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Vikings Season 3 Episode 8 (To the gates!) review

Vikings Season 3 Episode 8: To the Gates!

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Synopsis: The Viking army embarks and Paris goes into lockdown as the army prepares the defense, overseen by Odo. The Vikings are determined to make it through the gates of Paris and will stop at nothing to succeed.

Recap

What a bloodbath. To the gates indeed! This was the moment we’ been waiting for, friends.

Episode 8 didn’t pull any punches as the Vikings got straight to business after last week’s epic buildup. This week was a perfect blend of subtle plot advances and the all-out suspense of wondering who was going to survive the siege…and who was not.

Right away, I started to question Floki’s attack plan. Beneath the hail of French crossbow bolts, the Vikings fell in droves. As a battle-hardened veteran of countless Age of Empires, Mount and Blade and Total War sieges (making me somewhat of an expert in digital, medieval warfare, if I do so say myself), I could have told him his planned was doomed to fail before they ever set sail. But enough of that.

As cool as it is to see the Vikings women going into battle, it was even more awesome to see Princess Gisla rally the Frankish troops and drive back the invaders after the walls were breached. There was also some budding chemistry between her and Rollo, if you can have budding chemistry when one party is a howling berserk.

A touch less obvious (with just enough suggestion not to make it heavy-handed) was the ever-present battle between Paganism and Christianity. On one hand, you’ve got Floki urging the Norsemen on in the name of Odin, and one the other side is — with the sacred banner Frankia. This time around, it was Floki’s hubris and the Norse gods that lost.

Once again, I commend the shows creators for building this amazing world that, at least to my limited knowledge, is an accurate portrayal of a brutal, grisly medieval world. As I’ve said before, Vikings tells it like it is, while still creating a story unique and original in its own right.

The battle for the walls was intense, but Lagertha and Kalf’s attack on the gates was what put me on the edge of my seat, especially when you were just waiting to see what was at the end of that tunnel. For someone expecting Kalf to stick a dagger in Lagertha’s back at the first chance he got, I was a little surprised when he dragged her to safety. No matter how bad he wants to be earl, there’s a part of him that actually cares about our favorite Viking shieldmaiden. Leave it to Lagertha to set him straight though.

I wondered how long Ragnar was going to sit by while Vikings fell left and right. When he, Bjorn and and Rollo took the walls, things went to a whole other level. Every swing of the sword and ax had me wondering who was going to meet the gods next. Thanks to a slew of characters deaths this season, it’s safe to say no one is…well, safe.

In an episode that had so much bloodshed, it was a great touch to end with the bonding moment between Ragnar and Bjorn and Ragnar’s prayer to Athelstan. The mark of great entertainment — whether it be a movie, television show or book — is the way it grips your emotions and forces you to invest yourself in it. The patience Ragnar talks about with Athelstan is the same subtle strength the writers have woven in the show. Vikings as made huge leaps this season (and it was already a great show to start with). I can’t wait to see how season three concludes in the next two weeks.

While the Vikings lick their wounds and we trudge through an entire week until episode nine, I leave you with some wisdom from Rollo: “Today, we came so close. Next time, we will not make the same mistakes.”

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 8 (To the gates!) review appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3 Episode 7 (Paris) Review

Vikings Season 3 Episode 7: Paris

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Synopsis: The appearance of the Viking fleet causes panic among the population of Paris. The Emperor Charles, urged by his daughter Gisla, announces in Court he will remain in the city. The defense of Paris is in the hands of its Commander, Count Odo, who hopes that a heroic victory against the Vikings will gain him Gisla’s hand in marriage. The Vikings establish camp downriver from the city and plan their attack.

Recap

MUAHAHA! The Vikings have arrived at Paris!

After that humdinger of an episode last week, it was good to get back to the basics: pillaging and plundering. But something tells me Paris won’t be an easy nut to crack.

I love the rich medieval history that keeps expanding every episode. This week, we were brought to the court of Emperor Charles, grandson of the legendary Charlemagne. In charge of defending his city is Count Odo, an aging soldier with a thing for the Emperor’s daughter, Gisla. Should Odo manage to repel the Viking attack, she’s promised to marry him.

