Council -Snorri Kristjansson

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 16th 2019 by Jo Fletcher Books

Series: Helga Finnsdottir #2

Historical thriller mystery Crime

To review

I read reviews of book 1 who said it was not viking enough, which I felt was silly because it was Iceland and it was totally viking. Viking is more than raiding. But here I felt like the author tried making it more viking.

Here we have a king in a part of what is now Sweden. His people are coming to a council. Someone seems to want to make that council fall apart. And being a king back then you always worry about other kings too.

Helga is the heroine from book 1. That is she is the smart one who solves crime. Since this is after all, Viking noir, or whatever we should call it. And it is very Scandic. She does a lot of thinking, because what else can you do at that time. The only way to solve a crime is to think and ask questions.

There is a body, and, well I did not see anything coming. As for the end, what? It can not end like that? I have no idea what will happen in the next book. If I have to guess, well we have been from Iceland to Sweden so maybe, maybe she will solve a crime in Viking York or something. 

It was not as light in reading as book 1 (I did miss that), the author threw in a lot of curveballs and I never knew what to expect. Also, if that one person is not punished in book 3 I am going to be so freaking mad. I want death! A cruel death for that person.

I enjoyed it, and, arghh I can not sto thinking about book 3. Do not leave me like that

BlurbAfter five years on the road, Helga has finally settled near King Eirik’s court in Uppsala, where she’s well-regarded as a healer. She’s even in a relationship, of sorts.
But life is about to get a bit more exciting, for King Eirik has summoned all those who owe him fealty to the King’s Council and tempers are already flaring. The body of an unknown boy is found near the river, but with delegations from all over the country arriving and rumours of an imminent attack, there are more important things to attend to than the death of a nobody . . .
Only Helga suspects murder, until a second body makes it clear that someone is intent on breaking up the King’s Council – and that a traitor walks among them . . .

Kin - Snorri Kristjansson

He can deny it all he likes, but everyone knows Viking warlord Unnthor Reginsson brought home a great chest of gold when he retired from the longboats and settled down with Hildigunnur in a remote valley. Now, in the summer of 970, adopted daughter Helga is awaiting the arrival of her unknown siblings: dark, dangerous Karl, lithe, clever Jorunn, gentle Aslak, henpecked by his shrewish wife, and the giant Bjorn, made bitter by Volund, his idiot son.

And they're coming with darkness in their hearts.

The siblings gather, bad blood simmers and old feuds resurface as Unnthor's heirs make their moves on the old man's treasure - until one morning Helga is awakened by screams. Blood has been shed: kin has been slain.

No one confesses, but all the clues point to one person - who cannot possibly be the murderer, at least in Helga's eyes. But if she's going to save the innocent from the axe and prevent more bloodshed, she's got to solve the mystery - fast . . . 

Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: March 8th 2018 by Jo Fletcher Books Historical fiction /crime Helga Finnsdottir #1

For review

My thoughts:

It has been a very long time since I finished a book in a day. Not that I have not wanted to. But a baby makes it harder. But today everything came together, and it also helped that I could not put the book down and that it was so light and it flowed so well. Suddenly I was on page 150 and it felt like a blink of an eye. Who knew Viking crime drama could feel so light! In writing that it. In tone, eh, not so much. There will be blood as kin slay kin. Though dark it is not.

Helga is our heroine and she was awesome. She is the adoptive daughter in the house. Calm, patient and with a good eye for things. As she will soon learn.

Her foster parents have 3 sons and 1 daughter. And they all gather now. They all believe their father have hid a Viking treasure somewhere. They all have their own hidden agendas. This is a very dysfunctional family. Helga seems to be the only normal one.

Obviously there will be blood, and Helga is on the case.

Viking crime drama. Yes, honestly that truly says it all. Iceland, desolate, kin. Murder.

Conclusion:

So if you like crime read it. If you are a historical fan, read it. If you just like a good story (like we all do!) then well duh, this is a must read.

Oh it was just so good! I truly enjoyed this one. Writing that just flows. And a murder I could not figure out (but then I never can.)

Cover

Can I say amazing!

Path of Gods - Snorri Kristjansson

Reunited, Audun and Ulfar have a new sense of purpose: to ensure that the North remains in the hands of those who hold with the old gods. To do this, they must defeat the people who seek to destroy all they have ever known with the new White Christ. But these are powerful enemies and if they have any chance of victory, they must find equally powerful allies.

In Trondheim, King Olav, self-appointed champion of the White Christ, finds that keeping the peace is a much harder test of his faith than winning the war. With his garrison halved and local chieftains at his table who wish him nothing but ill, the king must decide how and where to spread the word of his god.

And in the North, touched by the trickster god, something old, malevolent and very, very angry stirs… 

My thoughts:

I think this one was the best of the series. I read it in a day, it felt so light. Just like it should. Many historical books put in useless facts that only drags down the book. Here he balanced it well, I felt like I was there, and then he mixed it with mythology and made it believable.

