A Time for Swords

by Matthew Harffy Book 1 in the A Time for Swords series.

Amazon

4.4(7,783)

In 793, novice monk Hunlaf is present when Viking raiders attack the monastery of Lindisfarne. The slaughter forces him to take up a sword, challenging the teaching and identity that have shaped his life. As Northumbria struggles to understand the new threat from the sea, Hunlaf joins those preparing to resist further attacks and begins the transformation from cleric to warrior.

The attack on Lindisfarne gives the story a historical turning point: a monastic community suddenly discovers that wealth and sanctity offer no protection from seaborne raiders. Hunlaf’s decision to fight creates a conflict between Christian vocation and the practical demands of survival. His transformation mirrors a Northumbria beginning to recognise that raids from across the sea are becoming a sustained threat.