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Kin of Cain: A thrilling historical adventure set in the world of the Bernicia Chronicles (A Short Bernicia Tale) Kindle Edition
AD 630. Anglo-Saxon Britain. Winter grips the land in its icy fist. Terror stalks the hills, moors and marshes of Bernicia. Livestock and men have been found ripped asunder, their bones gnawed, flesh gorged upon. People cower in their halls in fear of the monster that prowls the night.
King Edwin sends his champions, Bassus and Octa, and band of trusted thegns to hunt down the beast and to rid his people of this evil.
Bassus leads the warriors into the chill wastes of the northern winter, and they soon question whether they are the hunters or the prey. Death follows them as they head deeper into the ice-rimed marshes, and there is ever only one ending for the mission: a welter of blood that will sow the seeds of a tale that will echo down through the ages.
Reviewers on Matthew Harffy:
'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron
'He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown.' Jemahl Evans
'A genuinely superb novel.' Steven McKay
'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHead of Zeus -- an Aries Book
- Publication dateMarch 1, 2017
- File size4257 KB
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Product details
- ASIN : B01M2WDNMA
- Publisher : Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book; 1st edition (March 1, 2017)
- Publication date : March 1, 2017
- Language : English
- File size : 4257 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 106 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #964,868 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #891 in Ancient Historical Fiction
- #978 in Medieval Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #1,419 in Ancient History 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
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the novella enjoyable and easy to follow. They appreciate the satisfying story with surprises and a twist at the end. Readers praise the brilliant writing and lyrical style. The characters are well-developed and familiar, with a strong hero but also an imperfect one.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy this enjoyable standalone novella. They find it easy to follow and a perfect weekend read. The events are smoothly linked, keeping readers engaged with immersive and evocative descriptions.
"...Chronicles, can rest assured that this novella makes for a great standalone read that is easy to follow, even if we have not yet been introduced to..." Read more
"...I won’t spoil it for those who have yet to read the book. But this one is a delight, and I have to chide myself for not catching on a little..." Read more
"This is a fantastic novella, perfect for an eerie weekend read...." Read more
"...Exciting and fast moving, this is a prequel of sorts and features Octa, elder brother of the hero of the Bernica books...." Read more
Customers enjoy the story's denouement and ending. They find it satisfying, with surprises and a clever twist. The writing is described as brilliant, with powerful scenes smoothly linking events that keep readers engaged. Readers appreciate the tight and terrifying take on an old legend.
"...I found the story’s denouement highly satisfying, particularly given the shrewd way in which the author ultimately linked the story to a famous Old..." Read more
"...The novella is a wonderful story, something I’d expect from Harffy in the style and telling of it...." Read more
"...The characters have depth. The story has surprises and a very satisfying end...." Read more
"...I should have seen it coming. Matthew is such a good storyteller that the ending completely blew me away...." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it brilliant, lyrical, and well-written. The author is considered one of the best battle scene writers. They appreciate the good ideas and well-put together story. Readers also mention that the warriors are manful.
"...The fighting scenes, when they do happen, are not hardboiled or too sparing, so that the warriors’ manful efforts to find and restrain their..." Read more
"...has a huge following and is widely considered one of the best battle scene writers. But… I wanted to know what the hype was all about...." Read more
"...Harffy has such a light and lyrical pen as he weaves an old myth into a very real feeling world...." Read more
"...not only is he a great writer but he cares about his fans as well...." Read more
Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters familiar and appreciate that Beobrand is a hero, but an imperfect one.
"...I love that Beobrand is a hero, but he is also an imperfect hero...." Read more
"...The characters have depth. The story has surprises and a very satisfying end...." Read more
"...set in the world of the Bernicia Chronicles and has many characters from that wonderful series, but it isn't necessary to read any of the earlier..." Read more
"...The action and characters relate to other Bernicia Chronicles, so if you have read any of the Bernicia Chronicles you will be right at home." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2021I don’t think I would be doing this little gem of a novella much justice if I described it as follows: a band of five warriors are ordered by their king to hunt down and slay an invincible monster that is killing innocents across Northumberland. I mean, that’s what the story is about, but that high-level description makes it sound so formulaic, like something that’s been done a few times before on tv and in prose.
Kin of CainHowever this particular book is quite a different prospect, for there is real depth to it. I very much liked the way in which Harffy slowly but surely builds up an immersive and evocative aura of dread around the mission, largely due to his immersive and evocative descriptions. He also gets the balance between archaic and other words just right, which is testament to the painstaking care which he must have employed when putting this book together.
