Death Riders of Hel in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Nov 22, 2025 Jim Kuenzli rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery, fantasy

This is the second book in the Norse inspired series the Bloodsong Saga. Seven years after the first book, Bloodsong’s village is attacked and she is captured along with her daughter and her Freya Witch friend Huld. This starts a non stop ride of dark fantasy and sword and sorcery. New menaces are introduced all seemingly serving the Goddess Hel- A Frost Giant, a powerful Hel Witch, and Bloodsong’s dead son resurrected into a menacing Hel-Sorcerer more powerful than the rest.

Bloodsong gains some ...more

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Aug 06, 2011 S.E. Lindberg rated it really liked it

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery, reviewed-by-se

An entertaining gateway to Hell, and toward darker fiction

This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson

History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) ...more

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Mar 13, 2014 Derek rated it it was ok

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery

It's sort of surprising to walk into a book like this and find the story so completely straightforward. There's no political context, no talk of nations or cities or society. It starts at a village of freed slaves, proceeds to the castle of the Evil Overlord (view spoiler) and from there on a hero-quest to various locations, none of which require a trip through Customs.

It's more ex ...more

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May 17, 2024 Quentin Wallace rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was good. I may have even liked it better than Book One. This is classic sword and sorcery here, based on Norse Mythology. There's undead warriors, frost giants, women and men warriors, shapeshifters, gods and goddesses, sorcerers and everything else this type of story needs.

It follows the myths a little closer than your average novel of this type, and does get a little dark at times.

Overall this is a strong, and I'd say underrated, entry in the genre. ...more

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Aug 31, 2008 Charles rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This features another female sword and sorcery hero. The book ties in a fair amount with mythology.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2014 S.E. Lindberg rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-se

An entertaining gateway to Hell, and toward darker fiction

This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson

History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) ...more

Like · see review