The Raven Banner
The Whale Road Chronicles Book 2)
By Tim Hodkinson
AD 935 - Late Winter, City of Jorvik.
Einar Unnsson is destined to be a great Icelandic warrior. He has already defeated the men sent to kill him by his notorious father, Jarl Thorfinn, the 'Skull Cleaver' of Orkney. He has a gift that makes him lethal in battle. Yet he has cast it all off to be a bard.
When three men attack him, Einar's poetry provides little protection. Luckily, the skilled archer and Norse-Irish princess Affreca saves him. She'd assumed Einar had left to raise an army, challenge Thorfinn and seize the Jarldom of Orkney. Now she's determined to set him back onto his rightful path.
Einar soon finds himself entangled on Affreca's own mission. She's seeking the Raven Banner for King Eirik. Legend has it that the banner is imbued with powerful magic. That it was a gift from the Norse God Odin and any army that marches behind it will be victorious. The quest sets events in motion that are beyond Einar's control.
Einar has no choice but to face his fate and swing his sword once more...
Review:
I throughly enjoyed book 1 of this series and I could not wait to get back to these characters. I am pleased to report that this book lived up to my expectations. In fact, it exceeded them.
This novel is so fast-paced, and there are many twists and turns which, for me, made this novel unputdownable. In fact, it is one of those books that once you have started to read is terribly difficult to walk away from. I found myself totally caught up in the adventure. If I could have stayed up all might to read it, then I certainly would have.
If you enjoy believable historical fiction set in this era, then I think you will really enjoy this series.
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