‘Game of Thrones meets James Bond’! Spalding author celebrates publication of debut novel Britannia Rises

The British Empire is at a pivotal crisis. After a peaceful 70-year reign the queen has died and her heir must decide how to remain competitive with rivals whilst dealing with conflict within his own family.

Meanwhile, a young teacher witnesses a murder which drags him into the Empire’s murky underbelly and the people’s fight against oppression.

These are the main themes of Britannia Rises, the debut novel by Spalding author Russell Dumper, an action thriller set in a not-too-distant dystopian future – which the author describes as ‘Game of Thrones meets James Bond’.

Decades in the making, this fast-paced action thriller – planned to be the first book in a series – has been a long-held passion of Russell’s.

“I've always loved writing and it has brought me so much joy since I was a small boy,” he said.

“It's a fire that burns inside of me, a passion that I've always had.

“I have so many more books to write and I can't wait to write them.”

Britannia Rises follows several main characters and the book switches between them regularly, keeping the reader hooked at all times.

“There are all kinds of characters, twists, links into modern events, action, suspense and surprises galore,” Russell added.

“When asked, I describe it as a kind of modern Game of Thrones meeting a James Bond origin story.

“There are many plots overlapping each other and the main characters are deep and complex.

“I particularly enjoy exploring the notion that there is no such thing as a good guy or a bad guy, only people motivated by their own perceptions of what's important and what they believe is right and wrong.”

Russell, a husband and father of two small children, says writing has been his passion since he was young.

“I first had the idea for this story when I was around 14 or 15,” he continued.

“It’s developed a lot over the years, as you can imagine, with several rewrites to get to where it is now.

“It will appeal to anyone who loves thrillers and suspense books, from young adult upwards.

“It's a story that will make you love and hate the same characters and go on their journeys with them.

“I suspect the full series will be seven or eight books, by the time I finish.”

Set in the near future, Britannia Rises begins as new monarch King Alfred I takes the throne, realising other world powers are looking for any weakness they can find to subjugate Britain and take their place as the most powerful nation on Earth.

At the same time, he must preserve the peace and focus on Outpost, the cooperative programme that will ensure the survival of the human species.

Jamie Bayston is a young teacher, embarking on a wonderful life, who has the misfortune to witness a murder that will plunge him into the dark world that exists between The Empire and their struggle to maintain order in the largest empire history has ever seen.

He must run and fight, to keep himself and his family safe, whilst facing up to the reality that the world he knows is just a small fraction of reality in the modern, Imperial age.

Follow the thrilling tale of espionage and power, as the monarchy enters a new age and those that resist oppression must come together to find a way to fight for survival and search for freedom.

Britannia Rises (RRP £10.99) is published by The Conrad Press and can be ordered from Amazon and all good bookshops. ISBN: 978-1915494795.