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Sagan om Valhalla #4
The Unbroken Line of the Moon
In this grand saga of love, war, and magic set in the tenth century, young Sigrid is destined to be the mother of the king of the Nordic lands that would become Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and England.
A devout believer in the old Nordic gods, Sigrid is visited regularly in her dreams by the goddess Freya, who whispers to her of the future. Though Sigrid is beautiful, rich, arrogant, and matchlessly clever, her uncanny ability to foresee the future and manipulate the present guides her through dangerous politics as a bloody war between Vikings and Christians rages on.
Sigrid’s father wants her to marry Erik, a local king, to secure the peace between the Goths and the Swedes. Thinking she is doing Freya’s will, she accepts the marriage offer, only to find that her destiny lies not with Erik but with Sweyn, a warrior who dreams of dethroning Harald Bluetooth, the legendary ruler of Denmark. Will Sigrid sacrifice her will for the greatest Viking kingdom of all time, or will she follow her heart at the risk of losing everything?
A devout believer in the old Nordic gods, Sigrid is visited regularly in her dreams by the goddess Freya, who whispers to her of the future. Though Sigrid is beautiful, rich, arrogant, and matchlessly clever, her uncanny ability to foresee the future and manipulate the present guides her through dangerous politics as a bloody war between Vikings and Christians rages on.
Sigrid’s father wants her to marry Erik, a local king, to secure the peace between the Goths and the Swedes. Thinking she is doing Freya’s will, she accepts the marriage offer, only to find that her destiny lies not with Erik but with Sweyn, a warrior who dreams of dethroning Harald Bluetooth, the legendary ruler of Denmark. Will Sigrid sacrifice her will for the greatest Viking kingdom of all time, or will she follow her heart at the risk of losing everything?
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First published October 1, 2016
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February 28, 2017
I purchased this audiobook based upon the recommendation of a friend. I didn't realize at the time that this book was actually the fourth book in a series. That being said, I enjoyed it quite a bit and felt that it was easily read as a standalone. Of course, I can't really know what I might have missed in the earlier books that might have enhanced my reading experience.
'The Unbroken Line of the Moon' is set in the tenth century, when the Vikings and Christians were battling over the Nordic lands that comprise present-day Sweden, Norway, Denmark and England. As this is a period of history that I haven't spent much time reading about, I can't speak to whether or not it was an accurate portrayal of this time period. For me, it was an interesting and entertaining introduction to the religious mysticism of that time.
The story opens with the heroine, Sigrid, learning that she is to be wed to Erik, the Swedish king. She doesn't want to leave her homeland, but understands that it is her duty as a princess to marry in order to secure a better position for her father and her people. Sigrid has been chosen to serve the goddess Freya and has visions of the future.
On the way to meet her future husband, Sigrid meets Sweyn. She is immediately taken aback by the illegitimate son of Harald Bluetooth, the ruler of Denmark. Despite her upcoming nuptials, she and Sweyn have a brief, but intense, love affair.
Sigrid goes on to marry Erik, carrying Sweyn's child. As Sweyn goes on to achieve success driven by his love for Sigrid, she does whatever she must to secure the safety of their child. Guided by her visions, she manipulates events to ensure that Sweyn lives to fulfill his destiny and claim his crown, even if it means pushing him away from her.
This story was brutal at times, as the Viking battles played out in vivid detail. The gods and goddesses were cruel and harsh often times, demanding bloody sacrifices. Trustworthy friends were in small supply, as Sigrid learned the hard way.
Although this story didn't have as much romance as I usually prefer, there was enough of a love story to hold my interest. I found myself getting lost in this tumultuous time of the Viking warriors. It was brutal, but intriguing.
All in all, this was a great story and something a little different from my usual reading choices. My only complaint is that Sigrid and Sweyn's story is not wrapped up completely with this book. I wanted Sigrid to get her HEA after everything that she had been through, but I will have to read further into the series in order to see if that happens or not. I plan to do that sometime soon.
'The Unbroken Line of the Moon' is set in the tenth century, when the Vikings and Christians were battling over the Nordic lands that comprise present-day Sweden, Norway, Denmark and England. As this is a period of history that I haven't spent much time reading about, I can't speak to whether or not it was an accurate portrayal of this time period. For me, it was an interesting and entertaining introduction to the religious mysticism of that time.
The story opens with the heroine, Sigrid, learning that she is to be wed to Erik, the Swedish king. She doesn't want to leave her homeland, but understands that it is her duty as a princess to marry in order to secure a better position for her father and her people. Sigrid has been chosen to serve the goddess Freya and has visions of the future.
On the way to meet her future husband, Sigrid meets Sweyn. She is immediately taken aback by the illegitimate son of Harald Bluetooth, the ruler of Denmark. Despite her upcoming nuptials, she and Sweyn have a brief, but intense, love affair.
Sigrid goes on to marry Erik, carrying Sweyn's child. As Sweyn goes on to achieve success driven by his love for Sigrid, she does whatever she must to secure the safety of their child. Guided by her visions, she manipulates events to ensure that Sweyn lives to fulfill his destiny and claim his crown, even if it means pushing him away from her.
This story was brutal at times, as the Viking battles played out in vivid detail. The gods and goddesses were cruel and harsh often times, demanding bloody sacrifices. Trustworthy friends were in small supply, as Sigrid learned the hard way.
Although this story didn't have as much romance as I usually prefer, there was enough of a love story to hold my interest. I found myself getting lost in this tumultuous time of the Viking warriors. It was brutal, but intriguing.
