Review: Sword Brethren by Jon Byrne

Synopsis: 1242. After being wounded in the Battle on the Ice, Richard Fitz Simon becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Alexander, intrigued by his captive’s story, instructs his scholar to assist Richard in writing about his life.

Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when his training to be a knight is disrupted by treachery. He is forced to flee England for Lübeck, where he begins work for a greedy salt merchant. After an illicit love affair, his new life is thrown into turmoil, and he joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword as they embark on imposing the will of God on the pagans of the eastern Baltic.

Here, he must reconcile with his new life of prayer, danger and duty – despite his own religious doubts, with as many enemies within the fortified commandery as the wilderness outside. However, when their small outpost in Riga is threatened by a large pagan army, Richard is compelled to make a crucial decision and fight like never before.

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The premise intrigued me. Much has been written about the Crusades to Outremer, France, Constantinople and Spain, but very little has been dedicated to what is referred to as the Northern Crusades - the Christianisation of the Baltic by the Teutonic Knights and their kindred orders.

This fictional work is told in hindsight, narrated by our protagonist Richard, a Norman from England, who has found his way into one of the most conclusive battles of the 13th Century against the legendary Alexander Nevsky. How did he end up there is the crux of the narrative, as it is told in flashback by the aged and war weary Richard. His story begins with events in England and the reasons for his departure and eventual arrival in Lubeck. With a far from settled life, Richard is bound for Riga with the Sword Brethren.

Whilst the pace slowed in some places, I was overall engaged with the narrative (I did read it in one sitting), so much so that it had me reaching for my copy of Eric Christiansen's "The Northern Crusades" and flicking back to see that, yes, the Sword Brethren did actually exist! The Sword Brethren, however, were not the only Order battling away in the Baltic - there were many fingers in the pie, sometimes working together, oft times at odds with each other. It is a truly fascinating period of history, and one I am glad to see brought into the mainstream readership.

Looking forward to the continuation of Richard's narrative as the series progresses.