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The Grimnir Saga #2
Twilight of the Gods
In A Gathering of Ravens, he fought for vengeance. Now, Grimnir is back to fight for his survival.
It is the year of Our Lord 1218 and in the land of the Raven-Geats, the Old Ways reach deep. And while the Geats pay a tax to the King in the name of the White Christ, their hearts and souls belong to the gods of Asgardr. But no man can serve two masters.
Pledging to burn this Norse heresy from the land, famed crusader Konradr the White leads a host against the Raven-Geats, using torch and sword to bring forth the light of the new religion. But the land of the Raven-Geats has an ancient protector: Grimnir, the last in a long line of monsters left to plague Midgardr. And he will stand between the Raven-Geats and their destruction.
Aided by an army of berserkers led by their pale queen, Grimnir sparks off an epic struggle--not only against the crusaders, but against the very Gods. For there is something buried beneath the land of the Raven-Geats that Odin wants, something best left undisturbed. Something the blood of the slain, Christian and pagan, will surely awaken.
It is the year of Our Lord 1218 and in the land of the Raven-Geats, the Old Ways reach deep. And while the Geats pay a tax to the King in the name of the White Christ, their hearts and souls belong to the gods of Asgardr. But no man can serve two masters.
Pledging to burn this Norse heresy from the land, famed crusader Konradr the White leads a host against the Raven-Geats, using torch and sword to bring forth the light of the new religion. But the land of the Raven-Geats has an ancient protector: Grimnir, the last in a long line of monsters left to plague Midgardr. And he will stand between the Raven-Geats and their destruction.
Aided by an army of berserkers led by their pale queen, Grimnir sparks off an epic struggle--not only against the crusaders, but against the very Gods. For there is something buried beneath the land of the Raven-Geats that Odin wants, something best left undisturbed. Something the blood of the slain, Christian and pagan, will surely awaken.
Paperback
First published February 18, 2020
About the author
Scott Oden
23 books378 followersScott Oden is a bestselling author of historical fantasy and sword-and-sorcery. Since his debut in 2005, his books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist; he has been an Amazon Editor’s Pick and has been nominated for a Gemmell Award. His work has been endorsed by such preeminent authors as Steven Pressfield, David Anthony Durham, and John Gwynne.
Scott lives in the foothills of the Appalachians with his lovely wife, Shannon, and a variety of dogs -- all of them neurotic and prone to dancing like no one’s watching.
Before turning his hand to writing, Scott worked the usual slate of odd jobs, from delivering pizza to stocking shelves at a local grocery. In his spare time, he likes table-top roleplaying games, reading, and making the occasional bracelet from old stone beads. He dreams of running away from reality and living in a Hobbit hole . . .
If you want to know more, please visit Scott’s website at https://scottoden.wordpress.com/, where you can follow his blog and be there when he finally takes the plunge and creates a mailing list.
Scott lives in the foothills of the Appalachians with his lovely wife, Shannon, and a variety of dogs -- all of them neurotic and prone to dancing like no one’s watching.
Before turning his hand to writing, Scott worked the usual slate of odd jobs, from delivering pizza to stocking shelves at a local grocery. In his spare time, he likes table-top roleplaying games, reading, and making the occasional bracelet from old stone beads. He dreams of running away from reality and living in a Hobbit hole . . .
If you want to know more, please visit Scott’s website at https://scottoden.wordpress.com/, where you can follow his blog and be there when he finally takes the plunge and creates a mailing list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 15, 2022
This latest endeavour is the 2nd volume of the very enjoyable "Grimnir" historical/fantasy series.
Storytelling is of a very good quality, the story is well structured and executed, and the human characters are believable and lifelike.
It's a book about the Old Gods of Asgard against the New God of the White Christ, and what will be done to influence various matters and courses of actions.
The main characters are Grimnir, a mythological orc figure, and the village girl, Disa, who wants to become a fighting priestess to Grimnir while also being responsible for protecting her village.
Against them is the invading Crusade army of Kanradr the White of Skara and his friend, the priest Nikulas, and they inent to bring the new faith to the lands of the pagans, Raven-Geats, in the west of Sweden.
What will bind them together are the treacherous actions of Nali, by promising the Old and the New certain things, but his only objective is to unleash back into life the monstrous Wyrm and bring ruin to the world.
What is to follow is an action-packed story, in which the Old Gods and New Faith will clash, but due to Nali and his trickery looking like Loki, the old trickster, they will be doomed for the hungry Wyrm, but for Grimnir and Disa the task to try to survive this onslaught, and for Grimnir to continue his hunt for that all consuming giant Wyrm.
Highly recommended, for this is very much a worthy addition to this series, and that's why I like to call this entertaining tale: "An Exciting Spellbound Twilight"!
Storytelling is of a very good quality, the story is well structured and executed, and the human characters are believable and lifelike.
It's a book about the Old Gods of Asgard against the New God of the White Christ, and what will be done to influence various matters and courses of actions.
The main characters are Grimnir, a mythological orc figure, and the village girl, Disa, who wants to become a fighting priestess to Grimnir while also being responsible for protecting her village.
Against them is the invading Crusade army of Kanradr the White of Skara and his friend, the priest Nikulas, and they inent to bring the new faith to the lands of the pagans, Raven-Geats, in the west of Sweden.
What will bind them together are the treacherous actions of Nali, by promising the Old and the New certain things, but his only objective is to unleash back into life the monstrous Wyrm and bring ruin to the world.
What is to follow is an action-packed story, in which the Old Gods and New Faith will clash, but due to Nali and his trickery looking like Loki, the old trickster, they will be doomed for the hungry Wyrm, but for Grimnir and Disa the task to try to survive this onslaught, and for Grimnir to continue his hunt for that all consuming giant Wyrm.
Highly recommended, for this is very much a worthy addition to this series, and that's why I like to call this entertaining tale: "An Exciting Spellbound Twilight"!
February 19, 2020
This is one of my favorite reads in the last ten years! I really liked A Gathering of Ravens, the first book in this series, but Twilight is even better, in my humble opinion. Oden draws on multiple mythologies, though most heavily Norse, as well as Christianity, to create one of the most creative and compelling stories I've read in a very long time. An amazing tale of a clash between the old gods and the new. Dark, action-packed, with unique characters that will scare the shit our of you, but you can't help rooting for. Very highly recommended!
March 23, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/03/23/...
A few years ago, I read a terrific book called A Gathering of Ravens, a fantasy epic which wove together the flowing threads of myth and time. Its protagonist, Grimnir, was called orcnéas—an Orc—but regardless of the names they gave him, all saw him as a monster. Readers, however, soon saw that he was much, much more.
Now in this sequel, aptly titled Twilight of the Gods, our story with Grimnir picks up again in the early thirteen century, a time where only a few still follow the old ways while Christianity continues to spread across the world. The Raven-Geats are one such people, a northern clan which holds deep beliefs in their Asgardian gods even as they pay tribute to the Christian King. Still, it is a tenuous situation, one that cannot last forever, and sure enough, soon the stirrings of a new crusade emerges, led by a warrior who vows to purge Norse heresy from the lands.
But lucky for the Raven-Geats, they have Grimnir, their ancient guardian and secret weapon. For generations, their village has relied upon his protection, communicating with him through a Priestess of the Hooded One. With the death of the old priestess though, a new one has been chosen, a young woman named Dísa, who is understandably shocked when she sees the true face of their protector for the very first time. He’s a harsh teacher, but gradually, Grimnir hones his new student into a weapon as powerful as himself. Leading an army of warriors against the oncoming crusaders, Dísa will do anything to save the Raven-Geats and their sacred land.
