Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Was definitely expecting the classic "Viking kidnaps a monk" story. Imagine my surprise when the monk kidnapped the Viking! Also, turns out I don't know anything about Britain between when the Romans left and when the Normans showed up.
Wind-swept and storm-tossed,
Forged in bloody flame. Old gods
Walk these dunes. Brilliant.
Forged in bloody flame. Old gods
Walk these dunes. Brilliant.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!
Wonderful writing, glorious narration.
I sobbed when it ended. What a great book.
Wonderful writing, glorious narration.
I sobbed when it ended. What a great book.
Wow. Five years and many, many amazing books later, this is still one of the absolute best historicals out there. I didn’t plan on waiting this long for my reread, but that turned out to be a good thing — I forgot many little details and it almost felt like I was reading it for the first time. I cried over this book, again! For that, it deserves a place on my super special shelf, so I’m adding that one imaginary star to my previous 5-star rating.
* * *
It’s hard to describe how this book made me feel. Cai and Fen’s epic love story was absolutely beautiful, but it was a quiet, understated beauty. Reading Brothers of the Wild North Sea was a wonderful experience. It made me cry, smile, and ponder the universe… Seriously. It’s a gem hidden under heaps of mediocre — but more popular — books. If you’re a fan of GOOD historical romance, I can’t recommend this enough.
* * *
It’s hard to describe how this book made me feel. Cai and Fen’s epic love story was absolutely beautiful, but it was a quiet, understated beauty. Reading Brothers of the Wild North Sea was a wonderful experience. It made me cry, smile, and ponder the universe… Seriously. It’s a gem hidden under heaps of mediocre — but more popular — books. If you’re a fan of GOOD historical romance, I can’t recommend this enough.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well if you're going to keep having them free on Audible, I'm going to keep reading them.
Although we are two for two with faith-less priests apparently attempting to build heaven on earth through good works alone so, you know, at least we've got some themes here.
Also some magic stuff in the background, which—on the one hand, WHY, but on the other hand, why not?
Actually, a lot of this book feels like it could be summed up with that sentence. Not in a bad way, just in a "this book is completely unaware that people don't usually write episodic love stories".
Also I wasn't entirely expecting to read a 2014 defense of heretical church movements, but here we are. The love story was fine, but it was by far the least interesting part of the book.
This would have been a four, but was docked a star for how it handled Aelf, the non-speaking character.
Although we are two for two with faith-less priests apparently attempting to build heaven on earth through good works alone so, you know, at least we've got some themes here.
Also some magic stuff in the background, which—on the one hand, WHY, but on the other hand, why not?
Actually, a lot of this book feels like it could be summed up with that sentence. Not in a bad way, just in a "this book is completely unaware that people don't usually write episodic love stories".
Also I wasn't entirely expecting to read a 2014 defense of heretical church movements, but here we are. The love story was fine, but it was by far the least interesting part of the book.
This would have been a four, but was docked a star for how it handled Aelf, the non-speaking character.
Such an unusual setting, for such an unusual story...
I love everything about it, I love the characters, the landscapes, the story itself.
Caius is a complex and deeply endearing character. The inner dichotomy of his self, his warrior blood and his longing for learning are his main preoccupation when a Viking raid happens. A raid that brings death and desperation... and a wounded warrior, Fen.
Caius is a physician, and that weights more than his wish to avenge the death of his sweet lover Leof. And this is how the proud, ferocious Fen finds himself under Caius' care.
The writing is, as always, luscious and compelling, and... beautiful. The setting, with all those different cultures intersecting, imagery that embraces Vikings, Normans, Celts and Saxons, paganism and Christianism, science and religion; the religious elements highlighting the idea of a faith that does not depend on blind obedience and the negation of your own self; an ancient treasure and ancient lore, all of them make this a book that is rich and elegant; emotional and moving.
And I love Caius and Fenrir =D
Hamish Long does a superb job with the narration, which rounds this as, IMHO, a perfect book :D
I love everything about it, I love the characters, the landscapes, the story itself.
Caius is a complex and deeply endearing character. The inner dichotomy of his self, his warrior blood and his longing for learning are his main preoccupation when a Viking raid happens. A raid that brings death and desperation... and a wounded warrior, Fen.
Caius is a physician, and that weights more than his wish to avenge the death of his sweet lover Leof. And this is how the proud, ferocious Fen finds himself under Caius' care.
The writing is, as always, luscious and compelling, and... beautiful. The setting, with all those different cultures intersecting, imagery that embraces Vikings, Normans, Celts and Saxons, paganism and Christianism, science and religion; the religious elements highlighting the idea of a faith that does not depend on blind obedience and the negation of your own self; an ancient treasure and ancient lore, all of them make this a book that is rich and elegant; emotional and moving.
And I love Caius and Fenrir =D
Hamish Long does a superb job with the narration, which rounds this as, IMHO, a perfect book :D
Lovely descriptions of Northumbria, but the central couple didn't have much chemistry for me.
~ 4.5 stars ~
- the ending was too rushed for my liking but apart from this I really enjoyed the whole book
- for me, it was angstier than I expected; maybe because of the religious theme?
- awesome narration although it took me a while to get used to the accent
- need to re-listen
- the ending was too rushed for my liking but apart from this I really enjoyed the whole book
- for me, it was angstier than I expected; maybe because of the religious theme?
- awesome narration although it took me a while to get used to the accent
- need to re-listen
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated