Valhalla S Swordsmith

A thousand years ago a slave girl becomes a Viking warrior and swordsmith. Raiding far Castille in dragon ships with her Norse Swordsmith master and friends. A Vike that risks everything but offers secrets that will transform their ancient craft. A life or death journey and a clash of culture and religion.

Swords of Good Men--the first volume Snorri Kristjansson's Vhlhalla Saga--in is a raucous and gripping fantasy adventure set in Viking Norway, where plundering and pillaging are a way of life and creature comforts rarely exceed a mug of sour mead. To weary Viking Ulfar Thormodsson, the town of Stenvik is the penultimate stop on what has been a long and perilous journey. It has been particularly challenging for Thormodsson, who has been charged with protecting the life of his high-born cousin. Having travelled the world for two years, all he wants is to go home--but Stenvik awaits. After coming ashore, Thormodsson meets the beautiful and tragic Lilja, who immediately captures his heart. Stenvik is also home to solitary blacksmith Audun Arngrimsson, whose past hides many dark secrets. Soon, the conflict brewing between two factions of dangerous and determined men of the town threatens to sweep all of them, natives and visitors alike, into the jaws of war. As the Vikings learn, King Olav is marching on Stenvik from the east, determined to bring the White Christ to the masses at the point of his sword - even as a host of bloodthirsty raiders led by a mysterious woman sails from the north. Thormodsson and his companions will soon learn that in this conflict between the Old Gods and the new, there are enemies everywhere - outside the walls of Stenvik as well as within. Swords of Good Men features a memorable cast of original characters and is driven by non-stop action and a clever sense of humor. Kristjansson deftly and elegantly weaves Norse mythology and history with fantasy in a novel that offers not only a good dose of bloody Viking feuding, but intrigue and romance.

A Celtic warrior defending her people from Viking raiders infiltrates an ancient sect to save her homeland, in this gripping original saga set in the world of Assassin's Creed® Valhalla Mercia, 878. Witch-warrior Niamh discovers a new order called the Hidden Ones is seeking to establish a foothold in Lunden. Her land is already scarred by Viking raiders, bloody wars, and clashing cultures. Determined to protect what remains of her homeland, she infiltrates this new group to discover whether they stand with her… or against her. Yet when Niamh learns the Hidden Ones have stolen an artifact sacred to her people, her own loyalties are challenged. Casting aside newfound alliances and friendships, Niamh soon discovers that betrayal comes with a heavy price and it will take everything in her power – her gods willing – to survive.

Princess Ethelfled always dreams of assisting her father and husband in battle and when an opportunity arises for her to enter the war with the Vikings she fights along with them.

Finland (986-8) Ethelwulf the Wanderer hire out their support to Gotland merchants but rapidly the contract collapses so they retire to Finland. Here they join the Kainuu exploiting the Sami in the Arctic, realise their mistake and move on to Aldeigjuborg, under threat from native tribes. Hostility follows them and they have to pay compensation for injuries inflicted in a multiple-duel. That doesn’t end the matter so they have to escape to Russia With extensive factual End-Notes Part 6 of a nine part series set in the 10th century Viking world. Here the background is a pagan Finland where native tribes are beginning to fight off their Viking exploiters.

This satisfyingly diverse collection of ancient and medieval short stories and fables will please readers with an interest in folklore and mythology. Some have their roots in the Gaelic tradition, while others are more generally European in origin, but all share an engrossing intensity and clarity.