While there are some themes in Twilight of the Gods that mirrored A Gathering of Ravens, on the whole they are very different books. However, one thing this sequel has in common with the previous volume is that I loved it just as much. War plays a big role in this one, resulting in darker, grimmer and more violent vibes, but the protagonists are once more stellar and truly shine. You can certainly read this as a standalone if you wish, but for a deeper understanding of Grimnir’s character, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning. He is the last of his kind, and no ordinary or traditional hero. Most of the time he isn’t even likeable. But even in his brutality and, for lack of a better term, his sheer “orcness”, there is humanity in him—the part that values honor, loyalty and duty to those he has sworn to protect. That said, you have to earn his respect. He is not gentle nor is he kind, and when you read about his style, you definitely think “tough love.” A Gathering of Ravens is a fantastic introduction to all this, especially when it comes to his relationship with Étaín, and you can also see some of it here in his relationship with Dísa.
And then of course, there’s the atmosphere. Author Scott Oden did a magnificent job bringing the setting to life in the first book, and the trend continues. This is a world of orcs, gods, magic and monsters, but the story itself is rooted in history, unfolding in a time of enormous cultural upheaval. The Norse clans are being threatened by the crusaders, as well as by weak leadership from within. Meanwhile, Dísa has to prove herself amidst the power struggle and rally the people. The tension is sharper and more present in this sequel, the story more action driven with plenty of conflict and breathtaking battle sequences.
The result is a delectable historical fantasy with an intriguing mix of adventure, mythology, and action which put me in mind of an old school sword and sorcery. And so, even though I really enjoyed A Gathering of Ravens, I actually think Twilight of the Gods may have surpassed it in some areas, in terms of pacing—which is faster and punchier, given the themes of war—and in the characters, because I really enjoyed reading about Dísa. Believe me, it’s hard to stand out when your costar is someone like Grimnir, but she managed to hold her own, and I loved her story arc and the growth of her character over time.
So bravo, Scott Oden! Clearly, his talents have only grown in the years since A Gathering of Ravens, because Twilight of the Gods flowed beautifully and never had to fight to keep my interest. It was a nice return to an unforgettable character, and I loved the way this sequel expanded his legend. Highly recommended, and I’m also beyond thrilled that this series has finally gotten audio editions. Paul Woodson is a skilled narrator who brings this epic tale to vivid life, and I’m glad I got to have this listening experience.
A few years ago, I read a terrific book called A Gathering of Ravens, a fantasy epic which wove together the flowing threads of myth and time. Its protagonist, Grimnir, was called orcnéas—an Orc—but regardless of the names they gave him, all saw him as a monster. Readers, however, soon saw that he was much, much more.
Now in this sequel, aptly titled Twilight of the Gods, our story with Grimnir picks up again in the early thirteen century, a time where only a few still follow the old ways while Christianity continues to spread across the world. The Raven-Geats are one such people, a northern clan which holds deep beliefs in their Asgardian gods even as they pay tribute to the Christian King. Still, it is a tenuous situation, one that cannot last forever, and sure enough, soon the stirrings of a new crusade emerges, led by a warrior who vows to purge Norse heresy from the lands.
But lucky for the Raven-Geats, they have Grimnir, their ancient guardian and secret weapon. For generations, their village has relied upon his protection, communicating with him through a Priestess of the Hooded One. With the death of the old priestess though, a new one has been chosen, a young woman named Dísa, who is understandably shocked when she sees the true face of their protector for the very first time. He’s a harsh teacher, but gradually, Grimnir hones his new student into a weapon as powerful as himself. Leading an army of warriors against the oncoming crusaders, Dísa will do anything to save the Raven-Geats and their sacred land.
While there are some themes in Twilight of the Gods that mirrored A Gathering of Ravens, on the whole they are very different books. However, one thing this sequel has in common with the previous volume is that I loved it just as much. War plays a big role in this one, resulting in darker, grimmer and more violent vibes, but the protagonists are once more stellar and truly shine. You can certainly read this as a standalone if you wish, but for a deeper understanding of Grimnir’s character, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning. He is the last of his kind, and no ordinary or traditional hero. Most of the time he isn’t even likeable. But even in his brutality and, for lack of a better term, his sheer “orcness”, there is humanity in him—the part that values honor, loyalty and duty to those he has sworn to protect. That said, you have to earn his respect. He is not gentle nor is he kind, and when you read about his style, you definitely think “tough love.” A Gathering of Ravens is a fantastic introduction to all this, especially when it comes to his relationship with Étaín, and you can also see some of it here in his relationship with Dísa.
And then of course, there’s the atmosphere. Author Scott Oden did a magnificent job bringing the setting to life in the first book, and the trend continues. This is a world of orcs, gods, magic and monsters, but the story itself is rooted in history, unfolding in a time of enormous cultural upheaval. The Norse clans are being threatened by the crusaders, as well as by weak leadership from within. Meanwhile, Dísa has to prove herself amidst the power struggle and rally the people. The tension is sharper and more present in this sequel, the story more action driven with plenty of conflict and breathtaking battle sequences.
The result is a delectable historical fantasy with an intriguing mix of adventure, mythology, and action which put me in mind of an old school sword and sorcery. And so, even though I really enjoyed A Gathering of Ravens, I actually think Twilight of the Gods may have surpassed it in some areas, in terms of pacing—which is faster and punchier, given the themes of war—and in the characters, because I really enjoyed reading about Dísa. Believe me, it’s hard to stand out when your costar is someone like Grimnir, but she managed to hold her own, and I loved her story arc and the growth of her character over time.
So bravo, Scott Oden! Clearly, his talents have only grown in the years since A Gathering of Ravens, because Twilight of the Gods flowed beautifully and never had to fight to keep my interest. It was a nice return to an unforgettable character, and I loved the way this sequel expanded his legend. Highly recommended, and I’m also beyond thrilled that this series has finally gotten audio editions. Paul Woodson is a skilled narrator who brings this epic tale to vivid life, and I’m glad I got to have this listening experience.
October 18, 2019
There are books you pick up and reread. This book I immediately went back and read momenta after finishing it. Scott Oden has a writing style that hearkens to the pulp days of Robert E Howard ( it's no secret he is an REH fan). What's more, he would have been a contemporary of Howard and someone RE would have sought out to collaborate. Scott's gritty and earthy prose grabs you by the collar and never lets go.
Twilight continues the tale of Grimnir, the last of his kind, skraelinger, known by many as orcneas, ;ast of a line that included Grendel. He has lived on as a symbol of the old ways, the gods of Valhalla his familiar acquaintances, the rising tide of Christianity his bane. He survives ages beyond the arc of men, yet knows his time is coming to and end, and his personal Ragnarok approaching. Now, he reluctantly accepts Disa, a human shield maid, as an apprentice, to move to stave off the approach of the Christian hoards, whilst preparing for the resurrection of an old enemy from legend .
Scott's writing weaves its magic deeper than the roots of Yggdrasil, making a tale that is nigh impossible to put down. A worthy successor to Gathering of Ravens, he just keeps improving his game. I shall be returning to his tales often.
