Book Review: Dragons from the Sea

Sequel to Viking Warrior (See [link])

Judson Roberts has crafted a masterful second chapter in his already spellbinding historical fiction series. Not only has he expanded the physical scope of the world and culture of the vikings, but his characters begin to display more and more layers to their personalities, drawing the reader ever closer to the sights and sounds of the Middle Ages. Above all, the overriding theme of this volume is the vikings' strict code of honor and morality, and how the popular image of these people as savage brutes is disproved time and time again.

For someone who until recently knew only the life of a slave, its amazing how much young Halfdan Hrorikson has accomplished in a matter of weeks. After fleeing the pursuit of the henchmen of his treacherous step-brother Toke (and killing many of them in the process), Halfdan arrives at the Danish capital of Hedeby, where he joins the crew of a longship preparing to mount a massive raid into the heartland of the Frankish Empire (modern-day France). By proving his service in war, Haldan hopes to gain a powerful set of allies to help him in his quest for revenge against Toke.

However, acceptance does not come quickly, with many warriors and crew members skeptical about Halfdan's youth (he's only just turned 15) and inexperience in battle. Yet with his dazzling skill in archery, Halfdan eventually becomes one of the most valuable members of the ship's crew (and his ability to speak Latin comes in mighty handy as well).

Once in Frankia, things do not always go smoothly for Halfdan (he kills members of his own army and scuffles with one of Toke's cronies), but the most dramatic episode of his experience is completely unexpected. While out on a scouting mission, he encounters Genevieve, the daughter of a Frankish nobleman who was forced by her father into a nunnery (more on that later), whom he captures and intends to ransom. The Frankish perception of the Danes is as savage killers, but Halfdan and Genevieve develop an unlikely rapport, and perhaps their lives run more parallel to each other than either of them realize.  

Odin's Theater

The red sunrise sheds it’s crimson light upon the land. A haunting prelude to the scarlet tide that would soon paint the grass with a blanket of death.

Eyes open, muscles stretch, joints crack, and voices whisper across the silent valley, in prayer of Odin’s wisdom and the strength of Thor.

Food and drink circle about on both ends. Weak mead and ale down the anticipation in every warrior’s heart, and stale bread and meat fuel their blood with lust.

Steel and iron glint everywhere under the new sun’s fingers. Swords, spears, and axes keen for life, and the links of every brynie, newly polished, shine like silver.

Ranks begin to form like the marching of ants. Shields lock, spears extend, and bow strings tighten, ready to seek the blood of foes and snatch the life from their breath.

The lull before battle is like the calm before Thor’s rage splits the heavens. Men are silent, deep in contemplation, awaiting the glorious reward every warrior desires.

Without warning, the eastern sky darkens as an arrow storm pierces the calm and falls like deadly rain upon the western ranks. First blood sprays the ground in streams of steel and scarlet.

The western ranks respond in kind, loosing their steel-tipped hail toward the sun. Soon the whisper of death entices the crows, anticipating the feast that is sure to follow.

The rain of death ceases and the sky grows clear and empty. Then, like the fury of the sea battering the wooden hull of a longship, the warriors merge and reap a bloody harvest inside the chaos.

Like fire consuming a forest of oak, iron keens for space and life. Slash of sword, crush of axe, thrust of spear, and pierce of arrow ravage mail, flesh and bone alike.

The sun passes it’s midday course, and lust for blood only increases. Fathers lose sons, sons lose fathers, and Odin watches all from his eye of wisdom.

As the sun begins it’s descent beyond the sea, bodies of hundreds lay upon the ground. The rivers now run with crimson streaks, and the dying sun casts the same shade across the land.

Now, not one living soul marches upon the grass. Discarded weapons and scraps of clothing litter the field as schools of fish, immobile in the sea.

Yet, through the now ringing silence, a noise of a different sort is heard. The singing of a thousand maidens fills the air, and the sun’s last rays become as white as new snow upon the mountaintops.

Sent by Father Odin from the halls of Valhalla, the Valkyries descend upon the land. With hair and mail as gold as the sun, their swords and spears flash like lightning as their silver steeds land silently among the carnage.

Moving among the fallen, the maidens awaken the spirits of the worthy, saddle them astride their horses and ascend into the sky as the moon sheds the light of death upon the blood-leaden field.

Rainbow Bifrost quivers as the horse’s hooves streak across the bridge, through the great plains of Asgard, to the doors of Vahalla itself.

The doors fly open with a mighty crash, and a cheer of equal magnitude welcomes the warriors to join the revelry.

Tables by the thousands are laden with oaten loaves, roasted joints, and mead flowing endlessly from silver flagons.

When the feasting and music draws to a close, the warriors take to their beds, each warmed by maidens both beautiful and willing.

The battles for land, power, and honor have come to an end on Midgard, but the true battles, the battles purely for pleasure, have yet to begin.

Book Review: The Greatest Knight

Sometimes in life and often completely at random, we stumble onto an item or situation that profoundly affects out tastes, mindset and even personal choices. Such a thing happened to me when I came upon the marvelous writings of Ms. Elizabeth Chadwick.

As author specializing in the Plantagenet dynasty of the Middle Ages, Chadwick crafts spellbinding tales woven through with wonderfully rich and historic detail. One day I saw her book at Barnes & Noble and decided to try it. By the end of that summer, I was completely hooked.

The Greatest Knight tells the story of William Marshal, an English-born low-ranking nobleman who won great renown through his considerable skill at arms, but also through his many years of service to nearly all the members of the royal family in the second half of the 12th century. A model of integrity and chivalrous behavior, William's steadfast character earns him as many enemies as it does friends, and multiple times he must draw on all his strength and sense of honor in order to prevail.

Chadwick draws heavily on both historical commentary and primary source material (according to her "Author's Note", William Marshal was the first Englishman about whom a secular biography was written) to create a story unparalleled in richness and beauty. One that has earned her numerous accolades from some of today's most prominent historical and literary critics.