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hibkei's review against another edition
3.0
Around them, sky and air wove the ancient song of the meeting place of earth and sea- Brothers of the Wild North SeaThis story feels larger than it was, somehow deep and encompassing, more than the sum of its parts. I think this was down to Caius our main character. He was multi layered and complex, struggling with his upbringing and what his purpose really was as a man, a human being and a monk. Add in the setting of Fara, the very real threat of the Vikings, the introduction of Fenrir and the strands of mysticism and it became this heady epic tale of love, loyalty, bravery and purpose.
bakarena's review against another edition
5.0
I am not sure how historically accurate this is, but the imagery of it had been rattling good.
I also liked the so-called Viking humor.
My first Harper Fox's book and certainly not the last.
I also liked the so-called Viking humor.
My first Harper Fox's book and certainly not the last.
lauraadriana78's review against another edition
5.0
Berserker and Monk getting it on? Ummm YES PLEASE! This book is a historical romance set in the 7th Century in what is now Scotland. First off I have to say that like with all her books Harper Fox set this story perfectly. The imagery was engrossing, I was swept away. I was there looking over those cliffs, and seeing those monstrous vikingr ships charging the nothern shores.
Our eyes for this story are those Brother Caius who is a monk in the Fara Monastery. Caius is a highlander, the heir of a cheiftan who was walked away from the barbaric ways of his clan to live a more peaceful life of learning amongst his Christian bretheren. Caius has a lover, Leof, another monk, he is the monastery’s physician and although sometimes he is unsure what exactly is his purpose, he is happy there, until the night that their monastery is raided by the vikingr and his lover and the monastery’s beloved abbot are killed. The raiders seemed like they were searching for something valueable, and in their haste they just ran through whoever was in their way.
Caius is disraught and angry over what has happened. He comes up with a plan though. He goes back to his clan and asks his father for weapons, so that he and his bretheren can defend themselves from future raids…So in the shadow on their peaceful haven he trains his brothers to fight against any invaders. Things are challenging for Caius, he is missing his lover, his fallen brothers, and to make matters worse the new abbot sent from Cantenbury is a hateful man who is poisoning everyone by preachin hellfire and brimstone. Still Caius tries to get everyone ready to fight off any future attacks. The monks get to try out their new fighting skills soon when another viking raid comes upon them, but this time they are prepared and they attack. One of the vikings that Caius wounds is left behind by his comrades and being the healer he is he can do nothing else than take the man in and nurse him back to health, even is he is the enemy, and what a beautifully dangerous enemy it is, the viking’s name is Fenritsulf….The wolf.
Caius cares for Fen, he brings him back to health and in that time they get to know each other and a very strong connection is forged betweent the two men. Fen is fierce and wild, but also kind and humorous, so strong like he can protect Caius from anything. He is willing to do his part working alongside the monks helping to rebuild even is he was part of the reason for the devastation. The love story between Caius and Fen was absolutely fantastic. Fen to me stole the show, what a vibrant character, everything about him was strong and bright, it was like his presence on the page lit it up.
RADIANT…That’s the word that comes to mind for me when I think of this book, every character had a strong and clear presence, and the way that the author mixed in a little bit of magic was perfect. There are some very difficult things in this story, the poison Christianity could become to people to places, how good men and women driven by misguided religiosity could turn into mindless murderous mobs, how ignorance can blind people…How greed and lust for power can make men lose their honor and loyalties. But there were also such beautiful moments of love and unexpected kindness…Of how people as best they could and in the only way they knew how could show love, respect and lend a hand. How a community can band together to rescue each other and what they hold dear. So many good things.
I fell in love with this book, not just because it was a romance for the ages Cai and Fen had, but because it was such a hefty and satisfying story. The history, the lore, the characters, the settings, the lessons, all of it was absolutely perfect. I can’t even say that I was left wanting more. I wasn’t, this book was perfect even to the last word. When it ended all I could do was sigh, and go pour msyelf another glass of wine to bask on the great story I had just read.
I absolutely recommend this book!
Our eyes for this story are those Brother Caius who is a monk in the Fara Monastery. Caius is a highlander, the heir of a cheiftan who was walked away from the barbaric ways of his clan to live a more peaceful life of learning amongst his Christian bretheren. Caius has a lover, Leof, another monk, he is the monastery’s physician and although sometimes he is unsure what exactly is his purpose, he is happy there, until the night that their monastery is raided by the vikingr and his lover and the monastery’s beloved abbot are killed. The raiders seemed like they were searching for something valueable, and in their haste they just ran through whoever was in their way.
Caius is disraught and angry over what has happened. He comes up with a plan though. He goes back to his clan and asks his father for weapons, so that he and his bretheren can defend themselves from future raids…So in the shadow on their peaceful haven he trains his brothers to fight against any invaders. Things are challenging for Caius, he is missing his lover, his fallen brothers, and to make matters worse the new abbot sent from Cantenbury is a hateful man who is poisoning everyone by preachin hellfire and brimstone. Still Caius tries to get everyone ready to fight off any future attacks. The monks get to try out their new fighting skills soon when another viking raid comes upon them, but this time they are prepared and they attack. One of the vikings that Caius wounds is left behind by his comrades and being the healer he is he can do nothing else than take the man in and nurse him back to health, even is he is the enemy, and what a beautifully dangerous enemy it is, the viking’s name is Fenritsulf….The wolf.
