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Viking Warrior

(The Strongbow Saga #1)

Judson Roberts

4.03 · Rating details · 1,772 ratings · 146 reviews

He's the son of a chieftain and a princess--yet Halfdan was born a slave. Now he is becoming a man and it is time for him to meet his destiny. Though raised a slave who could only dream of freedom, young Halfdan's fate may be about to change. If freed, he may train as a Viking warrior, and come to know the glories of true brotherhood and the horrors of unspeakable evil. In ...more

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Paperback, 360 pages

Published June 1st 2007 by Harper Teen (first published June 1st 2006)

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· 1,772 ratings · 146 reviews

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Feb 13, 2009 Trish rated it liked it

This is Sarah's latest series. She borrowed the book from the school library and passed it along to me after she read it. She's almost done with the second book now and tells me that I will want to read it, too.

I found that I understood a lot of the terms and the reasoning behind the Viking way of life because of the first Nancy Farmer book I read recently. In comparison, this one is less poetic and less fanciful, but the similarities confirm the truth and realistic qualities of the story. The This is Sarah's latest series. She borrowed the book from the school library and passed it along to me after she read it. She's almost done with the second book now and tells me that I will want to read it, too.

I found that I understood a lot of the terms and the reasoning behind the Viking way of life because of the first Nancy Farmer book I read recently. In comparison, this one is less poetic and less fanciful, but the similarities confirm the truth and realistic qualities of the story. The character, however, is not someone who was taken as a slave, but one who was born to the slave of a great chieftain. It was a fresh perspective and I enjoyed walking in this character's shoes. I was actually shaking during the last 100 pages (the margins on this book are huge, so 100 pages is not really a whole lot - I read them during one of Zoe's feedings last night). You can guess what's going to happen, and you know that the hero will prevail somehow, but the story still grabs you as it unfolds.

Perhaps because of my recent conversation with my mom, I noticed the religious undertones and felt I had to speak with Sarah about it to see how she was taking it. My mother had said that she felt my daughter read too much fantasy and that the mind of a child would not be able to distinguish real life from fantasy. At first, I was indignant... "Mom, she's reading about dragons... she knows they're not real." Then I became thoughtful for days. Sometimes I dislike the influence my mother has over me... she can manipulate me with a word. And even though I know that, I still sometimes feel powerless before it. At any rate, I decided to be objective. The more I have taken her views into consideration, the more I know that they are unfounded because she is working from her own set of values which are very different than mine. She doesn't know my daughter as well as I do. I feel strongly that our religious teachings for our children are an anchor and ground our children into the truthfulness of our existence. I appreciate my mother's honesty, however, because I don't want to assume that my perception of my daughter's reality is the same as how it really is for her.

When I spoke to Sarah about it, we had a good conversation about the natural man. The Vikings were all about passions and emotions and acting on them, so their gods reflected that. To see a "White Christ" forgive and be kind was the equivalent of weakness in their eyes. I confirmed with her that there was definitely more power in forgiveness and being kind than the status of killing four people for their insults or intended humiliation. I found out that she felt the same as I did... that it was interesting to read someone's different perspective on religion, but she was not in any way swayed from her beliefs.

I know that has she grows there will be challenges to her faith and understanding of life. I hope that there will be so that she can choose firmly what she will hold on to. I would not want her to live our way of life just because we tell her to. ...more

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Aug 06, 2015 Sarah rated it it was ok

Shelves: the-tepidarium, let-s-talk-about-gender, let-s-talk-about-religion, egads-papists, let-s-talk-about-war, where-is-the-plot, where-have-all-the-heroes-gone, historical-fiction, i-tried, dark-haired-male-entity

This book looked unusual and intriguing - we don't get much historical fiction or male main characters these days.

Halfdan and his mother are slaves to his father, a Viking warlord. The warlord's wife knows that her husband prefers Halfdan's mother, and is cruel to the Irish captive and her son. But when Halfdan's father dies, his mother is sacrificed as favorite concubines were, and Halfdan himself is adopted into the family according to his father's wishes. His stepmother chafes at this, but This book looked unusual and intriguing - we don't get much historical fiction or male main characters these days.