“The next few days and weeks will test the faith of all of us,” says Emperor Charles, and he’s not just talking about the Parisians. I’m not sure what Ragnar has up his sleeve putting Floki in charge but it was apparent from the get-go that it’s all just another one of the king’s schemes. I have a hard time believing he wants Floki to fail, because that would mean failure to take Paris, but nothing is a sure thing with Ragnar now that Athelstan is gone. The Vikings could pay a high price for Floki’s growing madness (and hubris). You’ve got to question his sanity when he’s up there running around in his towers like a Ewok on speed.

I give props to the show’s writers, though. Although part of me hates Floki for killing Athelstan and is weirded out by his growing madness, I really hope they don’t turn around and kill him off too. It’s also a credit to Gusta Skarsgard’s prowess as an actor that I’m still rooting for the trickster even after he killed (Athelstan).

Just when things couldn’t get any jucier, it turns out King Ecbert is up to even grander shenanigans than we first thought — he wants to be king of all England and stole the spotlight this week an ever-expanding storyline. I’m intrigued at the rift developing between the Ecbert and Prince Aethelwulf via Judith and baby Alfred. Ecbert is clearly as fond of his new grandson as he was of Athelstan and this love could be the undoing of Aethelwulf, who’s already gone bonkers. I also can’t wait to see how young Alfred plays into future Vikings seasons.

Maybe it was all of the skipping around between characters, but Porunn is really starting to get on my nerves. Hopefully, the writers are setting up something awesome with her character, but right now she just comes off as whiny and annoying. I don’t really feel empathy for her — sure, her face was scarred, but she has a healthy baby daughter and Bjorn loves her. On the other hand, Bjorn’s fling with Jarl Borg’s ex-wife isn’t any better. He needs to learn to get his head in the game before he goes into battle and to stop swooning over women.

“What kind of world do we live in where the friends of our friends kill our friends?” This line from King Ecbert perfectly summed up season three — what’s already happened and what’s hinted to come. Between the reveal of yet another son of Ragnar and the climatic scenes of the Vikings overlooking Paris, I was giddy. Although the focus shifted from Ragnar quite a bit this week, the attack on Paris is shaping up to be epicness of grand proportions.

Let’s take a vote! Are you Team Floki, or Team Athelstan? Tell me why in the comments.

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 7 (Paris) Review appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3 Episode 6 (Born Again) Review

Vikings Season 3 Episode 6: Born Again

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Synopsis: Preparations for the Paris raid pick up pace, and Rollo ponders the Seer’s prophecy about his destiny. Kalf arrives in Kattegat to join the raid and the Viking fleet sails up the Seine and catches sight of Paris for the first time. Porunn and Judith both deliver children, and with new life there is also death.

Recap

Wow. For all the violence of the Blood Eagle last season, it didn’t hold a candle to Judith’s trial. You’ve got to admire the roller coaster of emotions Born Again took us on. There was just enough comedy (Ragnar knocking his kid off his lap got a chuckle out of me) and fuzzy feelings (the birth of Bjorn and Porunn’s daughter, Siggy) to set the audience up for an emotional upheaval. My heart was moving a hundred miles an hour — no matter how tough you are, that had to have put you on edge. Hands down, that was the most intense moment of the entire Vikings series thus far, and kicked off a powerful, unforgettable episode.

Athelstan’s reawakening couldn’t have come at a worse time for Ragnar (and a more opportune one for Floki). As the king’s relationships crumble left and right, I’m afraid he’s sinking into a downward spiral that he won’t be able to pull out of. I had just begun to warm up to him again when he comforted the survivor from the Wessex settlement and then he turns around and throttles the guy. Now, it looks like not only are Rollo, Lagertha and Floki in opposition to him, but Bjorn as well. I think it goes without saying that Ragnar has already burnt his bridge with Aslaug.

Ragnar’s a fool if he truly puts any trust in Kalf — I hope he’s got something up his sleeve for when they all turn on him, especially that big guy, Jarl Siegfried. I also hope he’s got a few more friends and family at his back as well when that time comes.

I was intrigued to see the religious extremes showcased in this episode. Between Judith’s trial, Athelstan’s rebirth and Floki’s vision (and subsequent shape-shifting), Born Again was jam-packed with clashing medieval religion. The showdown between the priest and the trickster was a little anti-climatic, but the message was clear: whatever sway Christianity holds in Wessex, the Norse Gods won’t give up their power in the north without a fight.

