Sword Brethren
Book 1 of The Northern Crusader Chronicles
By Jon Byrne
Bound by faith. Forged in battle. Haunted by doubt.
1242: Wounded at the Battle on the Ice, English knight Richard Fitz Simon
becomes a prisoner of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Intrigued by his
captive, Alexander orders his scholar to record Richard’s life story.
Richard’s chronicle begins in 1203, when betrayal shatters his training
for knighthood and forces him to flee England. In Lübeck, he finds work
with a ruthless salt merchant and becomes entangled in an illicit affair
– until scandal and violence drive him onward once more.
Seeking purpose, Richard joins the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, a militant
order bent on bringing Christendom to the pagan Baltic. In the harsh outpost
of Riga, he faces not only enemy tribes beyond the walls, but suspicion,
ambition, and betrayal within – while grappling with doubts that
threaten his faith.
When a vast pagan army threatens to overwhelm the commandery, Richard must
choose what kind of man – and believer – he will become.
Sword Brethren is Book One of The Northern Crusader Chronicles, a gritty,
historically grounded series focused on realism, moral ambiguity, and the
brutal realities of medieval warfare.
Genre: Historical Adventure
Pages: 405
Run Time: 12 hours and 2 minutes
INTERVIEW
Writing Interview Questions.
Why did you choose to write your book in this era?
I have always been fascinated in medieval history, but I became interested in this era after reading The Northern Crusades by Eric Christiansen and learning about the German Order of Swordbrothers (Schwertbrüderorden). What intrigued me was that they were a small order, not very pious or saintly – they were unorthodox and argued constantly with Bishop Albert, whose mission they were nominally there to support. They were a rough and ready lot, acting more like brigands than warrior monks. The first master was brutally murdered by one of the brothers, and they locked up their second master when he tried to exert more control over their behavior. Over time, there was no crime they were not accused of.
Did you find researching this era particularly difficult? What was the hardest thing to find out, and did you come across anything particularly surprising?
Sword Brethren required thorough research that took many years to complete. I have built up a small library of books on medieval England, the Hanseatic League and the crusades in the Baltic. Additionally, my book was kindly read for any historical errors by Prof. William Urban, a medieval historian from Monmouth College, IL, and the preeminent English-speaking expert on the Northern Crusades. He also took time to read and comment on the second book in the series, Soldiers of Christ, for which I am grateful.
However, the principal first-hand source I used is The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, which was written by a priest, Henricus des Lettis. The chronicle deals with events in the eastern Baltic between 1180 and 1226. Written from the German point of view, it describes the role of the Latin Church in colonising and spreading Christianity to the local pagan tribes.
One thing that surprised: In the first draft, Richard’s journey took him along the coast of Poland and Prussia in Northern Europe. When Prof. William Urban read it he advised that the journey was made across the Baltic to the island of Gotland in Sweden before travelling directly east to Riga. This was something I was initially unaware of and required me to rewrite the journey.
Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?
Sword Brethren begins the story of Richard Fitz Simon – an older Richard, prisoner of Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod, writing the chronicle detailing his harsh and unforgiving youth which makes up the main narrative. The book covers a wide area of Northern Europe, starting in England before moving on to medieval Germany and then finishing in Livonia – modern-day Latvia.
The audiobook came out earlier this year and is read by the superb Kerry Hutchinson. I think he did an amazing job and helped to bring the book alive in a new way.
If you had to describe your protagonist(s), in three words, what would those three words be and why?
The protagonist is named Richard Fitz Simon, originally from England but now a member of the German Order of Swordbrothers: Richard is competent – he learns quickly and is a natural leader, but some people consider him arrogant. Honorable – he has a strong sense of right and wrong and is a loyal friend. Bad-tempered – Richard is impatient with an explosive temper, especially as he gets older.
What was the most challenging part about writing your book?