Twilight continues the tale of Grimnir, the last of his kind, skraelinger, known by many as orcneas, ;ast of a line that included Grendel. He has lived on as a symbol of the old ways, the gods of Valhalla his familiar acquaintances, the rising tide of Christianity his bane. He survives ages beyond the arc of men, yet knows his time is coming to and end, and his personal Ragnarok approaching. Now, he reluctantly accepts Disa, a human shield maid, as an apprentice, to move to stave off the approach of the Christian hoards, whilst preparing for the resurrection of an old enemy from legend .
Scott's writing weaves its magic deeper than the roots of Yggdrasil, making a tale that is nigh impossible to put down. A worthy successor to Gathering of Ravens, he just keeps improving his game. I shall be returning to his tales often.
January 5, 2020
Full review is here, on my blog!~
This is the continuing story of Grimnir, who is the last of the kaunar, a skraelingr (he’s basically an orc) who has wandered the land for something like twelve hundred years. He’s currently living somewhat isolated among the Raven-Geats – a clan of people who, despite Christianity taking over much of the land, still worship the old gods of Asgard. That, and they have a sacred protector (guess who?!) they know as The Hooded One, who they give offerings and so on in return for him protecting their village. They have chosen a woman named Dísa as the priestess of the Hooded One after the old one dies. She’s pretty surprised when she meets him (as you would be), but they end up getting on pretty well. He even teaches her to fight. Just in time for her to need to, really.
This takes place in the land of the aforementioned Raven-Geats, which is described as on the northern bank of Vänern lake (currently southern Sweden) in 1218. The Geats pay taxes to the king in the name of the ‘Nailed God’ or ‘White Christ’, but that’s not really going to cut it anymore. A crusader named Konráðr is coming to stamp out their heresy and retrieve a holy relic that he has been told is in their lands.
Well, the clan’s protector and his mouthy warrior priestess are hardly going to let that happen, amirite? A clan of berserkers are also after this relic, having been told that it is an item of their kinsman’s, and are willing to help the Geats fight off the crusaders if they can have it instead.
I enjoyed this one. It gets pretty grim at times, as you’d imagine that a book focusing a lot on a holy crusade would. Grimnir isn’t exactly an antihero, though he is usually grumpy and unpleasant to be around. He’s often snarky, and I do like that about him, and I enjoyed this one a lot because Dísa doesn’t just suck that snark up and move on. She will give almost as much as she’s given, usually, and so I liked the dynamic between them.
I also enjoyed the fact that Dísa never depended on Grimnir to save her butt when it was on the line. He taught her what she needed to know to defend herself and then let her do it.
It was well written and read quickly. The plot flowed well, and although there were some slower parts in the beginning before things really got going, I still found the plot engaging and the book hard to set aside to do other things, like sleep!
It felt, if not exactly historically accurate (with there being all sorts of gods and monsters and what have you present), then definitely true to the spirit of a book that takes place in 13th century Scandinavia….. with the addition of all the gods and monsters and an orc main character. The only bit that I had a bit of trouble with is that the point of view changes from person to person at times from one paragraph to another. I can handle multiple points of view alright but this got a little confusing at times when two characters would be fighting one paragraph and then in the next a different character would be fighting someone else somewhere else. I’m not sure if this was a formatting issue in the copy that I got or if it was intentional, but there it is.
Still, I definitely liked this one enough to finish it in three days, so there’s that. 😀
The ending left me wanting more, but it didn’t leave it in a place that it wasn’t sensible to stop there. I’m definitely looking forward to the next in the series!
All told, I quite enjoyed this volume of Grimnir’s adventures. I didn’t love it with quite the same intensity that I recall liking A Gathering of Ravens, but it was definitely worth sitting down with, and I’m eager for more. I do enjoy mythological fantasy that touches the Norse pantheon and folklore, and this definitely delivers there, while being rather unique compared to other books in the same genre.
Thanks to the author, as well as St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the review copy!
This is the continuing story of Grimnir, who is the last of the kaunar, a skraelingr (he’s basically an orc) who has wandered the land for something like twelve hundred years. He’s currently living somewhat isolated among the Raven-Geats – a clan of people who, despite Christianity taking over much of the land, still worship the old gods of Asgard. That, and they have a sacred protector (guess who?!) they know as The Hooded One, who they give offerings and so on in return for him protecting their village. They have chosen a woman named Dísa as the priestess of the Hooded One after the old one dies. She’s pretty surprised when she meets him (as you would be), but they end up getting on pretty well. He even teaches her to fight. Just in time for her to need to, really.
This takes place in the land of the aforementioned Raven-Geats, which is described as on the northern bank of Vänern lake (currently southern Sweden) in 1218. The Geats pay taxes to the king in the name of the ‘Nailed God’ or ‘White Christ’, but that’s not really going to cut it anymore. A crusader named Konráðr is coming to stamp out their heresy and retrieve a holy relic that he has been told is in their lands.
Well, the clan’s protector and his mouthy warrior priestess are hardly going to let that happen, amirite? A clan of berserkers are also after this relic, having been told that it is an item of their kinsman’s, and are willing to help the Geats fight off the crusaders if they can have it instead.
I enjoyed this one. It gets pretty grim at times, as you’d imagine that a book focusing a lot on a holy crusade would. Grimnir isn’t exactly an antihero, though he is usually grumpy and unpleasant to be around. He’s often snarky, and I do like that about him, and I enjoyed this one a lot because Dísa doesn’t just suck that snark up and move on. She will give almost as much as she’s given, usually, and so I liked the dynamic between them.
“I thought you were someone else.”
“Did you now?” Grimnir snorted. “Who else but you would be fool enough to wander up to the fences of my lands uninvited? Are they here now? Call them out, so I might peel the wretched skin from their bones and hang it on a bramble!”
Dísa cursed under her breath.
“What was that, rat?”
“I said: does everyone have an oar up their ass, this day?”
I also enjoyed the fact that Dísa never depended on Grimnir to save her butt when it was on the line. He taught her what she needed to know to defend herself and then let her do it.
It was well written and read quickly. The plot flowed well, and although there were some slower parts in the beginning before things really got going, I still found the plot engaging and the book hard to set aside to do other things, like sleep!
It felt, if not exactly historically accurate (with there being all sorts of gods and monsters and what have you present), then definitely true to the spirit of a book that takes place in 13th century Scandinavia….. with the addition of all the gods and monsters and an orc main character. The only bit that I had a bit of trouble with is that the point of view changes from person to person at times from one paragraph to another. I can handle multiple points of view alright but this got a little confusing at times when two characters would be fighting one paragraph and then in the next a different character would be fighting someone else somewhere else. I’m not sure if this was a formatting issue in the copy that I got or if it was intentional, but there it is.
Still, I definitely liked this one enough to finish it in three days, so there’s that. 😀
The ending left me wanting more, but it didn’t leave it in a place that it wasn’t sensible to stop there. I’m definitely looking forward to the next in the series!
All told, I quite enjoyed this volume of Grimnir’s adventures. I didn’t love it with quite the same intensity that I recall liking A Gathering of Ravens, but it was definitely worth sitting down with, and I’m eager for more. I do enjoy mythological fantasy that touches the Norse pantheon and folklore, and this definitely delivers there, while being rather unique compared to other books in the same genre.
Thanks to the author, as well as St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the review copy!
October 12, 2019
“He is called many things, child,” she said. “Corpse-maker, Life-quencher,
and the Bringer of Night; he is the Son of the Wolf and Brother of the Serpent.
You bear witness to the last of the kaunar, child. The last son of Bálegyr
left to plague Miðgarðr. He is Grimnir, and he is all that stands between you
and the hymn-singing hordes of the Nailed God.”
