He’d been quite a soft child before the Galnir got hold of him, the brutal sergeants turning the boy into the young man he was now. A man forged in blood, and fire, and steel, and death…
For thirty years war has raged across West Valkyros, an endless cycle of death and destruction ravaging two once-mighty kingdoms. In the aftermath of yet another vicious battle Wulfnoth, forced to serve in the elite Galnir infantry regiment since he was a child, attacks his own sadistic sergeant and deserts. Fleeing to the north, the desperate young warrior is joined on his travels by an experienced forester, and a beautiful singer they meet in a tavern brawl. Together the companions journey through the villages, towns, and great cities of Nemea sharing adventures, their bonds of loyalty and friendship growing as Wulfnoth struggles to navigate life outside the army and find his place in a world full of mythical monsters, murderous criminals, and powerful magical artefacts.
Unbeknown to the friends however, hunters are tracking their every move, intent on bringing the deserter to justice for his crimes. Just as Wulfnoth discovers that playing music can be as rewarding as wielding a sword in battle, a shocking revelation will give his life a new purpose and intertwine his fate with that of the very soldiers who seek to kill him.

Ooh, what a fabulous story!

Singers of the Sword Song: A heroic fantasy adventure by Steven A. McKay is the first book of a new series, The Sword Song Chronicles. Introducing our new heroes, Wulfnoth, Greybeard and Chrysanthe, caught in the midst of an epic struggle between two warring factions, Galnir and Nemea. Intent on escaping the Galnir he was forced to serve, Wulfnoth searches for new purpose, his sense of chivalry leading to both adventure and danger.

Singers of the Sword Song is Steven A. McKay’s first foray into fantasy and, I must say, I think he has a knack for it. To be fair, Steven’s Warrior Druid of Britain series borders on fantasy, with the exploits of Bellicus and Arthur drawing on the legends of King Arthur. But here, Steven has created a whole new world, with new lands for the reader to explore, strange beasts for him to defeat and magic.

Drawing on his knowledge of the medieval, Steven A. McKay has created a strange new world that is entirely credible and realistic. The fantasy is grounded in possibilities.

“How long will it take us to reach Herakas?” Wulfnoth asked as the little village called Kirea came into sight, woodsmoke curling into the air, the sounds of life already coming from the place even at that early hour.

“Depends how hard we ride,” said Greybeard. “I’ve been thinking about it – it’s going to be dangerous when we reach Herakas… Where would you go if I just led you to the next town along the road here and then we went our separate ways?”

Wulfnoth pursed his lips and shrugged. “I’ve no idea. I don’t know where I should go, or what I should do. My plan just now is simply to get as far away from the Galnir as possible. Whether that means travelling to Herakas or someplace else doesn’t seem important. I’ll be an outsider wherever I end up. The Galnir aren’t after you, though. If you don’t think it safe to go back to Herakas, why not just build a house here, in this village, and settle down?”

Greybeard’s contented smile faded as they rode past the first of the little round dwellings in the settlement, a haggard looking woman glaring out suspiciously at them. “You think the Galnir will stop pushing north when they’re finished doing whatever they’re up to in the Weeping Woods? No, neither do I. Sad to say, but Kirea, and other villages nearby, won’t be here for much longer. The war will sweep them away. I’m amazed they survived so long honestly.”

“We must warn them then.”

“You think they don’t know there’s been a battle not far to the south? Or that they didn’t feel those thumps like we did?”

“Then, by Balor, why are they still here?”

Greybeard frowned at him. “You don’t know much about people do you, lad? The Galnir really have changed since I was in their ranks. We can discuss it after – for now, let’s just get what we can here, and move on, eh? You might want to avoid mentioning the gods though. Balor is not worshipped in Nemea – his counterpart – here – is Terses. They don’t follow Ahrimaz either.”

“Well, who do they worship?”

“Like us, they have a vast number of gods and goddesses. Some reside in high Endomeros, and some in the Underlands. The most important ones are Noxis and Gerash. There’s also Pann, who some of our own people follow. Alectris and Dion are the most widely followed of the goddesses.” He smiled reassuringly. “You don’t need to know them all, or what they symbolise. Just remember not to mention any of our deities, like Balor or Ahrimaz, while you’re in Nemea.”

Wulfnoth felt quite excited as they dismounted and tied their animals to hitching posts that were set outside the largest building in the settlement. “What’s this place?” he asked, looking for a sign, or some other indication of what they might fid within.

“This is where the villagers bring their produce and goods to be bartered, or sold,” Greybeard told him, lifting the saddlebags from both horses and handing one to the young warrior. “Don’t expect anything fancy. We’ll be lucky to get much, and even luckier if we can sell any of this looted gear for a reasonable price.”

Steven A. MacKay builds a world that is, for the reader, at the same time strange and familiar. And deeply atmospheric. There are villages, taverns, caves, rivers and woods. Familiar animals live alongside fantastical beasts and people are the same as everywhere; looking after their own families, participating in conflicts they don’t know the reason for and trying to survive from day to day.

Wulfnoth is a wonderful, sympathetic hero. He is a young man who, having left the only life he has ever known, is now looking for purpose and a new place to belong. With his companions, Greybeard and Chrysanthe, he goes in search of a new life. Along the way, he learns that his own past is shrouded in secrets and betrayal, that those hunting him are not necessarily enemies and that the life he is lived is not the life he was born to.

Singers of the Sword Song by Steven A. McKay is the sum of all its parts. Wonderful characters navigating a strange world that is oddly familiar. The worlds of the medieval and fantasy merge into one to give the reader a wonderful adventure, leading them down unpredictable valleys and into dark, mystical caves, facing enemies of both the human and creature varieties.

This is escapism at its best, and one of those books that you will want to read long into the night, just to see what happens next. As the first in a series, it holds the promise of more stories to come, written in the familiar and engaging style of an author who has been one of my ‘must read’ authors for the last 10 years, at least. Steven A. McKay has pulled of yet another riveting story!

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Buy the book: Singers of the Sword Song by Steven A. McKay is now available on Amazon

About the author:

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.

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My Books:

Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available through my online bookshop. or by contacting me.

Out Now: 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 from Pen & Sword and Amazon.

Coming 30 August 2026: Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages examines the lives and experiences of England’s princesses, from the treasured daughters of Henry III to the children of Edward IV, whose lives were turned upside down when they were declared illegitimate.

What we see is a very different story, where a foreign marriage does not mean eternal exile, but a purpose in life, where a princess is a diplomat, an ambassador for England in her new country. She is the bond between allies – most of the time.

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages shines a light on the lives and experiences of these remarkable women.

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets is now available for pre-order through Pen & Sword and other booksellers.

Sharon is also the author of:

Heroines of the Medieval World; Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest; Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England; Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey; King John’s Right Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye; Women of the Anarchy; Heroines of the Tudor World; Scotland’s Medieval Queens: From St Margaret to Margaret of Denmark; Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Conquest (March 2026); Princesses of the Later Middle Ages; Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets (August 2026)

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.

All my books on Amazon, Bookshop.org . You can also order direct from my publishers, Pen and Sword Books and Amberley Publishing.

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. 

Every episode is also now available on YouTube.

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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 and Instagram.

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©2026 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS