Official Review: Vengeance of the Viking by Magnus Hansen
Posted: 05 Feb 2016, 16:09
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Vengeance of the Viking" by Magnus Hansen.]
4 out of 4 stars
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I've always been a big fan of fantasy in every form, so I jump at the chance to check fantasy books out anytime I can. Saving the world, heroes and villains with amazing abilities who fight epic battles - the typical requirements for a good fantasy story - are nowhere to be found in Magnus Hansen's Vengeance of the Viking. The surprise twist? The complete lack of these clichés is one of my favorite things about the book!
Torlief, the story's protagonist (I purposely avoid the word hero here) is a Norseman who starts the book off by escaping imprisonment from a nearby village where he was tortured and forced to do menial labor. During his escape, he ends up with a motherless bear cub, and the two quickly form an unlikely pair. From here, the book largely focuses on village life for the two, and I've never been so happy to read about it in a book before. As opposed to many fantasy or historical novels, scenes aren't overly detailed or laid out in a way that makes me want to go to take a nap every few pages - these scenes are quick, yet sneak in some great, realistic moments. Trading, stone carving, "romance", war and much more is made both entertaining and fascinating, even for a huge fantasy lover like myself, which really impressed me.
That's not to say the book is without action, far from it in fact. The book leaps into a crazy first chapter with Torleif escaping, with many more action-packed scenes throughout. Torleif is far from extraordinary, though - he can't take on a dozen soldiers alone, he isn't immune to cowardice and he can't just ignore injuries, which is exactly how a woodworker and hunter should be! Fighting is looked at as a brutal thing that leaves emotional scars and repercussions, not just an adrenaline-fueled berzerkerfest.
While I can't blame the author, the book does fall into one of the pitfalls of fantasy - names that are difficult to differentiate. While reading, I often had to keep notes on who certain people were because the book holds true to Norse names, not something most folks are familiar with. While Magnus occasionally included notes - "Brennabjorg (Viggo's village)" for example - it was very rare. There were also a handful of typoes throughout, but nowhere near enough to interrupt the enjoyment of the book.
When it comes down to it, the best measure of a book like Vengeance of the Viking is whether you want to read more and live in the author's world once the book is done. Above all else, Magnus Hansen exceeded all expectations here, and I'm already fighting a really strong urge to buy the next book in the series. Despite the small flaws I found in the book, and even days of waiting to see if my feelings changed after reading the book, I'm beyond happy to give the book 4 out of 4 stars. The only folks I can suggest avoid the book are those that don't like fantasy, Vikings or violence - while the book doesn't get overly gory, you can't have a Viking book without some violence!
******
Vengeance of the Viking
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
I've always been a big fan of fantasy in every form, so I jump at the chance to check fantasy books out anytime I can. Saving the world, heroes and villains with amazing abilities who fight epic battles - the typical requirements for a good fantasy story - are nowhere to be found in Magnus Hansen's Vengeance of the Viking. The surprise twist? The complete lack of these clichés is one of my favorite things about the book!
Torlief, the story's protagonist (I purposely avoid the word hero here) is a Norseman who starts the book off by escaping imprisonment from a nearby village where he was tortured and forced to do menial labor. During his escape, he ends up with a motherless bear cub, and the two quickly form an unlikely pair. From here, the book largely focuses on village life for the two, and I've never been so happy to read about it in a book before. As opposed to many fantasy or historical novels, scenes aren't overly detailed or laid out in a way that makes me want to go to take a nap every few pages - these scenes are quick, yet sneak in some great, realistic moments. Trading, stone carving, "romance", war and much more is made both entertaining and fascinating, even for a huge fantasy lover like myself, which really impressed me.
That's not to say the book is without action, far from it in fact. The book leaps into a crazy first chapter with Torleif escaping, with many more action-packed scenes throughout. Torleif is far from extraordinary, though - he can't take on a dozen soldiers alone, he isn't immune to cowardice and he can't just ignore injuries, which is exactly how a woodworker and hunter should be! Fighting is looked at as a brutal thing that leaves emotional scars and repercussions, not just an adrenaline-fueled berzerkerfest.
While I can't blame the author, the book does fall into one of the pitfalls of fantasy - names that are difficult to differentiate. While reading, I often had to keep notes on who certain people were because the book holds true to Norse names, not something most folks are familiar with. While Magnus occasionally included notes - "Brennabjorg (Viggo's village)" for example - it was very rare. There were also a handful of typoes throughout, but nowhere near enough to interrupt the enjoyment of the book.
When it comes down to it, the best measure of a book like Vengeance of the Viking is whether you want to read more and live in the author's world once the book is done. Above all else, Magnus Hansen exceeded all expectations here, and I'm already fighting a really strong urge to buy the next book in the series. Despite the small flaws I found in the book, and even days of waiting to see if my feelings changed after reading the book, I'm beyond happy to give the book 4 out of 4 stars. The only folks I can suggest avoid the book are those that don't like fantasy, Vikings or violence - while the book doesn't get overly gory, you can't have a Viking book without some violence!
******
Vengeance of the Viking
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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