James Calbraith

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About James Calbraith
James Calbraith is a Poland-born Scottish writer of history-adjacent novels: a historical fantasy "The Year of the Dragon" saga, and a historical fiction series, "The Song of Ash".
Growing up in communist Poland on a diet of powdered milk, “Lord of the Rings” and soviet science-fiction, he had his first story published at the ripe age of eight. After years of bouncing around Polish universities, he moved to London in 2007 and started writing in English.
His debut historical fantasy novel, “The Shadow of Black Wings“, has reached Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semi-finals in 2012. “The Year of the Dragon” saga sold over 30,000 copies worldwide.
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Blog postIt’s two weeks until release of “The Shieldmaiden’s Pride” – the adventures of a young half-Iute girl in eastern Britannia at the fall of the Empire… It’s been a while since I spent such a significant amount of story time in Londin and its immediate neighbourhood. All the familiar places and faces are coming back […]1 week ago Read more
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Blog post“The Shieldmaiden’s Pride” – Book One of the new trilogy, The Song of Madron – is now in the final editing and proofreading stages, with the release scheduled for July 1st – but I can’t wait to show off the maps that will be in the book. Keen-eyed readers will recognise I used one of […]1 month ago Read more
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Blog postIn “The Shieldmaiden’s Pride”, the story returns to mainland Britain, as seen by the natives of this land. The characters journey through the island, from hillfort to fortress, from town to villa – so it’s a good moment to run through some of the real-life villas of Roman Britain that have popped up throughout the […]2 months ago Read more
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Blog postToday’s the day! When I first started jotting down plot ideas for this book, the main event in the news was the refugee problem on the Polish border, so I set up some of the plot around refugees fleeing from a distant conflict. Little could I suspect that by the time I start writing the […]4 months ago Read more
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Blog postThese are not easy times, for anyone. But somehow, between bouts of plague, frantically refreshing Twitter for news of war, and general mental chaos of it all, I’m managing to keep only a month behind shedule for the next book. I’m hoping to put a pre-order in motion in a week or so – so […]4 months ago Read more
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Blog post“The Crown of the Iutes” release – ebook and paperback A thrilling conclusion to the Song of Octa trilogy! In the ten years since Octa’s return from Wened, the Kingdom of Iutes has thrived, under the wise and peaceful rule of his father, Rex Aeric. But now, new threats are encroaching from every direction. The Saxon pirates renewed their raids with […]6 months ago Read more
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Blog postIn 10 days, on Christmas Eve, “The Crown of Iutes” will be released on Kindle. It is time to reveal the main map for the book: Northern Gaul, comprising of the Domain of Gauls, under Syagrius, and the lands of its neighbours – the Franks, the Armoricans and the Goths of Tolosa.6 months ago Read more
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Blog postYes, it’s that time of the pre-publishing cycle when I write a post about all the locations used in the upcoming book, The Crown of the Iutes. A large part of the Crown takes place in the already familiar corner of Britannia – Londin, Cantiaca, the land of the Regins. But the central story takes […]7 months ago Read more
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Blog postWe Couldn’t Become Adults, dir. Yoshihiro Mori, Netflix, 2021 “How many times have you seen ‘Beautiful Dreamer’?” “Maybe twice.” “That’s all? (…) I always played it while I was home.(…) Don’t you think the movie’s really nice? It’s always the day before the school festival. Could there be anything better?” Urusei Yatsura 2: Beatiful Dreamer […]7 months ago Read more
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Blog postFor most of the last half-year I’ve been mostly working on patiently carving out the main draft of the Crown of the Iutes – which has already grown into the longest and most complex book I’ve ever written, as befits the conclusion of Ash and Octa’s long stories. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have […]8 months ago Read more
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Titles By James Calbraith
The third trilogy in the Song of Britannia saga - Madron's story starts here!
Madron knows she's destined to fame and renown. In her veins runs the blood of Wortigern, the great Dux of the eastern Britons, and of Eobba, the mighty warchief of the Iutes. Wars have been fought for her hand. Her union with the western Dux's son brought peace to the divided land. Their child is the hope for the entire nation's future.But there are many who don't want to see that future. Bands of paid warriors strike at her and her husband, forcing Madron to seek safety in the place she left many years ago, but still calls home: the greatest city in Britannia, Londin. Here, she will stumble upon an even greater conspiracy - one that threatens not only her family, but to engulf the whole island in flames of a new war.
And her only clue to discover who's behind it all is one half of a golden solidus...
A new heroine - a new band of comrades - a new mystery - and a whole brand new story in the best-selling series The Song Of Britain - The Song of Madron!