All in all, this was a great story and something a little different from my usual reading choices. My only complaint is that Sigrid and Sweyn's story is not wrapped up completely with this book. I wanted Sigrid to get her HEA after everything that she had been through, but I will have to read further into the series in order to see if that happens or not. I plan to do that sometime soon.
September 5, 2016
I received this book over the weekend as a Kindle First Pick for September.
Right off the bat, I have to address an earlier Amazon review that expressed much concern about “mature content” including violent descriptions of rape.
This is a historical fiction account of Vikings.
VIKINGS!
There is much, much “mature content” because the author stays absolutely true to any historical basis. And anyone who expects some sort of “everyone lived happily thereafter” romance should definitely look elsewhere, because this is about Vikings, men and women both.
Power, politics, religion, friends, enemies, allegiances (and marriages) of convenience and otherwise... they are all here in all their unapologetic gory glory.
No “mature content” disclaimer should be necessary.
History is messy, nasty, heart-breaking, and should (at times, over and over again) make you want to avert your eyes.
But the story will drag your eyes back to the page and demand that you witness what happened, no matter how painful, no matter how outrageous.
And Johanne Hildebrandt delivers all of this and more. I can only imagine how powerful this novel is in the original Swedish.
I unhesitatingly give this book five stars and look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
Right off the bat, I have to address an earlier Amazon review that expressed much concern about “mature content” including violent descriptions of rape.
This is a historical fiction account of Vikings.
VIKINGS!
There is much, much “mature content” because the author stays absolutely true to any historical basis. And anyone who expects some sort of “everyone lived happily thereafter” romance should definitely look elsewhere, because this is about Vikings, men and women both.
Power, politics, religion, friends, enemies, allegiances (and marriages) of convenience and otherwise... they are all here in all their unapologetic gory glory.
No “mature content” disclaimer should be necessary.
History is messy, nasty, heart-breaking, and should (at times, over and over again) make you want to avert your eyes.
But the story will drag your eyes back to the page and demand that you witness what happened, no matter how painful, no matter how outrageous.
And Johanne Hildebrandt delivers all of this and more. I can only imagine how powerful this novel is in the original Swedish.
I unhesitatingly give this book five stars and look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
October 4, 2016
4.5 stars--I loved this book.
I will say the one downside was that it had sooooo many characters. It wasn't until about the 40% mark that I felt comfortable in knowing who everybody was and what their relationships were with each other. To be honest, I even started highlighting in the beginning because there were just so many names and with them being unusual, it was even harder for me to keep track.
That being said, I loved the story. It reminded me of the Vikings show on The History Channel. Sigrid is a strong FMC who believes she is doing Freya's will when she is sent off to marry a local king. Upon seeing her betrothed, she realizes the king is not the man in her visions, though, and she now has to decide between doing what she believes will be right for her people or following her heart (and signs from the Goddess) that all point toward a young warrior.
There is war, there is love, there is betrayal on the grandest of scales, and there is heartache. I cannot wait until book 2 is released.
I will say the one downside was that it had sooooo many characters. It wasn't until about the 40% mark that I felt comfortable in knowing who everybody was and what their relationships were with each other. To be honest, I even started highlighting in the beginning because there were just so many names and with them being unusual, it was even harder for me to keep track.
That being said, I loved the story. It reminded me of the Vikings show on The History Channel. Sigrid is a strong FMC who believes she is doing Freya's will when she is sent off to marry a local king. Upon seeing her betrothed, she realizes the king is not the man in her visions, though, and she now has to decide between doing what she believes will be right for her people or following her heart (and signs from the Goddess) that all point toward a young warrior.
There is war, there is love, there is betrayal on the grandest of scales, and there is heartache. I cannot wait until book 2 is released.
September 4, 2016
Exciting Viking Saga
I enjoyed this book very much. While the warnings of graphic violence and sex are absolutely true I think it should also be made very clear that these scenes are not just in the book to shock or stimulate the reader. It's a fair depiction of the the mindset and practices at that time in history. I read this book in one sitting and will definitely read the next one. It is a fantastic translation and made reading effortless.
I enjoyed this book very much. While the warnings of graphic violence and sex are absolutely true I think it should also be made very clear that these scenes are not just in the book to shock or stimulate the reader. It's a fair depiction of the the mindset and practices at that time in history. I read this book in one sitting and will definitely read the next one. It is a fantastic translation and made reading effortless.
January 11, 2017
I wanted to like this book more. The ancient scandanavian setting is one we rarely see in heroic fiction; the author treats the Norse gods as real and powerful; and the heroine, Sigrid, is a strong but not goody-goody invididual. Unfortunately, the underdeveloped primary characters keep it from being truly compelling.
Sigrid and Sweyn could have been fascinating, but all Hildebrandt shows us is their political ambition and their desire for each other. Even their family ties, which have dramatic consequences, are of interest only in the context of their ambitions. And because their mutual, all-consuming passion was presented as being instilled by the goddess Freya in order to conceive a future king, not as a something that developed naturally between them, I wasn't able to become emotionally invested in it. Their stories are exciting, but not deep.
My second problem with the book was the anachronistic speech that appeared at odd intervals: someone referring to his sister as "just a kid," or saying that if events didn't go well a king in a precarious might "be sunk." I don't know if this is part of the author's actual style or a clunky translation decision, but it kept throwing me out of the mood of the ancient setting.
Writing a story in which deities are real and play an active role is a tricky task. It's hard to portray them as powerful without making them deus ex machina, depriving your human characters of agency and your readers of authentic tension. As I've already stated, I like the fact that Hildebrandt portrays the Norse deities as real, but because so many powers are constellated around Sigrid, it was hard to ever see her as truly at risk.
