Are we really up to book 5 in the series? Really.. it doesn’t feel like it.. there’s been so much that’s happened but everything feels so fresh and new still.. so much it’s hard to believe how far the series has come.. wow.

The battle of Maldon is over but King Aethelred reign is not secured…there’s increased raids from the Vikings.. some see this as what it is.. opportunistic aa=nd it can only get worse.. but many see this as the King losing Gods favour..

If anything the policies play a part in inviting some blood-thirsty foes to his very door.. Sweyn Forkbeard and Thorkell the Tall. These two are fascinating characters.. and not to spoil but they arent going to be easy to kill..

Beornoth thought his days with sword and shield in hand were behind him but the King needs his hand once more!

Beornoth sets out to crush the Viking threat.. the issue is he’s not alone..the king has decided in his wisdom to employ a band of ruthless Norman mercenaries! This can’t end well.

It’s not at simple as that either.. there’s more going on than Beornoth can see at first..which leads to the ultimate test… I really don’t want to spoil it but there’s so much depth behind the tests Beornoth faces.. you can’t really see a way for him to get out of this mess,

Peter Gibbons is a fantastic author, not only are the battles bloody and gory like any fan would want but there’s depth and emotion added.. you feel the need to pick up sword through the page.. it’s so vivid and emotive in it’s descriptiveness.

The Saxon Warrior series is a masterclass in storytelling and I was so glad to see there’s more to come. Each story has it’s own clear part to play in the series.. no messing around padding things out.. there’s direction and growth throughout each tale. I never know where Gibbon’s will take me when I pick up his one of his books but I always know it’s going to be good and Enemies of the Crown is the jewel of the series so far cementing Beornoth as someone I’ll never forget!

Shield smashing 5*

"Enemies of the Crown" by Peter Gibbons is the fifth book in his action series "Saxon Warrior." It is written in 994 AD, in the reign of King Aethelred the Unready, and takes readers on a journey to an era of a flaccid English crown under threat from Vikings and being internally strained by an all-powerful church.

The main character, Beornoth, a veteran Viking-killer and King's Thegn who thought his shield-wall days were over, is called upon by the King. He is to enforce a vicious policy of retribution against England's Viking foes. But the story takes an interesting turn when this campaign makes Beornoth face his allegiances as he runs into an old acquaintance. He has to then decide between his allegiance to the King and his ties with his sword brothers.

The book has several positives like it has an Action-Packed and Engaging Plot. The characters are well-developed. Beornoth is a flawed but interesting hero with personal struggles. Supporting characters also seem well-realized. The historical backgrounds of the book are vivid. The author's writing skills are perfect because he makes 10th and 11th century England come alive. The battle descriptions and the overall mood is also well described and gruesome, putting me in the historical era. The author's style of writing is engaging and I was hooked throughout the book without feeling bored even once.

"Enemies of the Crown" is a solid entry in Peter Gibbons' "Saxon Warrior" series. It is an exciting combination of historical fiction, savage action, and inner turmoil. Fans of writers such as Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow, and Conn Iggulden, and those interested in Viking-age Britain, will probably get a lot out of this novel. The novel fulfills its guarantee of adventure and action and also develops the themes of sacrifice and loyalty in the perspective of a maturely crafted protagonist.

was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed Enemies of the Crown. Peter Gibbons has crafted a novel that is not only action-packed and fast-paced but also rich in historical detail. The historical background is meticulously researched and vividly brought to life, making you feel as if you've been transported back in time.
The story is filled with thrilling battles, intricate political maneuvers, and compelling characters that keep you hooked from start to finish. This was the first book I read in this series, and I am eager to dive into the others. I want to learn more about the characters and their relationships, which are so well-developed and intriguing.
Enemies of the Crown is a book that made me truly appreciate. Gibbons' ability to blend historical accuracy with gripping storytelling. It’s an exciting story that can be read as a stand alone but I’m surely it would more intriguing if I had read the previous novels