Halfdan and his mother are slaves to his father, a Viking warlord. The warlord's wife knows that her husband prefers Halfdan's mother, and is cruel to the Irish captive and her son. But when Halfdan's father dies, his mother is sacrificed as favorite concubines were, and Halfdan himself is adopted into the family according to his father's wishes. His stepmother chafes at this, but his half-brother and sister take kindly to him.

It's been a long time since I picked this one up, so I can't remember many more details. Halfdan and his brother go on a trip to visit an Irish monk, who has somehow become an important land owner in Scandinavia. They are attacked by (I think) Saxons and (view spoiler).

This is where I stopped reading because the graphic violence had become dispiriting, and the characters weren't compelling enough for me to hang in there. Halfdan is a generic angry boy, who grieves for his brother and seeks to avenge him, but seems to care little about all his mother suffered - rape, slavery, and eventually human sacrifice - at the hands of his father and other Vikings.

Then again, none of the other characters has deep-running emotions either. Roberts is more comfortable reciting details of Viking weaponry - which is great for world-building, but a novel should be more than a historical diorama, which is what this book feels like in places.

Roberts clearly did a lot of research on Viking weapons and methods of war, which he tells in a wordy, often awkward style. The chapters vary wildly in length, but some can run twenty or thirty pages. Halfdan is given an ill-informed mistrust of Christianity, which could be realistic, but here feels anachronistic - almost as if the author is allowing his own modern opinions to bleed through.

All in all, this is basically Eragon minus the dragon, the magic, and about nine hundred pages. Some of you will, doubtless, enjoy it. I personally found it shallow and in some places disturbing. ...more

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Dec 28, 2014 Susan Peek rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, history, suspence, top-shelves

I LOVED this book and can't wait to read Book 2 in the series! The characters are very well developed (you'll fall in love with the two heroes, believe me!), the details of Viking life are incredibly well-researched and portrayed, and the plot moves at breakneck speed. I couldn't wait to put the kids to bed every evening so I could read a few more chapters. I even dreamed about the book when I was asleep!

So, if I loved it so much, you may be wondering, "Why only 4 stars instead of 5?" Actually, ...more

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Dec 06, 2016 Eric rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction-war, action-adventure, 2016-reading-challenge, audio-books, pirates

This book surprised me in how well the characters and story are well crafted. Some parts were kind of predictable and followed a sort "theme" these types of books seem to follow. Overall though, a great historical fiction read. This is a young adult tale but would recommend it for older teens.

I listened to the audio book and the whole production is well done.

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Mar 18, 2012 Alan rated it really liked it

The Norse, like most Medieval societies, were heavily stratified, but not entirely inflexible. Slavery endured longer in the lands of the north, having given way to serfdom much centuries earlier in the Christian kingdoms of Western Europe. Furthermore, the Vikings developed a thriving slave trade. Slavery was not intensive as in Sparta or the Antebellum American South, but slaves were a tradeable commodity. Viking raids took Irish, Saxon and Frankish slaves to work farmsteads in Iceland, The Norse, like most Medieval societies, were heavily stratified, but not entirely inflexible. Slavery endured longer in the lands of the north, having given way to serfdom much centuries earlier in the Christian kingdoms of Western Europe. Furthermore, the Vikings developed a thriving slave trade. Slavery was not intensive as in Sparta or the Antebellum American South, but slaves were a tradeable commodity. Viking raids took Irish, Saxon and Frankish slaves to work farmsteads in Iceland, Norway and Denmark and on to eastern markets in Baghdad and Constantinople. The Viking sagas give a detailed look at the workings of Norse society, including the role of slaves. However, with few exceptions, slaves in the sagas are depicted as dumb, cowardly and untrustworthy. Such would be the opinion of the warrior elite whose perspective dominates the sagas. After all, with such low qualities thought the masters, the slaves then deserve their lot in life.
Viking Warrior is the story of Halfdan, the thrall son of a slave and her Viking master. A teenager by our standards, but a man in what was harsher times. Halfdan's rise to freedom is both plausible and tragic, and Roberts' deserves credit for depicting numerous details of the Norse underclass' daily life. Of course, one of the requirements (cliches) of the hero's journey tale is that the hero must be of low origins until his potential greatness is recognized by someone with power to elevate the protagonist's status. So, Halfdan does not long remain a slave, but retains the worldview of one who had been rejected by elite society.
Roberts keeps the pace brisk writing with a modern voice rather than the faux-saga style employed by many of the modern authors of Viking fiction. and soon introduces the villain that will bring tragedy to hisnewly fortunate life. The villain is brutal and merciless, but ultimately colorless. For a four book series, new and better written antagonists is a must for one to keep coming back.
The Strongbow Saga has potential and I will pickup at least one more volume. The nuanced point of view and interesting origin of the hero overcomes the plot's reliance on heroic cliches. ...more

