It’s been a while since we’ve seen the big warrior Druid Bellicus, but it honestly feels like home being back with the big guy, the centurion Duro  and Bel’s loyal companion Cai.

The Damnonii people are in danger but little does Bel know how much danger. The Saxons are on the warpath, led by the despicable Horsa, with Sigarr by his side. The Saxon’s have a grudge against Bel and the Damnonii and you know this just can’t end well!

When we see Bel, he and Duro are travelling. The Merlin has called a moot and every Druid from far and wide is attending.. These events don’t happen often so it’s a time of excitement and energy. The Druids spend their time sharing knowledge, discussing the threats faced from the Saxon’s and the Christians.. it’s during these events that the most heinous crime occurs that rocks the Druid community to the core.

There’s no time to digest things though as Bel quickly learns of an attack on Dun Breatann! Bel as we know loves Dun Breatann.. the people.. the place.. but there’s two other things that keep his heart there too Narina and Catia. The woman he loves but can’t have, and the daughter he fathered in a night of drunken madness..

Bel must head back to Dun Breatann but he also has to balance his commitments to the Druids and to Arthur the warlord who is leading the resistance against the Saxons.

When Bel gets back to Dun Breatann he has to use all his skills as a Druid and every trick up his sleeve to defeat the enemy.. but will it be enough.. and how many countless will die for nothing..

I’ve been a little vague I must admit as I don’t want to spoil the twists the author has thrown in but rest assured The Vengeance of Merlin has your heart in your throat from the first page to last.

I loved that the book still has battles but at the same time the focus is more on the build up.. the torture of the innocents caught up in the fight. It humanised the war and the worst moments even had me queasy.. the emotion pours off the page affecting the reader as much as those within the tale.

There’s still some fun light-hearted moments when Bel has a bit of fun with his Druid trickery but they are few and far between for Bel in this grief stricken instalment.

Let’s get on to characters and development .. wow... we meet new characters as well as getting acquainted with old friends and foes. Each shine though in their own right... the Volva, Yngvildr, god she’s brutal in her torturous ways but damn she makes things exciting.

One of the new characters we meet towards to end of the tale is Oengus.. his part isn’t huge but I’m hoping we see him again as I was immediately drawn to him.. I have hope that he and another returning character Aife will appear again somewhere down the line.

There’s a very interesting Saxon too..Saksnot..let’s just say by the time you know his name you’ll understand why he excited me.. he’s got a talent.. and a mission..

I won’t lie the tale did hurt at times.. no ones safe and at every turn of the page you can’t help but worry what might befall your favourite characters.. but this just added to the tension and the overall excitement I felt reading the tale.

The Vengeance of Merlin perfectly sets up for the next instalment.. no one comes out of the one unscathed.. Hengist may be down south battling Arthur’s forces but the winner isn’t certain and what does this mean for Bel and the people he loves.

For fans of the series there’s so much to enjoy with this one and the author has been very cunning with the detail, perfectly blended so if someone was to join now they could quickly understand the main players in the tale. Even as someone whose been there from the start even I enjoyed reminding myself of the back story.. events just stick with you.. Duro’s past for example.. the little reminders take you right back to the beginning when he couldn’t even get that chainmail on..