Medieval Historical Fiction Novel of the Day
I’ve been compiling a list of medieval historical fiction novels to read, and I thought I would highlight a new one every week if possible. Many of these I have not even read myself.
The first one is The Whale Road by Robert Low.
Product Details:
The Whale Road
By Robert Low
Hardcover - 352 pages
Publisher - Thomas Dunne Books (August 21, 2007)
Average Customer Review on Amazon - 4.5 stars
Editorial Review from Publishers Weekly:
British journalist Low’s debut novel is a rousing, sprawling saga of Viking warriors and the quest for hidden treasure. The adventure begins in A.D. 965, when 15-year-old Orm Ruriksson—aka Orm the Bear Slayer—joins the Oathsworn, a band of raiders that includes his father, Rurik, and is led by the ruthless Einar the Black. After hearing a tale about a mountain of silver that once belonged to Attila the Hun, the band sets out to find it, accompanied by a madwoman who claims to know the treasure’s location. The daunting journey becomes more treacherous as competitors also race for the prize. Bluetooth, the King of the Danes and the Norwegians, covets the treasure for himself, and an unscrupulous Catholic monk joins the chase, not for the silver but for the Spear of Destiny—the spear that pierced Christ’s side on the cross and was later forged into Attila’s sword. Low mixes history, archeology, mythology and nonstop, often-sanguinary action into a fast-moving adventure tale. (Aug.)
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Chapter One Excerpt:
Runes are cut in ribbons, like the World Serpent eating his own tail. All sagas are snake-knots, for the story of a life does not always start with birth and end with death. My own truly begins with my return from the dead.
What a great idea - I’m sure it will add to my TBR pile! I also like your “Words of the Day”.
Thanks Tanzanite! Glad you enjoy it. I’m looking at your site right now. I’ll subscribe to your blog and add your site to my blogroll. Looks like you have a nice list of other sites already compiled.