Bernicia Chronicles – History… the interesting bits!

Book Corner: Swords in the Snow by Matthew Harffy and Steven A. McKay

12/12/202511/12/2025Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

A stolen relic. A dying child. A desperate chase.

December, c. AD 1330.

When thieves snatch a priceless holy relic from a Pontefract church, Friar Tuck and the bailiff, John Little, set out through snowbound Yorkshire to recover it. The relic is the only hope for a gravely ill girl—but the hunt soon turns bloody.

From frozen dales to the mud-slick streets of York, John and Tuck pursue ruthless crime lord William Wake and his brutal enforcers: the battle-hardened Henry Tanner and the murderous giant Grimbald de Pendok.

When they finally face each other with swords in the snow, will Little John and Friar Tuck find they have met their match at last, or will there be a Christmas miracle?

It has fast become a tradition for me, as the night’s are drawing in and it is frosty outside, to read a novella written by Steven A. McKay. The author of the Forest Lord series, Steven has now written a whole host of Christmas mysteries which draw Robin Hood’s companions, Little John, Will Scarlet and Friar Tuck, into a life-or-death adventure, when all they want to do is sit around a warm fire, eating and drinking and telling stories of adventures past.

But no.

Steven A. McKay insists on sending them out into the freezing winds and deep snow drifts to entertain us. I feel sorry for the Merry Men (or not so ‘merry’ when they’re cold, wet and fighting for their lives), I do. But I do love these medieval mysteries.

This year is no exception, but with a twist and a treat. And this time, with Swords in the Snow, Steven A. McKay has enlisted the help of his fellow novelist and friend, Matthew Harffy, the creator of the Bernicia Chronicles, to act -or, rather, write – as the ‘bad guys’. And so, Little John and Friar Tuck are once again trudging through snow and mud, in search of thieves and murderers, and a Christmas miracle. At least there are no ghosts this time.

“Tuck!” The shout rang out, loud in the still winter air, and John, recognising a distinct note of alarm in it, spun around, staff held defensively before him. At his side, Tuck was in a similar posture, ready for whatever an enemy might throw at them, but the cry came again and the bailiff realised it had come from someone standing at the entrance to All Saints’ Church.

“Is that Bishop Wulstan?”

John squinted as the clergyman stepped out from the doorway and the pale December day lit his features. “Aye, it is,” the bailiff nodded. “Something’s upset him too.”

“Come over, Tuck,” the bishop called almost frantically. “And you too, John.”

With a last, longing look at the baker’s, both men sighed and walked across to the church. It was not a particularly large building, but it was impressive nonetheless, having been built quite recently.

Bishop Wulstan Barnsford had met John and Tuck before, when they’d investigated a strange, and ultimately murderous, religious sect. The bishop had led the trial against the leader of the cult, Lady Alice de Staynton, whose punishment was excommunication and banishment. He was a competent, clever man who did not seem the type to be easily upset, so John was surprised to note how pale the bishop’s complexion was. He was wringing his hands as the former outlaws strode across the road and, as they reached him, he let out a long sigh that conveyed great relief, as if he was glad to meet someone who could take the weight from his shoulders.

“What’s happened, your grace?” Tuck asked, reading the signs as John had done.

In reply, Bishop Wulstan turned, beckoning for them to follow as he went into All Saints’.

The pair did as they were bidden and walked inside, both tugging their collars up for it was even colder in the church than it was outside, their breath steaming in the frigid, incense-tinged air as they walked.

“In the name of God!” Tuck cried, hurrying ahead as they saw a priest lying on his side on the floor, eyes open but clearly in great pain and distress. “Stand back,” the friar commanded and the two men who were kneeling beside the priest hastily moved aside to let him through. They might have no idea who the burly newcomer was, but his tone brooked no argument.

John looked on, bemused, as Tuck, a man of learning who’d often acted as healer or surgeon for Robin Hood’s outlaw gang, tended to the injured priest who had, at least, been covered with a blanket.

“What happened here?” the friar asked.

“Thieves,” said the fallen clergyman, grunting in pain as Tuck checked him for broken bones. “They came in the night. I tried to stop them, but there was a giant with them and he—” His eyes fell on Little John and he visibly shrank into himself, terror written across his bruised face.

In Swords in the Snow Steven A. McKay and Matthew Harffy complement each other’s writing wonderfully, making for an engaging, entertaining and, quite frankly, thrilling story. And while Steven A. McKay takes Little John and Friar Tuck on a chilly ride through Yorkshire, hunting for the fiends who stole a holy relic from Pontefract, Matthew Harffy directs those said villains through their escapades.

It makes for some surprising twists and turns.