The way Vikings examines these conflicts on a personal scale really appeals to me as a fan of Vikings-era history. When you look at the broad picture of how Christianity gradually swept Paganism away, it’s easy to forget the hundreds of years and lives that were part of the process.

I have to retract most of what I said earlier about Ragnar (which is what makes him such a great character: one moment you hate him and the next he gets you all choked up). Ragnar’s burial of Athelstan, while lacking the raw shock-value of Judith’s trial, was nonetheless a poignant scene and another top-ten of the series in my book. You can’t help but be drawn in to a heart-to-heart like that: “I have a feeling that your god might object to me visiting you in heaven.” When you add in the possibility that Athelstan’s martyrdom may be Ragnar’s first step toward a true conversion to Christianity, it makes the moment all the more powerful.

Side note on Athelstan’s Journal: Sin

I’m glad that Athelstan got more of a send-off than just the scene at his burial. As I’ve said before, his duality was one of the most interesting aspects of the show and now that it’s over, I’m glad we got one last one last episode from his point of view. I hadn’t viewed any of the video on the website, so it was a (partly) new experience for me. Yes, the episode was pretty much a glorified recap of the first two seasons, but who didn’t enjoy reminiscing about the good old days of Vikings with our favorite priest?

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 6 (Born Again) Review appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3 Episode 5 (Usurper) review

Vikings Season 3 Episode 5

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Synopsis: The fleet returns to Kattegat to find tragic circumstances await. Lagertha learns that her Earldom has been usurped and convinces Ragnar to travel to Hederby with her in an effort to reclaim her title. Ragnar causes great surprise when he announces the next raid. The Seer has interesting prophecies for Rollo.

Review

As expected, everything went all to hell when the Vikings set foot on Kattegat’s s hore. Ragnar sensed something was afoot right off the bat, but perhaps most troubling was the good old fashioned brawl between Rollo and Bjorn. Rollo took Siggy’s death harder than I was expecting and it doesn’t bode well that, not only were the warriors complaining against Ragnar, but his son and brother went fisticuffs as well.

Relationships deteriorated faster than I could type in this Episode 5. It seemed like everyone wanted to bicker and the stress between Ragnar, Aslaug, Porunn, Bjorn, Lagertha, Athelstan, and Floki was at a breaking point. Speaking of Floki, the trickster wasted no time to add his own mix on the growing chaos. On the flip side, you’ve got to wonder if, down the road, Ragnar will wish he’d listened closer to his old friend.

I’m really looking forward to more interaction between Ragnar and his son, Ivar. Down the road, I hope it becomes more of a focal point for the show. It was heartbreaking (and telling perhaps?) to see Ragnar try and bond with him only to have Ivar break into a crying fit. Across the ocean, Judith is in similar hot water after her fling with Athelstan. It will be interesting to see how Ecbert’s opinion of the former monk changes when Athelstan presumably returns to Wessex at some point this season.

That return will likely be sooner than later. Ragnar’s got his mind on Paris and Paris on his mind. You’ve got to give the king credit — he’s one heck of a showman and the paradigm of a true raiding Viking. I wonder if hes getting too caught up in himself for his own good though?

One thing is for sure. Kalf is definitely too caught up in himself for his own good. Lucky for the new earl, Ragnar is more worried about sacking Paris than maintaining the homefront. While this will surely lead to greater glory (here’s looking at you, Rollo — more on that in a moment), Ragnar might have the rug pulled out from under his feet if he focuses too much on foreign affairs. And as evidenced from his treatment of Porunn and his mother’s parting words at the end of the episode, Bjorn is still a long ways away from being able to assume the mantle of king should Ragnar’s luck run dry.

Rollo’s character polarity continues to be one of the most interesting aspects of the show. I thought Siggy’s death would be the straw that broke his back (Bjorn almost did this too), but the good news is he’s got the Seer to cheer him up (pun intended). Of all the Vikings, it looks like Rollo’s going to be the one to benefit most from the sacking of Paris. I can see the season ending with this marriage that’s been prophesied. It’s high time for the metaphorical red-headed stepchild of the Vikings to get his.

