Scan barcode
mjporterauthor's review
4.0
Started slowly, built up nicely, unexpected ending!
Council by Snorri Kristjansson is not an 'easy' read, but rather a worthwhile one.
Beginning a few years after the events of Kin, the start of Council is a little jarring. I imagine those lucky enough to read Kin and then head straight into Council will not have the same problem of trying to remember who everyone is, and what happened in the previous book.
Which begs the question, do you need to have read Kin to enjoy Council? Possibly not, although it does add to the background story of the main character, and Kin is an excellent book, well worth reading.
Council is deeply ingrained in the day to day lives of the people of Uppsala, and there are many factions and people to come to know, although the story threaded through it is not complicated. The hints of events in the wider world keep the reader hooked - references to Hedeby and Harald Bluetooth.
Yet, it is in the final stages of the novel that the story really comes alive. While some of the book had been a struggle - I was disappointed that it ended when it did, although it does hint at much more to come for the main character.
I have a feeling this might be a 'bridging' book, between Kin, and what might happen to Helga in the future, and I find the possibilities exciting.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.
Council by Snorri Kristjansson is not an 'easy' read, but rather a worthwhile one.
Beginning a few years after the events of Kin, the start of Council is a little jarring. I imagine those lucky enough to read Kin and then head straight into Council will not have the same problem of trying to remember who everyone is, and what happened in the previous book.
Which begs the question, do you need to have read Kin to enjoy Council? Possibly not, although it does add to the background story of the main character, and Kin is an excellent book, well worth reading.
Council is deeply ingrained in the day to day lives of the people of Uppsala, and there are many factions and people to come to know, although the story threaded through it is not complicated. The hints of events in the wider world keep the reader hooked - references to Hedeby and Harald Bluetooth.
Yet, it is in the final stages of the novel that the story really comes alive. While some of the book had been a struggle - I was disappointed that it ended when it did, although it does hint at much more to come for the main character.
I have a feeling this might be a 'bridging' book, between Kin, and what might happen to Helga in the future, and I find the possibilities exciting.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
I read reviews of book 1 who said it was not viking enough, which I felt was silly because it was Iceland and it was totally viking. Viking is more than raiding. But here I felt like the author tried making it more viking.
Here we have a king in a part of what is now Sweden. His people are coming to a council. Someone seems to want to make that council fall apart. And being a king back then you always worry about other kings too.
Helga is the heroine from book 1. That is she is the smart one who solves crime. Since this is after all, Viking noir, or whatever we should call it. And it is very Scandic. She does a lot of thinking, because what else can you do at that time. The only way to solve a crime is to think and ask questions.
There is a body, and, well I did not see anything coming. As for the end, what? It can not end like that? I have no idea what will happen in the next book. If I have to guess, well we have been from Iceland to Sweden so maybe, maybe she will solve a crime in Viking York or something.
It was not as light in reading as book 1 (I did miss that), the author threw in a lot of curveballs and I never knew what to expect. Also, if that one person is not punished in book 3 I am going to be so freaking mad. I want death! A cruel death for that person.
I enjoyed it, and, arghh I can not sto thinking about book 3. Do not leave me like that
Here we have a king in a part of what is now Sweden. His people are coming to a council. Someone seems to want to make that council fall apart. And being a king back then you always worry about other kings too.
Helga is the heroine from book 1. That is she is the smart one who solves crime. Since this is after all, Viking noir, or whatever we should call it. And it is very Scandic. She does a lot of thinking, because what else can you do at that time. The only way to solve a crime is to think and ask questions.
There is a body, and, well I did not see anything coming. As for the end, what? It can not end like that? I have no idea what will happen in the next book. If I have to guess, well we have been from Iceland to Sweden so maybe, maybe she will solve a crime in Viking York or something.
It was not as light in reading as book 1 (I did miss that), the author threw in a lot of curveballs and I never knew what to expect. Also, if that one person is not punished in book 3 I am going to be so freaking mad. I want death! A cruel death for that person.
I enjoyed it, and, arghh I can not sto thinking about book 3. Do not leave me like that
jmatkinson1's review
3.0
Having read a number of reviews of the previous novel I approached this with high anticipation. There are a lot of good ideas here, weaving a murder mystery into historical events and particularly with a unique setting in Viking times in Scandinavia. However I just couldn’t get into the story and struggled to reach the end.
kirkw1972's review
3.0
I normally like both scandi style books and historical books but putting the two together I struggled with this one. Again I couldn't quite connect with the characters. I'm kind of falling on the good but not great line with it. It dragged a bit for me to.
There's a lot in there and I think there is the makings of a really good book and probably a lot of people think it actually is but not enough for me.
There's a lot in there and I think there is the makings of a really good book and probably a lot of people think it actually is but not enough for me.
annarella's review
5.0
Usually I'm not a fan of Scandinavian mystery but the blurb seemed unusual so I requested this book.
It's darker than what I usually read but I couldn't help falling in love with this book and Helga.
Helga is a very great character, strong and wise, and the other characters are well written and fleshed out.
The plot is engaging and atmospheric, I couldn't put this book down, the setting is detailed and fascinating. The only issue was the final that seemed a bit rushed.
The mystery was very good and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's darker than what I usually read but I couldn't help falling in love with this book and Helga.
Helga is a very great character, strong and wise, and the other characters are well written and fleshed out.
The plot is engaging and atmospheric, I couldn't put this book down, the setting is detailed and fascinating. The only issue was the final that seemed a bit rushed.
The mystery was very good and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
More...