I received this book from the author himself in exchange for an honest review. And the gods know I enjoyed this, enjoyed this as much as the orcish, eternally-raging protagonist of the saga loves strife and war. Twilight of the Gods does not pick up where A Gathering of Ravens left, with Grimnir having gutted his lifelong adversary Bjarki Halfdane finally, but instead fast forwards to a hundred years later.
Christianity no longer faces tough opposition and many of the Scandinavian races have already knelt at the altar. The old magic is draining evermore from the land, and fanatical crusaders egged on by nasty priests are making sorry work of the few who resist. Into this time of chaos comes Grimnir son of Balegyr, playing Beowulf as well as Grendel to an Old World people:- the Raven-Geats who consider him their lord. The infamous skraelingr is monstrously skilled and crabwise as Loki himself, but even he sniffs something dire in the air; there is an ancient prophecy spelling disaster that nears fulfillment even as the famed warrior Konrad of Skara, plagued by ghosts, drives on towards one of the last pagan strongholds with ruthless zeal. There is to be a great shield-shattering, an ancient grudge rising once again to the surface and yes, the subtle trickery of gods interfering with fate’s loom once again.
The writing is flawless as ever, blending sudden bursts of violence with intense character buildups, excellent conversations with crisp pace. Grimnir is at his wicked best, Disa the shield-maiden and his right hand not one for mercy, the warrior-queen Ulfrun barbarously splendid. Even Konrad is a worthy antagonist though I’ll admit, his followers are all capital jerks. Giving this book a pass is forbidden…you have to read it to know what historical fantasy tinged heavily with sword and sorcery means.
and the Bringer of Night; he is the Son of the Wolf and Brother of the Serpent.
You bear witness to the last of the kaunar, child. The last son of Bálegyr
left to plague Miðgarðr. He is Grimnir, and he is all that stands between you
and the hymn-singing hordes of the Nailed God.”
I received this book from the author himself in exchange for an honest review. And the gods know I enjoyed this, enjoyed this as much as the orcish, eternally-raging protagonist of the saga loves strife and war. Twilight of the Gods does not pick up where A Gathering of Ravens left, with Grimnir having gutted his lifelong adversary Bjarki Halfdane finally, but instead fast forwards to a hundred years later.
Christianity no longer faces tough opposition and many of the Scandinavian races have already knelt at the altar. The old magic is draining evermore from the land, and fanatical crusaders egged on by nasty priests are making sorry work of the few who resist. Into this time of chaos comes Grimnir son of Balegyr, playing Beowulf as well as Grendel to an Old World people:- the Raven-Geats who consider him their lord. The infamous skraelingr is monstrously skilled and crabwise as Loki himself, but even he sniffs something dire in the air; there is an ancient prophecy spelling disaster that nears fulfillment even as the famed warrior Konrad of Skara, plagued by ghosts, drives on towards one of the last pagan strongholds with ruthless zeal. There is to be a great shield-shattering, an ancient grudge rising once again to the surface and yes, the subtle trickery of gods interfering with fate’s loom once again.
The writing is flawless as ever, blending sudden bursts of violence with intense character buildups, excellent conversations with crisp pace. Grimnir is at his wicked best, Disa the shield-maiden and his right hand not one for mercy, the warrior-queen Ulfrun barbarously splendid. Even Konrad is a worthy antagonist though I’ll admit, his followers are all capital jerks. Giving this book a pass is forbidden…you have to read it to know what historical fantasy tinged heavily with sword and sorcery means.
March 27, 2020
Very enjoyable book, vividly written, it just sucked me into a different world and that was very much something I needed right now. Oden has just a wonderful skill with his descriptive writing, often with just a couple of words, but the right words, putting me alongside a character in say a forest besides the dark waters of a lake, a land under a heavy pall of cloud, with fat flakes of snow hissing in the greasy orange flames of a character’s torch, the character perhaps tearing into a haunch of sizzling meat by the roaring fire, the meal maybe interrupted by a man with skin and hair both as white as mountain ice, with murderous light dancing in his eyes, teeth in a feral grin…just marvelous writing, vivid with a physicality I found memorable.
Perhaps even better the story lacked any fat so to speak. Though you sense there is world building a plenty (and it builds on the what was revealed in the first book), it is lean and muscular, no traipsing through meadows rhapsodizing about wondrous backstory like Julie Andrews on a mountaintop, no, Oden, like Grimnir, gets to the heart of the matter, the story, the tale itself. With prose that is both descriptive but also at the same time sparring, the reader is treated to a fast-paced tale of war, clash of civilizations, crusades, ancient prophecies, murder, betrayal, treachery, sorcery, and monsters.
On top of all that, there are characters that are vividly portrayed, that show personal growth. Clearly Oden writes in homage to the greats like Robert E. Howard, of gritty sword and sorcery “low fantasy” about one man’s struggles, he is also very (and wonderfully) modern, weaving into a story that has old influences (stories of Conan’s Hyborian Age) and older still (there is Norse mythology aplenty in this book) extremely well-written stories of personal growth, of several characters with real arcs.
As important as Grimnir is to this tale, the star really is a woman he takes under his wing, Disa Dagrunsdottir, though unlike the woman he for lack of a better word nurtured in _A Gathering of Ravens_, Disa is decidedly more martial, dreaming of being a shield maiden but found thanks to forces beyond her control life was sent onto a different path, but it is a path she can still chose how she takes, how she accepts it. Will she die an obscure death of old age as she fears she will when her destiny seemingly calls her to serve the protector of their village, will she die young in glorious combat, as her mother did…or with Grimnir’s example and tutelage, is there a different path, a greater path?
I will let others rave about the excellent battle scenes and scary monsters and how intimidating Grimnir is (all true things), I think at its heart the story is an empowering story, of one woman, Disa, struggling in a world of prophecies (about the end of the world no less, Ragnarök), dragons, crusading armies, bloody battles, and witchcraft growing up, becoming a powerful force, in charge of her own life, discovering things larger than herself, things that even those making prophecies or launching crusades fail to grasp, that though Grimnir might be loath to admit verbally, are the most important things of all.
No complaints about the book. The pacing was excellent, there were no info dumps, the bad guys were interesting, memorable, and three-dimensional (Konráðr the White was a terrifying opponent), there were some surprises, the ending was extremely exciting. I will say my favorite secondary character was Halla, a woman with troll blood in her veins. Just a great book for any lover of fantasy of any stripe, the book I think appealing to those who like low fantasy and high fantasy, that rare book a Conan fan and a Middle-earth fan would both enjoy tremendously.
Perhaps even better the story lacked any fat so to speak. Though you sense there is world building a plenty (and it builds on the what was revealed in the first book), it is lean and muscular, no traipsing through meadows rhapsodizing about wondrous backstory like Julie Andrews on a mountaintop, no, Oden, like Grimnir, gets to the heart of the matter, the story, the tale itself. With prose that is both descriptive but also at the same time sparring, the reader is treated to a fast-paced tale of war, clash of civilizations, crusades, ancient prophecies, murder, betrayal, treachery, sorcery, and monsters.
On top of all that, there are characters that are vividly portrayed, that show personal growth. Clearly Oden writes in homage to the greats like Robert E. Howard, of gritty sword and sorcery “low fantasy” about one man’s struggles, he is also very (and wonderfully) modern, weaving into a story that has old influences (stories of Conan’s Hyborian Age) and older still (there is Norse mythology aplenty in this book) extremely well-written stories of personal growth, of several characters with real arcs.