Two years after the victory at Saffron Valley, a new menace threatens Dux Wortigern's domain: the Picts are raiding the coast, razing the cities and looting the churches and villas of the southern provinces. Ash, now a Councillor at Wortigern's court, joins a Iute war band dispatched to deal with the invaders - but the real threat to Londin's safety and Wortigern's rule may be coming from within the Council itself...
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The Saxon Knives is the second volume of the Song of Ash, a fast-paced, gripping historical fiction trilogy, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom" series, Simon Scarrow, Matthew Harffy and Conn Iggulden.
This is a boxed set of the final four books of the best-selling historical fantasy saga, containing the entire Eight-headed Serpent arc:
•Book 5: The Chrysanthemum Seal
•Book 6: The Withering Flame
•Book 7: The Shattering Waves
•Book 8: The Last Dragon King
The deluxe edition contains also a full glossary of foreign words, list of characters, maps and appendices.
A thrilling conclusion to the Song of Octa trilogy!
In the ten years since Octa's return from Wened, the Kingdom of Iutes has thrived, under the wise and peaceful rule of his father, Rex Aeric. But now, new threats are encroaching from every direction. The Saxon pirates renewed their raids with unprecedented ferocity. Rex Aelle's troops are gathering at the border in secret, there is rumour of a deadly plague in Gaul, just across the Narrow Sea... And an ambitious Londin Councillor, Riotham, plots to revive the title of the Dux and subjugate Wortigern's old domain under his rule.
It will take all of Octa's strength and wits to save his father's kingdom from all of these dangers at once... But not before a new adventure sends him back to Gaul, where he will first have to save the Empire itself from a barbarian conspiracy - once again!
All is lost. The Gods decided to reward Wortimer and punish Ash, and the future of Britannia is hanging in the balance.
In the darkness of a prison cell, through pain of torture, Ash tries to remember how everything has gone so terribly wrong. Wortimer defeated his father and conquered Londin. He took Rhedwyn into his chamber, and threw Ash into the deepest dungeon. His armies are rampaging throughout the province, killing Iutes and Saxons wherever they can find them. It seems nothing and nobody can stop the new Dux of Britons from fulfiling his mission to destroying the Iutes and cast all barbarians out of the island forever.
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The Saxon Might is the concluding volume of the Song of Ash, a fast-paced, gripping historical fiction trilogy, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom" series, Simon Scarrow, Matthew Harffy and Conn Iggulden.
The Finnis Britanniae saga will continue in the next trilogy, the Song of Octa.
- #1 Bestseller in Norse Historical Fiction in UK, Canada and Australia! -
The old world is burning
A hero will rise from its ASH.
Thirty years passed since Britannia voted to throw off the Roman yoke. Now, the old world crumbles. Pirates roam the seas, bandits threaten the highways, and barbarian refugees from the East arrive on Britannia's shores, uninvited. The rich profit from the chaos, while the poor suffer. A new Dark Age is approaching - but all is not lost.
Ash is a Seaborn, a Saxon child found on the beach with nothing but a precious stone at his neck and a memory of a distant war from which his people have fled. Raised on the estate of a Briton nobleman, trained in warfare and ancient knowledge, he soon becomes embroiled in the machinations and intrigues at the court of Wortigern, the Dux of Londinium, a struggle that is about to determine the future of all Britannia.
A child of Saxon blood, an heir to Roman family, his is a destiny like no other: to join the two races and forge a new world from the ruins of the old.
The Song of Ash is the first trilogy in the Song of Britain saga. This bundle is the complete telling of the story.
- #1 Bestseller in Norse Historical Fiction in UK, Canada and Australia! -
The old world is burning
A hero will rise from its ASH.
A child of Saxon blood, an heir to a Roman family, his is a destiny like no other: to join the two races and forge a new world from the ruins of the old.
Thirty years have passed since Britannia voted to throw off the Roman yoke. Now, the old world crumbles. Pirates roam the seas, bandits threaten the highways, and barbarian refugees from the East arrive on Britannia's shores, uninvited. The rich profit from the chaos, while the poor suffer. A new Dark Age is approaching - but all is not lost.
A Saxon child is found on a Briton beach with nothing but a precious stone at his neck and a memory of a distant war from which his people have fled. Raised by a Briton nobleman, trained in warfare and ancient knowledge, he soon becomes embroiled in a struggle that will determine the future of all Britannia.