Apparently this is the fourth book in a series, although it's the first one to be translated into English. I didn't know that when I started the book. Some of the characters had shared histories which shaped the current events, but I never felt like I was missing information. And I guess one of the reason for my three-star review is that I feel zero interest in going back and finding out more about those characters. Nobody is all that interesting.
If you're looking for an adventurous tale of politics, sex, and war, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for subtlety or complexity, look elsewhere.
Sigrid and Sweyn could have been fascinating, but all Hildebrandt shows us is their political ambition and their desire for each other. Even their family ties, which have dramatic consequences, are of interest only in the context of their ambitions. And because their mutual, all-consuming passion was presented as being instilled by the goddess Freya in order to conceive a future king, not as a something that developed naturally between them, I wasn't able to become emotionally invested in it. Their stories are exciting, but not deep.
My second problem with the book was the anachronistic speech that appeared at odd intervals: someone referring to his sister as "just a kid," or saying that if events didn't go well a king in a precarious might "be sunk." I don't know if this is part of the author's actual style or a clunky translation decision, but it kept throwing me out of the mood of the ancient setting.
Writing a story in which deities are real and play an active role is a tricky task. It's hard to portray them as powerful without making them deus ex machina, depriving your human characters of agency and your readers of authentic tension. As I've already stated, I like the fact that Hildebrandt portrays the Norse deities as real, but because so many powers are constellated around Sigrid, it was hard to ever see her as truly at risk.
Apparently this is the fourth book in a series, although it's the first one to be translated into English. I didn't know that when I started the book. Some of the characters had shared histories which shaped the current events, but I never felt like I was missing information. And I guess one of the reason for my three-star review is that I feel zero interest in going back and finding out more about those characters. Nobody is all that interesting.
If you're looking for an adventurous tale of politics, sex, and war, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for subtlety or complexity, look elsewhere.
May 24, 2015
*3.5/4
I don't really know what to say about this book, I enjoyed it. It had a nice story with a strong female character. I had a couple to ship, which was good haha. This book reminds me a bit of Game Of Thrones but with vikings :)
I don't really know what to say about this book, I enjoyed it. It had a nice story with a strong female character. I had a couple to ship, which was good haha. This book reminds me a bit of Game Of Thrones but with vikings :)
May 22, 2017
If anyone is a fan of the TV series Vikings - then this book mirror's those times very well.
Like the show, life is uncomfortable (even for the ruling class), dirty and there was a lot of violent and blood thirsty scenarios' which your everyday Viking would have been quite at home with. Me? Well not so much. I spend much of the show with my eyes closed and shuddering - with the occasional tear shed at some unspeakable horror that has just taken place. The same with this book. Although this book is in no way connected with the show - I felt the similarity in living conditions and portrayal of the Viking life to be complimentary of each other.
In fact in regards to the violence and sex, it was often quite disturbing and a little too graphic for me to read - pages were skipped over when the icky bits reared their ugly presence- we are talking incest and rape here, on top of the gory violence.
I know that is the way Vikings lived - and the Christianised Medieval people were not much better in the way they lived either - they just had God on their side. But like my TV shows, I don't need what is happening to be graphically described blow by blow, groan by groan and blood drop by blood drop. Yes it probably made it realistic - but the imagination is a great thing and I would prefer to use my mind than be told graphic horrors!!!
All that aside - the story itself was good - and there is romance, it just isn't the main focus. There is lots of Viking folk law here as well - which again is very interesting. The author is a historian so I guess she knows her stuff.
Many, many of my friends will enjoy this - but the content is just a wee bit 'in your face' for me.
Oh and the names - there are many, many names and it took me a long time to work out who was who and who hated who and why who and who was important. I do not do well with lots of names - is bad enough trying to remember the names of the people I work with!!!
Like the show, life is uncomfortable (even for the ruling class), dirty and there was a lot of violent and blood thirsty scenarios' which your everyday Viking would have been quite at home with. Me? Well not so much. I spend much of the show with my eyes closed and shuddering - with the occasional tear shed at some unspeakable horror that has just taken place. The same with this book. Although this book is in no way connected with the show - I felt the similarity in living conditions and portrayal of the Viking life to be complimentary of each other.
In fact in regards to the violence and sex, it was often quite disturbing and a little too graphic for me to read - pages were skipped over when the icky bits reared their ugly presence- we are talking incest and rape here, on top of the gory violence.
I know that is the way Vikings lived - and the Christianised Medieval people were not much better in the way they lived either - they just had God on their side. But like my TV shows, I don't need what is happening to be graphically described blow by blow, groan by groan and blood drop by blood drop. Yes it probably made it realistic - but the imagination is a great thing and I would prefer to use my mind than be told graphic horrors!!!
All that aside - the story itself was good - and there is romance, it just isn't the main focus. There is lots of Viking folk law here as well - which again is very interesting. The author is a historian so I guess she knows her stuff.
Many, many of my friends will enjoy this - but the content is just a wee bit 'in your face' for me.
Oh and the names - there are many, many names and it took me a long time to work out who was who and who hated who and why who and who was important. I do not do well with lots of names - is bad enough trying to remember the names of the people I work with!!!
November 3, 2016
A compelling saga about a noble Viking family as they become embroiled in war and treachery. The Norse gods and lesser beings walk among the characters, adding a fantastical element that added to the richness of the story. Make no mistake - this isn't a sanitized look at Viking life in the 10th century. Extreme violence, slavery and rape are described often in this book, and in detail.
September 6, 2016
Trigger warning: high levels of violence and disturbing rapes. Very well-written and engrossing book, but I wish someone had warned me of the trauma level within, because I may have avoided reading it. As it was, I couldn't stop reading, but the graphic violence will linger.
