Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "vikings"

Raider's Wake: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland by James L. Nelson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Book six of The Norsemen Saga begins with the return of Conandil, who appears in an earlier volume. No longer a thrall, she is married to an Irish chieftain’s son. When Irish raiders attack their ringfort, she and her husband, as well as others, are driven to the beach where they are beset from the sea by Norsemen. Rather than become a slave again, she fights with her husband. But one of the Vikings thwarts her desire for a quick death and she is once again bound for the slave pens in Dubh-linn. There she, her husband, and the other captives are sold to a Frisian merchant who plans to sell them at a slave market in his homeland.

Lord of Vík-ló, Thorgrim Ulfsson is sick of Ireland, the Irish, and the eternal rain that plagues the country. Most of his men, including his son Harald Broadarm and beserker Starri Deathless, imbibe liberally when confined, so once the sun finally deigns to shine, Thorgrim announces it’s time to go a-viking. As his four longships prepare to set sail, he makes the unconscious decision to take their hoard with them. He has no intention of returning. Their first capture goes precisely as planned, but the victim is known to Thorgrim and is permitted to continue on his journey. First, though, he imparts knowledge of a Frisian merchant with three ships rumored to be heavily laden with treasure. Expecting these to be easy prey, Thorgrim and his men decide to lie in wait – but no one knows better than he that the gods can be fickle and one should never tempt fate.

Irish brigands ambush a traveling friar on his way to Dubh-linn, but they soon learn the error of their ways when he turns out to be adept with a sword. Once Louis de Roumois, the Frank who betrayed Thorgrim, dispatches the trio, he discards his disguise and continues on to the Norse longphort. He seeks passage home to bring his brother to account for banishing him to Ireland and then sending assassins to kill him. Louis knows nothing about ships and the sea, but he quickly discovers the vessel’s captain is a brutal madman whose thirst for wealth includes acquiring the silver Louis hides in his belongings.

A wealthy slave trader and master of a small, but fast, fleet of ships, Brunhard of Frisia loves to hear himself talk. He’s always thinking of ways to gain the most while losing the least. Such wily thinking and a no-holds-barred approach to dealing with his cargo is why he survives in an otherwise violent and often unpredictable world.

When the Norsemen spot the Frisian ships, the chase begins. Brunhard’s out-of-the-box maneuvers earn Thorgrim’s respect because the merchant is a savvy seaman. But one trick nearly destroys Sea Hammer, earning Thorgrim’s wrath and vow to make the man pay. The pursuit becomes a heart-pumping, careening-out-of-control thrill ride that leaves readers breathless and refuses to release them from its grip until the story ends.

Raider’s Wake is a welcome return to the sea, where Thorgrim once again demonstrates why Norsemen are remembered for their expert seamanship. What makes this an unforgettable and very believable tale are Nelson’s knowledge of and experience in sailing wooden ships. The nautical language adds a healthy dose of realism, but Nelson writes in a way that readers unfamiliar with the terminology still get the gist of what the sailors are doing. For those who wish to better understand, he provides a diagram of a longship and a glossary.

Although Harald Broadarm has played important roles in previous titles, he finally comes into his own in this one. He has matured over the series and has ably demonstrated both his bravery and skill at fighting. Yet now he finds himself in a command situation where his decisions and knowledge play a vital role in determining the fates of those aboard all the vessels.

Another crucial story element is the inclusion of two Irish women, Conandil and Failend. Rather than being mere window dressing, they are well-drawn characters who play critical warrior roles and they possess the determination to influence their own fates. As a result, Thorgrim makes some keen observations about women – ones that all men could learn from.

Front first page to last, Raider’s Wake is written by a master weaver who keeps readers spellbound and places them on the longship in the midst of the Vikings. This adventure is one treasure to savor and as memorable as, or even more so, than the Norsemen’s previous stories.




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Vikings at War by Kim Hjardar

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Fighting and war were intricately woven in the tapestry of Viking life. It was brutal and raw, just like life itself, and Vikings were particularly good at mastering the components that constituted this lifestyle. Rather than examine the entire sphere of the Viking world from AD 750 to 1100, the authors focus on one facet of this society – the warriors, whose activities impacted the lives of many from America in the west, to the Caspian Sea in the east, from the Russian forests of the north, to Jerusalem to the south. Their intrusive raids ultimately led to upheavals that altered the course of European history.

Hjardar and Vike present this comprehensive examination in six chapters, each focusing on a particular aspect of a warrior’s life. It begins with the inside covers, which are full-color maps depicting the Viking world during a period of 350 years. Many histories of this era open with an account of the raid on the Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island or Iona Abbey in the Hebrides; these authors chose an even earlier incursion when King Beorhtric of Wessex sent his bailiff to confront the intruders into his realm in the summer of AD 789. This first record of a violent encounter at the hands of the Vikings did not end well for the bailiff.

Whether they were called Norsemen, Danes, heathens, Rus, Varangians, al-madjus, Finn Gall, or Dub Gall, they had two things in common. They came from North, the region we know as Scandinavia, and they were Vikings. Chapter one answers five basic questions: who they were; what “Viking” meant (both then and later); why the raids began; what technological advancements allowed them to venture far from land; and how Vikings, rather than Christians, saw the world. This section also examines Viking society and the role of the warrior in it, as well as their religion.

No book on warriors and military life would be complete without a discussion on “The Art of War,” which is the topic discussed in chapter two. This umbrella covers many facets: troops, homeland defense, trial by combat, training, raiding, battle formations, intelligence and logistics, strategy and stratagems, mercenaries, beserkers and wolfskins, warrior women, and tending the sick and wounded.

Chapter three looks at fortifications, both temporary and permanent, while chapter four focuses on Viking ships. The latter includes a double-page timeline that shows how the cargoes, barges, and longships developed. There is also an annotated list of archeological finds of these vessels.

Chapter five, the only one written by Vegard Vike, focuses on Viking weaponry. All freemen were expected to have and use three types of weapons to defend the land. Weapons were status symbols, in both life and death. The principal arms were the spear, shield, sword or axe, but also discussed are knives, bows and arrows, and personal armor. The arms trade is another topic Vike covers.

The final chapter, the longest of the six, centers on Viking invasions. Here Hjardar divides up the world into eight parts: Islands in the West, Ireland, England, the Frankish Empire and France, the Iberian peninsula, lands in the East, Byzantium, and Greenland and America. Each part includes a full-page color image of the Viking who invaded that region. This allows readers to see the similarities and differences, for example, between a Viking who went to Ireland and one who traveled as far as America. In addition to explaining how the invaders reached these destinations, Hjardar provides overviews of the raids and battles that occurred there and how that area’s Viking history unfolded. Readers are also introduced to specific Vikings whose names – such as the Earls of Orkney, Sigtrygg Silkbeard, Eirik Bloodaxe, Olav Tryggvason, Svjatoslav, and the Varangian Guard – and experiences are recounted in the historical record.

A host of color photographs, diagrams, maps and battle movements, and artwork beautifully illustrate this 400-page coffee-table-sized book. Several double-page spreads of original artwork allow readers to visualize such things as a ship burial, the raid on Lindisfarne, and the Vikings’ winter camp in Repton, England. Throughout the text, the authors include excerpts from original sources to enrich and enhance the topic being discussed. Special boxed highlights, incorporated into every chapter, showcase such subjects as early warrior culture, a woman’s honor, loyalty oaths, traveling to the afterlife, and persons of particular renown. Aside from the end notes, there are a bibliography and an index with four separate divisions – people, places, subjects, and major battles. A list of maps is also included.

The only section with outdated information appears in chapter two and concerns warrior women. This isn’t the author’s fault, as results of DNA studies on a Viking warrior found in 1888 have only recently been shared publicly. Viking warrior women did exist outside of folklore; to the author’s credit, he did leave open the possibility that some women, and even men, stepped outside their sex’s normal societal constraints to follow a different path.