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"In The Saxon Spears James Calbraith gives us a fast-paced, immediate, raw look into the dark times of the fifth century. (...) James Calbraith's Ash is a sympathetic protagonist, full of mystery and a yearning to discover the secrets of his past and the truth of his destiny. The Saxon Spears is a great read." - MATTHEW HARFFY, author of Bernicia Chronicles
★★★★★ "Rich, detailed writing and compelling characters." - Jessica Belmont, Jessica Belmont
★★★★★ "A truly intriguing and impressive start to a new series." - Liberty Ireland, Historical Graffiti
★★★★ "A fine beginning indeed to what promises to be an exciting series." - Paul Bennett, Hoover Book Reviews
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The Saxon Spears is the first volume of the Song of Ash, a fast-paced, gripping historical fiction saga, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom" series, Matthew Harffy and Conn Iggulden.
- A NEW GENERATION OF HEROES. THE DARK AGES SAGA CONTINUES. -
It's not easy being the son of a king.Octa never wanted to be a mighty warrior, or a great ruler of men - he'd much rather be a clerk or a priest - but he's resigned to his destiny as the son and heir of the first king of the Iutes. There is only one problem: under his father's peaceful reign, there aren't many opportunities for a youth to gain experience in combat and leadership.So when a Roman legate arrives in Britannia, for the first time in a generation, bringing dire news from across the Narrow Sea and requesting help in the coming clash between rival Imperators, Octa jumps on the chance to prove himself before his friends and his father - no matter the consequences...What follows is an epic journey across Frankia and Gaul in the twilight of the Empire, filled with battles, intrigues and romance.
- Sequel to #1 Bestseller in Norse Historical Fiction in UK, Canada and Australia. First book in the new Iutish trilogy! -
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"In The Saxon Spears James Calbraith gives us a fast-paced, immediate, raw look into the dark times of the fifth century. (...) James Calbraith's Ash is a sympathetic protagonist, full of mystery and a yearning to discover the secrets of his past and the truth of his destiny. The Saxon Spears is a great read." - MATTHEW HARFFY, author of Bernicia Chronicles
★★★★★ "Rich, detailed writing and compelling characters." - Jessica Belmont, Jessica Belmont
★★★★★ "A truly intriguing and impressive start to a new series." - Liberty Ireland, Historical Graffiti
★★★★ "A fine beginning indeed to what promises to be an exciting series." - Paul Bennett, Hoover Book Reviews
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The Blood of the Iutes is the first volume of the Song of Octa, a fast-paced, gripping historical fiction sequel to the best-selling Song of Ash trilogy, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom" series, Matthew Harffy and Conn Iggulden.
Two years after the Battle of Wened, Octa and Ursula are at last invited to the wedding of their new friends, Decurion Marcus and Princess Ahes, daughter of Graelon. But the dream of marital bliss turns into a nightmare, as the journey to Armorica ends in a disaster at sea - and that is only the beginning of their trouble...
Thrown in the midst of yet another conflict, can Octa save his friends' love - and save Armorica from the greatest threat it ever faced?
An innovative and dramatic reimagining of the Breton legend of the Sunken City of Ys, this novella is part of the Song of Octa story and takes place between Book 2: The Wrath of the Iutes and Book 3: The Crown of the Iutes.
The Song of Britain, volume 2: The Song of Octa:
- 1. The Blood of the Iutes
- 2. The Wrath of the Iutes
- The Song of the Tides - novella
- 3. The Crown of the Iutes
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"In The Saxon Spears James Calbraith gives us a fast-paced, immediate, raw look into the dark times of the fifth century. (...) James Calbraith's Ash is a sympathetic protagonist, full of mystery and a yearning to discover the secrets of his past and the truth of his destiny. The Saxon Spears is a great read." - MATTHEW HARFFY, author of Bernicia Chronicles
★★★★★ "Rich, detailed writing and compelling characters." - Jessica Belmont, Jessica Belmont
★★★★★ "A truly intriguing and impressive start to a new series." - Liberty Ireland, Historical Graffiti
★★★★ "A fine beginning indeed to what promises to be an exciting series." - Paul Bennett, Hoover Book Reviews
◆◆◆
The Blood of the Iutes is the first volume of the Song of Octa, a fast-paced, gripping historical fiction sequel to the best-selling Song of Ash trilogy, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell's "The Last Kingdom" series, Matthew Harffy and Conn Iggulden.
All these questions - and more - will be answered in the thrilling, double-length conclusion to the Year of the Dragon saga, the eighth and final volume: The Last Dragon King!
—Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series
Amazon Bestseller in Historical Fantasy and Alternate Fiction
Guided by the mysterious samurai, Bran and the girls reach the fabled shrine of Kirishima, where his dragon is held. But other forces are also keen to put their hands on the prize...
The Black Wings have landed, and Edo is in turmoil. So is Kiyo, after the recent disturbing events. Doshin Koyata receives a strange red signal in his dreams...
In Qin, Dylan trains an army of volunteers to stop the onslaught of the Rebels, with the help of an old Admiral - who seems to know many secrets...
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