Wrath Of The North

"Packs a punch worthy of the Thunderer himself. It rocks!" -- Joanne Harris, author of The Gospel of Loki "Holdt wows in her Norse mythology inspired debut an electrifying adventure" -- Publishers Weekly, starred review A dead man, walking between the worlds, foresees the end of the gods. A survivor searching for a weapon releases a demon from fiery Muspelheim. A village is slaughtered by Christians, and revenge must be taken. The bonds between the gods and Midgard are weakening. It is up to Hilda, Ragnar, their tribesmen Einer and Finn, the chief's wife Siv and Tyra, her adopted daughter, to fight to save the old ways from dying out, and to save their gods in the process. Following in the steps of Neil Gaiman & Joanne Harris, the author expertly weaves Norse myths and compelling characters into this fierce, magical epic fantasy.

For three hundred years, the country of Skavia has lived under the rule of the Armloth Empire, the dominant power in Aestar. Though centuries have passed, resentment still lingers in the heart of many Skavians. They clamor for freedom, for independence once more. They may soon get their wish, for unseen forces prowl in the shadow of the Armloth Empire, their motives unknown but their determination to see the mighty empire fall is without rival. War is brewing, lines are being drawn, and the world holds its breath. Meanwhile, in these troubling times, a group of bandits ply their less than honest trade out in the Skavian wilderness. They prey on all who enters their hunting grounds, unconcerned about matters of states or nationalism, and motivated purely by their lust for riches. None more so than Wulfrik, the leader of this band of misfits. A man of avarice and selfishness, with no ties to anyone but himself, he was destined for a life on the run from the law. But destiny has a funny way of ensnaring even the most unwilling of victims, and this lowly bandit will soon fi nd himself swept up in events far beyond what he has ever imagined.

A journey through the far north from the Shetland Islands to Greenland and beyond: “A wonder-voyage . . . often beautiful” (Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland). The stark, vast beauty of the remote landscape of Arctic Europe has been the focus of human exploration for thousands of years. In this striking blend of travel writing, history, and mythology, Gavin Francis offers a unique portrait of the northern fringes of Europe. His journey begins in the Shetland Islands, takes him to the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, and Lapland. Following in the footsteps of the area's early pioneers, the author observes how the region has adapted to the twenty-first century, offering insight into the lives of people he encounters along the way. As with all the best travel writing, True North is an engaging, compassionate tale of self-discovery, blending historical and contemporary narratives. “His nuanced, often witty, observations of the people and places he encounters mean True North really gets under the skin of Europe’s magical north.” —Sunday Herald “An evocative writer.” —Booklist on Empire Antarctica