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M J Porter
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Men of Iron: A BRAND NEW dark-age adventure from MJ Porter (The Dark Age Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by MJ Porter (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 249 ratings

The start of a BRAND NEW, epic adventure series from MJ Porter ⚔️ Must-read for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy!

After the legends of Arthur, yet before the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, a tribal age of iron and rust ruled.

Britain AD540.

In the western hinterland of Roman Britannia, Meddi, the seeress of the Eorlingas tribe, can only obtain vengeance when her husband’s dead and her ancestral villa returned to her.

With her brother, Madog, as leader, they unite and stand strong against those who seek the riches of their villa. They must harness the power of the lost magiks of iron to make weapons to mercilessly oppose those who seek to challenge and fight to rule.

Meanwhile in the east, Waermund, a young warrior of Saxon descent, has exacted the ultimate revenge against his brother. Startled by his own ruthlessness, he knows his father will pursue him to exact retribution. He and his band of miscreant warriors must flee westwards and forge a new future by earning coin from those too weak to protect themselves.

Meddi and Wærmund are set to collide in a world of iron and rust.

An action-packed, thrilling historical adventure set during the Dark Ages. You won't be able to stop reading!

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Dark Age Chronicles
  2. Print length
    344 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Boldwood Books
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    April 15, 2025
  7. File size
    3.5 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DKN36NQ1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 15, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1836174981
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ The Dark Age Chronicles
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 249 ratings

About the author

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M J Porter

M J Porter

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I'm an author of historical fiction (Early English/Saxon, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest, as well as four 20th-century historical mysteries) and fantasy (now published under a different name). I've also written my first non-fiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England: The Women of the Tenth Century, which is available now.

I was born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since 1066. Raised in the shadow of a strange little building, told from a very young age that it housed the bones of long-dead kings of Mercia and that our garden was littered with old pieces of pottery from a long-ago battle, it's little wonder that my curiosity in Early England ran riot. I can only blame my parents!

I like to write. You've been warned!

Not sure where to start your journey through Saxon/Early England?

If you're new to Saxon England, then Son of Mercia, book 1 in Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, is perhaps where you should start. And then follow on with Wolf of Mercia and Warrior of Mercia and the continuing books in the series.

King of Kings, book 1 in The Brunanburh Series, is the story of the build-up to the greatest battle on British soil you've probably never heard about, Brunanburh. 'An epic story of kingsmanship that will set in motion the pivotal, bloody Battle of Brunanburh where allies have to be chosen wisely.' The continuing series takes readers to Brunanburh and beyond.

The Dark Ages trilogy will take my readers back to the very beginnings of Saxon England before the creation of Mercia and the other kingdoms.

If you like action adventure with a heavy dose of violence, foul language, and good old camaraderie - The Mercian Ninth Century series is for you, starting with The Last King (there are also Cleaner versions where much of the foul language has been removed - they can be a little harder to find but they are available). Fans of The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles will also find a familiar face. Or The Seventh Century, starting with Pagan Warrior, has a little more politics to go with the set-piece battles.

If you like stories about the forgotten women of history, then the Tenth Century series, starting with The Lady of Mercia's Daughter, is a good place to begin, the story of Lady Ælfwynn after the death of her mother. Or, The First Queen of England, with a little more romance.

If you're interested in the last century of Early England (before 1066) then The Earls of Mercia series is for you.

If you want to read it all, then you can read in chronological order or mix it up. The series weren't written in chronological order (I have a tendency to move backwards through time).

If you're as interested in the ancient kingdom of Mercia as I am, then the loosely connected, The Tales of Mercia is for you. The individual series can be read in this order but can be read in any order. I started my historical fiction writing journey with The Earls of Mercia, so yes, I began at the end.

1) The Dark Age Chronicles starting with Men of Iron.

2) Gods and Kings starting with Pagan Warrior.

3) The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles starting with Son of Mercia.

4) The Ninth Century books starting with The Last King

5) A detour to The Lady of Mercia's Daughter and A Conspiracy of Kings, from the Tenth Century series

6) The Earls of Mercia series starts with The Earl of Mercia's Father.

If you're interested in my 20th-century mysteries, then The Custard Corpses and The Automobile Assassination are the books for you. The Secret Sauce is coming soon. And Cragside, a standalone 1930s murder mystery set at the beautiful North Northumberland estate, and inspired by my Lockdown walks around the property.

My first non-fiction book, The Royal Women Who Made England, is now published by Pen and Sword in hardback and ebook, detailing the information I used to write The Tenth Century series and the two trilogies about England's first queen featuring Ælfwynn, Eadgifu and the daughters of Edward the Elder.

If you want to keep up to date with my latest writing projects, then please find me on your social media channel of choice, and check out my blog, where you will find lots of information about my books..

Happy reading:)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
249 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Paul Bennett
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Masterful Tale
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    BLURB
    The start of a powerful, BRAND NEW Dark-Age Adventure series from MJ Porter After the legends of Arthur, yet before the Saxon kingdom of Mercia, a tribal age of iron and rust ruled.

    Britain AD540.

    In the western hinterland of Roman Britannia, Meddi, the seeress of the Eorlingas tribe, can only obtain vengeance when her husband’s dead and her ancestral villa returned to her.

    With her brother, Madog, as leader, they unite and stand strong against those who seek the riches of their villa. They must harness the power of the lost magiks of iron to make weapons to mercilessly oppose those who seek to challenge and fight to rule.