I think one of the most challenging (but also enjoyable) aspects is the research. Sword Brethren is set in the early 13th century, and there are very few buildings still intact from this period and little information. Even in a medieval city like Lübeck, where a third of the book takes place, almost all of the churches and famous buildings were built afterwards. At this time, Riga was constructed entirely of wood, and nothing survives to this day. I believe strongly in getting historical details correct, and this sometimes made it challenging.
Was there anything that you edited out of this book that would have drastically affected the story, should it be left in?
Like most books that are published, Sword Brethren underwent many drafts during the editing process. One of the biggest changes came at the suggestion of a professional editor who advised that the book should end at the end of Part 2. I took his advice, and it cut the book by over 25,000 words. However, as the story then ended just before Richard, the protagonist, actually joined the Order of Swordbrothers and embarked on the crusade, this was against the whole premise of the book. After initially taking his advice, I was never really happy and felt the book had lost its appeal. As it was always intended to be the first in a series, I realised that writing about a crusade that few people knew about was what made the book different. Otherwise, it was just another adventure novel set during medieval times.
So, working with another editor, I reinserted the final third of the book again, heavily revising and improving the end to make it more satisfying, even though the story was incomplete. Now the book is more in line with what I originally intended.
What are you currently working on?
I am finishing the third book in The Northern Crusader Chronicle, Clash of Faith, whilst continuing to market Sword Brethren and Soldiers of Christ.
What would you tell an aspiring author who had some doubts about their writing abilities?
Read widely within your own genre and beyond. I would also recommend that aspiring authors read with a critical eye as much as possible – learn how other authors handle certain situations and characterization. There are also plenty of writing courses, either online or in person, that people can study to improve their own work.
I also think editing is the key, but you must write an initial draft first. Get the words down on paper and worry about improving and changing them later.
Personal Interview Questions.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I live in a beautiful part of the world, in a small village south of Munich with nearby views of the Alps. Perfect for long walks with my wife.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a teenager, I always wanted to be an army officer and even went through the necessary steps in my early twenties, even though I had lost interest. Ultimately, I failed at the end of the selection process, but If I had succeeded my life would have been very different. I have no regrets.
What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
I periodically fast so I will not be eating tonight, but Indian is my favorite food.
What would be a perfect day?
A nice hike with the family, perhaps exploring a medieval town in Bavaria or Northern Italy, followed by a good meal and a few drinks.
What is the best part of your day?
During the week I like to get up very early and go for a long walk before I start my day job working from home for a local IT company. Welcoming the dawn and seeing the abundance of animals – mostly deer, foxes and hares, is an invigorating start to the day.
Either or!
Tea or coffee: I used to drink a lot of black tea and milk but now I drink much more coffee.
Hot or cold: Neither
Movie or book: A book, of course! Or an audiobook.
Morning person or Night owl: I used to be a night owl but now I’m very much of a morning person.
City or country: When I was younger the city. I’ve spent most of my life living in either London or Berlin, but now I live in the country and I love it.
Social Media or book: Definitely a book – I don’t think I’m very good at social media, but I do my best.
Paperback or ebook: Paperback – there is something about holding a physical book in your hands that makes it special.
Jon Byrne, originally from London, now lives with his German family by a lake
in Bavaria with stunning views of the Alps. As well as writing, he works as a
translator for a local IT company and occasionally as a lumberjack. He has
studied the medieval world for over twenty years, building up a comprehensive
personal library and a particular interest in the often-overlooked Northern
Crusades.
The Northern Crusader Chronicles is a gritty, historically grounded series
focused on realism, moral ambiguity, and the brutal realities of medieval
warfare.
Written for readers who value authenticity and atmosphere over romanticised
adventure, the novel explores a largely forgotten crusading frontier,
culminating in the first of many confrontations in a harsh wilderness of
forest and swamp.
Readers who enjoy the historical detail of authors such as Bernard Cornwell,
Conn Iggulden, or Ben Kane may find familiar ground here.
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