The authors’ purpose in writing this book was to provide readers with vivid look into the Viking Age, and this they consummately achieve. Even though the writing isn’t always riveting, nuanced insights and delightful historical tidbits make this volume not only a worthy addition to any collection specializing in Scandinavian history, but also a stellar resource for history buffs and authors seeking background for their novels.




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Loch Garman: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland by James L. Nelson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Thorgrim Night Wolf has one desire – to return home to Norway – but again the gods demonstrate that the time has not yet arrived. Such is definitely the case in this seventh book in The Norsemen Saga, for he and his men have but three damaged longboats with no sails. Rather than fight and pillage to gain what they need, Thorgrim barters with the Irish. His decision is of no import to Starri Deathless, the berserker, “[b]cause every time you say such a thing, there ends up being more fighting than a man could wish for, so I’m not concerned.” (21)

Treasure attracts more than the heathens who plague Ireland. One among the many rí tuath wishes to gain the rumored Treasure of St. Aiden for himself, which is why Airtre mac Domhnall and a hundred men have gathered outside the gates of the monastery at Ferns. Failure to return home without it will just result in censure from his wife, and Airtre would much rather confront an army of Northmen than face her empty-handed. But Abbot Column denies that such a treasure exists, for he will protect the secret of Ferns any way he can. He succeeds in thwarting Airtre this time, but knows his success is temporary. Sooner or later Airtre will return and when he does, the lord who came to his aid this time won’t be present.

While some of the Northmen begin repairing the ships and setting up a temporary camp on the shores of Loch Garman, Thorgrim sends his son to retrieve the two longships he lent to the enslaved Irish whom Harald helped free. The plan is to row the two vessels back to their camp, but once Harald and his contingent locate them, they discover they aren’t the only ones to find the boats. Airtre isn’t quite certain what to do with the ships, but they are important to the heathens and, therefore, there must be some advantage to possessing them. A surprise attack allows Harald and his men to reclaim the longships until they discover that the Irish took all the oars and without those or sails, the boats are useless. When Airtre comes under a flag of truce and offers a compromise, Harald sees no workable options than to accept. In exchange for the oars, the Northmen will help Airtre “reclaim” the Treasure of St. Aidan and to insure that both sides keep their pledges, they exchange hostages. The Northmen return to Loch Garman with a promise to rendezvous with Airtre at a prearranged spot not far from Ferns.

While his son is away and his men are busy, Thorgrim and Failend head to Ferns to purchase new cloth for the sails. Although the Irish and Abbot Column, as well as Brother Bécc, are wary of this offer of silver for cloth, the abbot agrees to the exchange with an additional stipulation. Thorgrim must also assist Brother Bécc (a former soldier who is now a monk) with putting an end to Airtre’s repeated attempts to plunder the abbey. As much as he would prefer not to fight, Thorgrim will do what he must to obtain the sails. Only after he returns to camp does he learn that his son is a hostage to this Airtre; that they are to meet Brother Bécc at the same spot where they are to await Airtre; and that the Northmen have now promised to fight on both sides. Thorgrim also understands why Starri was unconcerned about his peaceful intentions and how fickle the gods can be.

Loch Garman is an excellent example of circumstances making strange bedfellows, for such are rife throughout this wonderful tale. While the majority of it takes place on land, there are a few river scenes. Subtle shifts begin to emerge in relations between the Irish and Northmen that will eventually lead to a more peaceful coexistence. Lest you think you can guess the ending from this review, I assure you that isn’t the case. Yes, there is plenty of action as Starri foretells, but this intricately woven tapestry is far more than just adventure. It also showcases how warriors think, gauge their opponents, understand potential trickery before it unfolds, and find ways to counteract overwhelming odds to prevail without losing sight of the original goal.