As it was intended to, the massacre at the Viking’s Wessex settlement really ticked me off. I also think it showed those who thought the Vikings were the only ruthless ones that the Christians committed plenty of heinous acts as well. Religion in medieval times, no matter what culture, was often a catalyst for death and destruction. It’s the grim reality of history that keeps me — and many other fans, I’m sure — watching the show every week.

I admit King Ecbert had me fooled. I should have seen it coming. But even if he is a treacherous snake, you have to admire the way he used the raid to root out his disloyal subjects and prevent the Norsemen from establishing a settlement in Wessex. Even so, I have a feeling that Ragnar’s going to see right through it. When he hears of the attack, however, will he choose to avenge his people or will the lure of Paris’ riches be too great to ignore?

P.S. Who called it that Harbard was Odin? This guy!

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 5 (Usurper) review appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3 Episode 4 (Scarred) Recap

Season 3 Episode 4: Scarred

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Synopsis: The victorious Wessex/Viking forces return to Wessex but there is rancour in the Viking camp–Floki is angry over the alliance with Ecbert and resentful the influence that he feels Athelstan has over Ragnar. Princess Kwenthrith makes some calculating political moves following the battle at the Hill of the Ash in Mercia. Visitors from the past arrive in Hederby, at Kalf’s invitation.

Episode 4 started off with more drama than all of this year’s Bachelor combined. It seems every week, just when the stakes can’t get any higher, the writers and producers throw us another twist. Although the Vikings have won their Mercian campaign, everything is falling apart behind the scenes, both in England and at home in Kattegat. Friends are growing bitter and enemies old and new are coming out of the woodwork.

It looks like Loki’s (trying saying that ten times) ploy to find an ally against Ragnar has failed with Rollo and Bjorn. He might have more support back home, but with every passing episode, Loki’s beliefs are fading in the the dawning of a new Viking era. I’d wager he’ll be parting ways with Ragnar one way or another by the end of the season. Given Loki’s passion for the Old Gods and love for Ragnar, this is bound to be tragic as well as deadly.

Speaking of deadly, Siggi’s unexpected demise was much more heartbreaking than I thought it would have been, but that’s the power of the show’s writing — just when you started to grow suspicious of her for hungering over the throne again, she both redeems herself and dies all within the next scene. I’m kind of disappointed that the power struggle between her and Harbard ended so quickly — I was also looking forward to seeing Harbard and Ragnar confront one another.

If you put all the pieces together, one could make the argument that Harbard was Odin himself. The main reason for me to think this is his abrupt exit at the end of the episode and the way he references himself as a “Wanderer.” Those familiar with Norse Mythology know there are dozens of stories of Odin traveling about as a mysterious wanderer. Also, it was interesting that in the same episode, Ragnar states that he would stand before Odin unashamed when Rollo questions his faith. If Harbard was the Norse god, was his mischief in Kattegat meant to punish Ragnar for helping the Christians?

I really enjoyed the exchange between several main characters during the victory feast in Wessex. Ragnar and Lagertha, Ragnar and Athelstan, Athelstan and Judith and Ragnar and Ecbert. Another phenomenal bit of writing was the conversation between Ragnar and King Ecbert. Although I won’t ruin it by rehashing what they say, characters are always more intriguing when there’s a duality in them — in this case an admitted belief that they can be both good and corrupt at the same time.

Now that most of the gang is back together (aside from reuniting with everyone in Kattegat) all of the intrigue is twisting and coiling together. And how about that ending?! Kalf’s rounded up quite the motley assortment of Ragnar’s old enemies, but I have my doubts that they can seriously challenge Ragnar and Lagertha. My guess is Ragnar will stomp them out within a couple of episodes and then turn his sights on Paris without a second thought.

I also wasn’t expecting Princess Kwenthrith to knock off her brother that fast, but it just goes to show what a loose cannon she is. Total nut job. I’m not sure if everyone was in on it, but got a laugh out of the entire group coronating Kwenthrith with their empty chalices.