As important as Grimnir is to this tale, the star really is a woman he takes under his wing, Disa Dagrunsdottir, though unlike the woman he for lack of a better word nurtured in _A Gathering of Ravens_, Disa is decidedly more martial, dreaming of being a shield maiden but found thanks to forces beyond her control life was sent onto a different path, but it is a path she can still chose how she takes, how she accepts it. Will she die an obscure death of old age as she fears she will when her destiny seemingly calls her to serve the protector of their village, will she die young in glorious combat, as her mother did…or with Grimnir’s example and tutelage, is there a different path, a greater path?
I will let others rave about the excellent battle scenes and scary monsters and how intimidating Grimnir is (all true things), I think at its heart the story is an empowering story, of one woman, Disa, struggling in a world of prophecies (about the end of the world no less, Ragnarök), dragons, crusading armies, bloody battles, and witchcraft growing up, becoming a powerful force, in charge of her own life, discovering things larger than herself, things that even those making prophecies or launching crusades fail to grasp, that though Grimnir might be loath to admit verbally, are the most important things of all.
No complaints about the book. The pacing was excellent, there were no info dumps, the bad guys were interesting, memorable, and three-dimensional (Konráðr the White was a terrifying opponent), there were some surprises, the ending was extremely exciting. I will say my favorite secondary character was Halla, a woman with troll blood in her veins. Just a great book for any lover of fantasy of any stripe, the book I think appealing to those who like low fantasy and high fantasy, that rare book a Conan fan and a Middle-earth fan would both enjoy tremendously.
August 11, 2022
A tragic night
A couple of centuries after the first book "A Gathering of Ravens," Grimnir is once again pulled into the machinations of men & worse. This felt like an improvement in every way: the pace is relentless, the characters are compelling, there is mystery & magic permeating the story, & all the while, an inevitable battle between the Old World of the Aesir & Christianity looms...
The imagery & prose are solid, & I felt immersed in the setting from the beginning. I could smell the bogs, see the gnarled roots framing the paths, feel the bitter cold of The North. Grimnir continues to be a cantankerous anti-hero of a protagonist, which served as an entertaining counterpoint to the initial naivete of Disa & her people. The 'micro-plot' of the Geats blended seamlessly with the 'macro-plot' of the overall story arc, which made for smooth reading.
Despite the action aplenty, gore, & siege, I summarily felt this was...tragic. Tragic in it is a glimpse into what was lost when Christianity colonized The North--the loss of magic, of monsters, of lore, of mystery. Leaving us a world...bereft, & poorer for it. A captivating plot twist & a monster of a cliffhanger (*wink*) ensures readers stick around for the rest of this series, I know I will.
4.25/5
A couple of centuries after the first book "A Gathering of Ravens," Grimnir is once again pulled into the machinations of men & worse. This felt like an improvement in every way: the pace is relentless, the characters are compelling, there is mystery & magic permeating the story, & all the while, an inevitable battle between the Old World of the Aesir & Christianity looms...
The imagery & prose are solid, & I felt immersed in the setting from the beginning. I could smell the bogs, see the gnarled roots framing the paths, feel the bitter cold of The North. Grimnir continues to be a cantankerous anti-hero of a protagonist, which served as an entertaining counterpoint to the initial naivete of Disa & her people. The 'micro-plot' of the Geats blended seamlessly with the 'macro-plot' of the overall story arc, which made for smooth reading.
Despite the action aplenty, gore, & siege, I summarily felt this was...tragic. Tragic in it is a glimpse into what was lost when Christianity colonized The North--the loss of magic, of monsters, of lore, of mystery. Leaving us a world...bereft, & poorer for it. A captivating plot twist & a monster of a cliffhanger (*wink*) ensures readers stick around for the rest of this series, I know I will.
4.25/5
May 22, 2021
Damn fine story. I enjoyed the first book, but took to this second book like a starving frat-boy to free pizza. Oden cranks it up three notches with this badass.
I only hold back the fifth star because, while I feel it could be enjoyed solo like book one, it sets up for book 3.
Dang it. I’m sucked into another series. Thanks a lot Scott Oden.
EDIT: 10 minutes after posting this review, I tried reading another book, but couldn’t get this one out of my head. That earns it the 5th star. I will live with being yanked into yet another series.
I only hold back the fifth star because, while I feel it could be enjoyed solo like book one, it sets up for book 3.
Dang it. I’m sucked into another series. Thanks a lot Scott Oden.
EDIT: 10 minutes after posting this review, I tried reading another book, but couldn’t get this one out of my head. That earns it the 5th star. I will live with being yanked into yet another series.
November 1, 2019
Scott Oden is one of my favorite authors - I especially loved The Lion of Cairo, which is one of the best fantasy books ever written - and now he is revisiting the world of A Gathering of Ravens. This is the second book of Grimnir the Orc, set in our world at a time when Christianity was fighting the pagan in the lands of the Norsemen. Although it is a second book, it functions as a stand-alone novel as well.
Dísa Dagrúnsdottir,a 16 year old girl who longs to be a shield maiden, has been chosen to be the priestess to The Hooded One, and she is an excellent character. The book is rather filled with good characters, fantastic adventures, and one heck of an orc - probably the best orc I've ever read about.
Dísa Dagrúnsdottir,a 16 year old girl who longs to be a shield maiden, has been chosen to be the priestess to The Hooded One, and she is an excellent character. The book is rather filled with good characters, fantastic adventures, and one heck of an orc - probably the best orc I've ever read about.
October 13, 2019
Every bit as good as A Gathering of Ravens, which I loved. This is the second novel about Grimnir the Orc, but it works well as a standalone. The clashes between the followers of the old gods and the “new” religion of Christianity are more violent here, and the characters and dialogue are just as captivating as the bloody battle scenes. Disa, the young village woman chosen against her will to be a servant to Grimnir, is a strong character who proves herself to be a warrior, worthy to be a leader in the battles against the ghost-haunted, delusional priest Konráðr the White. Scott Oden has a style of writing that is both raw and poetic, a mix of pulp and literary prose that keeps the reader turning the pages. Recommended for fans of grimdark or epic historical fantasy.
March 27, 2020
I really loved this book, even more than the first one.
The conflict of religions was very intriguing. Not only is there a nice influence of Robert E. Howard but there is also a hint of Karl Wagner's Kane in Grimnr.
Well played Mr. Oden.
The conflict of religions was very intriguing. Not only is there a nice influence of Robert E. Howard but there is also a hint of Karl Wagner's Kane in Grimnr.
Well played Mr. Oden.
January 1, 2021
Absolutely tremendous read, loved it!
February 18, 2020
Twilight of the Gods by Scott Oden reads and feels much like historical fiction at the outset, though the sub-genre is technically historical fantasy. It is a fun and action-packed story, but it requires some investment to get to the payoff. The story starts off a little slow with detailed descriptions, so if you are not into expanding your vocabulary, this may not be for you. While one of the main characters, Grimnir, is identified as unnatural early on, it’s not clear why until later in the story. The fantastical elements don't develop in a significant way until around halfway through; then, they begin a progression to a world filled with old, dark magics and creatures of the same nature. The story seems to be more about the Raven-Geats (Geats were Goths, or at least a similar tribe, in Sweden) and their religious conflict with crusading Christians until the magic of their culture is revealed to be real and powerful.
