Among Sea Wolves
Adventure abounds in this exuberantly entertaining tale of seafaring Vikings from the Orkney Islands on their way to Jerusalem in the 12th century. While it is the second book in a series, it can be easily and fully read and enjoyed on its own. In this instalment, the secret handfasting oath between Skarfr, a warrior and a skald (poet), and Hlif, the ship’s housekeeper, ward of the commander, and a seeress, unfolds dramatically. Subplots concerning a wronged noblewoman, thralls (Irish slaves), and shifting political alliances and power struggles play out back in Orkney as the sea wolves (the Viking seafarers) travel on their path of pillage and pilgrimage.
The pace is lightning-fast as new troubles confront the characters on almost every page. Moving from one dilemma to the next, the plot’s speed is unrelenting but also extremely propulsive. The characters multiply as the story continues, but their connections to each other give weight to the telling and drive the plot forward. Unexpected encounters with strangers, new cities, and foreign lands further deepen the sense of a churning landscape full of danger but also adventure.
A larky, fast-paced plot, coupled with characters who could come straight from the sagas, results in sheer entertainment. Recommended for anyone wanting to spend a few hours in the company of intrepid heroes on daring journeys.