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 4 (Scarred) Recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3 Episode 3 (Warrior’s Fate) Recap

Season 3 Episode 3: Warrior’s Fate

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Synopsis: King Ecbert visits the developing Viking settlement as the first harvest is sown and rebuffs criticism from his leading nobles. In Mercia, the Wessex/Viking forces charge at the battle at the Hill of the Ash. In Kattegat, Harbard arrives in the Great Hall and his mysterious aura fascinates Aslaug and Helga, but Siggy remains suspicious. There are strange and tragic happenings in Kattegat, and Siggy suspects Harbard is the cause.

It sure didn’t take long for things to come to head. Floki’s pissed, Ragnar’s at his wit’s end with the lovestruck Bjorn, King Ecbert is wooing our lovely Lagertha and Harbard is stirring up trouble in Kattegat.

I was glad to see that Torstein got the warriror’s death he deserved. At the end of last episode, I thought he was going to die in the sand, but instead he got a heroic, Boromir-like ending and also kicked off the short, albeit intense battle of the Hill of Ash.

Floki’s trickery and treachery was one of the main driving factors in the last part of Season Two, but it looks like Torstein’s death may have pushed him over the edge for real. I was moved by the scene between him and Ragnar — if nothing else, you have to admire Floki’s passion. I love how the writers have dialed up the religious tension this season, on both the individual character level and between the Vikings and Christians as well (especially that spelling-binding scene with Lagertha’s sacrifice). The conflict is much stronger because of the conviction we see in both sides and this in turn escalates Athelstan’s duality.

Whether Harbard is a fraud or not, it’s easy to see why Aslaug is getting sucked in by the storyteller. It’s also easy to see why Siggy doesn’t like him — he basically called her an old lady after all! Regardless of his character’s motives, I’m impressed by Kevin Durand’s skills as a skald (a Norse storyteller). I’m also interested to see how he continues to interact with Aslaug and Ragnar’s handicapped child, Ivar the Boneless. You’ve got to wonder what his motives are — especially if he’s behind the death of the children.

At last, we finally get a hint of Paris. Although King Ecbert’s mention of the city was casual enough while seducing Lagertha, we all know he’s got ulterior motives. I can’t decide if his treachery will break the Vikings apart or provide the stimulus they need to remain loyal to one another. Either way, Paris is going to pay. I got the feeling Ecbert might be biting off more than he can chew with Lagertha — the backlash from her sacrifice is going to force him to pick sides.

Episode 3 was steeped in emotion, as much as the previous two episodes were with violence. Bjorn’s transition between boyhood and manhood may have cost him dearly considering the extent of Porunn’s injuries. It was tough to see Ragnar dress him down but, he had it coming.

With every episode, the cracks spread farther and deeper across everything the Vikings have built. I can’t wait to see what happens when things start to break!

P.S. Who else is stoked to check out Texas Rising this Memorial Day? From the teasers, it looks to be just as bloody and epic and Vikings.

The post Vikings Season 3 Episode 3 (Warrior’s Fate) Recap appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3, Episode 2 (The Wanderer) Review

Season 3 Episode 2: The Wanderer

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Synopsis: Lagertha and Athelstan help to establish the Viking settlement in Wessex. Harbard, a mysterious wanderer, arrives in Kattegat, realizing the forewarned dreams of Aslaug, Siggy and Helga.

Don’t let Lagertha’s peaceful, content face in the picture above fool you. While it didn’t compare to the infamous Blood Eagle from Season 2, The Wanderer had its share of the darker, grittier tones fast becoming the norm in Season 3.

In the opening scene at camp, I felt we got a lot of great insights into Princess Kwenthrith’s character and her motivations. Last season, her character was pretty shallow, but it will be interesting to see how this darker, deeper side of her plays out in the war to reclaim Mercia. Vicious as she might be, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her after she related what she’d gone through as a child. Of course, then she turned around and shanked her uncle’s severed head a few times which didn’t do much for my empathy.

The whole scene with Rollo eating the hallucinogen mushrooms was just…weird and didn’t do anything for the episode. I was beginning to wonder how long they were going to drag it out before we finally switched over to Lagertha and King Ecbert.

There’s definitely some hanky-panky in the works there. King Ecbert is a silver-tongued devil who’s really going to cause some grief for our Vikings sooner than later. Unfortunately, it looks like Lagertha’s being sucked right in. I love that she’s our there chucking manure alongside everyone else, though.