Nelson possesses the gift of a true storyteller; his words easily spin visual pictures in our minds without inserting passages that allow us to stray from unfolding events. For the first time, Louis the Frank is actually likable and Starri’s interactions with Thorgrim provide insightful glimpses into two men who are no longer as young as they once were. For much of the story, Harald is apart from the rest of the Northmen and these wanderings not only allow him to discover the truth of Ferns’ secret but also to demonstrate his inner reflections that show both the true depth of his character and how he has matured as a man and a fighter.

There are elements within this book – perhaps the best offering in the series so far – that readers will identify with no matter their ages. For me, these include sly touches of dry humor, the rationalizing of internal conflicts, and the wisdom and frailties that come with getting older. Regardless of what attracts you, you will not be disappointed. From the opening confrontation to the heart-stopping climax, Loch Garman is a riveting tale that brings to life a bygone era of Irish history.





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A Vengeful Wind by James L. Nelson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When longships bearing more Northmen land on the beach on the other side of Loch Garman, Thorgrim Night Wolf knows the delicate truce with the Irish has become unbalanced. All he wishes is to finish repairs to his own longships, obtain the sails that the monastery is making, and set sail; instead, he and some of his men row across the water to offer hospitality. But the offer is rebuffed because Thorgrim slew the newcomers’ leader months past over control of Vík-ló. Thorgrim and his followers return to their makeshift longphort, hoping to depart before the Irish learn of the new Vikings. The gods have other plans.

Once a man-at arms and now a monk, Brother Bécc hates the invaders and wishes to eradicate them from all of Ireland. The arrival of more such vermin provides the lynchpin necessary for him to once again take up arms, first against the newcomers and then against Thorgrim Night Wolf. Bécc and the local rí túaithe lead their men on a carefully planned night attack when the Northmen are drunk and asleep. Just as a rout is achieved, out of the darkness upon the sea come hideous monsters – longships crowded with men with Night Wolf at their head. Bécc’s anger at failing to achieve God’s will is such that he murders a man and then uses Thorgrim’s intervention to attack the longphort.

In Angel-cynn (which the Norse call Engla-land) in the town of Sherborne, the people who matter gather in the cathedral to witness the marriage of the ealdorman to Cynewise, daughter of a neighboring ealdorman. Just after the couple exchange vows, a minor thegn kills the groom and calls for others to rise up with him. The assistance he seems to expect comes to naught and the murderer is slain. Nothwulf is stunned at the death of his brother, and is intent on finding out the reason for the murder. He also hopes to step into his brother’s shoes and become the new ealdorman, for surely a wife of two minutes who is as distraught as Cynewise has no desire to take over her husband’s duties. Yet Cynewise is not as meek or frail as she appears; behind Nothwulf’s back she plots, plans, and garners local support to gain King Aethelwulf’s support in naming her as ealdorman. The only one in her way is her brother-in-law, but with the help of the shire reeve who slew her husband’s murderer, Cynewise soon deals a crushing blow to Nothwulf . . . or so it seems until news of Norse ships landing give Nothwulf an unexpected advantage.

The opening of the eighth book in the Norsemen Saga is a bit slow as readers are introduced to a new storyline that involves a new land, new characters, and new words. Thorgrim’s tale continues in the second chapter, and thereafter, what happens in Ireland is intertwined with events in England. Only after a riveting battle between the Northmen and the Irish does it become clear as to why this new storyline has been introduced. Equally enthralling is the fearsome voyage on stormy seas that easily brings to mind the words of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, “In this year dire portents appeared . . . and sorely frightened the inhabitants. They consisted of immense whirlwinds and flashes of lightning, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air.”

There’s some discrepancy between the descriptive severity of Thorgrim’s wound and the quickness of his recovery, yet this is a minor aspect. What is compelling is his maturing character arc and some of the realizations he comes to as he enters his fifth decade. Harald Broadarm, Failend, Starri Deathless, and other familiar characters help make his life more interesting, as do the reappearance of several characters from earlier titles in the series. As always, Nelson includes maps, a longship diagram, and a glossary to aid readers in their journey with unfamiliar settings and vocabulary. He also selects quotations from contemporary writings to hint at what is to come in each chapter.

