VIKING Historical Fiction

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VIKING Historical Fiction

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1ejakub
ag. 22, 2007, 4:27 pm

I just finished a trilogy series by Tim Severin called VIKING. If you like and or enjoy this type of Historical Fiction...I cannot recommend it enough. I was very impressed with his writing style, the information researched that he dropped in the book and of course the story was a great long adventure! It was wonderful!

2KimB
ag. 23, 2007, 7:22 am

Have you read Bernard Cornwell's last kingdom series?

l loved it, 3 books so far and I think more are coming.

3BarbN
oct. 3, 2007, 9:21 am

Guy Gavriel Kay Last Light of the Sun is very much a Viking story--although I think of and classify his works as fantasy there is a historical background lurking in many of his books. Even better, he is a wonderful writer!

4Bookmarque
oct. 3, 2007, 9:29 am

The only one I'm familiar with is A Thrall's Tale which is a multi-POV novel that reportedly has 10 years of meticulous reserarch to back it up. While reading it, I turned to a couple of factual books about Viking history & customs and it appears that the research is dead on. Of course, I'm not an expert, but what I could check out checked out.

Touchstones dead as usual.

5KromesTomes
oct. 3, 2007, 9:46 am

The ice shirt was a Vollmann-esque take on the Viking's "discovering" America ... it was excellent.

6NativeRoses
Editat: oct. 4, 2007, 10:54 am

Viking chick lit: The Thrall's Tale by Judith Lindbergh

7Bookmarque
oct. 3, 2007, 10:33 am

Chick lit? Really? I had no idea chicks were into humiliation, violence, revenge, grinding poverty and rape.

8Ammianus
oct. 4, 2007, 8:17 am

Don't forget the old classic: The Long Ships; a Saga of the Viking Age
by Frans G. Bengtsson

9NativeRoses
oct. 4, 2007, 10:55 am

7> They're into surviving it.

10Bookmarque
oct. 4, 2007, 11:57 am

I guess that's true, but lumping this in with The Devil Wears Prada is a bit of a stretch.

11thesnowtigress
oct. 5, 2007, 5:03 pm

There is a book called Thunder God by Paul Watkins. It is not as great as Tim Severin's trilogy but it is entertaining nonetheless. I found The Thrall's Tale quite boring actually. I don't know, I just could not get into it.

12thesnowtigress
oct. 5, 2007, 5:07 pm

Has anyone read Corsair by Tim Severin yet?

13clairabella09 Primer missatge
oct. 9, 2007, 12:18 am

I'll have to check out the books you mention; I'm a big fan of the early medieval period. When I was in high school, I really enjoyed Sword Song by Rosemary Sutcliff, a fantastic writer of young adult historical fiction. Most of her work focuses on Britain, but Sword Song was about the Vikings. Even though it's a young adult book, I'd recommend it.

14Ammianus
oct. 9, 2007, 7:34 am

Dorothy Dunnett's King Hereafter which follows the activities of the historical MacBeth is awfully good as well.

15laceyvail
oct. 24, 2007, 3:42 pm

I somehow stumbled across The Long Ships and, ordered a copy, entirely on the basis of hearing that Bengtsson was a very well respected Swedish author. (Some of the Viking stuff I came across struck me as typical historical trash.) Unfortunately, the only copy I could find is so poorly printed that I nearly lost my eyesight reading it. I did love it, however. Bengtsson's knowledge of the period combined with his very dry wit really carried me along.

16johndhalsted
nov. 21, 2007, 12:38 pm

Aquest missatge ha estat marcat com abús per més d'un usuari i ja no es pot veure (mostra)
I have written an historical novel titled Legend of the Last Vikings - Taklamakan which is Action and Adventure from Norway, along the Silk Route into China’s notorious Taklamakan desert!

I have a free copy to give away to the first person to contact me in exchange for a review.

The book was a Finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards

Synopsis: As the Viking age is brought to an end in 1066 with ignominious defeat at the battle of Stamford Bridge, a rag-tag group of Vikings conclude the quiet life is not for them and they decide to go-a-Viking one last time.

They retrace a journey of their youth across the European Steppe and down the mighty Dniepr river to Byzantium. However a chance discovery in a Kiev library leads them to venture even further afield - to Astrakhan, across the Caspian sea, up the mighty Oxus river, through Parthia and Bactria and along the ancient Silk Route into Asia and Tian Xia (China).