Speaking of complicated relationships, we can’t forget to mention Athelstan and Princess Judith. Viewers, as much as Judith, should be captivated by the duality he continues to battle in Season 3. It’s already cost him once to walk the sword’s edge between Christianity and Paganism and you can’t help but think he’s only going to suffer more, considering Judith’s interest in him and the way Episode 2 ended. Athelstan will undoubtedly have more blood on his hands as the season progresses — the only question will be if it’s Norse or English. “Fascinating” was the perfect word to describe his character.

The arrival of the Vikings on Burgred’s side of the river was a powerful, iconic scene that showed the true ferocity of the Norsemen. It doesn’t get any better (or worse, if you’re the enemy) than seeing Ragnar and  dozens of severed heads swinging from a longboat mast as it materializes out of the fog. Poor, uncle-less Burgred is just a pawn in a much bigger scheme. But with King Brihtwulf out of the picture, I wonder who’s pulling the strings in Merica?

As much as I was excited to see the Vikings kicking ass and taking names in England, what intrigued me the most were the comings and goings back at Kattegat. Everyone was having deep, foreboding dreams. I’m glad that Aslaug, Siggy and Helga are (hopefully) going to have an expanded place this season. The arrival of The Wanderer himself, played by Kevin Durand, promises to add all sorts of intrigue back in the home country. Kalf’s political coup really won’t be that interesting until Lagertha shows back up, but he had my favorite line, not just of the episode, but in the entire Vikings series so far: “What sensible man would not be afraid of a farmer who made himself a king?”

Poor Torstein. We got a little bit of dark humor when he asked Floki to cut off his infected arm, something that was foreshadowed from the start of the episode. When they actually set about the task, even Ragnar couldn’t help but cringe. You’ve got to wonder if the price his friends and people are paying in the war against Merica is beginning to eat at Ragnar, especially when the amputation looks like it doesn’t do Torstein any good.

P.S. Does anyone else wonder why 3/4 of the cast got a new hairdo this season? I’d love to hear any guesses!

The post Vikings Season 3, Episode 2 (The Wanderer) Review appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

Vikings Season 3, Episode 1 (Mercenary) Review

Season 3 Episode 1: Mercenary

Synopsis: Ragnar and Lagertha’s fleets depart Kattegat once more for Wessex but this time they bring settlers. King Ecbert hosts the Vikings and proposes a deal. Despite the misgivings of some of the other leaders, Ragnar leads his forces into battle once more, but this time as allies of Wessex.

Right from the start, the third season of History’s Vikings throws us into the complex lives of its characters and their intertwining relationships. (Just in case you need to catch up, check out this awesome infographic that summarizes Season Two.) Can Ragnar find a way to accept his handicapped son Ivar? Does he still love his second wife, Princess Aslaug? Will Lagertha hold her earldom after she sails to Wessex? What does the seers prophecy mean for her? Is everything the Vikings have gained going to crumble in England? Before the first commercial break, the audience is thrown into more problems than we or the Vikings can count.

Fast-paced as always, episode one sails for England before any of these problems can be explored further. As we’ve been promised in the weeks and months leading up to the premiere, there’s a overhanging, ominous feeling that one wrong move could cost everything. As soon as Ragnar, Lagertha and the rest land in Wessex, it’s even more apparent things aren’t going to go according to plan.

Where is the glory in farming?

King Ecbert throws another condition to his promise of land and the Vikings are back on the raid again, this time to reclaim the kingdom of Mercia for Princess Kwenthrith. All except Lagertha, that is, who stays behind to help begin the settlement of the 5,000 acres they’ve been promised. Ragnar, who at first seemed eager to throw in his lot as a mercenary in the coming battle, shows some reluctance as they prepare to leave. “Are you happy about doing this, brother?” Rollo asks him. Ragnar’s reply shows how far he’s come from farmer to king: “Since when does any of this have to do with my happiness?”

There was a great contrast at the end of the episode between Lagertha, who upon arriving at their “promised land” has this look peaceful, content look and Ragnar, who, upon winning a pretty one-sided battle against King Brihtwulf appears troubled, almost as if he’s regretted his decision to go to war again. It will be interesting to see how Ragnar’s remorse plays alongside Lagertha’s satisfaction. I sensed Ragnar has come to the realization that achieving your dreams doesn’t always turn out the way we hope.