The tale really revolves around Disa, a young woman in the Raven-Geats tribe. She is a strong female protagonist who faces off against forces far more powerful than she wields, but I don’t recall any deus ex machina moments. She is certainly aided by her allies, and maybe more realistically, we are following her as she aids her allies, but she never backs down even when the odds are stacked against her.
Grimnir is the other primary character and is interestingly course and crude while still managing to stay on the protagonist side. I thought he would take a larger role in the story than he did at first, but he mainly pops in and out of Disa’s tale.
The prose of the story is done well, and any typos are hard to find. I would say the writing is what I'd consider literary fantasy. I found myself looking up quite a few words to get a better frame of reference, some culturally specific like Geats and other just uncommonly used words. I enjoy a read that broadens my horizons as long as the words are used with a purpose and not just to try to impress the reader, I think the author did a good job of using them as needed.
While it takes a while to get to it, the second half really picks up with detailed battle scenes and loads of fierce action. I finished the second half in about one day. The detailed battle descriptions do include some graphic scenes with blood and gore, befitting the context of the story. The ending was action-packed right up to the end, which left it as a little bit of a cliff hanger, but it was not unsatisfying.
Overall, I give it 4.5 stars, which I will round up to 5.
The tale really revolves around Disa, a young woman in the Raven-Geats tribe. She is a strong female protagonist who faces off against forces far more powerful than she wields, but I don’t recall any deus ex machina moments. She is certainly aided by her allies, and maybe more realistically, we are following her as she aids her allies, but she never backs down even when the odds are stacked against her.
Grimnir is the other primary character and is interestingly course and crude while still managing to stay on the protagonist side. I thought he would take a larger role in the story than he did at first, but he mainly pops in and out of Disa’s tale.
The prose of the story is done well, and any typos are hard to find. I would say the writing is what I'd consider literary fantasy. I found myself looking up quite a few words to get a better frame of reference, some culturally specific like Geats and other just uncommonly used words. I enjoy a read that broadens my horizons as long as the words are used with a purpose and not just to try to impress the reader, I think the author did a good job of using them as needed.
While it takes a while to get to it, the second half really picks up with detailed battle scenes and loads of fierce action. I finished the second half in about one day. The detailed battle descriptions do include some graphic scenes with blood and gore, befitting the context of the story. The ending was action-packed right up to the end, which left it as a little bit of a cliff hanger, but it was not unsatisfying.
Overall, I give it 4.5 stars, which I will round up to 5.
June 24, 2020
"A Gathering of Ravens" was a fantastic read, and this sequel is even better.
I won't really go much into the story. You can read the blurb description on the book to get an idea of what it's all about.
What I will say is that I absolutely love Oden's writing style. His world-building, the atmosphere that he creates, the words that he chooses are just so so good. I've been sucked into both of these books and devoured them both in a very short amount of time while left wanting for another one. If you like your fantasy on the historical-fiction side then I can't recommend these two books enough. You wont' be disappointed.
I won't really go much into the story. You can read the blurb description on the book to get an idea of what it's all about.
What I will say is that I absolutely love Oden's writing style. His world-building, the atmosphere that he creates, the words that he chooses are just so so good. I've been sucked into both of these books and devoured them both in a very short amount of time while left wanting for another one. If you like your fantasy on the historical-fiction side then I can't recommend these two books enough. You wont' be disappointed.
February 24, 2020
I'll be short: I love this exciting and gripping fantasy story and can't wait to read the next instalment.
Everything is excellent: the plot, the characters, the storytelling and the world building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Everything is excellent: the plot, the characters, the storytelling and the world building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 17, 2019
In-depth research, detailed battles, a pleasure to read. The saga of Grimnir continues in this must read novel by Scott Oden.
October 15, 2022
Well I'll keep this brief, there are other reviews that describe the book in great detail. For me I think it was just as well written as the first book, and much enjoyable.
It's becoming a cliche for me to keep making comparisons between Robert E. Howard and Scott Oden, and their respective Conan and Grimnir, but I had a funny thought whilst reading that Grimnir is almost like an Uruk Hai JRR Tolkein Elf resurrected in mud and grime, grit, bitterness and fury. That's the best way to describe it.
Also, playing Skyrim as an Orc while listening to this book on Audible is kinda meta in a weird way. As if the narrator could get any better, I'm always looking for fun ways to bring books even more to life.
Yet I did not give it a 5 star rating this time. I struggle mightily with paganism and norse mythology. History is what it is, and that I have the maturity to respect. Terrible things such as rape are also mentioned and described to an extent, and as horrible as that is, it is also real. That's how convincing the writing is, though. It plants you in this time period and within this world and even when strange supernatural occurrences happen amidst the endless bloodshed, you never question the integrity of said world or work. That's commendable in and of itself, but it's also lush with beautiful and ripe descriptions of every landscape, every action, every word.
After I read the original Conan novel and short stories I searched FAR and WIDE to find something that could match not only the character but the writing style. Both of those goals have now been achieved here in this book. I just hate to say that it still doesn't catch my interest the way classic tales of Sword and Sorcery typically would, but that is purely personal taste. I love high adventure, heroism, heroic characters, a central theme of good vs. evil, etc. This is far more complex and adult than that, which is not a bad thing at all. Most people tend to enjoy that kind of moral ambiguity and not knowing which side to root for at which time. It adds suspense, tension, mystery. I merely wish there was a little less grit and realism and a bit more goofiness to a certain extent.
Take Fafhrd and Gray Mouser for instance. It's more of a medieval buddy quest theme than survivalism and war, but just by having two such characters together adds layers of hilarity and intrigue, fun, etc. A more relevant example would be Prince Jalan Kendeth the cowardly and selfish "hero" of Mark Lawrence's Wheel of Osheim series and Snorri the strong, brave, yet tragic barbarian. They are tied together both by magic at first and by a budding friendship that is completely inexplicable but so much fun, due to their differences. It makes the trip worth it just for banter, even during the dull moments, of which I can't recall any. Even traveling around was interesting. Constant battle and insulting people's gods all day, regardless of one's beliefs, gets tiring.
I did miss the characters and relationships of the first book. The plot here is more appealing to me than a tale of vengeance but the tale of vengeance was a little more focused and you understood the purpose of the story right away. The difference between a nasty orc brute and a gentle-souled christian woman brought palpable entertainment to an already awesome setting and story. Disa in this book is interesting in a different way, sort of in terms of mentor/mentee, but we lose that sense (to a degree) of two creatures from different worlds trying to tolerate and understand one another. Those elements exist but now they are less worlds away and more on the same side of the sandbox.
All in all I still highly recommend this book and I hope people continue to look into Scott Oden's work. He is doing a great job with what he does and if you enjoy vikings, history, low fantasy, grimdark, orcs, any of these things then by all means start here for goodness' sake!
It's becoming a cliche for me to keep making comparisons between Robert E. Howard and Scott Oden, and their respective Conan and Grimnir, but I had a funny thought whilst reading that Grimnir is almost like an Uruk Hai JRR Tolkein Elf resurrected in mud and grime, grit, bitterness and fury. That's the best way to describe it.
Also, playing Skyrim as an Orc while listening to this book on Audible is kinda meta in a weird way. As if the narrator could get any better, I'm always looking for fun ways to bring books even more to life.