Engaged in a battle not of their choosing, they inflict fatalities on the sinister and evil Black Scorpions who want to exact their revenge. Pursued, they flee by night across the Roof of the World and meet the remnants of the "lost" European tribe of Asia, the Hepthalites, who offer them protection in their city, hidden in the Tien Shan - the Celestial Mountains. A place where romance is kindled and love unexpectedly blossoms.

During their winter sojourn in the Hidden City they gather more clues, and in the spring continue with their quest, on into the Taklamakan desert. The desert so called by locals because those who venture in seldom venture out. More danger and peril lies in wait for this rag-tag Viking crew as they travel along the Silk Route, the world's first super-highway.

At the eastern end of their journey they meet the Lang Ren, the Wolf people of Lou Lan, outcasts thieves and criminals living in an abandoned city in the desert. A city without water. A city about to die. A city in which the final clue to their quest is uncovered.

What fate awaits this rejected element of Asian society? Can this motley crew intercede on their behalf?

A beautifully bound 511 page hardback with historical companion, place name lexicon, character descriptions and maps. See www.VikingLegend.com

17belgrade18 Primer missatge
nov. 24, 2007, 10:14 am

Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead.

18Macbeth
Editat: maig 28, 2008, 11:37 pm

Yorvik by Sheelagh Kelly is an interesting story of a Viking who flits between Norway and York - I found it difficult to sympathise with the main character though.

Hall of Sparrows is another good Viking yarn - the exploits of various members of a small band that settle in England.

Cheers

19mwatson3 Primer missatge
des. 19, 2007, 1:19 pm

Although for young adults, Henry Treece's Viking Trilogy is a nice unsentimental look at the Viking Age. He draws on a lot of the same sources as does Bengtsson. Worth checking out.

20DanoWins
gen. 11, 2008, 12:48 am

Has anyone heard of a book called Raven's Wind by Victor Canning? I believe it's a novel about an Anglo-Saxon that is captured by Vikings and raised into their culture. I'm assuming that he then becomes a Viking Raider along the English coast...that would seem like a good direction to take that storyline, anyhow. This book has been recommended to me, but I thought I'd ask the experts here at LT before buying it.

21thesnowtigress
gen. 17, 2008, 5:16 pm

DanoStone, I've never heard of that book but it sounds interesting, maybe you should take a chance and forget about hearing other people's opinions, because you might miss out if someone says its a crap book, lol.

22ShooterMcGavin Primer missatge
gen. 29, 2008, 11:05 am

Robert Low has started a Viking ficiton series. First book out is entitled "The Whale Road". Good read.

23margad
feb. 3, 2008, 7:02 pm

I'm developing a new website on historical novels, and it includes a section on Vikings in the Medieval Europe page. I'd love to get feedback on the site. What have I missed?

You can check it out at www.historicalnovels.info.

24aramisTdawg
feb. 7, 2008, 2:45 pm

margad, thank you for that link, I've put in in my favorites list, can't wait to go through it more thoroughly!

25DanoWins
feb. 9, 2008, 4:30 pm

margad-- just the other day I made a mental note to pick up several historical novels by a certain author. I then (as usual) forgot the titles of the books and the author as well. A quick scan of your website, and I found what I was looking for...this time I wrote it all down! Thank you.

26margad
feb. 9, 2008, 9:16 pm

That's wonderful! You can print off the site, too. Just use your cursor to highlight whatever section you want to print, and choose "print selection" when the print box comes up. Helpful for series novels!

27naprous
feb. 29, 2008, 6:53 pm

Nevil Shute actually wrote a Viking novel called An Old Captivity -- well, simultaneously Viking and modern. I rather liked it.

28bishoplogan
març 17, 2008, 9:02 pm

margad took a peek very nice will go thru later,but i didnt see any thing on asia or east asia middle east at various time periods. they are hard to faind in general if you come across any plaese make seporite section if poss. thanks

29quartzite
març 18, 2008, 6:04 pm

Looking outside historical fiction to more humor and fantasy both Who's Afraid of Beowulf and The Drawing of the Dark offer Vikings brought to life for battles in times later than their own.