April 26, 2016
tycker verkligen om den här serien; der är intressant, grymt och väldigt spännande!
September 9, 2019
”Sigrid” av Johanne Hildebrandt har varit en hyllvärmare hos mig alldeles för länge så nu var det dags att läsa den. Det här är den fjärde boken i serien om Valhalla där alla böcker handlar om historiska kvinnor i asatrons Norden. Den här boken handlar om Sigrid Storråda som levde på 900-talet. Det var många år sedan jag läste de andra tre böckerna om Freja, Idun och Saga och det tog några kapitel innan jag kom in i boken. Jag upptäckte efter ett tag att i slutet av boken fanns en ordlista med ord från vikingatiden och ett persongalleri. Ett tips till er som inte läst boken är att börja med att läsa igenom ordlistan, man hänger med betydligt lättare när man vet vad ord som asynjor, galder, gyndja och vala betyder.
Jag gillar att Johanne Hildebrandt skriver om starka historiska kvinnor som inte låter männen bestämma över dem utan tar tag i sitt egna öden. Jag gillar att få en inblick i hur det var att leva på vikingatiden. Jag skulle inte velat leva då med tanke på hur grymt livet var då. Efter att ha läst klart den här boken känner jag att jag absolut måste läsa den femte boken i serien som handlar om Sigrids dotter ”Estrid” men det får bli nästa år. Jag har en massa andra böcker som jag vill hinna läsa innan dess.
Jag gillar att Johanne Hildebrandt skriver om starka historiska kvinnor som inte låter männen bestämma över dem utan tar tag i sitt egna öden. Jag gillar att få en inblick i hur det var att leva på vikingatiden. Jag skulle inte velat leva då med tanke på hur grymt livet var då. Efter att ha läst klart den här boken känner jag att jag absolut måste läsa den femte boken i serien som handlar om Sigrids dotter ”Estrid” men det får bli nästa år. Jag har en massa andra böcker som jag vill hinna läsa innan dess.
January 31, 2018
Ojalá poder poner 0 estrellas, pero al menos una se la merece por el trabajo de investigación en mitología nórdica que obviamente ha hecho la autora, aunque su insistencia en recordárnoslo en cada maldito párrafo casi me hace quitársela.
Los dioses serían un añadido muy interesante a esta revisión de la historia escandinava si no fueran un burdo deus ex machina constante para sacar a las protagonistas de la mierda una y otra y otra y OTRA vez.
Y ah, las protagonistas. Son la prueba fehaciente de que no necesitas ser hombre para escribir lo más machista que se te pase por la cabeza. La única voluntad que expresan es la que los hombres y los dioses les imponen.
Puntos extra del horror por el tonito prepotente de "esto es el medievo vikingo y no tengo ningún reparo en añadir violaciones y descuartizamientos en masa" pero luego él y ella "se aman y desean con pasión porque el destino así lo ha escrito". Blegh.
Los dioses serían un añadido muy interesante a esta revisión de la historia escandinava si no fueran un burdo deus ex machina constante para sacar a las protagonistas de la mierda una y otra y otra y OTRA vez.
Y ah, las protagonistas. Son la prueba fehaciente de que no necesitas ser hombre para escribir lo más machista que se te pase por la cabeza. La única voluntad que expresan es la que los hombres y los dioses les imponen.
Puntos extra del horror por el tonito prepotente de "esto es el medievo vikingo y no tengo ningún reparo en añadir violaciones y descuartizamientos en masa" pero luego él y ella "se aman y desean con pasión porque el destino así lo ha escrito". Blegh.
August 12, 2019
Reading books in translation is always a weird experience. I constantly wonder if there are shades of meaning that were lost in the translation, or how well the prose flowed in the original. That said, I'm unlikely to learn every single language, so I'll have to settle for translations.
I'm not sure how to classify this book either. It's historical fantasy/fiction, but the fantasy elements are things that the characters would have believed happened, and so you're left with the Beowulf quandary. Is it really a fantasy story, in the sense that the people telling it believed that it was false? I took a class in college where we talked a little bit about the mindset of the medieval person, and how the ghosts and demons and miracles were things that they honestly, truly believed actually happened. Things which we would say were fantastical, like say a priestess calling in a fog to hid her army as they staged a surprise attack, and would pass off as coincidental, were actual possibilities. And it's that kind of magic that this story employs.
Does Billy Pilgrim in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five really experience time travel and alien abduction? Or does he go mad from the strain of the atrocities he witnessed during the war? This is the quandary I faced with this book. Does Sigrid actually have magical powers and help from the gods, or does she simply align her world view to match the events around her?
Philosophical questions aside (and honestly, they're moot-the book is a fantastical telling of a historical character) I really liked this one. I will be picking up the other translated book in this series, and hoping that they all get there.
I'm not sure how to classify this book either. It's historical fantasy/fiction, but the fantasy elements are things that the characters would have believed happened, and so you're left with the Beowulf quandary. Is it really a fantasy story, in the sense that the people telling it believed that it was false? I took a class in college where we talked a little bit about the mindset of the medieval person, and how the ghosts and demons and miracles were things that they honestly, truly believed actually happened. Things which we would say were fantastical, like say a priestess calling in a fog to hid her army as they staged a surprise attack, and would pass off as coincidental, were actual possibilities. And it's that kind of magic that this story employs.
Does Billy Pilgrim in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five really experience time travel and alien abduction? Or does he go mad from the strain of the atrocities he witnessed during the war? This is the quandary I faced with this book. Does Sigrid actually have magical powers and help from the gods, or does she simply align her world view to match the events around her?