Enemies Of The Crown, is the fourth book in the Saxton Warrior series by Peter Gibbons and OMG Beornath, even when battle weary fights like a beast. In the beginning of the book he sent to fight with his enemies the DeWarren Brothers Robert and Odo. thankfully Beornath follows the warriors oath, but things change quickly in ancient England and soon Beornath is fighting against them to save an old friend. I know I said this about the last book but OMG the fight scene at the end of the book between the King’s man against the Danes and Beornath’s Warrior was such a great battle scene and I love when I don’t know how he will get out of his latest scrape it seems Mr. Gibbons always has something great up his sleeve. Even though it looks as if our hero is ready for Valhalla or retirement it seems like the fight is going to go on and I cannot wait. I love these books so very much not just the history but the fictional story intertwined in the facts the great fight scenes and villains your love to hate. I absolutely 100% recommend this book. #NetGalley, #BoldWoodBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #PeterGibbons, #EnemiesOfTheCrown,

King Aethelred’s grip on the English throne grows more precarious by the day. His misguided policies—shaped by his inner circle of bishops—have not brought peace, but instead opened the floodgates to further Viking incursions. Sweyn Forkbeard, the fearsome battle-king of the Danes, is growing ever more bloodthirsty and relentless in his quest to conquer England.

Beornoth, once a legendary warrior, had long since laid down his sword, believing his days of bloodshed were behind him. But when the king summons him to carry out a brutal policy of vengeance, Beornoth finds himself drawn back into a violent world he thought he’d left behind.

Teamed with a band of ruthless Norman mercenaries, Beornoth sets out on a mission to crush the Viking threat. Yet as the campaign unfolds, it becomes clear that this war is about more than just strategy and steel. Shadows of Beornoth’s past reawaken, and he is soon forced to confront personal demons and face decisions that will shape not only his own fate, but the fate of the kingdom itself.

Enemies of the Crown is a masterful tale of vengeance, ambition, and sacrifice. Peter Gibbons brings the chaos of 11th-century England vividly to life with gritty realism, dynamic battle scenes, and a cast of characters as complex as the world they inhabit. Beornoth’s journey is one of moral struggle and heroic defiance—a powerful exploration of what it means to fight for a cause, and the cost of leadership in a fractured world.

This is historical fiction at its finest—raw, fast-paced, and impossible to put down.

This wasn't for me. I couldn't connect to any of the characters and couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to any of them.

The next instalment in Peter Gibbons' action-packed Saxon Warrior series.
A weakened crown. A country besieged by Vikings, suffering under the oppression of a powerful church. Kept me on the edge of my seat and then on the edge of my bed until late at night as I just could not put it down!!!… Perfect… Addictive, page turning… I LOVED it

I admit, I’ve not read the first four books in this series, although I want to. However, I didn’t feel like this was too much of an issue in Enemies of the Crown as it worked as a standalone. For me, this is a sign of a strong series, where a book can work with others but also in its own right. There was a lot of backstory to Beornoth, that is covered in the earlier novels, but Gibbons succinctly summarises it, giving the reader enough of a sense to understand what has happened previously. Ideal as a recap if you have read the preceding books, but also enough if you haven’t.

Gibbons is fast-becoming one of my trusty and satisfying go-to authors for anything with a bit of blood and grit. Having read the first in his Arthurian series, Excalibur, Gibbons is consistent with his visceral description of blood, gore, death and savagery. The book has an excellent ratio of action to no action (in that you’re guaranteed a battle scene in most chapters). Given the brutality of the time and the setting, the action sits in nicely with its historical context and realistically portrays the life of a man fighting for the crown, and also fighting for freedom.

Beornoth is not just a massive veteran. Although he has a fearsome reputation, he is shown as more complex, and as having had a difficult life of loss, trauma and sorrow. He is a grizzled, older character, which is refreshing to see amongst so many younger protagonists often in this genre. He’s viscous and brutal, but also loyal and builds camaraderie with his small band of Saxon warriors. He’s kind to his friends and savage to his enemies like the odious Odo de Warenne.

We catch glimpses of authentic rural Anglo-Saxon England as Beornoth travels across it; from the farmsteads to fields and the reliable bad weather. Gibbons also builds in the significance and context of the Danelaw, making it a keystone of the novel and plot, whilst educating the reader about its political significance and those living within it.


Overall, this was another satisfying, gritty, and meaty read from a writer swathing his way through the historical fiction genre.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

An action filled story of the times of a sworn Kings man during the reign of Aethelred the Unready. The book is well written so that you feel you're standing in the presence of the Saxons, Normans and Danes who are fighting for control of England and their lives. Beo, Brand, Wigs are just some of the awesome characters, and I'm ashamed to say I descend from the de Warrene family. Read the book and you'll know why.