30margad
març 19, 2008, 12:51 pm

Thanks, bishoplogan! A Latin America page is now up (though it seems short to me - I want to find other books for this page, if they're out there), and I'm developing separate pages on Asia, India, the Middle East and Africa. I'm also planning a WWII page and a separate page for the 20th century before and between the World Wars.

31BrainFlakes
març 20, 2008, 11:02 pm

Aquest missatge ha estat suprimit pel seu autor.

32margad
març 21, 2008, 11:01 pm

So glad you're enjoying the site, BrainFlakes! There's a link, also, to Cornwell's own website. Check out the Authors page and go to "C". He tells a nice story about how he got into writing fiction in the first place - though it doesn't begin to explain how he got so good at it.

I make a few improvements and additions just about every day. Today I added a contact page, so people can let me know if I've missed a favorite novel of theirs.

33BarbN
març 23, 2008, 5:59 pm

Just finished Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King which touches on Vikings. A decent read, but does not hold a candle to the intensity of Dorothy Dunnett King Hereafter, (that postulates a Viking Macbeth).

34Ammianus
març 23, 2008, 7:01 pm

Concur, King Hereafter hard to beat indeed! One of my faves.

35Macbeth
març 26, 2008, 1:00 am

I quite liked King Hereafter but did prefer Nigel Tranter's Macbeth the King for a novelisation of that period.

I think that in the end, having had Macbeth and Thorfinn as two seperate characters in Tranter's novel, I had trouble with seeing them combined in Dunnett's story.

Cheers

36awriterspen
abr. 15, 2008, 9:24 am

I'm so excited to find this thread. I love Viking history. I am currently reading my son's arc, The Strongbow Saga, Book Three: The Road to Vengeance while he is in school. Since it's the third in a series I wonder if anyone else here has read either of the first 2 books, The Strongbow Saga, Book One: Viking Warrior or The Strongbow Saga, Book Two: Dragons from the Sea. They're supposed to be teen historical fiction, but I find them to be more appropriate as young adult.

37DanoWins
abr. 15, 2008, 9:34 am

k2andrews,

I have heard of these books and know a couple people that have read it, though I have not gotten to it yet, myself. One of the readers was a teen...somewhere in the 14-16 year old range. He seemed to like the stories. The other was in her early twenties and she really liked them as well. So it sounds to me as if they are at least appealing to both teens and young adults (what exactly is the cut off for YA, anyhow?)

Sorry my info is only second hand, but I figured some info was better than no info. Happy reading :)

38awriterspen
Editat: abr. 15, 2008, 5:06 pm

>37 DanoWins:, In my opinion, YA is written with the majority of the characters, or at least the point of view coming from a 14-25 year old.

Not to have the anti-censorship police jump all over me, but the reason I feel The Strongbow Saga, Book Three: The Road to Vengeance is more appropriate for ages 16+ is that the first 100 pages deal with the main character, Halfdan, keeping his captive, Genevieve, safe from being sold or taken from him as a concubine or otherwise deflowered, as the author puts it. She is then sold back to her father for a ransom and Halfdan is relieved. I just felt it was a mature theme to be taken on by a more mature reader than, let's say, a 12 year old.

39Unreachableshelf
abr. 16, 2008, 10:58 am

>37 DanoWins:

Every library I have been to that uses the term "young adult" actually uses it to mean "teen," which is unfortunately awkward because it means people have to explain that they're talking about people of traditional college student age if that's the actual subject. (Here I'm thinking of a presentation at the American Library Association annual convention last year.) Of course not every YA/teen book is going to be appropriate for the entire audience age 12-18, just as any given children's book isn't necessarily going to be appropriate for 5 year olds and 10 year olds at the same time.

>38 awriterspen:, I think that the rest of the anti-censorship police would agree with me that as long as you aren't going to try to prevent twelve-year-olds whom you are not personally raising from reading a book, nobody is going to jump all over you for suggesting that maybe it's more appropriate for the older portion of the YA audience. Say that it's not ultimately up to the twelve-year-old and his or her parents to decide and then you'll have a problem.

