Icel, is a Mercian Warrior in the employment of King Wiglaf, the Mercians are triumphant from their last battle but the threat of war is never far away. The Vikings are moving further into the country and the Kings of Wessex and Kent seem more intent in their vendetta against the Mercians and Icel to worry about the enemy closing in on them.
This is a well researched novel of documented events in past history. MJ Porter takes us into the thick of the fighting with no let up in the action. This book and the previous ones in the series are perfect for lovers of Dark Age stories. If you love the Viking series on TV then you will be a fan of these books.

In MJ Porter's compelling historical thriller, Shield of Mercia, the author drops readers in the midst of a giddy ninth-century Mercia. AD 836 is the setting for King Wiglaf's kingdom, which appears victorious, but an ominous, chilling threat emerges on the horizon: marauding Vikings.

The writer skillfully weaves a tale that has little to do with the intrigues of competing kingdoms and a great deal to do with plain survival in the face of a ruthless, overwhelming enemy.
Icel, the hero, is an intriguing warrior trapped in a danger zone. He has to fight not only against the fatal Viking attacks but also against Mercia's archenemies, King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf. This double threat results in a consistent tempo, as Icel is struggling constantly on two fronts.

The writing is action-filled and graphic, painting vivid pictures of the harsh truths of Viking war and the guile required to survive it. Readers of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy will feel perfectly comfortable with the book's balance of detailed history and fast-paced, high-octane action. Shield of Mercia is a heart-stopping story of a kingdom hanging on the edge, and a warrior who has to be the shield that guards it from total destruction.

MJ Porter always writes a strong historical fiction book and was everything that I enjoyed from this type of book. This was a really well done historical novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed this entry of this series. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. MJ Porter has a strong writing style and it worked in the historical fiction element that I wanted.