The different personalities of each member of the band are deftly drawn out with each page turned, which is a skilful accomplishment when you consider that a novella does not benefit from the length of a full-scale novel. Harffy has little time and space in which to make his magic work, yet he pulls it all off so well. Fans of the warrior Beobrand, who is the hero of Harffy’s popular Bernicia Chronicles, should note that the protagonist of Kin of Cain is Beobrand’s older brother Octa. Readers who – like me – have not yet read any of Harffy’s acclaimed Bernicia Chronicles, can rest assured that this novella makes for a great standalone read that is easy to follow, even if we have not yet been introduced to Beobrand’s adventures.
I could not but sympathise with Octa’s desire to do the right thing by the people of Northumberland, by tracking down a creature which only appears more invincible and terrifying as the story progresses. Octa’s recollections of the violence he suffered at the hands of his tyrannical father only make his altruistic and courageous intentions to rid the land of the beast more admirable. The band’s leader Bassus has a quiet formidable quality about him, also projecting a seasoned sturdiness which is good foil for Octa’s more emotional reactions.
I particularly liked the way in which Harffy describes the marshes through which the party must travel in search of the beast, which is but one of the tricky terrains in which Octa and his companions must track down and tackle the intimidating, mysterious creature. All throughout the author cleverly skirts the edge of the realms of both fantasy and horror, sometimes even stepping into them without entirely straying from the story’s historical fiction genre.
The fighting scenes, when they do happen, are not hardboiled or too sparing, so that the warriors’ manful efforts to find and restrain their dangerous prey are rendered all the more plausible. I found the story’s denouement highly satisfying, particularly given the shrewd way in which the author ultimately linked the story to a famous Old English epic poem. It’s a tough ask to end a novella satisfactorily but Harffy also pulled this off with admirable proficiency.
So all in all this was a 5/5 read for me. I’ve heard a lot about Matthew Harffy, and now I know why. Do pick up this read if you’d like to experience the writing abilities of a talented, fast-rising star on the historical fiction circuit.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2017I have been a fan of the Bernicia Chronicles almost from the beginning, though I was a wary convert. Usually one to be skeptical of books when one is “supposed” to like it (I generally steer clear of popular best-seller lists, Oprah book club selections, etc.), I prefer to make up my own mind about them. If a celebrity or a highly paid marketing firm suggests it, my cynic’s mind kicks in. So when I heard that Harffy’s first book, The Serpent Sword, was compared to one of my favorite authors, Bernard Cornwell, I immediately pushed it aside. Cornwell has been writing for 20 years or so, and his novels have appeared on the small screen (Richard Sharpe and the Saxon stories). Cornwell has a huge following and is widely considered one of the best battle scene writers.
But… I wanted to know what the hype was all about. I’d seen his name pop up within the same social media circles, and decided to give Serpent Sword a try. And to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement.
I have already reviewed the main novels in the Bernicia Chronicles here and here, so I won’t reiterate why I love the series. To summarize for purposes of this review however, I will say that the key to my love is the in main protagonist of these tales, Beobrand. I love that Beobrand is a hero, but he is also an imperfect hero. He has a darkness lurking somewhere inside him, and it’s this darkness which propels and motivates him throughout the plot of each book. He has strengths and weaknesses, just like a real person, and he wrestles with them, second guessing decisions, dealing with past hurts and loves. He may be a character in a story set over a thousand years ago, but in this, he is just like any modern human alive on the planet today.
Kin of Cain takes a step back in time from the novels in The Bernicia Chronicles. It is a book set in the Bernicia Chronicles “universe”, but it is a sort of prequel in novella form. Readers of The Serpent Sword will immediately remember Beobrand’s brother Octa. The death of Octa (only referred to in that book and not covered in Kin of Cain) forces Beobrand into motion, setting off the series. Kin of Cain takes a look at one figurative chapter in Octa’s life, before we ever meet Beobrand, chronologically speaking.
The novella is a wonderful story, something I’d expect from Harffy in the style and telling of it. The pace is good, and the characters are familiar. I don’t read thriller/horror fiction, so I am probably not doing the genre or this novella justice by using a comparison, but I will. Because the main action of the story is set at night, in a misty, swirling swamp, and the antagonist of the story commits grisly atrocities, the novella feels like a thriller to me. Hound of the Baskervilles, anyone? — minus Sherlock Holmes and inserting Dark Age warriors carrying swords and other sharp bits of steel, of course. It was creepy, but the horror is suggested and happens off the page, making it more thriller than horror.