Philosophical questions aside (and honestly, they're moot-the book is a fantastical telling of a historical character) I really liked this one. I will be picking up the other translated book in this series, and hoping that they all get there.
October 8, 2016
"The Unbroken Line of the Moon" is an intense tale of the vikings, focusing on three main characters: Sigrid, Sweyn, and Emma. Sigrid is a princess of a tribe which is bargaining for peace by offering her in marriage to the man whose men killed her mother. She begins the book as a naive and arrogant teenaged girl who receives a sign from the gods which she interprets and intends to follow. She matures throughout the story. We learn early on that she is destined to be the mother of an important figure, but this future is not guaranteed. Sweyn is a Jomsviking (a type of warrior viking), who begins the story by plundering and raiding the Christians. Emma is half-viking and when her life is being threatened, she begins to receive signs from the gods. Emma finds her fate is entwined with Sigrid's and learns of their deeper relationship later on. After Sigrid is promised to Erik, the king, she falls in love with Sweyn instantly upon meeting him.
Overall, the book reads like the show Vikings- it's confusing at times and muddled and it contains a lot of violence and graphic (and sometimes disturbing images). However, it is a well researched account of the time and vikings with an impressive amount of history contained within. Most of it is well explained within the text, and it's hard to believe it wasn't originally written in English (the translation is fantastic). I felt that it moved really slowly and then suddenly would jump through events, so I found myself sometimes lost in who everyone was (some characters disappear and reappear). I went back and forth a lot to catch up, so it took me longer than usual to get through this book.
Regarding the violence and sexual content, it was at times disturbing and a little too graphic for me. I understand that they are vikings and this was a part of the way things were, but I would have preferred to avoid the graphic descriptions, particularly in the rapes and incest. A content warning would be helpful, as other reviewers have suggested.
In sum, I found it to be, in terms of historical content and accuracy, very interesting, but in practice/reading for entertainment, it was a little hard for me to follow and felt slow at times. The graphic content could be something to consider if this might bother you as well.
Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, the book reads like the show Vikings- it's confusing at times and muddled and it contains a lot of violence and graphic (and sometimes disturbing images). However, it is a well researched account of the time and vikings with an impressive amount of history contained within. Most of it is well explained within the text, and it's hard to believe it wasn't originally written in English (the translation is fantastic). I felt that it moved really slowly and then suddenly would jump through events, so I found myself sometimes lost in who everyone was (some characters disappear and reappear). I went back and forth a lot to catch up, so it took me longer than usual to get through this book.
Regarding the violence and sexual content, it was at times disturbing and a little too graphic for me. I understand that they are vikings and this was a part of the way things were, but I would have preferred to avoid the graphic descriptions, particularly in the rapes and incest. A content warning would be helpful, as other reviewers have suggested.
In sum, I found it to be, in terms of historical content and accuracy, very interesting, but in practice/reading for entertainment, it was a little hard for me to follow and felt slow at times. The graphic content could be something to consider if this might bother you as well.
Please note that I received this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2016
This was a fine novel and giving it three stars doesn't mean I disliked it. I did enjoy it. There was just something missing from it to pack enough punch for me to really enjoy it. The story moved along nicely most of the time and I cared enough about the main characters but towards the end it felt rushed, as though everyone had to be in certain positions by the sequel.
Most of the time the translation was fine but there were a couple of redundant sentences (beauty and beautiful being mentioned quickly in the same context is the one that stands out) and everyone seems to be biting their cheek, especially the main character. That poor girl must have chewed away half the skin in her mouth! I don't know if this is because the original words don't translate quite as well into English but it was only a minor thing and did not at all detract from good writing.
The mystical or mythical elements are a little confusing at first. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to believe this is all real or just imagined by the main players. However, the mystic elements very much appear to be solidified by the end. I don't mind because although I'm a skeptic in real life I love mythological angles in historical fiction. I was actually pleasantly surprised that the author seemed to go for the magic angle rather than implying it was entirely in Sigrid's head. It seems quite fashionable at the moment to be too scared to include actual representations of folkloric figures in fiction.
Although I have given the book an average rating I will definitely look out for other books in the series. I've read a lot of historical fiction lately so am probably not as receptive as what is usual for me.
Most of the time the translation was fine but there were a couple of redundant sentences (beauty and beautiful being mentioned quickly in the same context is the one that stands out) and everyone seems to be biting their cheek, especially the main character. That poor girl must have chewed away half the skin in her mouth! I don't know if this is because the original words don't translate quite as well into English but it was only a minor thing and did not at all detract from good writing.
The mystical or mythical elements are a little confusing at first. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to believe this is all real or just imagined by the main players. However, the mystic elements very much appear to be solidified by the end. I don't mind because although I'm a skeptic in real life I love mythological angles in historical fiction. I was actually pleasantly surprised that the author seemed to go for the magic angle rather than implying it was entirely in Sigrid's head. It seems quite fashionable at the moment to be too scared to include actual representations of folkloric figures in fiction.
Although I have given the book an average rating I will definitely look out for other books in the series. I've read a lot of historical fiction lately so am probably not as receptive as what is usual for me.
August 7, 2018
I really wanted to like this book! I dig Norse mythology and anything with Freya is my jam. However, this one wasn't what I expected. Here are the pros and cons:
Pros:
- The mythology was so well portrayed as was the religion.
- The clothing and hair styles as well as weapons and armor were well researched and well written.
- The clash between Christians and the old religion was interesting.
- The 'miracles' and Valkyries were easy enough to buy. As were the Seeress and witches.