The battle itself lived up to the usual Vikings standard, but I found the setup to be a bit of a stretch. If it was based on a a historical account (I didn’t look this up, so I can’t say), then I suppose there was a good reason for the Mercian forces to separate themselves on either side of an impassable river (no boats or bridge to cross). If not, it was a really cheap gimmick by the show’s writers as the Vikings overwhelmed King Brihtwulf’s forces while his nephew/Princess Kwenthrith’s brother, could only watch in helpless, frustrated horror on the far bank, where even is archers were out of range. Again, I don’t know if this was written in or based on history, but it cheapened the victory for me.

The thing I love about Vikings is that there are always several subplots and undercurrents going on. It will be interesting to see how the foreshadowed fling between King Ecbert and Lagertha works out (I hope she’s not that dumb) and also how Athelstan handles being back amongst his native people. It looks like everything is going to go to hell, but for now, let’s just be happy History’s Vikings is back!

What are you most looking forward to this season? Leave a comment below and let me know!

The post Vikings Season 3, Episode 1 (Mercenary) Review appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

What I’m reading: January 2015

Greetings everyone! Since the start of the new year, I’ve been busy working on Return to Shadow and getting back into the swing of things. Right now, I’m about halfway done with Part II. (If you haven’t yet, make sure to grab a copy of part one and tell me what you think when you finish!) But enough of that. This post is one I’ve been wanting to do since December and finally decided to get around to it. Better late than never though, right?

Before we dive right into things, let me explain. Instead of just talking about me, me, me all the time, I want to actually have meaningful conversations with my readers. I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than talk about another passion of mine that goes along with writing — reading! Every time I start or finish a book, I’ll tell you a little bit about it (no spoilers), what I liked, didn’t like and what I found inspiring. I don’t intend for these to be reviews really, just conversations between bookish folks about books.

During the end of November/start of December I decided to reread The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. It was probably my fourth or fifth time through the series and, once again, they did not  disappoint. The books were a huge inspiration for Teutevar Saga and I got very nostalgic thinking back to early drafts of Out of Exile that were based on The Chronicles of Prydain. Even the name of the continent in my books, Peldrin, was drawn from Prydain and something in the third book, The Castle of Llyr (if you’ve read it I’d love to hear your guess as to what it is). For those who haven’t read them, The Chronicles of Prydain draw on Lord of the Rings, but with a heavy dose of Welsh mythology thrown in. They’re also much shorter and faster-paced. The character types are similar, but with enough of a unique spin to grow on you on their own merits. Altogether, there are five books in the series. The second, The Black Cauldron, was made into a cartoon and became one of Disney’s rare flops. It was okay, but didn’t failed miserably in doing the books justice. If anyone knows of any rumors out there of someone making the whole series into films, please tell me! It’s my dream for The Chronicles of Prydain to get the LOTR cinema treatment they deserve.

As I said before, The Chronicles of Prydain are much faster-paced than Lord of the Rings or even the Hobbit. Although they’re set in a land that roughly resembles Wales, Alexander was an American writer and I credit him for giving me the first seedlings of an idea to create an Americanized epic fantasy. His action-packed style is something I’ve worked to duplicate in my revisions of Return to Shadow. Even though most of the characters were static throughout the series, I loved the way the author developed the main protagonist, Taran Assistant Pig-keeper. Alexander has a lot of wisdom hiding behind these young adult books. A word of warning to fans of contemporary prose, though: Alexander’s generous use of adverbs and stiff dialog may annoy some readers.

I buzzed right through The Chronicles of Prydain (each book is 200 pages or less, I believe) and decided to revisit another series: The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. It’d been so long since I read them that I thought I had the complete series (four books) but it turns out there are actually seven. I devoured the first three in the couple of weeks before Christmas and am on number four (The Shadow Dragons) right now. My pace has slowed down quite a bit since the New Year.

