Book Blurb:
Oddny Einarsdottir, 15, brims with excitement as she sets sail with her dashing foster brother. After a decade of separation, she's about to reunite with her father at his homestead in Iceland. But it is not to be. Just days into the voyage, she's screaming helplessly as the Vikings butcher her foster brother before her eyes and drag her off with the booty.
A slave market would have been agony enough. But Oddny has already caught the lecherous eye of her brutal sea king captor.
The Sword begins the saga of Oddny Einarsdottir, a Norwegian girl struggling to redefine herself after three shattering years in bondage. Passion, resilience, love and vengeance unfold against a rich backdrop of medieval slavery, civil war and the day-to-day life of 10th century Norway — all seen through a woman's eyes.
Content warning: this book, while not overly explicit, deals with mature topics related to sexual assault and kidnapping.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/bzgiIA4
Author Bio:
Lilypearl Colman has been fascinated since childhood with Viking Age culture and history. Now fluent in Old Norse-Icelandic, she makes the literature and society of medieval Scandinavia her personal study. She has woven many epic and historical themes into her debut novel, Oddny Einarsdottir, paying tribute especially to Laxdæla saga and Gísla saga Súrssonar.
When Lilypearl is not writing, she can typically be found indulging in some kind of handicraft, painting, singing, or fretting over her cherished cat and bonsai. All to an eclectic musical soundtrack, of course. Otherwise, she may be drawing inspiration from some ancient saga or chronicle, or relaxing with a book by her favorite author, Sigrid Undset.
Editorial Review:
The girl crouched for a moment near the top of the stairs, shivering. Water sprayed down from the dripping eaves above. She gripped the raw edge of the narrow balcony and leaned out over the yard below, straining to hear past the pounding rain.1 There were no footsteps. She stood up, hesitant, and started feeling her way along the stout log wall until her fingers hit a door frame. She clawed the door open and threw herself into the loft.
It was pitch dark in the musty room. Her blinded path was strewn with nameless clutter. Oddny cursed under her breath as she tore her hands and stubbed her knees on hostile crates and chests. At last, she stumbled upon some coarse leather sacks in a corner. She flung herself down on the heap, exhausted, and gave her outraged tears full vent.
Lilypearl Colman's Oddny Einarsdottir presents us with a gripping Norse story that details Oddny Einarsdottir's grueling and inspirational journey. This first episode of the series, which is set in Norway in the tenth century, depicts the harsh and frequently bleak reality of life for women in the Viking era. When Oddny faces incarceration, violence, and emotional destruction, her personality and tenacity shine through, and is an enthralling tale of her fortitude in the face of unfathomable adversity.
Oddny's anticipated reunion with her father is introduced to us on the first page of the novel, but a terrifying turn of events breaks that promise. Oddny is taken prisoner by a vicious sea ruler a few days after she sets sail and witnesses the murder of her foster brother. Her existence in bondage is told in a painstakingly written story that is both eerie and educational. The reader is transported to a vividly authentic past by Colman's historical expertise and the novel's meticulous attention to Norse customs and cultural elements.
The book has a very compelling storyline, and the writing style is lovely. The plot is gripping, with many heartwarming moments that make you think about what perseverance and identity are all about. Oddny's transformation from a prisoner to a strong woman is a stirring illustration of the human spirit's unbreakable resilience. Colman's tone is appropriate for the historical and emotional weight of the book, and her prose is captivating.
Oddny had tried to engage him dutifully and talk about his travels. But the market for woolens, walrus ivory, and honey was the last thing the man would hear of. His first question to her had been about the child. Poor soul, he banked now on his ignorance, thinking it was too early still for the belly he’d expected. She had had to deal the blow outright, and she did so, none too gently, for she resented his relentless pressure. She had never observed him to be particularly caring with the little ones when they visited places or even to take much time for them apart from a rare pat on the head in greeting. She suspected that it was simply for an heir and to prove his virility that he strove so zealously. She had accused him thus flat-out then, pointing out the amulet of Freyr that he wore night and day around his neck. And he’d blown up at her. He told her it was well enough for those childless couples she cited in contrast to go on as they were, so untroubled and content. But he was not so easily satisfied—though he might have expected such cold words from her.
For some nights thereafter, he took to sleeping in the loft alone. He hardly spoke to her by day, but Oddny let the matter rest as such. She was not in such a hurry to welcome him back into their bed as to make him worry that she’d accuse him of neglect.
The beauty of the surroundings and Oddny's inner anguish are both depicted in this style of writing. Although challenging, the author's style tends to be atmospheric and descriptive, giving the reader a strong sense of immersion.
The character development and the fact that it has morally complex themes, are both described very well. A large portion of the story's richness is driven by Oddny's complexity as a character. She has flaws; she sometimes exhibits characteristics that show her internal conflict and questions her own choices.
Because of this complexity, the reader can relate to her and comprehend the larger issue of surviving in a culture that frequently views women more as commodities than as unique people. Oddny's responses and ideas frequently elicit consideration of the ways in which events and surroundings mold a person's identity.
Kjartan and Valmundr, two supporting characters, each provide their own moral complexity to the narrative, greatly enriching it. In particular, Kjartan is shown to be both strong and tender, which heightens the poignancy of his eventual fate.
Colman's painstaking research highlights the unique difficulties faced by women while bringing to life a time of perils and strict social conventions. This adds to the historical accuracy and the atmosphere of the book. Learning about past traditions and the nuanced differences in Norse law and heritage - which occasionally provided women with an unanticipated kind of protection - was interesting. The awful reality of medieval enslavement is also revealed by Oddny's account, which highlights the fortitude needed by those who survived it.
Oddny hid her face in her cloak. Hot tears poured down her cheeks, despite her efforts to squeeze them back. The thickening smell of smoke only heightened her sense of doom. She had turned to make her way home when she heard hoofbeats. She looked back. Vermundr and his friends were jostling up the hill ahead. First only their spears and helmets ranged above its crest, but now they shifted into view. Seeing someone ahead, Vermundr came to a standstill, trying to recognize her. Then waving his comrades on, he rode up to her.
Pacing and structure are also very well done, making it easier to follow the story and remain engaged. The book moves at a deliberate pace, revealing Oddny's life over the course of three years. Although this slower tempo can seem heavy at first, it enables the reader to follow Oddny's development and see how her viewpoints change over time. The book's meditative tone and the perseverance needed for survival and self-rediscovery are highlighted by the author's decision to tell the story in this way.
Every chapter builds on the one before it to form a coherent and powerful plot arc, and the narrative moves with great cohesion and continuity. Oddny's character develops throughout the narrative, bringing the reader along with her as she negotiates a world where strength and survival rule. Despite the climax being tinted with both sadness and success, the arc is fulfilling. Readers are excited to follow Oddny's journey in the sequel because of her optimism and tenacity as she moves closer to freedom.
All in all, this is a unique and thought-provoking Norse Saga is quite enjoyable. Lilypearl Colman has created a story in Oddny Einarsdottir that is equal parts beautiful and grim, fusing history with a poignant survival story. Readers are given a profound and poignant experience by the themes of captivity, resiliency, and retribution; Oddny's journey will stick with you long after you put the book down.
*****
“Oddny Einarsdottir” by Lilypearl Colman receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
To enter the HFC Book of the Year contest and request an editorial review, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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