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May 26, 2011 Leigh Collazo rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-2011

More reviews at http://readerpants.blogspot.com.

Overall Rating: While this book wasn't really for me, I wholeheartedly recommend this one for middle school boys who like lots of action, war scenes, learning about Viking culture.

What I liked: I can remember studying the Vikings for the first time in fourth grade. We had a young student teacher who knew much about Viking culture and passed that along to the 32 eager young minds in Ms. Schiffanelli's class. Viking culture is just plain interesting, ...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Charlotte added it

I have not rated this book as I think it would be unfair to rate it based on my opinion as it is suitable for a much different audience than me. It is categorized as a young adult book, but it is a far more boyish young adult than many teen books. I decided to read it as I have a professional interest in the Viking period, and the depiction of Viking life was indeed well done. I was engaged for about half the book thinking it was evolving into something more complex, but it turned into a boys' ...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Niel rated it it was amazing

Great book full of action, honor and betrayal. I was sure if I would like this book since I'm more of fantasy buff but this was good. I like how a slave became royalty and had to learn to act as such, but learns the cost of it. The story was great and I'm looking forward to reading book 2. Halfdan definitely changed throughout the story and I see more change coming great historical fiction book.

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Oct 19, 2011 Kerry rated it it was amazing

Even though I seem to have some genetic imprinting to hate Vikings, I very much enjoyed this book. The story is engrossing and the historical aspect is accurate. A reader will really get a taste of life in the mid 800s Denmark. I just finished this one and found out there are 5 in total. The first 3 are out.

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Jan 25, 2017 Maryanne rated it it was amazing

Unexpectedly beautiful writing which throws you straight into vivid landscapes, emotions and characters. Gripping adventure with the start of a vengeance quest, battles, weapons, forest skills, Norse Gods. Sadly no sheildmaidens though, all too busy cooking.

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Dec 27, 2007 Marga Vr rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: every young reader

Shelves: youngadult, givenaway

Berdina read it and rated it highly It's carefully written with glossary and historical background. Gave it to Stefan

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Feb 08, 2019 Sacha rated it really liked it

This book captured my attention from the very first chapter. I really enjoyed the original voice that Judson Roberts used. I could tell he did a lot of research into the historical details of the time and place he set this story in. I also loved that there was a glossary in the back and a part that explained some historical relevance of the time.

Now for the characters. These characters were incredible. I loved that each person had their own personality and reacted realistically to what was ...more

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Jul 21, 2017 Keeley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A nice surprise

An extremely well written young adult book that thoroughly immerses the reader in Viking society and thought process.
This is the first in a series of books, I believe. Normally I am vehemently against such things. The author, however, provides a satisfying mini-conclusion while leaving it open for more story to be told.

Recommended for readers aged 10 and up. Be aware, though, that there are
1. Many descriptions of killing, and not being bothered about it.
2. Mention (but not ...more

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Sep 01, 2017 Lori rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult

This was decent enough. I love the whole Viking era and this book still does give me the satisfaction of reading more stories about it but it's very basic, makes for fast easy reading. I went through it quickly but didn't feel any trepidation or suspense when I should have. I know it's probably going to be predictable. But I'm still curious about how things I know will happen are going to happen. So moving on to the second book in the series!

