The First Kingdom [1-2] - Donovan Cook

Category: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Military
Language: English
Keywords: Ancient Britain Dark Age Historical Saxons Sea Adventure

Written by Donovan Cook
Read by Sean Barrett
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 128 Kbps

/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./

#1 Woden’s Spear

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. (10 hrs and 5 mins)

#2 Woden’s Storm

A storm is coming.
A storm that will banish the old and deliver the new.

450AD, Britain

Octa has the spear of Woden, but the redemption he sought is out of his grasp. With his banishment and the death of his father, he can no longer return to his Saxon homelands. His only salvation is to join forces with Hengist and Horsa, and their Jutish army that beaches itself on Brittania’s shores on King Vortigern’s invitation. But can he trust their motivation or are there greater plans afoot?

When Prince Vortimer, the son of High King Vortigern suspects treachery and encouraged by some well-placed words of a stranger, he rebels against his father and gathers his army to attack the unwelcome visitors.

However, the Gods have their own plans and his fate is not his own to control. (10 hrs and 51 mins)

Boldwood Books, 2025