A Vengeful Wind is a well-crafted blend of historical fiction and intrigue that vividly recreates a time period centuries in the past. Nelson’s gift of storytelling transports readers to these strange lands to such a degree that the modern world is soon forgotten and we’re swept away just as the Northmen find themselves cast from the shores of Ireland.




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Pirates: A New History, from Vikings to Somali Raiders by Peter Lehr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In 1998, pirates boarded the MV Cheung Son. They blindfolded the twenty-three crew members, injured or killed them, and tossed them overboard. This wasn’t an isolated event, but few people knew of these incidents of piracy until November 2005 when Somali pirates tried to take a cruise ship carrying more than 300 passengers and crew. Since then, incidents of piracy have risen and more and more people outside the maritime world have taken notice. With this “sudden” return of pirates comes a commensurate number of studies on piracy and pirate history, so why do we need still another one? For the most part, previous titles focus on a particular time period and/or a specific region. Such studies leave a series of unanswered questions, which Lehr attempts to answer:

Is what motivates certain individuals to become pirates today the same as in the past?
How do the activities of modern pirates compare to those of earlier epochs?
Are there any lessons that could be learned from historical attempts to curb piracy which could help us end it today?
If naval power is greater today than ever before, why have we not yet been able to put an end to piracy once and for all?
Why does piracy persist, seemingly against all odds? (7)

He separates the book into three periods of history and within each of these he examines three maritime regions. The latter is comprised of the Mediterranean, Northern seas, and Eastern seas. The former consists of 700-1500, 1500-1914, and 1914-today. Why these particular divisions? The first is a time when the geographical regions are separate and distinct and each area is isolated from the others. The second time period witnesses the rise of Western nations and the spread of their sphere of influence over the powerhouses of the previous period (the Ottoman Empire, Mughal India, and Qing China). By the start of the next time frame, Europe controls 84% of land in the world, and from 1914 onward the interconnections between nations become global. Throughout these chronological divisions, Lehr examines piratical commonalities and differences between the diverse pirate cultures.

The narrative is both enlightening and enthralling. The further one reads, the more one discovers that there are distinct similarities between the regions throughout time, even though the pirates of one region had no contact with pirates of another. Regardless of the time period, two factors motivate people to pursue piracy: greed or grievances. As Lehr shows, other components enhance or detract from these since nothing is as simple or black-and-white as it first seems. Religion and politics also play roles, for without corruption there would be no safe havens for pirates. Not only does he explore various aspects of becoming a pirate and being a pirate, he also discusses attempts to thwart or end piracy.

Regional maps introduce each of the time periods. Illustrations of vessels are scattered through the book, which also contains color and black-and-white plates in the center. As the narrative progresses, Lehr includes page references to events discussed earlier in greater detail. A glossary, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index are also included.

Most readers will be familiar with some of the pirates mentioned – Stede Bonnet, Bartholomew Roberts, Zheng Yi Sao, and John Ward, for example – while others are less well known, such as Don Pero Niño, Martin Wintergerst, and Iranun and Malay pirates. Louis Le Golif is cited several times, although no mention is made that there is some question as to whether or not he actually existed. According to Lehr, Bartholomew Roberts died in a shipwreck; his actual demise occurred when he was fatally wounded in battle with the Royal Navy.

If there is a weakness in this book, it comes in the third part of the book. Although there are a few examples of piracy in the early years of the twentieth century, the main focus is on Somali and Nigerian piracy. This leaves a gap in the historical comparison.

Regardless of whether readers are well-versed in pirate history or are novices when it comes to pirates, Pirates is a thought-provoking and insightful examination of piracy throughout history and around the world. Everyone who ventures to delve into this analysis will learn something new and will come away with a much better understanding about who the pirates were/are, why they turned to piracy, and why they are so difficult to completely eradicate.




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