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Dec 22, 2016 Yami rated it liked it · review of another edition

the book just flows, and it was kind of predictable , the turns and events are not a surprise, yet it is not a bad book, it focuses on the surroundings and describe it in details, and it seems that all characters have a story or two to share, I am kinda curious how Halfdan's chr. will grow , but it needs to spice thins a little with plot twists, the fights and narrating are okay...will see how it goes with book2.

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Jun 30, 2017 Heather rated it it was amazing

Viking Warrior, the first of the Strongbow Saga, is an excellent book written in a way that makes you feel as if you are there in the middle of the action. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it and will likely read the rest of the books in the series. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Vikings or studying Viking history.

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Sep 17, 2019 Sarah Lombard rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved reading this book!
It was very very interesting and much better than the Vikings show because it was full of Viking spirituality and adventure. I very much looked forward to reading it every day as it got me thru some rough times. Highly recommended and am starting the next book

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Oct 08, 2019 Courtney rated it it was ok

I liked the characters and setting. The plot was interesting, revenge is my favorite trope. However, the writing style was dry. There were lots of descriptions of weapons and battle strategies that I could do without, especially during high stakes points in the narration.

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Dec 17, 2019 Lex rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, knights-in-shining-amor

This seems more to be a more accurate representation of Viking life than we usually see.
The first third was a little hard for my get through, but we needed to connect and understand Halfdan to appreciate his character’s growth.
I quite enjoyed this one.

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Mar 01, 2018 Andrew rated it really liked it

Constant action and interesting scenarios, conflicts, and resolutions set in the woods in times of old.

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May 20, 2018 Sam rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned

Cool gruesome revenge story about a young viking that has been a slave all his life. Don't get attached to any of the characters, nobody is safe.

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Jul 12, 2017 Sierra M rated it liked it

I liked it. It was pretty good, considering I rarely read into a genre like that. Halfdan is a good, strong protagonist you will be rooting for the whole time.

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Mar 31, 2019 Dean rated it it was amazing

Lots of action, likable characters. Easy read, great for a day at the beach or lake!!!! Will read the next book in series!!!

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Jul 08, 2014 Echo rated it did not like it

Oh man. I had so many problems with this book. So so many. The two main problems I had were historical accuracy and a severe wish-fulfillment problem. Halfdan can learn any complicated skill in a month! And as a bonus he learned a bunch of them growing up, despite being a slave! Oh and no girls. Because this is a boys book.

Things I don't like: (mild spoilers)

1.) Margins are almost half the page. Wasteful.

2.) His mom is a princess. And wasn't ransomed. Even if her father and fiance were dead, ...more

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Jan 06, 2019 Chance Kingsmyth rated it it was amazing

Absolutely gripping story. The action scenes are intense, and fast paced. The author brings you into this world that is dark, violent and full of sickening realities of our past. The character Halfdan is relatable and full of heart, truly compelling to the reader. This book made me fall in love with reading again after many years. It pulled me in, In one page. The story of a slave, gifted, talented and a survivor.

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Nov 06, 2011 Hazel West rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, great-historical-fiction, brothers-in-arms-books

Thoughts on the Overall Book: I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I love stories about Vikings, and I loved how this one was very accurate. Mr. Roberts did his research on this quite wonderfully. It was not one of the cliché Viking stories where they are portrayed pretty much as ancient pirates, and the extensive historical note in the back, clearly shows all the research that went into this novel to make it accurate, so my hat off to Judson Roberts!

Cover-- Yae or Nay: I really like the pictures Thoughts on the Overall Book: I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I love stories about Vikings, and I loved how this one was very accurate. Mr. Roberts did his research on this quite wonderfully. It was not one of the cliché Viking stories where they are portrayed pretty much as ancient pirates, and the extensive historical note in the back, clearly shows all the research that went into this novel to make it accurate, so my hat off to Judson Roberts!

Cover-- Yae or Nay: I really like the pictures for these books. The boy looks just how I pictured Halfdan and books with angsty warrior guys on the front of them, always catch my eye, let alone the fact that the title is "Viking Warrior" that's two marks from me.

