Book 1 of the Northern Crusader Chronicles
Date Published: 11-28-2024
Publisher: The Book Guild
Richard’s story begins in 1203, when betrayal shatters his path to knighthood and drives him from England to the merchant city of Lübeck. There, entangled in an illicit affair and the cutthroat salt trade, he finds only temporary refuge. Fleeing once again, he joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword—a militant order sworn to spread Christendom across the pagan Baltic.
Amid the cold austerity of Riga’s commandery and the looming threat of enemy tribes, Richard must battle not just for survival, but for meaning in a life shaped by violence, doubt, and fractured loyalties. When a pagan army threatens to overrun their outpost, he faces a final reckoning—one that will test his faith, his honor, and the limits of his courage.
Interview with Jon Byrne
What is your favorite part of the book?
I think if I had to choose a favorite scene or part of the book, it would be the end of Part 2 when Richard, the first-person protagonist, joins the Order of Swordbrothers in Lübeck. He is confronted on the deck of the cog about to sail by Eberhard, the salt merchant he had spent the last eight months working for. Without giving any more spoilers, there is a fight on the deck of the ship. I almost ended the book at this point, as it was a natural climax, but it meant the story would finish just before he sets sail to Livonia (Latvia), and this defeated the entire point of me writing it.
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
Not really. I am interested in the Northern Crusades in the early 13th century, and very few novels have been written about this subject. I wanted to tell an adventure story with plenty of action and problems for Richard. Ultimately, I wanted to shine a light on this little-known period of history.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Richard and most of the main characters are fictitious, but there are plenty of historical figures in the book. These range from Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod, to Bishop Albert of Riga and Abbot Theoderic. Little is known about the personalities of these figures, and it is fun trying to flesh them out to make them real, living people.
Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
Probably Otto. Richard meets him working in Lübeck for Eberhard. Otto is tall and blond with an easy-going and dependable nature. He becomes Richard’s best friend, sharing his journey and life as a Swordbrother. Don’t we all appreciate a friend who will stand by and defend us no matter what?
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
There are quite a few rather nasty people in the book. But if I had to choose, I would probably say Henkel – the chief henchman of Eberhard. He is a bitter, cruel rapist, and a very dangerous man that gives Richard plenty of problems. I would definitely not get on with him at all!
What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
I have absolutely no idea! What makes this difficult to answer is that Richard is a high-born noble living 800 years ago. His entire worldview and attitude are completely different to mine, or indeed from most people alive now. I would like to think that I am a good and honest person, and he would certainly appreciate that. Some virtues are universal. Richard also has a short temper, which is something I unfortunately share.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Sword Brethren is the first book in The Northern Crusader Chronicles, and Soldiers of Christ, the next in the series, will be published on 28th April 2026. Although each book does come to a natural conclusion and can be read on its own, the story does continue. This also includes the frame of the story when the older Richard, as a prisoner of Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod, looks back on his life as the chronicle is written. Although not the main narrative, this is also a separate story that develops in each of the subsequent novels. At this stage, I don’t know how many actual books there will be in the series. The Northern Crusades is a fascinating subject, and I am in no rush to finish the extended story.
