant story line and dialogue fans are used to.
Highly recommended: 5 stars
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Australia on October 10, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Unable to put down!
By far my favourite in the Time for Swords series.
Almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger that compelled me to continue onto the next. Many times, It was with great effort that I forced myself to put the book down and go to bed.
The climax particularly had me on the edge of my seat, my pulse quickening with the stakes faced by the amazing cast of characters.
Interesting seeing the clash of cultures, though I do wish we got to see a little bit more of arab culture in Spain.
Matthew Harffy, if you read this, know that you are my favourite author and a massive inspiration to myself as an aspiring historical fiction author.
Keep churning out the amazing content, you'll always have a reader/follower in myself.
Best regards!