Thunder God

A spirited adventure story about a young Viking who was taken captive when his village was destroyed. Because he had survived a lightning strike, he was considered to have been marked by the Gods. Eventually he and his captor end up in Constantinople working for the Emperor of Byzantium as one of his personal guard. These Vikings were called the Varangian Guard. When his captor dies, Hakon takes his place in the guard, but soon he and his friend Cabal leave and begin their long journey home.

This is a gripping action packed Viking Epic. Set in the 10th Century during a time of intense change. Hakon had been marked by the lightning and designated as the keeper of the Norse religion’s greatest secret. To save his faith, he embarks on show more another journey that takes him to the unknown world, where he must confront not only his own gods but the gods of this new world as well.

Although not totally accurate, the author bends the time-line to fit his story yet it is still a very satisfactory read. The theme seems to be about the inevitable turn to Christianity that was to replace the power of the Viking Gods. Thunder God is a fine historical adventure story that entertains, educates and thrills. show less

Paul Watkins is an extraordinary writer; I was convinced of this after reading of his childhood and education in his autobiography "Stand Before your God" and am just as impressed with his storytelling abilities in "ThunderGod".

His strength lies in his ability to imagine himself and describe to the reader what daily life might have been like in a long-gone way of life. His account of politics, economics and technology in the last days of Pagan Norway are so convincing that I imagine they might not be far from fact and reality. His characters are wonderful and you'll be relating to them personally by the end of the first chapter, even if, like me, you have no previous interest in this particular place and time in history.

This is an show more accomplishment of a novel! show less

I stumbled across Paul Watkins perhaps 20 years ago and I am always amazed at how many different types of novels he writes and how amazingly real they all feel. I enjoyed this one, even as I was unsure about where it was going. The clash of the Norse traditional religion with Christianity was one theme but there was the rivalry that destroys a friendship and the deep hurt inflicted on lves and how they play out. Just a really fascinating read from one of my very favorite authors.

A highly readable adventure story set in Viking times. As in Thomas Holt's 'Meadowland' (which is not as good as this one), we have an accidental journey to the New World, though this only occurs late in the book.

Watkins can certainly write and it's a good story, but it wanders around a bit. At one point, it seemed as if it was going to be more about religion and faith (specifically the clash between the old religion and Christianity) but that element doesn't quite take off.

Highly readable and some gripping scenes. But not essential reading. It's not particularly moving or thought-provoking. Plus, given that it's a first-person narration, the reader is never exactly worried that the narrator will not escape his many predicaments. As show more he's telling us the story, we know it will end happily so the suspense is never too strong.... show less

wow.. all the stuff that happend... I really liked this book, enjoyed it. just loved it though sometimes it seemed like it all went too fast.
In the end I hate it that there is no sequel...
in short: love it