Sworn Sword

The theme of this first book in a projected historical fiction series is the Norman conquest of England after the Battle of Hastings. Aitchenson brings excitement and intrigue to a bloody period of medieval history—one that is underrepresented in the genre. Set in 1069, three years after Hastings, the book follows a Norman knight, Tancred a Dinant, who is part of the army sent to subdue revolt in Northumbria. However, only Tancred and a few others survive a massacre at the hands of English rebels. Afterward, Tancred falls in with a Norman lord, Vicomte Malet, who sends him and several handpicked knights to deliver a secret message, accompanied by Malet’s chaplain, Aelfwold. While Malet struggles to defend his besieged stronghold in Northumbria, Tancred and his men must fight off a rebel fleet and assassins. At the same time, the knight becomes suspicious of Aelfwold and of Lord Malet himself. Savage hand-to-hand battles with swords, axes, and spears rage between the Normans and the English, and only Tancred’s loyalty, sense of honor, and strong sword arm may yet see him through the slaughter. Aitcheson, though not yet in the same high strata as Simon Scarrow or Angus Donald, shows great promise as an adventure novelist in this colorful debut. (Aug.)