Characters: I really loved the characters in this. Halfdan was a great main character/narrator. I liked how he was conflicted with his feelings about life in general and the Viking way. It is quite a step to go from thrall to chieftain's son in the course of an evening and his feelings were very real and understandable. I also loved Harald and Sigrid and I loved the brother/sister/brother relationship between the two of them and Halfdan. It was extra lovely because they didn't have to be nice to him at all and yet they took to him as if their social classes hadn't been different all their lives. I also think Toke made a wonderful villain. He's just an evil, hateful person, and surprisingly conniving. In short, a wonderful cast of characters.

Writing Style: The writing has that old feel to it that I love reading when it comes to historical novels, especially ones set during this time period. It wasn't quite up with Rosemary Sutcliff, but it was still good. Halfdan as the narrator in first person really works well for this story, so the reader will, I think, sympathize with him even more since it feels like we are enduring everything with him.

Problems/What bothered me: Nothing really bothered me in this story. It started a but slow with all the stories and stuff that everyone was telling, but it's not so slow that you won't want to read on, and when you do, the story picks up and becomes very hard to put down. Besides, this is the kind of book you really have to know the backstory on before you can fully appreciate the plot.

Conclusion: 4 stars. I really enjoyed this book, and am eager to read the rest of the series. It was a good brother story, a good revenge story and it had lots of raw emotions which I usually enjoy in a book because it's a mark of a very good author to be able to pull them off well.

Recommended Audience: Older teens I would say for some content reasons (there's several places where rape is mentioned because that was just what happened) And I think fans of Rosemary Sutcliff or any Historical Fiction lovers would really like these. ...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Andrew rated it liked it

This is one of those rare books that I only kind of liked but at the same time am eagerly awaiting the chance to read more books in the series. This is due to the fact that, as a 280 page book, the plot only really gets going during the last 80 pages, but those last 80 pages are intense and well written and do a great job of making you want to pick up the next book in the series to see what happens next. Unfortunately the first 200 pages prior to that, while interesting, seemed to plod along a This is one of those rare books that I only kind of liked but at the same time am eagerly awaiting the chance to read more books in the series. This is due to the fact that, as a 280 page book, the plot only really gets going during the last 80 pages, but those last 80 pages are intense and well written and do a great job of making you want to pick up the next book in the series to see what happens next. Unfortunately the first 200 pages prior to that, while interesting, seemed to plod along a bit too deliberately for my tastes. We get lengthy descriptions of Viking society through the eyes of an outsider, Halfdan, whose mother was an Irish Princess who was kidnapped and brought to Denmark, and whose father, Hrorik, was a Viking. Since his mother was a slave of his father Hrorik, Halfdan grew up as a slave as well, and Halfdan is only granted his freedom as the dying wish of his mother after his father had been mortally wounded on a failed raiding mission and is set to be put to death and buried at sea on a funeral pyre along with Halfdan's mother, Deirdre, whom his father had secretly loved more then his actual wife Gunhild. Basically Deirdre agreed to be killed and buried at see with Hrorik in exchange for her son's freedom. So the majority of the book deals with the events leading up to the funeral pyre, and then on Halfdan, newly a free man due to the sacrifice of his mother, learning the ways of Viking society from his half-brother(Hrorik's other son)Herald. This is interesting from a historical perspective but in terms of plot nothing much happens for the first 200 or so pages. Then in the last eighty pages, after the antagonist had been briefly introduced a few chapters earlier, and after Halfdan, Herald and a small party had traveled to visit lands Halfdan had newly inherited from his father, the plot really begins to pick up as the remainder of the book is riveting and action packed and really makes you want to read more. When I had gotten about 2/3rds done with the book I assumed I would merely read this one book all the way through but not go on to read others in the series, but the concluding third really does make you want to find out what happens next. Still, as good as the conclusion is, I do have to acknowledge that the majority of this story is rather slow as it spends most of it's time slowly introducing characters and Viking society, hence my review not being higher then it is. But if you can make it to the end it does become much more interesting and make you want to read further.