Yet I did not give it a 5 star rating this time. I struggle mightily with paganism and norse mythology. History is what it is, and that I have the maturity to respect. Terrible things such as rape are also mentioned and described to an extent, and as horrible as that is, it is also real. That's how convincing the writing is, though. It plants you in this time period and within this world and even when strange supernatural occurrences happen amidst the endless bloodshed, you never question the integrity of said world or work. That's commendable in and of itself, but it's also lush with beautiful and ripe descriptions of every landscape, every action, every word.
After I read the original Conan novel and short stories I searched FAR and WIDE to find something that could match not only the character but the writing style. Both of those goals have now been achieved here in this book. I just hate to say that it still doesn't catch my interest the way classic tales of Sword and Sorcery typically would, but that is purely personal taste. I love high adventure, heroism, heroic characters, a central theme of good vs. evil, etc. This is far more complex and adult than that, which is not a bad thing at all. Most people tend to enjoy that kind of moral ambiguity and not knowing which side to root for at which time. It adds suspense, tension, mystery. I merely wish there was a little less grit and realism and a bit more goofiness to a certain extent.
Take Fafhrd and Gray Mouser for instance. It's more of a medieval buddy quest theme than survivalism and war, but just by having two such characters together adds layers of hilarity and intrigue, fun, etc. A more relevant example would be Prince Jalan Kendeth the cowardly and selfish "hero" of Mark Lawrence's Wheel of Osheim series and Snorri the strong, brave, yet tragic barbarian. They are tied together both by magic at first and by a budding friendship that is completely inexplicable but so much fun, due to their differences. It makes the trip worth it just for banter, even during the dull moments, of which I can't recall any. Even traveling around was interesting. Constant battle and insulting people's gods all day, regardless of one's beliefs, gets tiring.
I did miss the characters and relationships of the first book. The plot here is more appealing to me than a tale of vengeance but the tale of vengeance was a little more focused and you understood the purpose of the story right away. The difference between a nasty orc brute and a gentle-souled christian woman brought palpable entertainment to an already awesome setting and story. Disa in this book is interesting in a different way, sort of in terms of mentor/mentee, but we lose that sense (to a degree) of two creatures from different worlds trying to tolerate and understand one another. Those elements exist but now they are less worlds away and more on the same side of the sandbox.
All in all I still highly recommend this book and I hope people continue to look into Scott Oden's work. He is doing a great job with what he does and if you enjoy vikings, history, low fantasy, grimdark, orcs, any of these things then by all means start here for goodness' sake!
April 8, 2020
Review coming....
December 8, 2019
Twilight of the Gods is that remarkable sequel that surpasses the original. It's the Empire Strikes Back. In the first book, Oden builds the sandbox; in this book, he gets to play in it, and what a time he has!
In Twilight of the Gods, Grimnir is a little older, a little smaller, a little weaker, and a little more nostalgic. We find him as the guardian of a small Scandinavian village, a hold-out people clinging to their old traditions and ways, even as the ever-encroaching sea-change of Christianity marches inexorably onward. In a bit of a holdover from the first book, A Gathering of Ravens, Grimnir ends up teaming up with a young woman - though this young woman, Disa, is nothing like Etain from the first book. Disa is all attitude and fire. She is the lens through which we see much of the story, and it's hard not to like her.
The mythology of Grimnir's world is one the most effective elements of this second book in the series. Meeting other characters and creatures - few though they are and growing ever weaker as the powers of the old world fade - is fascinating.
And Conradr, the Christian antogonist, is likewise fascinating. His faith is deep, true, fervent, and true to medieval theology. He has a charisma about him; it's easy to see how he is able to gather an army of crusaders to his cause.
Then there is the real threat. Ragnarok. The introduction of a dragon into this world - something that could easily have come across as forced and silly - is intriguingly done.
The way Oden weaves all these disparate threads together into a cohesive and captivating tale is absolutely masterful. The writing is clever, easily accessible but also clearly well-researched and grounded in a way that begs more in-depth examination. The action is intense - an Oden trademark - and any fan of authors like Joe Abercrombie will feel right at home in this cycle of Grimnir books.
Twilight of the Gods - which reads effectively as a stand-alone book - sets up an amazing book three. I can't wait to read it.
In Twilight of the Gods, Grimnir is a little older, a little smaller, a little weaker, and a little more nostalgic. We find him as the guardian of a small Scandinavian village, a hold-out people clinging to their old traditions and ways, even as the ever-encroaching sea-change of Christianity marches inexorably onward. In a bit of a holdover from the first book, A Gathering of Ravens, Grimnir ends up teaming up with a young woman - though this young woman, Disa, is nothing like Etain from the first book. Disa is all attitude and fire. She is the lens through which we see much of the story, and it's hard not to like her.
The mythology of Grimnir's world is one the most effective elements of this second book in the series. Meeting other characters and creatures - few though they are and growing ever weaker as the powers of the old world fade - is fascinating.
And Conradr, the Christian antogonist, is likewise fascinating. His faith is deep, true, fervent, and true to medieval theology. He has a charisma about him; it's easy to see how he is able to gather an army of crusaders to his cause.
Then there is the real threat. Ragnarok. The introduction of a dragon into this world - something that could easily have come across as forced and silly - is intriguingly done.
The way Oden weaves all these disparate threads together into a cohesive and captivating tale is absolutely masterful. The writing is clever, easily accessible but also clearly well-researched and grounded in a way that begs more in-depth examination. The action is intense - an Oden trademark - and any fan of authors like Joe Abercrombie will feel right at home in this cycle of Grimnir books.
Twilight of the Gods - which reads effectively as a stand-alone book - sets up an amazing book three. I can't wait to read it.
December 20, 2021
As a follow up to A Gathering of Ravens, this book's only down side was that it ended. Just like its predecessor, this one was filled with action, suspense, brutality, and a nice, thick layer of believable mythology. The way Oden intertwines both Norse and Christian mythologies and worldviews is very well-done. And, as always, Scott's skill at word-smithing is top tier. Very much looking forward to the third book. Though I have a feeling I will again be disappointed, but only because it will be the last one. I could read about Grimnir forever.
February 22, 2021
A great follow up, as vicious as a cornered and wounded wolverine. For this story I listened to the audio book version so I could hear all the names and lands pronounced correctly and I was mesmerized by the narrator’s fantastic weaving of this dark and grim tale of revenge, secrets and lies. A must read/listen for Norse tales fans and those that like their stories dark and bloody.
December 14, 2020
Note: This is a spoiler-free review.
Scott Oden has been an incredible writer. The second book of a dark historical fantasy, this novel is his magnum opus (at least to date). A masterwork, and when combined with the first book, A Gathering of Ravens, which I called a masterpiece in my review of it, makes this unique trilogy one of the best reads I have encountered to date in my long life of reading.
Grimnir, the last of his mythical race (one fashioned by the Trickster, Loki, from a subset of the Nordic dwarves) is back, but the rest of the living characters (with one critical exception) are all new, and most of these, both women and men, are at least as interesting and intriguing as Grimnir himself. To avoid giving anything important away, I'll not specify anything further about them, other than to say this surprisingly includes some who show up only briefly and not so surprisingly, a troll-woman. This showcases the author's awesome skill in designing characters, a skill I've taken notice of in all of his works. But this is not simply a character-driven tale. There's plenty of gritty and gruesome action, with more gore than before, and it's never a bore: the pacing is perfect. The choice of language adds to the atmosphere. When the mood is grim, the very words are too. There is much mysticism, and again the words used underpin this. Et cetera. For the literary-minded: the author's use of two rhetorical devices in particular, anaphrasis and onomatopoeia, add force to the prose; you can feel the phrases, clauses, and sentences viscerally.
