A review by sjstuart
Njal's Saga by

adventurous challenging informative medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Not exactly a page-turner based on plot and pacing and having to keep track of 400 characters. But bonus points for the fascinating historical insights, and it certainly stands up well against anything else written in the 1200s.

The action begins with an escalating sequence of blood feuds, most of which were triggered by the apparent Achilles' heel of medieval Icelanders: their fragile masculinity. A typical exchange:

A: "No, I won't help you in this rash attack on your neighbor. It would be wrong, as well as unsuccessful."

B: "If you don't, you will never be called a man again."

A: "Oh well, I have no possible answer to that. Let no one say I'm afraid of death. Goodbye, wife. I expect never to return."

These gradually evolve into an escalating sequence of lawsuits -- like a medieval John Grisham legal thriller, complete with jury selection, legal technicalities, venue changes, last-minute court surprises, and mistrials. Except that the losing party tends to ignore the court ruling and hack some limbs off their counterparties, leading to more lawsuits.