Sons of Odin: Book One
Alright, so I planned on waiting until I finished the whole series to post my review, but I was so taken by the first work in the series that I HAD to share my love. The Sons of Odin is a 3 book series written by Erin S. Riley, and the first book - titled Odin's Shadow - follows Selia, a young Irish woman, as she meets and journeys to Norway with her new Viking husband, a handsome yet volatile man named Alrik. Alrik's brother Ulfrik, equally as handsome but sans the deadly temper, befriends Selia and tries to help her as she adjusts to her new life, and of course a certain tension builds between the two.
I have to admit that when I first read the synopsis for this book, I almost didn't buy it because of the apparent love triangle angle. I just thought it sounded tacky and like this would be one of those cheesy romance novels - you know the ones, with the cover art featuring a fair maiden and some knight in shining armor. Gag! I let the many good reviews sway me into giving it a try though, and I'm so glad that I did. I have to give major credit to Mrs. Riley because she really knows how to write a good story. I was hooked after only the first few pages, tearing through the whole book in just a few days. I would have finished it sooner, but adult stuff got in the way. I'm a big historical fiction fan, but this is the first Viking novel I've read and I really enjoyed the mini history lesson of sorts. I also appreciated that the author created characters that actually fit into the era she was writing about. I'm all for badass lead characters, but as a history nut I love when it's evident that the author really did his/her research in crafting the work and the characters; it just feels more authentic, and really gives a glimpse into what life was like in the past.
I loved Selia, the tiny in stature but big in spirit leading lady. She's stronger than she looks, and I think surprises even herself throughout the work as she deals with various issues. The relationship between Selia and Alrik is pretty unique, but I really enjoyed it, I think in part because of their flaws. Each had their own issues, but in one another they found a love that conquered those issues. Alrik was definitely a fascinating guy, and while not always likable, his antics definitely kept the story interesting. It's funny how flawed characters are the most interesting to read about, especially when they're well-written, so again I give kudos to the author.
I've already ordered the next two books in the series and have been checking the tracking, anxiously awaiting their arrival. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this book totally exceeded my expectations, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Don't let the cheesy cover art or plot synopsis fool you - this is a great book totally worth reading!
I have to admit that when I first read the synopsis for this book, I almost didn't buy it because of the apparent love triangle angle. I just thought it sounded tacky and like this would be one of those cheesy romance novels - you know the ones, with the cover art featuring a fair maiden and some knight in shining armor. Gag! I let the many good reviews sway me into giving it a try though, and I'm so glad that I did. I have to give major credit to Mrs. Riley because she really knows how to write a good story. I was hooked after only the first few pages, tearing through the whole book in just a few days. I would have finished it sooner, but adult stuff got in the way. I'm a big historical fiction fan, but this is the first Viking novel I've read and I really enjoyed the mini history lesson of sorts. I also appreciated that the author created characters that actually fit into the era she was writing about. I'm all for badass lead characters, but as a history nut I love when it's evident that the author really did his/her research in crafting the work and the characters; it just feels more authentic, and really gives a glimpse into what life was like in the past.
I loved Selia, the tiny in stature but big in spirit leading lady. She's stronger than she looks, and I think surprises even herself throughout the work as she deals with various issues. The relationship between Selia and Alrik is pretty unique, but I really enjoyed it, I think in part because of their flaws. Each had their own issues, but in one another they found a love that conquered those issues. Alrik was definitely a fascinating guy, and while not always likable, his antics definitely kept the story interesting. It's funny how flawed characters are the most interesting to read about, especially when they're well-written, so again I give kudos to the author.
I've already ordered the next two books in the series and have been checking the tracking, anxiously awaiting their arrival. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this book totally exceeded my expectations, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Don't let the cheesy cover art or plot synopsis fool you - this is a great book totally worth reading!
Comments
Post a Comment