487 Pages
- The Blurb...
865 AD. The fierce Vikings stormed onto Saxon soil hungry for spoils, conquest, and vengeance for the death of Ragnar Lothbrok.
Hundr, a Northman with a dog's name... a crew of battle hardened warriors... and Ivar the Boneless.
Amidst the invasion of Saxon England by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, Hundr joins a crew of Viking warriors under the command of Einar the Brawler. Hundr fights to forge a warriors reputation under the glare of Ivar and his equally fearsome brothers, but to do that he must battle the Saxons and treachery from within the Viking army itself...
Hundr must navigate the invasion, survive brutal attacks, and find his place in the vicious world of the Vikings in this fast paced adventure with memorable characters.
- Our Review...
This is your quintessential Viking adventure, it’s exactly what you expect it to be in the best possible way. For most of this story we follow the exploits of Hundr, a lowly member of the Seaworm crew as he rises through the ranks to earn a reputation as a drengr: a ferocious Viking warrior. I’ve not read any other Viking stories, but after reading this one I feel like I don’t need to. Viking: Blood and Blade has it all; exciting action scenes, well-developed characters and intriguing storylines.
The writing itself falls into the category of what I like to call ‘Goldilocks writing.’ It’s not so flowery that you need a dictionary on standby, it’s not so dull that you need a strong coffee on standby, instead, it hits the sweet spot right in the middle. From the very first page you are hooked in for this wild ride and will remain hooked until the end. This in no small part due to its characters. It’s evident that all the characters in this book have been carefully thought out. They are complex yet relatable, the character of Sten stands out for me in particular. Sten was once a famous drengr, known for his skill and barbarity in battle, but when we first encounter him in this book, he is an old man who has instead opted for a life of peace under the Christian God. There are several characters like this within this book, each has a goal and each has an obstacle to overcome in order to reach it.
This section of the review is where I would normally note some things that could be improved upon. But this book seems to tick all of my boxes. If I was hard-pressed to think of one aspect though, it would be that the chapters are relatively longer than what I’m used to. But, honestly, you’ll be too gripped by the story to notice.
Overall, Viking: Blood and Blade is an enthralling read from start to finish and I am proud to grant it my first ever 5 star review. I look forward to reading the next instalment in the series; The Wrath of Ivar.
- Selected Quotes...
“I know. A drengr moves aside for no man unless he fears him. You’re young, and you haven’t learned yet. To you, it’s all about pride and fighting and glory. When you get old like me, lad, you realise that’s all piss. Pride softens when you’ve seen so much death, so much loss.”
“Life is hard, reputation isn’t worth shit, and no one is your friend. So take what you can, when you can and trust no one,”
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- About the Author
Peter is an author based in Kildare, Ireland. He is a married father of 3 kids and loves all things Historical Fiction and Fantasy. Peter has always been an avid reader of history, both fiction and non-fiction. Peter completed a Law Degree in Liverpool University before embarking on a career in the Insurance Industry.
After many years working in the UK & Ireland he decided to follow his dreams and wrote his debut novel, Viking Blood and Blade. His favourite authors include Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, Tolkien, Conn Iggulden, Brandon Sanderson, and John Gwynne.
Winner of the 2022 Kindle Storyteller Award.
(from petermgibbons.com)
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