The Imaginarium Geographica follows the adventures of fictional versions of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams (along with a great many other creatives throughout history). After the murder of Tolkien’s mentor, the three are taken to a magical world called the Archipelago of Dreams to battle against the Winter King. To guide them on their journey, they have an atlas (The Imaginarium Geographica) of all the islands in the Archipelago and ride around on dragonships, sea-going vessels, each a different style and color. There are dragons, humans, elves, dwarves, trolls, goblins and talking animals. If you hadn’t guessed, the author, James A. Owen suggest that these writers came up with their beloved stories because of their adventures in the Archipelago. This makes the books a great fanboy/fangirl read, but what really sets this series apart is the fascinating and often ingenious ways Owen weaves a rich tapestry of mythologies. From Jason and the Argonauts, to Peter Pan (with plenty of Arthurian Legend thrown in), I’ve been blown away by Owen’s creativity and downright addicting storytelling. And, to make it even better, the author gives fantastic hand-drawn illustrations at the start of every chapter!

I’ve included links to the first in each of these series, The Chronicles of Prydain and The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica above. I’m not getting anything if you buy either of these books, but I would like to know what you think if you’ve read them or, if you’re planning to, what your thoughts are when you finish. You can tell me in the comments below or, better yet, if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter do that and shoot me an email!

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Until next time, happy reading!

♠DAS♠

The post What I’m reading: January 2015 appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.

My 2015 author resolutions

Ah, New Year’s. The holiday of nostalgia and sentimentality. A time for looking back and moving forward. Out with the old, in with the new. Since I get a free pass to indulge in said nostalgia and sentiments this time of year, I thought I’d get back into the swing of blogging after my hiatus while toiling on Return to Shadow. And, as loyal readers and awesome fans, I think it’s only fair that you have some idea of what to expect from me in 2015.

2014 was my first full year as an author. Looking back on the last twelve months, I’ve come a long way. Out of Exile took me almost a decade to write and publish. The rough draft of Return to Shadow (all three parts) was completed in a little less than six months and it’s roughly 50,000 words longer. Last year, Out of Exile also went through a  much needed revision and I hope you’ve all had a chance to read the second edition. Between these two endeavors I learned a few hard lessons, but I’m a better writer, author and publisher for it. In the coming year, I’m going to do everything I can to continue to improve even more. Without further adieu, here are my 2015 author resolutions:

Write faster: A lot of writers go back and forth on this concept, but in my own work, I’ve found that when I write faster my dialog is sharper, my pacing is better and my storyline is more compelling. Contrary to what you’d think, I don’t have any more typos or snags than I would writing at a slower pace and I have to fight off writer’s block quite a bit less. Plus you guys get to read my next book sooner!
Edit slower: I know, this seems to go against what I’ve just said. But when all goes according to plan, the faster I write a first draft, the more time I have to polish that ugly little creation into a work of art. Trust me when I say I’m one of my harshest critics. The published version you read (unless you’re one of my beta readers) is usually a a vastly different tale than what I started with. The hardest thing to learn in this business is patience. I’ve found that after I go through a second and third draft of my work, I’m often unwilling to do the little things that would make my story even better before publishing. This is unacceptable to me and you, my readers, deserve better. My goal is still to produce at the same rate, but quality will be of even greater importance.
Continue to have fun writing: This may sound like a dumb resolution, but believe me when I say it’s probably the most important. Although I love it, writing isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s the most frustrating thing in the world. Even so, there are ways to enjoy the grind and have fun during every part of the process. When I’m loving my work, it shows. Right now, I’m not a full-time author. I write when I can, in the crack between my day job and life. Although it’s not always easy, it’s a whole lot harder if I sit down at my desk with a bad attitude.

Being an author means undertaking a journey that has no real end. It’s about the process, not the destination. Each book is a stepping stone to the next. I’m better now than I was a year ago and a year from now I know I’ll be better than I am today. Although I’m going to switch directions a bit in 2015 (more exciting details to come!), the core of what I’m doing will remain the same. Thanks for your support as I continue make my dream a reality. Whatever your resolutions are for 2015, I wish you the best of luck (and perseverance) in all you do. Happy New Year and, most importantly, thanks for reading.

♠DAS♠

P.S. Hey, I’m going to do some awesome things with my newsletter in 2015. If you haven’t joined it yet, don’t miss out! You’ll also get a free short story of mine,

The post My 2015 author resolutions appeared first on Author Derek Alan Siddoway.