Review of VIKING Flame and the Sword

[Jeremie Mondejar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "VIKING Flame and the Sword" by Warren Nieblas MacKenzie.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Do you believe in the power of prayer through Jesus Christ? If you're still doubting about your prayer concerns, VIKING Flame and the Sword by Warren Nieblas MacKenzie will help you understand the importance of prayers. You will be entertained, encouraged, empowered, and equipped by just reading this book. You will be amazed at how prayer can help someone in a difficult situation. Of course, who you believe in matters, whether it's the living God or mythical gods and goddesses. The book has Biblical passages and salvation messages, but it doesn't sound preachy.

Captain Larsnotsen was preparing for a voyage going to Scotland with his newly built ship. Many times, he called on his gods, Thor and Odin, and they are the Vikings' gods. He also had an excellent first mate named Hal, who was a believer in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, his adversary had poisoned his crew, and sixteen people were dead. He didn't have any choice but to trust Finnis (his son-in-law) in recruiting new crew members. Unbeknownst to Larsnotsen, Finnis had an evil plan. Before sailing, the captain makes an important announcement that "there's a woman on board." Finnis becomes uneasy at Julianne's appearance (the captain's daughter). Later on, the Viking ship with a dragon masthead is now ready for sailing. The masthead has a brilliant ruby eye. A long time ago, a great Viking warrior took two rubies from a church and cursed it until it was back. Is the ruby in the masthead the same as the ruby in the church? What will happen on this voyage? In the title, who or what represents the flame and why is there a sword?

One of the positive things I found in this book was the cast of characters. The character's name is somewhat of a tongue twister to me, and oftentimes I laugh with it. The main character was depicted as an outstanding man, a good father, and a thoughtful captain. Moreover, a novel isn't complete without the role of women, and they are like the seasoning that makes a delicious and tasty meal. They have uplifting words and spirits, which somehow motivates the readers to mimic their attitudes. What about the enemies? They are well-designed to pinpoint the thrilling scenes, like, for example, in taking the mystery chest and in dealing with the hostages. The second thing I really liked in this tale was the good vibes in friendships, in family gatherings (especially in Scotland), and in church fellowships.

My interest in a Viking's life grows while reading the book, especially in knowing the real God. However, there are a lot of aspects that I least like. The book's editing was at the top of my list because it slowed down my reading progress. This book will become glorious when it is edited by professionals. The e-book version via Kindle Unlimited was messed up. There are numerous sentences and chapter headings without space or a period. On rare occasions, I encounter a few unfinished sentences, repeated words, and some nouns are used interchangeably with prepositions. The book isn't well edited, but the plot is well organized and will work well on a big screen. 

Even if the book needs another round of editing, I will rate this novel 3 out of 4 stars because of the main highlights of the book in spiritual growth and in the development of the plot. In the realms of the spiritual journey, it focuses on two choices: either yielding to God or relying on Satan. Throughout the book, there are numerous prayers and praises to God, which will encourage the readers to do the same. In terms of the plot, it has a well-balanced flow of the narrative. It doesn't have any dull backstory, but rather a realistic scenario set in the sixteenth century. I'm satisfied with the climax of each scenario, and I don't even notice that I'm done reading. Readers will easily notice the excellent quality of the plot.

I recommend this novel to several groups of people, but they are not limited to these groups. First, a believer in Jesus Christ will find this book noteworthy. Second, if you're a candidate to be a missionary, this book will inspire you. Third, anyone who likes a Viking story will really enjoy the adventure of Captain Larsnotsen. Grab a copy now and sail with Captain Lars.

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VIKING Flame and the Sword
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[Amy Luman]

I think that learning about Viking culture is really interesting. Their reliance on these “gods” to help them complete things successfully brings to mind many other people groups.

[ThankGod Onyishi]

I have come across this book, but I didn't think it discussed something like this from the title. This review gave me a clearer perspective of the book. Thank you for the review.