Blood Debt is the first book in Adam Staten’s Honour Bound trilogy and is a coming-of-age story set in the tumultuous years leading up to the battle of Hastings in 1066. The story moves at a steady pace before speeding up in the final third of the book as it approaches the climax. Fans of Bernard Cornwell are likely to enjoy it since the style of action-adventure historical fiction is quite similar, as is the focus on English methods of warfare.
The book’s protagonist, Cadman, is an angry young man eager to make a name for himself, avenge his father’s death, and reclaim his family’s lands. The story begins with Cadman serving under his uncle Aelfric as they are caught in Harold Godwinson’s disastrous shipwreck on the French coast in 1064. Having survived a skirmish in the shallows, Cadman takes part in Harold’s trip to Normandy and Brittany, where his exploits lead to Harold offering him a place in his own household. Staten accurately depicts the course of events passed down by the historical sources and uses it as a frame to structure the story.
Staten writes in the third person through the point of view of Cadman. Consequently, his placing of Cadman within Harold Godwinson’s household allows the reader to be in the room to witness many of the key events that shape the fate of England in 1065-1066. The downside of this is that it is harder to understand the motivations of some of the other characters, especially Cadman’s enemy, Stefan de Longueville. Cadman generally views the Normans unfavourably, but also expresses admiration for their skills in architecture, archery, and horsemanship. Also, whilst the Normans are very much the villains of the book, they are not depicted as cowardly or stupid, but as ruthless, skilled, and brave individuals.
Another thing that comes across very clearly is that Staten has done a huge amount of historical research to create an immersive experience for readers that brims with historical authenticity. This ranges from using Old English and French spellings for the respective characters and place names, to the hairstyles and foods favoured by different nationalities. The book’s climax occurs during the battle of Hastings, and Staten skilfully conveys just how close the battle was, and the chaos that ensued when the Normans outflanked the English position on the ridge.
The book’s ending is tantalising and promises to illuminate in the remaining two books something which is still an obscure historical topic for many people – the fate of the English housecarls after 1066. That is a dramatic tale that stretches across the breadth of Europe for many of them, from the rainswept British Isles to the searing heat of the eastern Mediterranean. In the meantime, anyone who enjoys historical fiction and has an interest in the Norman Conquest should take the time to enjoy this riveting book.
Blood Debt by Adam Staten is out now, published Sharpe Books.