Sorry if my review is a bit vague about specifics as to the plot of the book, but I don't want to give too much away for people who haven't read it yet. ...more

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Oct 09, 2012 bird rated it really liked it

Because of the morbid and crass content that this book features many people have given it some-what bad reviews. My twisted mind and I digress however. I love Vikings and when I read a Viking book I don't expect cotton candy fluffiness and pretty princesses. With that aside I really enjoyed Viking Warrior by Judson Roberts.

At the same time I was also left a bit sickened at their lifestyle. I know from studying history that the Vikings are violent and often people who lack morals. Don't read this Because of the morbid and crass content that this book features many people have given it some-what bad reviews. My twisted mind and I digress however. I love Vikings and when I read a Viking book I don't expect cotton candy fluffiness and pretty princesses. With that aside I really enjoyed Viking Warrior by Judson Roberts.

At the same time I was also left a bit sickened at their lifestyle. I know from studying history that the Vikings are violent and often people who lack morals. Don't read this book if you have a weak stomach or can't stand subjects like rape and murder. (Content wise I would not recommend it for children younger then fifteen. It all depends on their maturity level and how many video games they have played though)

I know certain friends of mine are probably reading this review and wondering if I really have lost my mind. No, no, I haven't. This book was raw, it was real, and it was gory. I felt like it portrayed the Vikings and their lifestyle quite accurately. Looking at this book through my geekish history loving eyes I learned alot about the Vikings and their beliefs through this story and I couldn't put this action packed story down.

When I first started this book I was expecting yet another story about an ancient legend and prophecy. I think some books just like to prove me wrong because I really enjoyed this story overall. It surprised me in many different ways and was a nice change from all the stories about "the chosen one" that are out there today.

For once I really liked the writing style in a book. It didn't bore me and for a first person point of view it had excellent description. (Something I find lacking in most first person POV books) Despite the morose content that will probably disgust some readers there is hardly any language in this book at all. I tend to be a prude when it comes to that area of things so I was quite happy about that.

Halfdan the main character was so real and turned into such a fascinating character. I won't give away any spoilers-BUT by the end of Viking Warrior I needed more of his story. He had to make some tough choices. Losing the people you love and letting bitterness take over your heart is something most of us can relate to, but the way Viking culture deals with things and just how he lost the people that he loved? Gut wrenching. Everything was just so raw and I wanted to hug him and tell him not to do certain things he did. (Even though I could see why he was doing them.) For someone so young he has been through so much.

I am quite eager to read the rest of this story no matter how morbid it might be. I cannot wait to see how everything plays out so I will be reading the other two books in my spare time. ...more

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Nov 03, 2015 Tyler rated it it was amazing

Shelves: english-12

Son of a mighty chieftain and son of a princess, he should be royalty, right? Wrong! He is a lesser thrall living on his father's land, being a slave. Life isn't bad though, considering he is a slave. But after a raid gone foul... His father returns, missing a limb, bleeding out... Halfdan is free.

Viking Warrior is about a thrall-turned-free boy named Halfdan, on his way to figure out who he is, and how he should be a warrior. Long is it that he had dreamed to be free, and as a thrall had ...more

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Nov 22, 2016 Steve Caldwell rated it it was amazing

When the story begins, Halfdan is a house slave of a Danish viking lord, who is actually his father, having enslaved his Irish princess mother on a raid. He lives and works in the longhouse with his mother and the other slaves. When his father is fatally wounded on a raid, his mother makes a bargain with his father before he dies that Halfdan will be freed and legitimized, in return for agreeing to acompany his father on the deathship to Valhalla. In this way does he gain his freedom and lose ...more

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About Judson Roberts

Judson Roberts

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Fascinated since childhood with the Vikings, and a lover his entire life of captivating stories, Judson Roberts decided in 1999 to attempt to combine these interests and write a novel set within the world of the Vikings. Two years and countless hours of research later, the Strongbow Saga, a historical fiction series for adult and teen readers, was born.

Over his long and varied career, Judson ...more