Description
The lives of two women — one desperate to save her missing sister, the other a witch destined to become queen of Norway — intertwine in this spellbinding, powerful novel of Viking Age history and myth from the acclaimed author of The Witch’s Heart.
Oddny and Gunnhild meet as children in tenth century Norway, and they could not be more different:Oddny hopes for a quiet life, while Gunnhild burns for power and longs to escape her cruel mother. But after a visiting wisewoman makes an ominous prophecy that involves Oddny, her sister Signy, and Gunnhild, the three girls take a blood oath to help one another always.
When Oddny’s farm is destroyed and Signy is kidnapped by Viking raiders, Oddny is set adrift from the life she imagined but determined to save her sister, no matter the cost. Gunnhild, who fled her home years ago to learn the ways of a witch in the far north, is on her way to her exalted destiny. But the bonds — both enchanted and emotional — that hold them together are strong, and when they find their way back to each other, these bonds will be tested in ways they could never have foreseen in this rich, searching novel of magic, history, and sworn sisterhood.
Review
This is a tremendous novel weaving history and magic, set in Viking Norway around the Year 900.
Three girls grow up together and are inseperable - sisters Oddny and Signy, and their neighbour, Gunnhild. They are so close they even perform a blood oath, ensuring that they will always be there for each other.
But when they were twelve a seer came to their town and declared that she saw great adversity in their futures together. Gunnhild’s awful mother took this as a sign and announced Gunnhild’s impending marriage to a worthless old man. The seer, seeing strength in Gunnhild, secreted her away to her home. They spent 12 years together where Gunnhild learned witchcraft, and also how to defend herself and become strong.
Now Gunnhild must call on all this strength when she is visiting her friends' home, disguised by witchcraft as a bird, and she discovers their estate being plundered. Signy is kidnapped and many are killed - but Gunnhild is able to free Oddny, and together they begin their search for Signy.
Their search leads them to interact with some important people, none more so than King Eirik. He isknown as the kinslayer, as he murdered no less than two of his brothers. He was in line to be ruler of all of Norway, but recent activity that he is certain is witchcraft keeps working against him. King Eirik proposes a deal to Gunnhild - if she can protect him she will be his sole wife and Queen of Norway, and he will ensure Signy is found. Gunnhild abhors this man, but could he be the answer to her problems?
This book has wonderful female lead characters, and entwines real historical figures from Viking times with magic and fantasy in a wonderfully woven setting and story. Full of battles, death and intrigue, this is hard to put down, and will appeal best to fans of this genre aged 13 and older.
Reviewed by Rob