40viking2917
Editat: maig 26, 2008, 5:06 pm

Although it is on the border between the mythological Viking/Saga era and the historical era, they really broke the mold after Poul Anderson's rendering of Hrolf Kraki's Saga. Very powerful story. Also in that vein is The Broken Sword. In the more historical realm, Anderson's telling of the story of Harald Hardrede, the so-called "Last of the Vikings" who died trying to conquer England, begins with The Golden Horn.

The Long Ships of course. The Saga of Erik Brighteyes is lesser known but fun. The Thrall of Leif the Lucky. Byzantium by Lawhead is a romp.

41xenchu
maig 30, 2008, 5:26 pm

margad - I shouldn't go to sites like yours. I find much too many books I want to read.

But it is a great site.

42Severn
juny 2, 2008, 8:36 am

Another beautiful book is The Sea Road by Margaret Elphinstone - absolutely stunning...

43margad
juny 5, 2008, 8:24 pm

Xenchu, if you're finding too many books you want to read on my site, imagine what it's like putting it together! My TBR list has become totally unmanageable.

44Ammianus
juny 7, 2008, 9:10 am

Good morning mates from a swampy Maryland,
I've enjoyed two Viking novels from author Robert Low, The Whale Road and The Wolf Sea (ok Touchstones, you win again!). Low has a website: http://www.robert-low.com/
and is working on a third volume THE WHITE RAVEN. Low is also a reenactor and has some nice pics on his blog from Pictavia! Cheers,
Ammianus

45StevenTill
juny 25, 2008, 11:29 pm

Here's a list that might be helpful:

• Poul Anderson, Hrolf Kraki's Saga

• Poul Anderson, Mother of Kings

• Poul Anderson, War of the Gods: The Epic Saga of Hadding

• Victor Canning, Raven's Wind

• Joan Clark, Eiriksdottir: A Tale of Dreams and Luck

• Eric R. Eddison, Styrbiorn the Strong

• Margaret Elphinstone, The Sea Road

• Cecelia Holland, Two Ravens

• Jeff Janoda, Saga: A Novel of Medieval Iceland, set in medieval Iceland

• Bernard King, Starkadder

• Bernard King, Vargr-Moon

• Bernard King, Death-Blinder

• Robert Low, The Wolf Sea, #2 in the Oathsworn series

• Robert Low, The White Raven, #3 in the Oathsworn series; coming in 2009

• Stuart W. Mirsky, The King of Vinland's Saga, about the Viking expedition to Vinland on the American continent

• Judson Roberts, Viking Warrior, #1 in the Strongbow Saga

• Judson Roberts, Dragons from the Sea, #2 in the Strongbow Saga

• Jane Smiley, Greenlanders

• Sigrid Undset, Gunnar's Daughter

• Sigrid Undset, The Wreath, #1 in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy

• Sigrid Undset, The Mistress of Husaby, #2 in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy

• Sigrid Undset, The Cross, #3 in the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy

• William Vollmann, The Ice Shirt, #1 in the Seven Dreams series

• Paul Watkins, Thunder God

Steven Till
http://steventill.com

46margad
Editat: nov. 21, 2008, 7:04 pm

There's now a special, separate page just for Medieval Scandinavia and the Vikings at my Historical Novels website. Here's the direct link: www.HistoricalNovels.info/Medieval-Scandinavia.

47Kasthu
nov. 22, 2008, 3:59 pm

Pope Joan, by Donna Woolfolk Cross, also has Vikings in it, though they only appear briefly, and in England.

48lunacat
nov. 25, 2008, 3:07 pm

There is a young adult/children's book called Horned Helmet by Henry Treece that is absolutely fantastic, well told and enthralling. I still enjoy reading it as an adult.

49kathygarrelts
abr. 27, 2009, 7:37 pm

I have the book, I liked it, I didn't think it was great but I did try to find other books by Victor Canning

50JamesTeacher
maig 27, 2009, 9:32 pm

I love his Viking Saga collection, read it when I was young, have a couple copies, would love for them to make a movie at least out of the first two of the trilogy. I've bought many of Treece's books on Amazon.

51christopher_spellman
maig 21, 2010, 2:47 pm

Aquest missatge ha estat marcat com abús per més d'un usuari i ja no es pot veure (mostra)
The Raven & the Wolf: Blood Oath is a historical fiction novel set in the dark ages on the isle of Britain. It is the first in a three to four part series that chronicles the tumultuous relationship between two rival brothers.

