Book Review: Woden’s Spear by Donovan Cook

I’m so delighted to be welcoming Donovan Cook back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Woden’s Spear. 

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.
Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.

*****

Woden’s Spear introduces Octa, the son of a prominent Saxon warlord whose cowardice in battle leads to him being disowned by his family and forced to flee for his life. His flight takes him North from his home land, through the land of the Angles and into Jutland, where he hears tell that Woden’s Spear is hidden in a cave in far off Britannia. He embarks on a quest that will take all his courage, skill and endurance.

Set in the 5th century, this book marks the start of a new Dark Age series by the author. As I read it I realised that the timing of the book aligns with the beginning of the window for the Arthurian legands, so I do wonder if there will be any overlap, and I did think that two of the characters may have been prominent figures from those legends. As it turns out I was wrong about that, but the series is young.

It’s great to hear the stories of the transition from Britannia to Angle-Land from the perspective of the Saxons, Angles and Jutes. All the other books I have read from this time period have been from the perspective of the British, fighting off the rising tide of Saxons.

This is a really good novel which truly stands out for me in a genre which is very densely populated, which is no mean feat indeed.

From the first page I was drawn into the story, The characters are excellent and very believable, the plot complex enough to capture the imagination but not so convoluted as to leave the reader confused.

I also really liked the historical note at the end of the book.- I find it fascinating to hear how the author has intertwined what little knowledge we have of that period into this immersive story.

A superb novel and a must for fans of historical fiction. I eagerly await the next volume to cross my desk,

About Donovan Cook–

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series and the Charlemagne’s Cross series, both of which combine fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world and are inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. 

Donovan was born in South Africa but raised in England, where his fascination with Medieval History, especially the Vikings and Norse Mythology, took root. In his free time, Donovan loves to read, watch rugby, and go for walks with his wife and their French Bulldog, Joey.

Say hello to Donovan via Facebook and Twitter (X). 

Woden’s Spear is the first book in the brand new The First Kingdom series. It was released by Boldwood Books on 5th March 2025. Click to buy on Amazon and Waterstones. 

by

Chris Parish