The First Kingdom

The start of a BRAND NEW thrilling Dark Age series from bestselling author Donovan Cook, must-listen for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy

'A shield crunching epic! Any reader who loves battle, Saxons, warriors and adventures won’t be disappointed' Peter Gibbons

Banished by those he loved; how far would he go for redemption?

449AD Old Saxony

Octa, the son of a mighty Saxon warlord, stands in the shield wall for the first time, eager to make a name for himself. But instead of the promised battle glory, fear overpowers him and he flees the battle, causing the death of his cousin and bringing shame to his family.

Disowned by his father, and hunted by his own people, Octa is spurred on by his mother’s vision for his future, a promise of greatness to come.

A chance encounter with a wiry traveller offers Octa a chance of redemption with a quest to retrieve a sacred weapon. To do this, Octa must travel to Britannia, a nation abandoned by the Roman Empire and unable to defend itself from its many enemies who smell weakness and riches.

Joining the famous warlords, Hengist and Horsa, Octa travels west to forge his future and redeem his past. He must succeed where others have failed. He must find the lost spear of Woden.

An epic adventure of turmoil, coming of age and survival set against a time when Britannia was on its knees and fighting for its very existence.

Praise for Woden's Spear

'A spell-binding tale of early Britain certain to keep pages turning and readers entertained.' - Peter Gibbons

'Cook writes with verve and imagination, bringing to life the dark ages in all their horror and violence' - Michael Jecks

'Cook gives you thunderous action in a tightly woven plot. An epic adventure from a crumbling empire to a mysterious mist strewn land. Not one to be missed for fans of Cornwell and Kristian.' - Adam Lofthouse

'Pulse-pounding action scenes and a truly memorable main character make this a riveting read that fans of Cornwell and Harffy will love!' - Steven A McKay

'A thrilling, and surprisingly moving, tale of the origins of England, woven with picaresque adventure seamed by threads of myth and legend: the All-Father approves this book.' - Edoardo Albert