Blurb
The lost throne of Norway must be won in foreign lands.
1030 AD
Some men are gifted a crown. Others have to fight to claim it.
Exiled from Norway, Harald Sigurdsson, brother to murdered King Olaf, must battle mercilessly for survival in the lands of the Kievan Rus.
His brother’s legacy gifts him a warband of hardened warriors and entry to the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. By his wits, sword and skill in battle, Harald must learn not just to survive but to triumph.
He fights for glory, for fame, and to regain his family’s battle-stolen throne. But his greatest challenge may not come from battlefield foes but from those who stand by his side.
The first instalment in a remarkable story of an exiled boy’s incredible journey to become Harald Hardrada; The Hard Ruler and The Last Viking.
My Review
I’m a new reader of JC Duncan and was thrilled to discover his books. What an incredible ride! Although book one is just a “prelude” according to the author, we get a thorough introduction to Harald Sigurdsson with all his youthful foibles. There’s no doubt that his courage and endurance will soon reap great benefits. The disastrous murder of his brother King Olaf sends him into exile, and he lands in the Russian court of Grand Prince Yaroslav, who appears to accept Harald as a prince of Norway. But Yaroslav may also have seen Harald as a threat, for King Olaf’s bastard child Magnus was being raised at his court—who could prove useful to him in time. Their status is made clear when Yaroslav sends Harald on a suicidal mission under an inexperienced general:
‘If Sudislav dies or fails, an internal threat is removed or reduced, and if we die, or are greatly weakened, a threat to his chosen heir to Norway is also removed or reduced.’
‘And he doesn’t have to break his promise to me,’ said Harald, putting his chin onto his cupped hands and staring at the floor.
‘Exactly. It was clever, by the way, to make him promise that Kyiv would be a safe haven for you, as long as you live. But…’
‘But we will not be in Kyiv.’
‘Precisely.’
To make matters worse, Harald is betrayed by the Greeks, led by Bardas, who would prove to be his worst enemy. But of course, our hero overcomes all obstacles, though not without the loss of many men. And this is only the first of several near-fatal missions. Our story is told by Eric Alversson, Harald’s closest follower who is the last of the original companions sworn to their prince. He’s an old man now, telling Harald’s story to a group of rapt listeners who are waiting for King Magnus—long after the battle of Stamford Bridge. The first night of Eric’s long tale ends when Harald decides to go to Miklagard, to serve the emperor in the Varangian guard. Russia has given him many lessons in warfare, but Harald isn’t ready to claim the throne of Norway. He has much to learn, and I’m ready to dive into book two.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CB9ZMFQP/
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