Audun and Ulfar are back together. They are still immortal, and they know that things are happening. A big showdown is coming.

First we have King Olav, arghh he made me so mad! So raping women who do not believe in Christ is ok. You are going down Olav, you and your religion! I kept waiting for ships to sail...if you catch my meaning... *whistles*

But then we have the dark evil parts. Loki has a willing pawn who wants to start Ragnarrök. And that is so not ok. There is a lot of darkness going on there. You are going down Loki! He is as he should be a trickster and no nice.

As you can see our two heroes who are not really heroes, just men, and have their job cut out for them. Armies are marching. Trolls are coming. Loki is laughing and the Gods are watching.

Conclusion:

I used to read a lot of his fic set around this time, but ever since I started reading in English, not so much. A shame really, it's always interesting. It's fun, and this book is a mix of fiction and mythology. A great mix that works. gy. A great mix that works. 

Hardcover
Published July 2nd 2015 by Jo Fletcher Books
The Valhalla Saga #3
Historical fiction fantasy
For review

Blood will Follow - Snorri Kristjansson

Ulfar Thormodsson and Audun Arngrimsson have won the battle for Stenvik, although at huge cost, for they have suffered much worse than heartbreak. They have lost the very thing that made them human: their mortality.

While Ulfar heads home, looking for the place where he thinks he will be safe, Audun runs south. But both men are about to discover that they can not run away from themselves.

King Olav might have been defeated outside the walls of Stenvik, but now Valgard leads him north, in search of the source of the Vikings’ power.

All the while there are those who watch and wait, biding their time, for there are secrets yet to be discovered…

My thoughts:

I do love when the second book is better than the first. Now what made it so? I am always so bad with that, cos honestly it was everything that helped. It seemed to flow better, better written, better story, hey the book was better. And since book 1 was already good, the better :) I am way too used to a series going downwards instead.

Right so the big bad happened, Ulfar and Audun are now immortal. That is something I like about this book. Yes there is magic, yes the Gods walk the earth. And it feels real. Because then Christianity came and swept away all that. But now it feels like the olden days sure were deadly and magical.

The story is a sort of road trip. Ulfar goes back to Sweden and wonders about why he can't die, why did the evil woman curse them? While Audun tries to flee to the south. But men like them can't run away. Something, someone is after them.

While in Norway that bastard Valgard is all cozy with King Olav (arghhh Valgard!). Valgard is also after the powers of old. So I am sensing a big showdown maybe in the next book, or not.

Great story. These two men meeting strangers and trying to find themselves and what they will do next. And darkness gathering in Norway. So hard to pick good and bad, cos Valgard is bad and should not get any power. But then I do not like King Olav either cos you do not force people to find faith.

Conclusion:

A less bloody book than book 1 as that one was all anticipation before the siege of Stenvik. Here we get more of everything else. An interesting book that I could not put down. And I do wonder where their journey will take them next.

cover 

fitting

Paperback, 400 pages
Published June 5th 2014 by Jo Fletcher Books (first published May 29th 2014)
The Valhalla Saga #2
Historical fiction
for review

Swords of Good Men - Snorri Kristjansson

To Ulfar Thormodsson, the Viking town of Stenvik is the penultimate stop on a long journey in this riveting adventure of clashing Viking powers. Tasked with looking after his cousin after disgracing his father, he has traveled the world and now only wants to go home.

Stenvik is different: it contains the beautiful and tragic Lilja, who immediately captures Ulfar’s heart-–but Stenvik is also home to some very deadly men, who could break Ulfar in an instant.

King Olav is marching on Stenvik from the East, determined to bring the White Christ to the masses at the point of his sword, and a host of bloodthirsty raiders led by a mysterious woman are sailing from the north.

But Ulfar is about to learn that his enemies are not all outside the walls.

My thoughts:

At first I will admit that this will not be the historical for everyone. This is about war, fighting, a siege, death. You get the idea.

Ulfar comes with his cousin to Stenvik. And he is not the only one. King Olav is coming there too, and others to plunder and kill. But before that Ulfar falls for a mystery woman (yes those things can never end well). And we gets to see the tension in the city. It was a brutal time after all.

The raiders and King do not come at once. We get to see city life, the raiders planning and King Olav telling people his way or the highway. Yeah, I have never been a fan of those who say this religion is better, follow it or die. So I can't really be on his side then. Go back to your heathen ways Norway, do not listen to Olav.

Ulfar, he was interesting. Because he starts of, not naive, but in a way yes. He grows and sees the bloody side of things. It's not like he is a stranger to fighting but things will get messy in this town.

Vikings as they were. A time of Thor vs White Christ. Tensions in society and like always, people doing things they should not do.

Conclusion:
And the end, rather evil wasn't it? I will not tell you but it certainly made me wonder what Ulfar is up to next.

cover
works

Paperback, 352 pages
Published June 5th by Jo Fletcher Books
The Valhalla Saga #1
Historical fiction
for review