Caius cares for Fen, he brings him back to health and in that time they get to know each other and a very strong connection is forged betweent the two men. Fen is fierce and wild, but also kind and humorous, so strong like he can protect Caius from anything. He is willing to do his part working alongside the monks helping to rebuild even is he was part of the reason for the devastation. The love story between Caius and Fen was absolutely fantastic. Fen to me stole the show, what a vibrant character, everything about him was strong and bright, it was like his presence on the page lit it up.
RADIANT…That’s the word that comes to mind for me when I think of this book, every character had a strong and clear presence, and the way that the author mixed in a little bit of magic was perfect. There are some very difficult things in this story, the poison Christianity could become to people to places, how good men and women driven by misguided religiosity could turn into mindless murderous mobs, how ignorance can blind people…How greed and lust for power can make men lose their honor and loyalties. But there were also such beautiful moments of love and unexpected kindness…Of how people as best they could and in the only way they knew how could show love, respect and lend a hand. How a community can band together to rescue each other and what they hold dear. So many good things.
I fell in love with this book, not just because it was a romance for the ages Cai and Fen had, but because it was such a hefty and satisfying story. The history, the lore, the characters, the settings, the lessons, all of it was absolutely perfect. I can’t even say that I was left wanting more. I wasn’t, this book was perfect even to the last word. When it ended all I could do was sigh, and go pour msyelf another glass of wine to bask on the great story I had just read.
I absolutely recommend this book!
poultrymunitions's review against another edition
5.0
oh, fuck my eye—that was so goddamned good.
that's all i got.
well—besides that this book is lush, deftly plotted, marvelously novel in setting and context, and full of profoundly beautiful writing absolutely radiating compassion and love and kindness.
now that's all i got.
also: ipads are not as easy to cry into as paperbacks.
that's all i got.
well—besides that this book is lush, deftly plotted, marvelously novel in setting and context, and full of profoundly beautiful writing absolutely radiating compassion and love and kindness.
now that's all i got.
also: ipads are not as easy to cry into as paperbacks.
olive2read's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely, if a bit heavy handed with the “moral” of the story. I also could’ve done without the final miracle.
hartd's review against another edition
5.0
This was published in 2013 and although I apparently bought the ebook before the company that originally published it went out of business, I just now listened to the audiobook. It's a long book, and I left it in my TBR pile because it intimidated me. I loved it, though, and wish I'd read it sooner.
The audiobook narrator, Hamish Long, is especially good. He did unique voices for all the characters, and the voice he performed for Caius really kept in my mind that Caius was very young, only about 25. Because he takes on a lot of responsibility over the course of the story, his age was easy for me to forget.
The book has many of the elements I expect from Harper Fox, such as religion and spirituality, a strong sense of place, unexplained supernatural events, mysterious old people, a truly swoony romance, and emotional sex scenes. I really like the way she writes all of those things. I was also impressed at how relatable these ancient people were to a modern reader, without seeming like modern people. This is a hard balance to strike in historical fiction but I think she did it perfectly.
The audiobook narrator, Hamish Long, is especially good. He did unique voices for all the characters, and the voice he performed for Caius really kept in my mind that Caius was very young, only about 25. Because he takes on a lot of responsibility over the course of the story, his age was easy for me to forget.
The book has many of the elements I expect from Harper Fox, such as religion and spirituality, a strong sense of place, unexplained supernatural events, mysterious old people, a truly swoony romance, and emotional sex scenes. I really like the way she writes all of those things. I was also impressed at how relatable these ancient people were to a modern reader, without seeming like modern people. This is a hard balance to strike in historical fiction but I think she did it perfectly.
kjcharles's review against another edition
5.0
Good Lord, I love Harper Fox's writing.
This is a lovely tale in a really unusual setting: the far north of Britain way back in the time of raids by the Norsemen. Cai is a young man torn between his natural tendency to sex and fighting and fun, and a vague longing for the learning and better life at that time only available through the Church. Fenrir is a savage Viking warrior, left wounded and dependent on Cai. Enough said.
Nicely realised characters, well plotted, fascinating background. I'm not hugely into religious elements in general but this was extremely well done, a plea for what religion ought to be in people's lives and a condemnation of how it so often works out. Perhaps the mystical/religious theme went a tiny bit too far at the end, but it was completely in keeping with the spirit of the book. Generally: loved it. Highly recommended.
This is a lovely tale in a really unusual setting: the far north of Britain way back in the time of raids by the Norsemen. Cai is a young man torn between his natural tendency to sex and fighting and fun, and a vague longing for the learning and better life at that time only available through the Church. Fenrir is a savage Viking warrior, left wounded and dependent on Cai. Enough said.
Nicely realised characters, well plotted, fascinating background. I'm not hugely into religious elements in general but this was extremely well done, a plea for what religion ought to be in people's lives and a condemnation of how it so often works out. Perhaps the mystical/religious theme went a tiny bit too far at the end, but it was completely in keeping with the spirit of the book. Generally: loved it. Highly recommended.
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