A main theme is the hypocritical behavior of medieval Christian crusaders, who wantonly ravish people just because they are perceived as blasphemers or have not accepted the nailed-god, concomitant with a desire to gain glory, plunder, and supposedly holy relics. A counter theme is the equally vicious pillaging carried out by the followers of the pagan Norse gods with gaining glory again as a crucial driving force. Neither of these opposing and clashing factions recognize how similar their actions are: they are distorted mirror images of each other separated by a choice of deities to justify what they do and whom to die for. One believes their fates are whatever is God's will, and the other that their destiny is preset by the eldritch Norns. It's a tenebrous and perilous world devoid of free will and individual responsibility that they co-create, replete with foolhardiness masquerading as courage and prophecy or imagined divine guidance as truth. Glory in battle is seen as essential to the way of life of both sides. Death be damned, lest their souls or spirits be damned instead. As terrifying as this may sound, beware, the ending of the book is even more so. To say too much more is too much more to say.
If you bought the first book, this is an automatic buy. If you haven't yet bought it, buy both now. The third book, The Doom of Odin, is on its way, so there is no fear of purchasing a trilogy that may be doomed to being dropped midstream or one that might take years before it's completed. I reiterate: buy the two books. It is my will that you so do. So-ho!
Scott Oden has been an incredible writer. The second book of a dark historical fantasy, this novel is his magnum opus (at least to date). A masterwork, and when combined with the first book, A Gathering of Ravens, which I called a masterpiece in my review of it, makes this unique trilogy one of the best reads I have encountered to date in my long life of reading.
Grimnir, the last of his mythical race (one fashioned by the Trickster, Loki, from a subset of the Nordic dwarves) is back, but the rest of the living characters (with one critical exception) are all new, and most of these, both women and men, are at least as interesting and intriguing as Grimnir himself. To avoid giving anything important away, I'll not specify anything further about them, other than to say this surprisingly includes some who show up only briefly and not so surprisingly, a troll-woman. This showcases the author's awesome skill in designing characters, a skill I've taken notice of in all of his works. But this is not simply a character-driven tale. There's plenty of gritty and gruesome action, with more gore than before, and it's never a bore: the pacing is perfect. The choice of language adds to the atmosphere. When the mood is grim, the very words are too. There is much mysticism, and again the words used underpin this. Et cetera. For the literary-minded: the author's use of two rhetorical devices in particular, anaphrasis and onomatopoeia, add force to the prose; you can feel the phrases, clauses, and sentences viscerally.
A main theme is the hypocritical behavior of medieval Christian crusaders, who wantonly ravish people just because they are perceived as blasphemers or have not accepted the nailed-god, concomitant with a desire to gain glory, plunder, and supposedly holy relics. A counter theme is the equally vicious pillaging carried out by the followers of the pagan Norse gods with gaining glory again as a crucial driving force. Neither of these opposing and clashing factions recognize how similar their actions are: they are distorted mirror images of each other separated by a choice of deities to justify what they do and whom to die for. One believes their fates are whatever is God's will, and the other that their destiny is preset by the eldritch Norns. It's a tenebrous and perilous world devoid of free will and individual responsibility that they co-create, replete with foolhardiness masquerading as courage and prophecy or imagined divine guidance as truth. Glory in battle is seen as essential to the way of life of both sides. Death be damned, lest their souls or spirits be damned instead. As terrifying as this may sound, beware, the ending of the book is even more so. To say too much more is too much more to say.
If you bought the first book, this is an automatic buy. If you haven't yet bought it, buy both now. The third book, The Doom of Odin, is on its way, so there is no fear of purchasing a trilogy that may be doomed to being dropped midstream or one that might take years before it's completed. I reiterate: buy the two books. It is my will that you so do. So-ho!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2020
I had the rare opportunity to be one of the beta readers for this book as Scott went through the creation/writing process, and I had a fantastic time. It was fascinating and enlightening, especially to a wanna-be scribbler like myself. But to read the tale again, as a completed novel, was a revelation. I knew the story was good, hell, I've read it once already, but it's REALLY, REALLY good! I had forgotten how fast moving it was, how detailed the description, and how thunderous the action scenes were. A Gathering Of Ravens is still my favourite, but this sequel is just as good, with no middle book blues; It stands alone just fine. Oh, and there are kick-ass Berserkers in this book, roaring Odin's name as they decimate their enemies in a cyclone of blood and iron! Hmmm, maybe this IS my favourite after all. Anyway, I highly recommend this book, along with AGOR, as some of the finest historical fantasy/S&S I have ever read, and I've read a fair amount in my day. Grimnir is the nastiest bastard you will ever cheer for, and Disa of the Raven-Geats is no damsel in distress; she is a genuine throat-slitter and all round bad-ass.
Recommended. Totally.
Recommended. Totally.
December 20, 2021
The Anticipation I had for this book was unmatched, the first A gathering of ravens is one of my Top 3 favourite favourite books across all genres.
So to get into this book I couldn’t wait and had a great time reading it however there were some changes that didn’t quite work for me but I can see and appreciate Scott’s writing style.
I loved the graphic reality of this series and how Scott’s tone underlays the entire book, people die and it’s graphic and seeing peoples reactions and sometimes the victims still suffering and “bleeding out” is incredibly well written.
As for grimnirs new replacement girl I preferred the character from the previous book however this character is good I just preferred the first one.
I highly recommend this sequel, Scott’s delivered another masterclass however I can’t give 4.5 stars.
So to get into this book I couldn’t wait and had a great time reading it however there were some changes that didn’t quite work for me but I can see and appreciate Scott’s writing style.
I loved the graphic reality of this series and how Scott’s tone underlays the entire book, people die and it’s graphic and seeing peoples reactions and sometimes the victims still suffering and “bleeding out” is incredibly well written.
As for grimnirs new replacement girl I preferred the character from the previous book however this character is good I just preferred the first one.
I highly recommend this sequel, Scott’s delivered another masterclass however I can’t give 4.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2021
After enjoying the first book in this series, I liked this one even more. Perhaps because its focus was narrower, dealing with just one 'heathen' village as the object of a Christian crusade. Perhaps because Grimnir, a creature of legend, was relegated to a slightly more minor role, while a human girl became the primary focus. But I think it's more about what I always enjoy most about historical fiction, that it makes me feel as if I gained a better understanding of what it might have actually felt like to be there during that specific point in history. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves history, legend, or fantasy.
March 23, 2020
Wow, even better than the first in the series!
How is this terrific author not on the Best Seller list?!
Grimnor is one of the best characters I've read in a long time. Highly recommended.
How is this terrific author not on the Best Seller list?!
Grimnor is one of the best characters I've read in a long time. Highly recommended.
October 26, 2020
I'm pleased to say it's better than the first, and I'm excited to follow through to the third!
July 16, 2022
I absolutely loved the character shift in Grimnir in this book, and I cannot wait to see where he goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2021
It’s like going to your favorite high end steak restaurant and ordering what you want regardless of cost.
The atmosphere is thick and rich. You take as much time as you like. You savor each chapter with each juicy bite, all the while drinking good wine and beer. Then have a nice cigar with dessert.
The atmosphere is thick and rich. You take as much time as you like. You savor each chapter with each juicy bite, all the while drinking good wine and beer. Then have a nice cigar with dessert.
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