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Oct 27, 2018SnoIsleLib_LindseyA rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is an undeniable achievement in historical fiction. Hartsuyker knows her Vikings; you can tell this was a labor of love. I was completely transported to Viking Age Norway. I especially enjoyed how she incorporated their beliefs - in the gods, in magic - in a way that never felt like fantasy or even magical realism. You're in their heads, you simply accept that the undead walk among us, that frost giants and witches are real threats. I made the mistake of accidentally returning my audiobook to the library before it was due. Switching to print may have affected my overall enjoyment of the book. It's excellent on audio because of the many Scandinavian names and places. Hartsuyker provides a list in the back matter, but I'd rather hear them spoken. As the story progressed, I grew more interested in Svanhild than Ragnvald. His scenes were surprisingly heavy on dialogue, which made the plot drag. It took me over a month to finish the book, and that's a long time for me. Having said that, I'm still interested in continuing the series. Without spoiling the ending, I'm keen on seeing particular characters reunite.