This was Mia Marlowe’s debut novel (originally published under the name of Diana Groe). No date is given but it mentions a character named Halfdan who lived in the late 5th-early 6th century but it could have been set in a later century. The location is Sweden and Constantinople.
Rika was rejected by her father, a jarl, at birth because of her mother died in childbed. Rika is set adrift on a slab of ice by the midwife, expected to die. Instead, she was found by the famous skald, Magnus, who raised her like a daughter and taught her his storytelling craft. When she is grown, a Viking raid ends in the death of Magnus and her capture by Bjorn the Black. Bjorn claims her as his bed slave but then falls in love with her and desires to marry her.
Meanwhile Bjorn’s twisted brother has another marriage in mind for Rika.
This was a good story that held my interest with great characters. It did slow a bit when they got to Constantinople where much happens. Also, our strong heroine seemed to change to a sometimes compliant woman. The story has a nice finish.
Songs of the North trilogy:
Maidensong
Erinsong
Dragonsong
Rika was rejected by her father, a jarl, at birth because of her mother died in childbed. Rika is set adrift on a slab of ice by the midwife, expected to die. Instead, she was found by the famous skald, Magnus, who raised her like a daughter and taught her his storytelling craft. When she is grown, a Viking raid ends in the death of Magnus and her capture by Bjorn the Black. Bjorn claims her as his bed slave but then falls in love with her and desires to marry her.
Meanwhile Bjorn’s twisted brother has another marriage in mind for Rika.
This was a good story that held my interest with great characters. It did slow a bit when they got to Constantinople where much happens. Also, our strong heroine seemed to change to a sometimes compliant woman. The story has a nice finish.
Songs of the North trilogy:
Maidensong
Erinsong
Dragonsong
I had no idea Mia had written a Viking romance!
ReplyDeleteIt's not new, Gina. And she wrote it as Diana Groe so perhaps that's why you weren't aware.
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