"Odinn's Child" is the first in trilogy of books about life of Thorgils Leiffson. Unlike Bernard Cornwells Saxon series novels, this book can't stand on its own - it ends when reader expects true action to begin.

Thorgils, orphan, is moving from one family to another and during his early years he comes in contact with old beliefs of Norsemen, encounters Skrelings (North American natives), lives with Irish druids, sails through treacherous northern seas, visits Iceland, Grenland, Vinland and Ireland.

Story is never boring - there is always something going on. But again it ends up when it gets most interesting - when Thorgils escapes from Ireland and goes back to Iceland. Book should be treated as a sort of a introduction to Norsemen culture at the time and Thorgils' character.

I am looking forward to "Sworn brothers" and "King's man". ( )

While covering a genre that is both interesting and exciting Tim Severin’s “Viking: Odinn’s Child” fails to capture this reader’s heart. Mr. Severin’s hero -Thorgils- travels the outer rim of Norse expansion from far off Vinland to eleventh century Ireland, shifting from one desperate frying pan to another and making his bare escapes by the skin of his teeth. Although Mr. Severin brings to the fore new and exciting characters and places with gratifying historical accuracy, he does not capture –for this reader- the emotional investment and the purulent experiences one would have experienced. The added mysticism while interesting detracted from the historical accuracy of the story. What truly interested me was Thorgils' time with Eochaid, a character I found entrancing and I wish Mr. Severin would’ve delved more thoroughly into the life of this brithem. In any case, this novel would have garnered three and a half stars if it weren’t for the sloppy editing. These lapses became especially virulent towards the latter half of the book and truly detracted from the text. ( )

The main character of Viking: Odinn's Child, Thorgils Leifsson, is quite the tabula rasa. Through his travels (which are rarely planned), he learns widely and deeply about religion and life.

Tim Severin has written a well-researched historical novel. I can't wait to read the other two in the series. ( )