For about the first 1/4 of this book, the idea that it was a "chick book" pawed away at me. Though the author is Theodore, a man, it felt like it was written by a woman ... a whole lotta love-talk. No man writes about so much love. I'm not against it, it just seemed to me that the gender of the writer and the way he wrote did not jive.

Then the tone of the writing changed.

After the protagonist left his homeland, the book got manly. Of course I read Viking-themed books because they tap in to my masculinity. Why else do guys read books about knights, Vikings, and Crusaders?!

Thereafter I became engrossed. I was keen to move quickly from page to page as fighting scenes seemed realistic along with the Norse obsession with swords and tools of war. I thoroughly like the talk of honour and oaths. My soul is nourished by the bedrock values of Norse culture.

The author also did a splendid job of capturing the "otherworlds." I will not give examples as I am attempting not to provide spoilers. I read other materials about Norse culture and religion and Mr. Brun surely brought those beliefs and practices to life in this book. Now I am beginning the sequel to this one: A SACRED STORM ( )