More Info: http://christopher-spellman.net/

Fans of Bernard Cornwell might find this a good read. Historically, its true to the 10th century during the reign of King Athelstan, who is considered by many historians to be the first ruler of a united Britain. The battle that is often cited as being that which settled the fate of England as a unified nation plays an integral role in the story.

52jordantaylor
maig 22, 2010, 8:06 am

The Fated Sky is a very good book that I have read twice. It is labeled as YA, but besides it being shorter than most adult books would be and the main character being around 16, there is not much about it that is juvenile.

Also, the main character is a girl, which I loved. Most Viking stories are about the men.

53Kasthu
maig 22, 2010, 11:00 am

Both of these books are a but hard to find, but they are:

The King's Daughter, by penny Ingham (also published as Lady of the Mercians, and Jorvik, by Sheelagh Kelly.

54Kasthu
maig 22, 2010, 11:01 am

Oh, and then there's A Hollow Crown, by Helen Hollick, set in England during the last of the Viking invasions, right before the Norman Conquest.

55Macbeth
Editat: juny 3, 2010, 7:03 pm

I have been throwing myself into Viking Fiction since the beginning of the year to tie in with my wargaming

I have read Two Ravens and Kings in Winter by Cecelia Holland;

The White Raven by Robert Low;

Raven: Blood Eye and Sons of Thunder by Giles Kristian;

The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, The Lords of the North, Sword Song and The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell

Viking: Odinn's Child, Viking: Sworn Brother and Viking: King's Man by Tim Severin

I must say that I love the Robert Low series and found the Cornwell series very absorbing. I found it hard to sympathise with Hollands main characters. Giles Kristian writes a good yarn and I like them, but they are very similar to Robert Low's stories and so suffer by comparison. Tim Severin seamlessly wove so many Norse and Celtic Stories around one central character which made it a great saga, but the action was very low level.

Cheers

56asurbanipal
Editat: set. 30, 2017, 9:12 am

Torill Thorstad Hauger (1943- ) Captured by the Vikings

Book for teenagers.

57Ammianus
maig 29, 2010, 3:28 pm

#55; as usual concurring with Macbeth; both Two Ravens & Kings in Winter very good(grim and depressing but good); I have all 4 of the Robert Low The Oathsworn series...excellent!

58dkhiggin
maig 29, 2010, 4:42 pm

Another possibility is Sun Circle by Neil Gunn. It's about Vikings raiding in Scotland. It is also rather grim, but I think it was probably realistic. It's been quite a few years since I read it.

59Macbeth
maig 30, 2010, 12:34 am

Dead jealous of you Ammianus as I think the latest in the Oathsworn series is not available in Australia yet.

Cheers

60Ammianus
maig 30, 2010, 2:52 pm

#59. You'll have fun once they do arrive MAC. I think he's growing as a writer. Some very thoughtful passages (and of course there's still plenty of action!).

61Macbeth
Editat: juny 6, 2010, 7:13 pm

First Impressions of The Vikings, Blood Sacrifice by Neil Langholm are that it isn't much of a story. I picked it up in a $10 for a shopping bag full of books at the Lifeline Book Fair so it cost me less than a pittance. It is a 1970s Blood & Guts pulp series and I only have to wade through 156 pages :)

Cheers

62khammer99
juny 5, 2010, 11:39 pm

Warriors of the Way
One Kings Way
King and Emperor

By Harry Harrison were excellent.

63susiesharp
jul. 21, 2010, 2:44 pm

#23- margad- Oh my I should never have gone to your site!;)
I just added a whole bunch of books to my wishlist!

64nan_hawthorne
jul. 22, 2010, 10:38 pm

Loki's Daughters starts awkwardly, but it gets REALLY good really fast. S valley of Celtic women whose men have all been killed or taken by Vikings finds itself host to a boat load of Northmen who are farmers and artisans.. the book does a brilliant job of showing the miscommunications, the underlying emotions, and is terribly well constructed. I downloaded it from Smashwords.com.

I also really enjouyed Byzantium and Belt of Gold which both center on Berangians. So does Shards of Empire whcih isn't as good but has a Viking wereworlf in it...

For a hoot read Dragon at the Center of the World.