    Meanwhile in the east, Warmund, a young warrior of Saxon descent, has exacted the ultimate revenge against his brother. Startled by his own ruthlessness, he knows his father will pursue him to exact retribution. He and his band of miscreant warriors must flee westwards and forge a new future by earning coin from those too weak to protect themselves.

    Meddi and Wærmund are set to collide in a world of iron and rust.

    An action packed, thrilling historical adventure perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy
    300 pages, Kindle Edition
    Published April 15, 2025
    REVIEW
    Well, now, another new series from the prolific MJ Porter. This time, we’re taken to Britain during the period between Caesar’s legions leaving and Ragnar’s Vikings arriving. A time of conflicts; a time when so much knowledge had been lost when the Legions departed; a time when determination and grit were required to survive. This, the first book in the series, introduces us to the main players and their motivations. Meddi, a seeress who gains control of a settlement once lost to her, and Waermund, who, with a disparate collection of folks, is an outcast with high ambitions. It is a tale where trust is hard to give when so much is at stake. It is a tale where the reader is immersed in the rivalries, in the plots to gain superiority, and in the search for technologies lost. I found myself intrigued by this period and the way the author builds the environment from scant evidence. And, the ending, oh, my. Bring on the sequel. 5 Stars
    One person found this helpful
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  • B. S. Cheney
    4.0 out of 5 stars An Iron Age Adventure
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2025
    Format: Kindle
    An Iron Age tale of revenge. The two main characters living on different sides of England start the book getting their own personal justice. The two unrelated events forces them to meet and join forces for survival.

    It’s a great historical adventure story set in an under used time period. The story jumps between two first person POVs. I’m not the biggest fan of 1st person. I don’t get as emotionally invested with it so it’s why I can’t give it 5 stars. Otherwise I highly recommend it.
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  • Marilyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting new series set in Dark Ages
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A new series set during the Dark Ages period shortly after the Romans’ reign. The two different perspectives of a series and a warrior-leader to be are interesting to follow. We get to witness how people lived and died during these times. Some of the traditions have similarities with the Norse people. For instance Wærmund has two female warriors, and we don’t see this in later times. We also have the same reverence and care of horses here. And of course we learn a lot about the making of a good sword. So much critical technique is needed with fire, charcoal, and ironstone. I’m keen on learning what the magik ingredient is that they are lacking right now.
    Although there’s not lots of historical evidence of these times, Porter does a masterful job with archaeological evidence to create an intriguing story. Our two groups will soon clash and who will be victorious?
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  • Phoenix
    4.0 out of 5 stars It's a must-read for Dark Age or Britannia enthusiasts.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2025
    Format: Kindle
    It's a wonder the human race survives! This new Dark Age tale of revenge and recovery shows the undocumented, but proven by archeological evidence, of how the tribes throughout Britain's long existence have lived and either succumbed or flourished. Porter writes a good story with descriptive scenes that can put the reader in amongst the characters. It's a must-read for Dark Age or Britannia enthusiasts.

    This is my honest opinion after reading an ARC from Netgalley.
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  • DragonflyDebbi
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great beginning to a new series!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
    Format: Kindle
    Please tell me that book 2 will be out soon! Men of Iron was a terrific read, I couldn't put it down. It's told from the point of view of two different people: Meddi, a seeress who has helped her brother Madog and their tribe reclaim their land from a usurper, and Waermund, a young warrier with something to prove against his father. Both of them want revenge on those who have wronged them. In Meddi's case it's Elen, who conspired with the usurper (and was married to him). In Waermund's case, it's his older brother, who is technically the heir but now is dead. The book alternates between their stories, drawing Meddi and Waermund ever closer to meeting and yet.....The book ends on a real cliffhanger, and I can't wait to read the rest of Waermund and Meddi's story.

    Well written, with beautifully drawn, complex characters who grow and change as they deal with what life throws at them. It's action packed and non stop. Definitely a good read, and you'll find yourself wanting to hear the rest of the story.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Anne Herries
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gathers momentum. Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This new book by MJ Porter took me a bit longer to get into than usual, perhaps because of the different names and time. However, when I got to the end I wanted to read the next immediately. The author is so good at making you believe and cheer for her characters that you want the books to just go on and on. Another brilliant story😀📚
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  • Squeaky Joe
    4.0 out of 5 stars A rollicking saga with plenty of action.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is the first book in a new series titled The Dark Age Chronicles. With little historical documentation to fall back on, the story is instead inspired by archaeological evidence, though the author’s knowledge of the period (real or imagined) does shine through. The plot revolves around several warring tribes including as the Weogoran, the Hicca, the Gyrwe and the Eorlingas. As always with many of Ms Porter’s historical sagas, the names can be confusing and even the list of characters at the front of the book didn’t help me remember who’s who. Set in Britannia AD540, the story starts by setting the scene in Britain after the Romans have left, leaving the various tribes to battle it out with each other. The most interesting character is Meddi the seeress – a strong and fearless warrior. Then we hear from Waermund of the Gyrwe, who sorts out issues with his older sibling in the traditional hack-em-to-pieces manner. Several chapters in, I did find the plot became a little difficult to follow, but the descriptions of the people and their antics are well done. The author’s narrative talents bring the story to life and at times it’s like watching a movie, which can’t be bad.

    A rollicking saga with plenty of action.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great start
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A well researched tale of ancient Britain. Delves into the age of the state of the country that has lost the basic skills,and must either discover,or relearn the skills, or surrender to the strongest.
    Report
  • Triggerfish411
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great read. Loved it
    Report

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