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amiewg's review against another edition
4.0
✨"Destiny is All"✨ is all I could hear as I read this. IYKYK.
The way this started gave me chills. Those 1st couple of chapters were so atmospheric I couldn't sleep until the whole betrayal scene cut. I think Giles Kristian is one of my favorite authors because bestie knows how to manipulate my mental imagery. My room became snowy, cold Norway in 785, and my friend's family was about to go through shit. I had a coat and boots and everything, and I was laughing and then crying with Sigurd.
I didn't expect to feel much in the duration of this book, but the balance of fleeing, handling emotions, and carrying out revenge was kind of perfect. The amount of vulnerability that Sigurd had to be brave enough to show especially when he ‘sacrificed’ himself to meet Odin! It wasn't a light book because heavy things happened. But it was a light book in tone, which is exactly my taste.
The characters were my favorite part.
The way this started gave me chills. Those 1st couple of chapters were so atmospheric I couldn't sleep until the whole betrayal scene cut. I think Giles Kristian is one of my favorite authors because bestie knows how to manipulate my mental imagery. My room became snowy, cold Norway in 785, and my friend's family was about to go through shit. I had a coat and boots and everything, and I was laughing and then crying with Sigurd.
I didn't expect to feel much in the duration of this book, but the balance of fleeing, handling emotions, and carrying out revenge was kind of perfect. The amount of vulnerability that Sigurd had to be brave enough to show especially when he ‘sacrificed’ himself to meet Odin! It wasn't a light book because heavy things happened. But it was a light book in tone, which is exactly my taste.
The characters were my favorite part.
dromwald's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this and the style it was written in. It has the style of a saga which is appropriate and despite being fairly gory in places it also has a great deal of humour - albeit the sort of humour that mght appeal mainly to a man. It's of the 'thunderous farts' variety but is entirely appropriate to the subject matter and the sometimes larger than life characters brought to life.
Can't wait to read the next installment.
Can't wait to read the next installment.
isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3 stars
I'm confused as to the cussing. It's set in 785 A.D. so the f word etc. would not be used, right? I get maybe it's because the author wanted the force of modern curse words and old Norse ones not have same power nowadays obviously, but it was still jarring. Kind of because of this is the tonal problems. One page there's lots of bloody deaths, pretty explicitly describe, and the next there's heaps of jokes with a bunch of f-bombs and my mind was kind of like ?? Anyway, it was a pretty good book, but I'm not sure if I want to continue; I'll see. To be honest, it was kind of forgettable so it may be completely wiped from my mind by next month. Oops.
I'm confused as to the cussing. It's set in 785 A.D. so the f word etc. would not be used, right? I get maybe it's because the author wanted the force of modern curse words and old Norse ones not have same power nowadays obviously, but it was still jarring. Kind of because of this is the tonal problems. One page there's lots of bloody deaths, pretty explicitly describe, and the next there's heaps of jokes with a bunch of f-bombs and my mind was kind of like ?? Anyway, it was a pretty good book, but I'm not sure if I want to continue; I'll see. To be honest, it was kind of forgettable so it may be completely wiped from my mind by next month. Oops.
bibliomaniac33's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book- even more I think, than The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, which is saying something as I am a devoted fan of Uhtred. Sigurd might have won me over though. And not just Sigurd! The accompanying characters are all so well developed in their own way, I found myself really attached to several which made an already great plot even more engaging, as you aren't only rooting for Sigurd, you're rooting for everyone in his band. There was a definite feeling of fellowship going there too that isn't found in most of the viking saga fiction I've read. The supporting characters aren't just barely fleshed out names you barely remember. They are robust and engaging in their own right.
I am so glad I found this series. I started off reading it on Kindle, and since I couldn't put it down, also bought it on Audible. Another great choice, as it's a well done audio read. I instantly began the second in the series as soon as The Rise of Sigurd ended.