Nan Hawthorne, Author of An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon England which I am sorry to say takes place before the Viking raids.

65nan_hawthorne
jul. 22, 2010, 10:41 pm

Correction... I think that should have been Dragon at the Edge of the World.

Nan

66Portlandhillside
Editat: abr. 30, 2011, 2:05 am

I greatly enjoyed the Strongbow Saga by Judson Roberts even though they are published as YA, as previously mentioned. I found the story to be quite engaging. A great series with lots of action and adventure but perhaps a bit less heavy on the gore factor than some others mentioned in the list. Highly recommended
Viking Warrior, Dragons from the Sea, and The Road to Vengance.

67Macbeth
Editat: jul. 19, 2011, 7:24 pm

Having recently read Giles Kristian's lastest offering Odin's Wolves the series is really growing on me. The fourth in Robert Low's Oathsworn Series The Prow Beast is also excellent.

For Viking Fantasy there is also Starkadder and Vargr-Moon by Bernard King of which I read and enjoyed the second one.

Cheers

68JRTomlin
Editat: jul. 19, 2011, 8:48 pm

I am convinced that the Robert Low Oathsworn series which has been mentioned is by far the best 'Viking age' series I've ever read. I recommend it highly. In case it wasn't mentioned, it starts with The Whale Road.

69RowanWellie
ag. 29, 2011, 10:46 am

Well that's added about 40 books to my TBR pile :)

70Pecos-Pete
set. 7, 2011, 12:34 pm

Late comer to this site. Nice to see folks have not forgotten some of the older titles in this genre. May I presume to add Edison Marshall's THE VIKING? Not deathless fiction but a good read. I did not see it listed in the messages. This is the one adapted for the screen in the Kirk Douglas film "The Vikings".
The number of Lost Race novels having to do with the Norsemen are many. Of recent re-publication is the Farnham Bishop & Arthur G. Brodeur novel: IN THE GRIP OF THE MINOTAUR. Completely out of whack, historically, but a fun read if you enjoy the old pulps.

71hammerandtongs
set. 27, 2011, 2:02 pm

This is probably going to be a long shot but what they hey. My wife and I were talking about Viking historical fiction and a memory surfaced of a book I read way back in junior high (as part of the curriculum) that centred on a young, spindly fellow who was trying hard to fit into the ways of his Viking village and wound up under the protective wing of the local "witch". I think it was called "Food of the Gods" but when I tried to investigate it I found zero (at least in regards to Viking life). Has anyone read this or know of it? We read it for class back in the mid-70s if that helps. Thanks to any and all!!

72quartzite
set. 28, 2011, 11:42 pm

try the "Name That Book" for help.

73Ammianus
oct. 1, 2011, 10:59 am

Your wargaming colleagues have a similar thread going: (I see lots of overlap):

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=243693

74BarbN
oct. 1, 2011, 11:43 pm

Didn't see one of my favorites: The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay. Typical of Kay it has elements of both poetry and the fantastic, but is recognizably Viking in inspration.

75Macbeth
abr. 14, 2012, 8:28 pm

And in more good news it seem that Robert Low is about to release another book in his Oathsworn series. Can't wait to get my hands on Crowbone

Woo Hoo

76Macbeth
set. 2, 2012, 4:06 am

I have just finished Meadowland by Thomas Holt which was a very entertaining narrative of the various Viking attempts to colonise America as told through the eyes of two aged Varangian Guardsmen who had been on all the journeys to Vinland/Meadowland.

Cheers

77VertOlive
Editat: oct. 6, 2016, 10:09 pm

Patiently waiting for #10 in Cornwell's Last Kingdom series The Flame Bearer to come out next month.

78threadnsong
març 3, 2017, 4:16 pm

Hello everyone. Glad to know this thread exists!

One of my favorite authors, Juliette Marillier, has written several books set in the Light Isles and their occupation by Vikings. The first is Foxmask and it involves the peaceful settlement in a sheltered cove that finally goes awry. The lives of the occupants of the Light Isles are well written as are the lives and rituals of the Vikings. It is told from the main character's POV at the beginning but eventually spreads out to others.

I really will have to move Guy Gavriel Kay's The Last Light of the Sun into my reading pile. If I read it, I will love it, and then the story will end and I have to say goodbye . . .