An epic unfolds in the English Midlands

The Blood of Woden saga is set firmly in the heart of England.  It begins in Birmingham, Britain's second city, and reaches its conclusion in the surrounding towns and shires.  The action swings back and forth between town and country, showcasing a corner of Britain little known to outsiders.

Within the UK, Birmingham is famed for its distinctive accent.  The audio books reflect this.  Its modern streets and contemporary buildings provide a gritty, real-world backdrop to an increasingly fantastical adventure.  By contrast, much of the later action takes place in the rural surroundings of Shropshire.  Although only forty miles west of Birmingham, this sprawling shire sounds and feels like a different country, with pint-sized towns and empty, rolling hills.

In heathen times - the fifth to eighth centuries AD - the Midlands formed the front line between the defending Britons and the incoming English.  This is remembered in the name of the kingdom of Mercia, which comes from the Old English word mearc, meaning 'border'.  (The word is still used for the westernmost part of the Midlands, known even today as the Welsh Marches.)  From small beginnings in the sixth century, Mercia grew to cover the whole of the Midlands.  It was one of the last strongholds of English heathenism. 

The towns, shires and cities named in the books are all real places in and around the West Midlands.  Click below to learn more.

Birmingham

The powerhouse of the Midlands provides a striking, real-world backdrop for The Runemaster.

Tamworth

The ancient heart of the Mercian kingdom plays a pivotal role in the turmoil of Well of Wyrd.

Ludlow

The chocolate-box capital of the Marches sees its streets and surroundings at the heart of the action in Runestone Hall.