Cons:
- So. Much. Violence. I understand that it was part of how Vikings lived but it was way more than I could handle.
- Rape, incest, domestic violence, torture; there was abundance of violence against women and seemed that no one tried to protect them AT ALL.
- The dialogue occasionally slipped into 21st century slang. I understand that it might have been a problem with translation, however it took a lot away from the ambiance of the book.
- The characters were really black and white. Women were duplicitous and the men were ruthless. Just made for a really apathetic read.
I don't recommend this book to anyone that's disturbed by a lot of violence. If you're not, then it might be a decent book for you.
Pros:
- The mythology was so well portrayed as was the religion.
- The clothing and hair styles as well as weapons and armor were well researched and well written.
- The clash between Christians and the old religion was interesting.
- The 'miracles' and Valkyries were easy enough to buy. As were the Seeress and witches.
Cons:
- So. Much. Violence. I understand that it was part of how Vikings lived but it was way more than I could handle.
- Rape, incest, domestic violence, torture; there was abundance of violence against women and seemed that no one tried to protect them AT ALL.
- The dialogue occasionally slipped into 21st century slang. I understand that it might have been a problem with translation, however it took a lot away from the ambiance of the book.
- The characters were really black and white. Women were duplicitous and the men were ruthless. Just made for a really apathetic read.
I don't recommend this book to anyone that's disturbed by a lot of violence. If you're not, then it might be a decent book for you.
September 17, 2016
Title: The Unbroken Line of the Moon
Author: Johanne Hildebrandt
Publisher: AmazonCrossing
Series: The Valhalla Book 4
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Unbroken Line of the Moon" by Johanne Hildebrandt
My Thoughts.....
This was a different kind of genre for me being a historical [Norse] mythology fiction read of the 'Vikings' [folk lore] however, I did find it a rather interesting read that did keep my attention of following Sigrid's Viking life. Be ready for a little bit of it all from 'power, politics, religion, friends, enemies, love, allegiances, slaves, religious conflicts [Norns Gods], magic, violence's, battles, sex scenes, rapes, incest, marriages' and I am sure I have left something out...oh yes 'gory glory.' I found that this author does a very good job in the thought and translation as she delivers to her readers quite a 'powerful read' to the very end that definitely showed a lots of research. I did also enjoy reading through the 'appendix of important people and the glossary' that was located at the end of the read.
Prime Read First for September, 2016
Author: Johanne Hildebrandt
Publisher: AmazonCrossing
Series: The Valhalla Book 4
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Unbroken Line of the Moon" by Johanne Hildebrandt
My Thoughts.....
This was a different kind of genre for me being a historical [Norse] mythology fiction read of the 'Vikings' [folk lore] however, I did find it a rather interesting read that did keep my attention of following Sigrid's Viking life. Be ready for a little bit of it all from 'power, politics, religion, friends, enemies, love, allegiances, slaves, religious conflicts [Norns Gods], magic, violence's, battles, sex scenes, rapes, incest, marriages' and I am sure I have left something out...oh yes 'gory glory.' I found that this author does a very good job in the thought and translation as she delivers to her readers quite a 'powerful read' to the very end that definitely showed a lots of research. I did also enjoy reading through the 'appendix of important people and the glossary' that was located at the end of the read.
Prime Read First for September, 2016
February 2, 2017
Fascinating story based in Nordic beliefs. Enjoyed how the different story threads came together. Strong female lead who proved to be both smart and brave even when there appeared to be no hope left. Translation was smooth and easy to read.
May 8, 2017
Easy ready
Main character is not very likable. Even tho she is suppose to be a strong woman. I think she should have had a story line that evolved her character more into the queen she becomes.
Main character is not very likable. Even tho she is suppose to be a strong woman. I think she should have had a story line that evolved her character more into the queen she becomes.
September 7, 2016
I really enjoyed following Sigrid's Viking life. Interesting folk lore and religious fever described throughout. Even the love story wasn't too cheesy. Would definitely read more by this author
April 2, 2021
Japp, när man läser historia så får man reda på att den ofta är brutal och våldsam på ett sätt som får de flesta att bli förfärade över saker som människor gjort mot varandra genom tiderna.
Men, det är en sak att skildra en brutal värld och en annan sak att få det att framstå som romantiskt och heroiskt. Jag tänker t.ex. på när . Utan att påstå att inget ont gjort i kristendomens namn, gav den här boken sådan avsmak i munnen att det känns som att man bara kan nicka instämmande till Reinfeldts uttalande om att det enda som är vårt är barbariet.
Jag tror att det är de magiska/mytiska elementen som stör mig mest här, det känns bara löjligt och konstigt.
Ursprungs historien bakom boken är intressant, men det värsta med boken är inte det ovanstående klagomålet, utan att Sigrid är den träigaste karaktär jag läst om på länge. Även om jag inte gillade Emma så kändes det åtminstone som att hon hade en personlighet och något man kunde känna något om, antingen för eller emot. Men varje sida om Sigrid fick mig att tappa läslusten. Men ärligt talat så var de flesta karaktärerna som våldsamma pappersdockor och inte mycket mer.
Nej, denna bok var ett misstag, skumläste slutet. Som tur är lånade jag den på biblioteket och kan lämna tillbaka den.
November 1, 2018
To clear up confusion, for the English translation this is the first book in the series, with only a second book to follow, Estrid. The original series is in Swedish goes by different names. That is the reason for the different series numbers listed for this book. Good fictional story of the battles people fought between the Old Gods and the Christian God.
Want to read
August 22, 2017I won a copy of this book thru the Goodreads Giveaways. Once I have read it I will give a full review.
