Embedded Files
Book 1 of The Northern Crusader Chronicles
Historical Adventure
Date Published: 28th November 2024 (book/ebook) Audiobook: Approx. February 2026
Publisher: The Book Guild
Narrator: Kerry Hutchinson
Run Time: 12 hours and 2 minutes
Bound by faith. Forged in battle. Haunted by doubt.
1242: Wounded at the Battle on the Ice, English knight Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Intrigued by his captive, Alexander orders his scholar to record Richard’s life story.
Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when betrayal shatters his training for knighthood and forces him to flee England. In Lübeck, he finds work with a ruthless salt merchant and becomes entangled in an illicit affair – until scandal and violence drive him onward once more.
Seeking purpose, Richard joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, a militant order bent on bringing Christendom to the pagan Baltic. In the harsh outpost of Riga, he faces not only enemy tribes beyond the walls, but suspicion, ambition, and betrayal within – while grappling with doubts that threaten his faith.
When a vast pagan army threatens to overwhelm the commandery, Richard must choose what kind of man – and believer – he will become.
Sword Brethren is Book One of The Northern Crusader Chronicles, a gritty, historically grounded series focused on realism, moral ambiguity, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare.
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Jon Byrne, originally from London, now lives with his German family by a lake in Bavaria with stunning views of the Alps. As well as writing, he works as a translator for a local IT company and occasionally as a lumberjack. He has studied the medieval world for over twenty years, building up a comprehensive personal library and a particular interest in the often-overlooked Northern Crusades.
The Northern Crusader Chronicles is a gritty, historically grounded series focused on realism, moral ambiguity, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare.
Written for readers who value authenticity and atmosphere over romanticised adventure, the novel explores a largely forgotten crusading frontier, culminating in the first of many confrontations in a harsh wilderness of forest and swamp.
Readers who enjoy the historical detail of authors such as Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, or Ben Kane may find familiar ground here.
Contact Links
Website: https://www.jonbyrnewriter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonByrneAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249535448-sword-brethren
Purchase Links
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sword-brethren-jon-byrne/1146519606?ean=2940202007675
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Jon_Byrne_Sword_Brethren_The_Northern_Crusader_Chr?id=AQAAAECaXm0e5M
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2i3bv2PVBVxBo3XOLjV3ej
Giveaway
A signed copy of book 2 in the series with two bookmarks.
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