I am so glad I found this series. I started off reading it on Kindle, and since I couldn't put it down, also bought it on Audible. Another great choice, as it's a well done audio read. I instantly began the second in the series as soon as The Rise of Sigurd ended.
benehime's review against another edition
3.0
Das Buch war schnell gelesen, die Handlung macht keine komplexen Sprünge. Ein gutes Buch für jemanden, der sich Namen schnell merkt ( da am Anfang sehr viele Namen und Charaktere genannt werden, von denen nur ein Bruchteil für die Geschichte wirklich relevant ist) und einen entspannten Abend mit Blut und Schwert zubringen will.
Sonderlich neu ist der Plot nicht: Jüngster Sohn will mit seinem Vater, der Jarl ist in den Kampf, der lässt ihn nicht, alles geht schief. Vater, Mutter und Brüder sterben, die Schwester wird verschleppt. Der Protagonist schwört Rache und bekommt sie auch, nachdem er ein paar Mitstreiter für sich gewonnen hat, gewinnt er gegen seine Gegner.
Die handelnden Personen erscheinen annehmbar plastisch, nur die entführte Schwester wirkt hölzern, was auch daran liegt, dass sie nur wenige Seiten des Buches füllt, die man besser mit Kampfbeschreibungen zugebracht hätte, anstatt halbherzig zu versuchen ihre Geschichte miteinzubeziehen.
Kampfbeschreibubgen sind etwas, was den Autor anscheinend liegt, denn ich habe einige Male gespannt mitgelitten. Eines sei gesagt: unbeschadet kommt die kleine Truppe des Protagonisten nicht davon.
Trotz des eher negativen Reviews habe ich das Buch genossen und würde es auch für einen entspannten Abend nach einem anstrengenden Tag empfehlen. Die Saga werde ich aber nicht weiterverfolgen.
Sonderlich neu ist der Plot nicht: Jüngster Sohn will mit seinem Vater, der Jarl ist in den Kampf, der lässt ihn nicht, alles geht schief. Vater, Mutter und Brüder sterben, die Schwester wird verschleppt. Der Protagonist schwört Rache und bekommt sie auch, nachdem er ein paar Mitstreiter für sich gewonnen hat, gewinnt er gegen seine Gegner.
Die handelnden Personen erscheinen annehmbar plastisch, nur die entführte Schwester wirkt hölzern, was auch daran liegt, dass sie nur wenige Seiten des Buches füllt, die man besser mit Kampfbeschreibungen zugebracht hätte, anstatt halbherzig zu versuchen ihre Geschichte miteinzubeziehen.
Kampfbeschreibubgen sind etwas, was den Autor anscheinend liegt, denn ich habe einige Male gespannt mitgelitten. Eines sei gesagt: unbeschadet kommt die kleine Truppe des Protagonisten nicht davon.
Trotz des eher negativen Reviews habe ich das Buch genossen und würde es auch für einen entspannten Abend nach einem anstrengenden Tag empfehlen. Die Saga werde ich aber nicht weiterverfolgen.
jefffrane's review against another edition
5.0
Generally speaking, I don't do five star reviews but God of Vengeance was completely gripping and extremely well written. The basic plot -- young man's family is slaughtered by powerful lord, young man goes into hiding and discovers new allies and skills, young man seeks vengeance on the bad guys -- could have been a classic kung fu movie yet this book is set in 8th Century Norway at the earliest stages of Norse expansion and exploration. And the real difference is that Kristian peoples his story with fascinating and interesting characters and maintains an amazing level of authenticity throughout. References to time and distance are based on a credible references for the era; no seconds or minutes but the span familiar in nature. All this is done with humor and wit, with heroics and no small amount of gore.
Now, unfortunately, I will need to find copies of Kristian's five previous novels because I simply do not run across such a terrific writer very often.
Now, unfortunately, I will need to find copies of Kristian's five previous novels because I simply do not run across such a terrific writer very often.
patremagne's review against another edition
4.0
Damn fun viking romp, great characters and a ton of viking similes (too many?).
nina_bloodsworn's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a great book and beginning of Sigurd's Saga. I can only praise characters, atmosphere and action.
what hell of a ride ! i loved every page.
what hell of a ride ! i loved every page.