January 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this story, though as I heads up to others there were several graphic scenes I skipped through.
June 22, 2025
I love a good Norse mythology novel
March 26, 2017
The book is good but nothing more. Nice to read nordic mythology again!
December 22, 2016
This was shockingly good. I didn’t expect to love this book. Why you may ask? Well…this was an Amazon freebie. It is for sure a hit or miss with anything that is free and especially Amazon book freebies. I except to either hate them or mildly enjoy them. This was one of those rare gems. I actually loved this.
This book follows a few characters, but the main character is Sigrid who is a devout believer in the old Nordic gods. The goddess Freya gives her little hints and guides her to her intended destiny. She agrees to marry Erik to secure peace between her land and his lands. However, this was kinda an oopsie, because that was not who Freya meant. She was actually supposed to marry Sweyn whose plans are to dethrone Harald and unite all the lands as one. A huge mess of course.
At first, I didn’t really care for some of the POVs, but once all their roads finally met it all made sense and I liked them. I really loved Emma. Sure, she was an insane little thing, but she was the most interesting character in the story! The author actually did a good job with the switch between POVS, I was never confused. So huzzah on that.
Oooooh religion…you nasty thing you. You truly know how to bring the worst out of everyone. So much blood…so much hatred. So sad. I loved how the author seemed to accurately bring this to light and wasn’t shy around the brutality of the time and of the hatred.
This is a translation from the original Swedish language and I felt the translator did an excellent job from my point of view. Like anything, I’m sure some things were lost in translation or not correct. I’m sure the original is WAY better, but since I do not speak Swedish….I do not have a point in reference. However, this flowed well and the story didn’t seem at all choppy or confusing. Yayy.
My only complaint is that there are 3 books before this one, but they have not been translated yet, so I won’t be able to read them or anything after this book until they are.
However, I do not feel that I missed anything, so this does well as a standalone. I am really wanting to read the next one! Gah!!!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! I know some but she is such an aloof historical figure…some historians even doubt her existence. Sighs. Women from that time are always forgotten because they were not worth writing down. So sad. :/
Anyways….this was a good book. The writing was good, the action had me on the edge of my seat, the characters were interesting, and the ending left me wanting more. I might have to learn Swedish now…GAH! Add that my list of languages I need to learn. LOL! I highly recommend this to those that like historical fiction that is a wee bit dark and has fantasy elements involved. Out of five stars, I’ll give this 5.
This book follows a few characters, but the main character is Sigrid who is a devout believer in the old Nordic gods. The goddess Freya gives her little hints and guides her to her intended destiny. She agrees to marry Erik to secure peace between her land and his lands. However, this was kinda an oopsie, because that was not who Freya meant. She was actually supposed to marry Sweyn whose plans are to dethrone Harald and unite all the lands as one. A huge mess of course.
At first, I didn’t really care for some of the POVs, but once all their roads finally met it all made sense and I liked them. I really loved Emma. Sure, she was an insane little thing, but she was the most interesting character in the story! The author actually did a good job with the switch between POVS, I was never confused. So huzzah on that.
Oooooh religion…you nasty thing you. You truly know how to bring the worst out of everyone. So much blood…so much hatred. So sad. I loved how the author seemed to accurately bring this to light and wasn’t shy around the brutality of the time and of the hatred.
This is a translation from the original Swedish language and I felt the translator did an excellent job from my point of view. Like anything, I’m sure some things were lost in translation or not correct. I’m sure the original is WAY better, but since I do not speak Swedish….I do not have a point in reference. However, this flowed well and the story didn’t seem at all choppy or confusing. Yayy.
My only complaint is that there are 3 books before this one, but they have not been translated yet, so I won’t be able to read them or anything after this book until they are.
However, I do not feel that I missed anything, so this does well as a standalone. I am really wanting to read the next one! Gah!!!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! I know some but she is such an aloof historical figure…some historians even doubt her existence. Sighs. Women from that time are always forgotten because they were not worth writing down. So sad. :/
Anyways….this was a good book. The writing was good, the action had me on the edge of my seat, the characters were interesting, and the ending left me wanting more. I might have to learn Swedish now…GAH! Add that my list of languages I need to learn. LOL! I highly recommend this to those that like historical fiction that is a wee bit dark and has fantasy elements involved. Out of five stars, I’ll give this 5.
February 7, 2017
The Unbroken Line of the Moon: Valhalla Book #1
(In the original Swedish, this is book #4 of the series.)
By Johanna Hildebrant
When the author is an award-winning war correspondent and the first woman elected into the Royal Swedish Academy of War Science, and she’s written a dramatic account of a legendary Viking woman, you have to at least read the sample.
Hildebrant has woven the stories of three intriguing characters. Starting with Sigrid the Haughty, a powerful woman from the tenth century and her brutal, dramatic life. From her naive youth through political marriage and childbirth, balancing the will of Freya and the hard realities of war.
Emma, a half-mad young girl who was brutalized by men and the christian religion before rediscovering her Viking heritage.
Sweyn, the unrecognized bastard of a king who comes into his own through battle.
The Viking gods are very much a part of this epic historical fantasy as they bring these three together through severe circumstances to avoid Ragnarok.
Pros
The political intrigue is intense. Conflict is everywhere; from the warring Viking factions, the cross-worshippers and those who follow the old ways, the Scandinavians and the English.
The detail is incredible. Hildebrant’s grasp of the day-to-day Viking life (and death) in this era is detailed and lush sparing no gruesome details.
