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A review by steveatwaywords
Two Viking Romances by Anonymous
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Say to yourself, "Hey, I've always wondered what is was like to sit around a mead hall and hear a good traditional Viking story," inhale these two short tales (excerpted from a larger Penguin Seven Viking Romances, and you've pretty much succeeded.
Filled with family trees (which meant something more to somebody once), giants, promiscuous farmers' daughters, corruption and honor, more giants, horny warrior heroes, magic, beautiful princesses, monsters, giants, glorious deaths, and several unremarkable sea voyages, all in two stories that one hour's read can complete -- what more could you really ask for?
I imagine that some might offer historical context to stories like these (and a brief intro does just this), but they can be appreciated for the tale-telling alone, for their historical moment which has set the tone for folk tales and fantasies afterward, and we need not wonder or worry overmuch about their higher literary merit.
Oh, and the book size is cute, too.
Filled with family trees (which meant something more to somebody once), giants, promiscuous farmers' daughters, corruption and honor, more giants, horny warrior heroes, magic, beautiful princesses, monsters, giants, glorious deaths, and several unremarkable sea voyages, all in two stories that one hour's read can complete -- what more could you really ask for?
I imagine that some might offer historical context to stories like these (and a brief intro does just this), but they can be appreciated for the tale-telling alone, for their historical moment which has set the tone for folk tales and fantasies afterward, and we need not wonder or worry overmuch about their higher literary merit.
Oh, and the book size is cute, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death