Set
in the Kingdom of Wessex, England in 882, this is the story of Brandr
Óttarrson, a Viking jarl’s son who attacks a Saxon village only to be sent
fleeing with his men by another band of Saxons who decimate the village. Among
the ashes, a wounded Brandr discovers a Saxon maiden, Lissa of Yriclea, the
sole survivor. He thinks to give her a merciful death but she persuades him to
take her with him and his uncle as they leave. On the condition she becomes his
thrall.
His
ship having left without him, Brandr and his uncle must journey across England,
avoiding those who would kill them, including a Saxon who hunts for Lissa. As
they travel, they pick up others along the way.
Norris
does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the Viking mind. It is obvious
she has done much research to capture the speech, their way of thinking and
their culture. Brandr, being the son of a jarl, must marry nobility, not a
thrall. But he can make Lissa his concubine, and he wants her. Lissa sees this
as a possibility and she wants to remain with Brandr but not as his concubine.
Secondary
characters add to the complexity of what is otherwise a simple but very well
told story of a trek across England to reunite Brandr with his family. A worthy
Viking tale with authentic terms (there is a detailed glossary).
The
first in the Viking Brothers Saga. I recommend it.
Buy
on Amazon.
Regan, thank you so much for inviting me this morning! It's lovely to be here to share the story of Brandr and Lissa.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your guest appearance tomorrow, Mairi.
ReplyDelete