Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review as part of the book tour.
Abandoned by his people and destined for Valhalla, do not stand in the way of his fury.
Ribe is lost, its hall burnt, and Charles is still missing. Sven must once more sail into dangerous waters to rescue his grandson.
King Louis of East Francia, the man who took Sven’s son from him almost twenty years ago, has Charles captive and uses him to force Sven to do his bidding and create chaos raiding his brothers Kingdom of West Frankia.
The long awaited meeting of Charles and his mother, Abbess Hildegard, is not what Charles dreamedit would be and soon it becomes clear that Charles is in even more danger. Torn between the heathen gods and his Christian god, Charles must decide where his future lies.
Sven must fight if he wants to see Charles again and keep the Cross of Charlemagne out of the hands of the Frankish kings.
The only thing that Sven knows is that to save Charles, innocent people must die.
Donovan Cook is back, with the final instalment in the Charlemagne’s Cross series. Set in the 800s, it’s been an immersive and gripping read so far! I didn’t doubt for one second that Valhalla’s Fury wouldn’t match up to the previous books.
This is a series that I feel you need to start from the first book to follow the stories and appreciate the character depth, too. Donovan Cook is an author who writes historical fiction as if he actually lived it. I never try to work out what’s real or fiction. From the very first book, I have said he can weave fact and fiction together so expertly that I have learnt to be swept away with the storytelling.
Sven is desperate to get Charles back from the Franks after the events from Thor’s Revenge. Charles himself is a pawn in King Louis’s hand, being used to force Sven to raid King Louis’s brother’s kingdom in the West.
Every character is multi layered and all the more real for it. Sven himself is almost a contradiction of himself at times. A brutal Norse raider who will shed blood in the blink of an eye one one hand. Then there is his grandson, Charles. You can easily sense the torment he feels, and, I have to say, my heartstrings were being tugged by this man and his predicament.
The authenticity of the period is clear to see. The battles are bloodthirsty, and the details are all there. It’s an exhilarating read with tension that I could cut with a knife. I am sorry to see the end of this series, and just know I will miss the characters that I have got to know very well over the series. Another brilliant, well written book from Donovan Cook! I am waiting for his next book now. It won’t be a minute too soon.
Purchase Link https://mybook.to/ValhallasFury
Author Bio
Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. He was born in South Africa and currently lives in Lancashire, UK.
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