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'Finch has written a blood-soaked historical epic to rank with the best' Anthony Riches, author of Storm of War

The throne of England is under threat, but one lad's battle is much closer to home.

Storm clouds gathering at England's shores

Autumn, 1066. Saxon England, a realm at peace for fifty years, unknowingly enjoys its last peaceful harvest. For a Viking horde, led by the dreaded Harald Hardraada, circles off the north-eastern coast, while William of Normandy, a wolf in human guise, waits in the south, greedily sizing up the wealthy kingdom.

will change a young man's future

Seventeen-year-old Cerdic, as second in line to the earldom of Ripon in northern England, is being trained for a future in the Church. But croziers and catechism do not fire Cerdic's soul. He longs instead to be a warrior, like his brother Unferth, and ride to battle in defence of his lands.

and unseat his whole world

But as the invasion fleets sail, Cerdic finds himself caught in a maelstrom that will utterly reshape the life he used to know. A catastrophic war is coming to England, and Cerdic's wish for battle looks set to come true

Sunday Times bestselling author Paul Finch's first historical novel is an edge-of-your-seat coming-of-age adventure in early medieval England, perfect for fans of David Gilman and Bernard Cornwell.

Praise for Usurper

'Usurper is an action-packed, coming-of-age, adventure set against the upheaval and battles of 1066. Finch gives us Cerdic, a troubled hero thrown into the maelstrom of events outside of his control, and we follow him breathlessly as he deals with brutal Vikings, familial rivalries, unrequited love, invading Normans and more!' Matthew Harffy, author of the Bernicia Chronicles

'Usurper propels the reader from the very first page through a dark and desperate age when Britons fought for their survival. Fearsome battles, believable characters, uncommon valour. A relentless page turner' David Gilman, author of the Master of War series

'The grim world of Anglo Saxon England is brought evocatively to life by master storyteller Paul Finch as he thrusts the reader deep into the cold and mud and blood of a country teetering on the brink of a devastating war for survival. Usurper is a must-read for any lover of history, capturing all the rich detail of a turbulent time and stitching it through with powerful emotion' James Wilde, author of the Hereward Chronicles

'An authentic and vivid depiction of life in England in 1066, and a brutal, blood-soaked thriller that will be loved by fans of Cornwell's Last Kingdom' Alex Gough, author of the Imperial Assassins series

'Finch brings 1066 to life in new and vivid ways. Packed with blistering battle scenes and believable characters, this is a superb historical novel' Steven A. McKay, author of the Druid series

Paul Finch is an ex-cop and journalist turned best-selling author. He first cut his literary teeth penning episodes of The Bill, and has written extensively in horror and fantasy, including for Dr Who. He is also known for his crime/thriller novels, of which there are twelve to date, including the Heckenburg and Clayburn series. Paul lives in Lancashire with his wife and business-partner, Cathy.