The two writing styles truly complement each other and create an exciting, gripping story.

Swords in the Snow is about half the length of a full novel, which means the authors have kept the story tight and focused, and you can tell they enjoyed working on the project. Here’s hoping it leads to even more collaborative work; perhaps Steven A. McKay will visit Bernicia and Beobrand next Christmas (hint, hint, fellas!)

In short, Swords in the Snow is a jolly good read, especially on a cold winter night when you are tucked up warm in front of a blazing fire!

To Buy the book:

Swords in the Snow is available now from Amazon.

About the authors:

Steven A. McKay was born in Scotland in 1977 and always enjoyed studying history. He decided to write his Forest Lord novels after seeing a house called “Sherwood” when he was out at work one day. Since then he’s started a new series, the Warrior Druid of Britain Chronicles, and just completed a trilogy about Alfred the Great.

In 2021 the Xbox game HOOD: Outlaws and Legends was released, featuring Steven’s writing.

Steven wrote the theme song for the podcast he co-hosted, Rock, Paper, Swords! with Matthew Harffy.

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: http://www.matthewharffy.com; twitter.com/@MatthewHarffy; http://www.facebook.com/MatthewHarffyAuthor

My Books

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

Out now: Scotland’s Medieval Queens

Scotland’s history is dramatic, violent and bloody. Being England’s northern neighbour has never been easy. Scotland’s queens have had to deal with war, murder, imprisonment, political rivalries and open betrayal. They have loved and lost, raised kings and queens, ruled and died for Scotland. From St Margaret, who became one of the patron saints of Scotland, to Elizabeth de Burgh and the dramatic story of the Scottish Wars of Independence, to the love story and tragedy of Joan Beaufort, to Margaret of Denmark and the dawn of the Renaissance, Scotland’s Medieval Queens have seen it all. This is the story of Scotland through their eyes.

‘Scotland’s Medieval Queens gives a thorough grounding in the history of the women who ruled Scotland at the side of its kings, often in the shadows, but just as interesting in their lives beyond the spotlight. It’s not a subject that has been widely covered, and Sharon is a pioneer in bringing that information into accessible history.’ Elizabeth Chadwick (New York Times bestselling author)

Available now from Amazon and Pen and Sword Books

Coming 30 March 2026: Princesses of the Early Middle Ages

Daughters of kings were often used to seal treaty alliances and forge peace with England’s enemies. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest explores the lives of these young women, how they followed the stereotype, and how they sometimes managed to escape it. It will look at the world they lived in, and how their lives and marriages were affected by political necessity and the events of the time. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages will also examine how these girls, who were often political pawns, were able to control their own lives and fates. Whilst they were expected to obey their parents in their marriage choices, several princesses were able to exert their own influence on these choices, with some outright refusing the husbands offered to them.

Their stories are touching, inspiring and, at times, heartbreaking.

Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest is now available for pre-order.

Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:

Heroines of the Tudor World tells the stories of the most remarkable women from European history in the time of the Tudor dynasty, 1485-1603. These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. Heroines of the Tudor World is now available from Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. Women of the Anarchy demonstrates how Empress Matilda and Matilda of Boulogne, unable to wield a sword themselves, were prime movers in this time of conflict and lawlessness. It shows how their strengths, weaknesses, and personal ambitions swung the fortunes of war one way – and then the other. Available from Bookshop.org, Amberley Publishing and Amazon UK. King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is the story of a truly remarkable lady, the hereditary constable of Lincoln Castle and the first woman in England to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Available from all good bookshops Pen & Sword Books, bookshop.org and Amazon.

Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, and Bookshop.org. Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, and Bookshop.org. Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon, Amberley Publishing, and Bookshop.org.

Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Podcast:

Have a listen to the A Slice of Medieval podcast, which I co-host with Historical fiction novelist Derek Birks. Derek and I welcome guests, such as Ian Mortimer, Bernard Cornwell, Elizabeth Chadwick and Scott Mariani, and discuss a wide range of topics in medieval history, from significant events to the personalities involved.

There are now over 80 episodes to listen to!

Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

Don’t forget! Signed and dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop.

For forthcoming online and in-person talks, please check out my Events Page.

You can be the first to read new articles by clicking the ‘Follow’ button, liking our Facebook page or joining me on Twitter, Threads, Bluesky and Instagram.

Book Corner: Dominion of Dust by Matthew Harffy

23/10/202522/10/2025Sharon Bennett ConnollyLeave a comment

Hunlaf risks the wrath of the mighty Byzantine Empire on a dangerous voyage to the Holy Land. A rip-roaring Viking-era adventure from the author of the Bernicia Chronicles.

