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Born hearing the call of Valkyries. Torn between the past and the future. Destined for a life of adventure.
Greenland, 983 – Freydis was born into a world of conflict. The illegitimate daughter of Eirik the Red and a Norse priestess, Freydis is adored by her heathen father and despised by his lawful, Christian wife. Able to see visions and hear the Valkyries, Freydis is cursed by the zealots of the new faith. Trapped between two worlds, Freydis must chart her own path.
Fleeing to the last heathen stronghold in Greenland, Freydis embraces the old ways. Her heart is quickly lost when she meets the warrior gothi Thorvard. Yet their happiness is soon threatened. To protect Greenland, Eirik’s wife arranges for Freydis to wed a Christian king.
When Leif Eirikson, Freydis’s eldest brother, returns to Greenland with tales of a new land covered in lush meadows, thick, green forests, and fields of grapes, Freydis sees her chance. She will have to navigate the treacherous waters of love, loyalty, and faith to survive.
Readers will relish this sweeping Viking saga that chronicles the life of the shield-maiden and adventurer Freydis Eiriksdottir. Dive into The Vinland to Valhalla Saga, a thrilling Viking historical fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Melanie Karsak.
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0 released booksThe Vinland to Valhalla Saga is a 0-book series with contributions by Melanie Karsak.
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Heart of a Valkyrie is unlike any book I’ve read in a long time. A historical esque fiction following Freydis through her albeit rough and somber life. In fact, the entire book was rough, somber, quite sad, and dark. A father who abandons her, slaves who care for her but are taken away, people who hate her for being her father’s daughter. This novel is a testament to Freydis’ strength and resilience as a person – she does not let any of these things get her down, and continues through life with her viking toughness to become a strong woman.
I will admit, I was expecting ‘serving the gods’ to mean something a bit different than training with the healers, but for a historical fiction, it makes sense.
Overall, Heart of a Valkyrie by Melanie Karsak was enjoyable and set us up very well for book 2. It will be interesting to see what happens in the sequel. If you like viking history and following a girl through many trials and tribulations, then this is the book for you.
Originally posted at woarr.com.