The only down side to the novella, which really isn’t saying much, is Octa. Don’t get me wrong: I like the guy. But because this is a novella, I felt that we didn’t really get a chance to know him very well. Several times he echoes regret at leaving his mother and little brother at the mercies of his brutal father, Grimgundi, as he goes off on the king’s service, but beyond those reveries we don’t see much of the inner Octa. I don’t fault the novella for this. It’s a novella. There isn’t a lot of literary real estate for such luxuries. I have just been spoiled by the superb development of Beobrand over the course of several novels.
The novella ends with one little surprise for lovers of classic literature. I won’t spoil it for those who have yet to read the book. But this one is a delight, and I have to chide myself for not catching on a little sooner to what Harffy was doing over the entire course of the novella. Especially when you consider the fact that I remember, in retrospect, his social media posts about the fact that he was going to do it!
I recommend Kin of Cain to fans of The Bernicia Chronicles, but because the story is set independently outside the series, it works very well as a stand-alone. For this reason, I also recommend the novella to those who think they might enjoy Harffy’s writing but don’t know if they want to commit to a feature-length book.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023This is a fantastic novella, perfect for an eerie weekend read. Harffy has such a light and lyrical pen as he weaves an old myth into a very real feeling world. The story does a great job of building a sense of dread and mystery. Honestly, I was so freaked out while reading, I jumped out of my chair when my phone went off. The characters have depth. The story has surprises and a very satisfying end. It makes me want to go back and read the ancient legend again and certainly, more of Harffy's work. Well worth the low price on Kindle. Stop thinking about it and click buy and prepare to sleep with the lights on.
Top reviews from other countries
- Tonto KowalskiReviewed in Germany on February 24, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars nice short story with a nice take on Grendel
It is a nice prologue to the Bernicia Chronicles series which I have not started yet. It is well written and has a nice take on how the Grendel story could have developed.
- BookaholicReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!!
Cain, that murderous creature, was banished by God for killing his brother. He has been silent for a long time. But now the monster stirs once more and takes up arms to continue his savage war.
A blood-curdling cry in the darkest of nights. Lifestock slaughtered. Good men dead. This cannot continue. King Edwin will not allow such a monster to remain at large. He must be hunted. He must be killed.
On a cold winters day, King Edwin's favoured thanes set out on a quest to find and kill the beast that has brought such terror to their King's beautiful kingdom. But this will be an adventure like none before it. And all their lives will be changed forever...
As poetic and as exciting as the Old English epic poems of times gone by, Kin of Cain: A Short Bernicia Tale by Matthew Harffy really appealed to me. The story is an action-packed adventure where new horrors (both real and imagined) lurk around every corner. The characters, particular Octa are fresh and vibrant — very real in the telling. Octa was a perfect protagonist. He is strong but weak. Brave but fearful. Very human. I thought he was wonderfully portrayed.
For those of you who love the old epic poems, this story will be very familiar to you. I am not going to give away any spoilers, but very early on in the story, I cottoned on to what Mr Harffy was writing about. I have to admit, the story he depicted is one of my favourites!!
Mr Harffy has written a fresh take on a very old story. It was a very satisfying retelling with a few little twists of his own.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kin of Cain: A Short Bernicia Tale and I shall look forward to reading more books in the Benicia Tale saga.
- eReviewed in Australia on April 11, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
The book had you entertained through out the story and kept you reading to the end to see what happens next in the series of books.
- presterjohn1Reviewed in Canada on March 4, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars An Anglo-Saxon Quest Inspires A Legend
After reading Matthew Harffy's first novel, I was pleased that I could now read a prequel novella. I won't get into spoilers here, but suffice to say that this short quest adventure is as gripping and tense as the longer novel with which it connects so well. The story is fast-paced, atmospheric and dark with touches of mystery and horror interlacing well with the narrative. The connections to old Anglo-Saxon literature, even for one who only dabbles in the study, will become obvious and clear as the story unfolds toward a satisfying and even amusing conclusion. Recommended.
- jenny johnsonReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars Short and sharp
Enjoyable read - a lot of action and atmosphere crammed into a small space. My only issue was with the final scene - the historical context of the action was self-explanatory and I felt it would have been better to leave it at that, rather than hammering home the point. Just a felt a bit forced and left me wishing the reader had been trusted to make the connection themselves. Don’t want to be too negative though - it was a good read overall.