The King of Vinland's Saga
by Stuart W. Mirsky
On This Page
Description
An historical adventure in the heady tradition of Sir Walter Scott, James Fenimore Cooper, and H. Rider Haggard, this book sweeps the reader back to a time when bold men hazarded rough and unknown seas in search of treasure and glory. Denied his birthright at home, Sigtrygg Thorgilsson, orphaned grandson of Leif Eiriksson, must seek his due overseas -- in Leif's half-forgotten land-claim of nearly 50 years before, on the shores of the New World.Urged on by his beautiful young cousin, show more Thjodhild, and aided by a mysterious, one-eyed seaman, with a knack for spell-casting and dream interpretation, and a local ruffian armed with an unusual axe, Sigtrygg flees the ice-clad fjords of coastal Greenland just ahead of his greedy uncles who would keep his inheritance from him. But once in the new land, the adventurers find they must carve a place for themselves amidst the warring native tribes who rule the unknown country. Finding the ways of these tribal people both fascinating and repellent, they soon form an uneasy alliance with one side to save themselves and the daughter of one of their enemies.Yet they are not the only Norsemen in the land as they shortly discover when Sigtrygg's kinsmen suddenly arrive to contest his land-claim and the place he has made for himself among the tribes. Then only the passion of the head-strong and willful Thjodhild stands in the way of an irrevocable breach between the two Norse factions. But even she cannot easily win Sigtrygg back from the native woman who has captured his heart. Forced to choose between two women, two peoples and two lands, Sigtrygg wavers perilously as a native host gathers, like storm clouds overhead, and the two Norse factions stand poised on the edge of a blade which, once drawn, cannot be sheathed again -- until it has been bathed in kinsmen's blood. Then not even the invincibility of an enchanted axe or the wisdom of sorcerers can avert the doom which awaits those who walk in the shadow of Leif Eiriksson's greatest achievement. And that curse which lies across the land he took for his own. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
santhony Very similar topic and style.
Member Reviews
I read this novel immediately after reading Never Grow Old: The Novel of Gilgamesh, and what a refreshing change of pace. While the Gilgamesh adaption was absurd in the knowledge and characteristics ascribed to early Sumerian civilization, this work read very true to the actual experiences and challenges faced by the early Norse settlers of Greenland and its surrounding environs.
Our protagonist, a “black sheep” grandson of the great explorer Leif Ericsson, seeks to validate his claim as rightful heir to Ericsson’s discovery of Vinland (present day Newfoundland). In doing so, he must battle the elements, his kinsmen and the natives of the new land (Skraeling).
While some may be put off by the somewhat unusual writing style employed show more by the author, I found it refreshing and reminiscent of the period. show less
Our protagonist, a “black sheep” grandson of the great explorer Leif Ericsson, seeks to validate his claim as rightful heir to Ericsson’s discovery of Vinland (present day Newfoundland). In doing so, he must battle the elements, his kinsmen and the natives of the new land (Skraeling).
While some may be put off by the somewhat unusual writing style employed show more by the author, I found it refreshing and reminiscent of the period. show less
This is a very good book, with a certain style and flavor all it's own. The author has managed to capture moods and locations within the pages, all the while creating his own unique style.
This is a historical romance, which plays like a nightmare, every time you'd think things can't get worst, they do.
The hero is a stubborn man, who stands by his word, his kins, and his friends, no matter what the odds are
This is a historical romance, which plays like a nightmare, every time you'd think things can't get worst, they do.
The hero is a stubborn man, who stands by his word, his kins, and his friends, no matter what the odds are
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
2+ Works 25 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1998-08-01
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 24
- Popularity
- 1,105,115
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.06)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