Cons
As a non-Swedish speaker, I’m not sure if this is perhaps more because of the translation, but some of the dialog feels too modern. At times, this only makes a funny moment funnier, but at other times, it distracts from the drama.
There are a few twists in the plot that seem to resolve themselves “off stage”. Without giving spoilers, there is, for example, a bit of “he said she said” that creates a rift in two characters and affects the outcome of a large battle. But shortly later, the rift is glossed over and resolved.
A truly epic saga in its own right, The Unbroken Line of the Moon is a good omen for the rest of the series. Messy, gory and violent, I enjoyed this book and intend to read the rest of the series as it becomes available.
This was free with Amazon Kindle First September (2016).
(In the original Swedish, this is book #4 of the series.)
By Johanna Hildebrant
When the author is an award-winning war correspondent and the first woman elected into the Royal Swedish Academy of War Science, and she’s written a dramatic account of a legendary Viking woman, you have to at least read the sample.
Hildebrant has woven the stories of three intriguing characters. Starting with Sigrid the Haughty, a powerful woman from the tenth century and her brutal, dramatic life. From her naive youth through political marriage and childbirth, balancing the will of Freya and the hard realities of war.
Emma, a half-mad young girl who was brutalized by men and the christian religion before rediscovering her Viking heritage.
Sweyn, the unrecognized bastard of a king who comes into his own through battle.
The Viking gods are very much a part of this epic historical fantasy as they bring these three together through severe circumstances to avoid Ragnarok.
Pros
The political intrigue is intense. Conflict is everywhere; from the warring Viking factions, the cross-worshippers and those who follow the old ways, the Scandinavians and the English.
The detail is incredible. Hildebrant’s grasp of the day-to-day Viking life (and death) in this era is detailed and lush sparing no gruesome details.
Cons
As a non-Swedish speaker, I’m not sure if this is perhaps more because of the translation, but some of the dialog feels too modern. At times, this only makes a funny moment funnier, but at other times, it distracts from the drama.
There are a few twists in the plot that seem to resolve themselves “off stage”. Without giving spoilers, there is, for example, a bit of “he said she said” that creates a rift in two characters and affects the outcome of a large battle. But shortly later, the rift is glossed over and resolved.
A truly epic saga in its own right, The Unbroken Line of the Moon is a good omen for the rest of the series. Messy, gory and violent, I enjoyed this book and intend to read the rest of the series as it becomes available.
This was free with Amazon Kindle First September (2016).
June 18, 2021
Goofed
This story is fascinating and Sigrid is a wonderful character. I take moral issue at a lot of the actions and politics, but they're Vikings, so it's to be expected, I suppose. In the end, the more I delve into Norse myth, the more enthralled I become.
So, you're probably wondering about the less-than-stellar rating. Well, that's all in the translation (I assume). The whole time reading, I was wondering if it was translated from another language just because some of the wording really threw me for a loop. Having read more fanfiction than I'd be comfortable admitting, I'm used to the occasional clumsy narrative, I understand it's hard to always know the time period and what words are appropriate, and I realize that slang has existed for as long as we've used our vocal chords. I have gotten to the point where I'm... OKAY, I guess, with very modern-sounding language in historical, period, and high fantasy pieces. But nothing has ever, EVER so violently thrust me out of a story as a VIKING uttering the words "I goofed." There had been quite a few questionable words and phrases, but oh boy, that one took the cake. I'm both relieved and kind of outraged that I can probably lay that goof at the feet of a translator and not the author. I'm tempted to read the rest of the series out of curiosity for the story, but if it's a retelling of a myth, I'm betting I can find one I'll enjoy more.
This story is fascinating and Sigrid is a wonderful character. I take moral issue at a lot of the actions and politics, but they're Vikings, so it's to be expected, I suppose. In the end, the more I delve into Norse myth, the more enthralled I become.
So, you're probably wondering about the less-than-stellar rating. Well, that's all in the translation (I assume). The whole time reading, I was wondering if it was translated from another language just because some of the wording really threw me for a loop. Having read more fanfiction than I'd be comfortable admitting, I'm used to the occasional clumsy narrative, I understand it's hard to always know the time period and what words are appropriate, and I realize that slang has existed for as long as we've used our vocal chords. I have gotten to the point where I'm... OKAY, I guess, with very modern-sounding language in historical, period, and high fantasy pieces. But nothing has ever, EVER so violently thrust me out of a story as a VIKING uttering the words "I goofed." There had been quite a few questionable words and phrases, but oh boy, that one took the cake. I'm both relieved and kind of outraged that I can probably lay that goof at the feet of a translator and not the author. I'm tempted to read the rest of the series out of curiosity for the story, but if it's a retelling of a myth, I'm betting I can find one I'll enjoy more.
October 12, 2016
This book may not be for the squeamish or the younger crowd. It runs true to life for that time period and culture. There is raping, slavery and fighting, among other things some modern people don't want to think or read about. This is not a comfortable book to curl up with.
This was an interesting and very realistic look into the Viking's culture, politics, sex, religion, magic and myths. Not the kind that romance authors usually give us; but the down-and dirty, blood and guts, dirty, flea infested culture that is very historically correct.
HOWEVER the author or the translator made a lot of huge mistakes (at least for me). Too many words, phrases and terms that were not used in this time period, were used in this book and it kept taking me out of the story.
After a while this got to be too much and I just gave up. Well that and the story just seemed endless and slow moving. Perhaps it got more interesting in the second half; I don't know because I just gave up after the term 'heart attack' and the word 'hump' and 'goof' (among other modern words) were used with no thought to the flow of the story-telling.
This really could have been one of my favorite historical, fantasy novels if not for some of the things I mentioned.
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