Blood of the Bear (Fire Born, 5)
8th century, Saxon Germany. Frankish Christianity is laying siege to the hearts and minds of the receding numbers of pagans. This is the continuing story of Bjarki Bloodhand, renowned and much feared ‘beserkr,’ now wanting to lead a quiet normal life with his wife and children. However, his enemies and the Frankish Christians have other plans.
Struck down by an unknown illness, or worse, a curse of devastating powers, Bjarki has to take something of a back seat in this novel, and much of the action and intrigue revolves around his wonderful Shield Maiden sister, Torfinn. A fierce warrior in her own right, Tor, as she is known to family, is a magnificent character, brave, fearless and devious!
This is an action-packed novel, based (very) loosely on the real-life Saxon pagan-turned-Christian, Widukind of Westphalia. His enmity and that of his closest ally, Abbio, towards Bjarki is vicious and constant due to the beserkr stealing Widukind’s sister, Edith, and taking her for his wife. However, Tor’s feelings towards Widukind are more ambivalent and shrewder.
Angus Donald is a great storyteller, and although this is not the best ‘beserkr’ novel I have read recently, it is certainly well researched and well written with a wonderful ending – which hopefully means we have not seen the end of Tor. Please, Mr. Donald, you can’t leave us like that!