‘Extremely satisfying and rewarding, Dominion of Dust rampages across the page with slicing action’ LoveReading

AD 797, Cyprus. Warrior-monk Hunlaf and his crew are on a voyage to acquire an important Christian relic before it falls into the hands of Byzantium’s scheming Empress Eirene.

Hunlaf’s crew receive unexpected help as they seek their treasure, but soon find themselves betrayed. About to leave for home empty-handed, the adventurers instead sail further east: to Jerusalem, the Holy Land, abundant in relics.

And dangerous intrigues.

Hunlaf and his friends will face a deadly race against time as they attempt to secure a holy treasure, outwit Byzantium’s zealous agents, and avoid grisly deaths at the hands of the local rulers.

What I like about Matthew Harffy’s books is that you never know what is going to happen. Knowing the hero doesn’t always win means you are kept on the edge of your seat throughout.

Dominion of Dust is a spectacular adventure that pits West against East.

The 4th instalment in Harffy’s A Time of Swords series takes us from the court of Charlemagne, through Cyprus to Jerusalem itself, in the search for Holy relics. And because it is Hunlaf, danger is never far away. From agents of Byzantium, to enemies made along the way, people want Hunlaf and his friends to fail and – preferably – die.

But don’t get too attached to any of the characters – Matthew Harffy is not averse to killing off your favourite. But the, that’s what he does. He makes you, the reader, care about his characters. They jump off the page and play with your emotions. You feel their pain (and they’re warriors, so there’s a lot of pain).

Matthew Harffy’s writing style is engaging from the very beginning, immersing you in the story, the period and the landscape! You can practically feel the sand between your toes.

I pulled my fingers back quickly, frightened at what might be hidden inside the coffer. But there was no movement in the box’s interior, just the dusty, crumbling remains of what looked like a silk-covered pillow. Atop that pillow, dull with the grime of centuries, rested the blade of a spear. The metal was dark and I wondered whether it might be stained with the very blood of Christ. Or perhaps it was simply iron-rot, the red dust of age that smeared and pitted the surface of the relic. Whatever caused the dark hue of the metal, there could be no doubt that this was the item Ahlwin had sent us after.

The others crowded forward, trying to peer into the coffer. But I knew from their positions they would not be able to make out what I was looking at. Mine were the first eyes in generations to contemplate the relic. That sudden realisation made me giddy. I held out my hand above the metal, imagining for a moment that I could feel something akin to heat shimmering from it, a murmuring tremor in the air, testament to its immense power.

Unbreathing, I took hold of the relic, and lifted it up, turning towards the others so that they all might see this thing of wonder.

“Behold,” I said, my voice catching, ” the Spear of Longinus.”

Of course, it was not the spear, merely its metal head, and it measured no more than two hand’s lengths. I had expected it to be hot, or somehow pulsing with its holy power, but it was cool to the touch and I felt no jolt of energy. It was just a piece of old metal.

In Dominion of Dust Matthew Harffy is an equal opportunities author. Two of the villains are particularly despicable – and they’re women! And, of course, Hunlaf has a habit of making enemies, so there’s more than one set of bad guys to contend with. And this is Hunlaf’s story. Headed to the Holy Land in search of the greatest of relics for Charlemagne, Hunlaf hopes to visit the sites associated with Christ himself, and to tread the same streets He did. Though, knowing his luck, you may not be surprised that he has to race through some of those streets to escape pursuers!

Matthew Harffy is the master of adventure storytelling. And with the hunt for relics, Dominion of Dust has the feel of an Indiana Jones movie – only set 1,000 years earlier. Only Hunlaf isn’t crossing swords with Nazis, he’s fighting the agents of Byzantium. The story is woven around the greatest relics of Christendom and the competition between Charlemagne and Empress Irene to take possession of them. Though, fiction, Dominion of Dust has its origins in historical fact; the desire to possess religious relics and the belief in their divine power was a part of medieval life.

And there are some surprises in this one. Matthew Harffy has taken care to include the wildlife. The story of Abul-Abbas, the elephant gifted to Charlemagne, may be fantastical, but it is true. And he has a surprising part in the story. As does a rather vicious, relentless and determined lion, reminding us that not all predators are human!

Dominion of Dust is a wonderful, exciting adventure that any fan of Indiana Jones will want to read. There is action in abundance; treasure maps, despicable enemies and secret passages are all part of one incredible story.

To buy the book: Amazon

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.

For all the latest news and exclusive competitions, join Matthew online: http://www.matthewharffy.com; twitter.com/@MatthewHarffy; http://www.facebook.com/MatthewHarffyAuthor