Historical adaptation used as the basis for a social commentary…
free copyThe idea that fiction can be the vehicle to make readers think about social issues and revisit their position, for or against, is not a novel idea. Writers throughout history use the backdrop of a story to express their views. I especially appreciate the author who can weave these truths and lessons masterfully into the story line or essence of a character. Unfortunately, Daughter of a Thousand Years is not one of those stories.

Daughter of a Thousand Years is a split story line, alternating between an adaptation of the legend of Freydis Eiriksdottir (daughter of the the fabled Viking Erik the Red) and Emma Moretti, a modern day woman in her 20s who struggles with finding acceptance for embracing the heathen religion of her Nordic ancestors. While Amelia’s intent was to promote religious freedom, in both the legend and the present day story the Christianity was portrayed as the intolerant religion, and Christians were spiteful purveyors of this intolerance. While I do not argue that many ugly things throughout history have been done in the name of religion, this charge does not fall on Christianity alone. An honest assessment would conclude that many amazing things have been accomplished in the name of faith and by devoted people from a variety of religions. In my view, Amalia diluted the objective; religious tolerance, when she demonized another religion.The-Thinker

Initially, it was difficult for me to get into the Daughter of a Thousand Years. Like I said earlier, I like a story that makes me contemplate larger issues, but using dialogue in the first quarter of the book to basically tell you the issue is not captivating. More than once I had to force myself to keep reading. But, I’m glad I did. The plots of both past and present began to take shape about half way into the story and made it worth finishing. I also found Amelia’s writing style to be very enjoyable; painting vivid pictures and solid characters. In my mind, it would not take but a few modifications to bring this rating from 3.5 to 4.5 stars. Even in its current state its still worth checking out while its free on: KindleUnlimited

This was an engrossing book in many ways but rather heavy going and took longer to read than I would have expected. As a British atheist the modern strand was particularly difficult to empathise with. I never knew that religion was so significant in American politics or that there were so many Catholics in New England, though I guess that is down to the Italian background of the main character in that strand. The story of Freydis was easier to understand as she was basically a woman trying to survive in a man's world. An interesting and thought provoking book rather than being light-hearted holiday fayre.

This was not only two great stories it was also a thoughtful examination of what it means to think differently than others in your community. Loved the settings, both for Freydis and Emma, who are both well drawn and realistically complex women. I wanted to read this because I love tales set in Greenland and Iceland but found it was so much more. THanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Please give this a try.

I did not finish this book as I did not engage with this story at all.

Two women, similar struggles, one thousand years apart.

Freydis, only daughter of Erik the Red, is faced with a decision: marry a man she doesn't love or respect in the hopes of one day commanding her own sailing ship, or face an uncertain future under her brother's thumb in a land rapidly converting to Christianity and abandoning the faith and traditions that are so important to her. Against counsel, she chooses marriage and discovers that it still isn't enough to grant her her heart's desire, or to protect her right to worship her gods, particularly Thor, in whom she places her utmost trust and faith. So when a stranger appears offering her physical and spiritual comfort and promising her the life of her dreams if she only stays true to her faith, she accepts and determines to forge her own destiny, though she will have a difficult journey ahead of her.

In the twenty-first century, congressman's daughter Emma Moretti struggles to reconcile her departure from Catholicism with her place in her community and in her own family. But the middle of her father's brutal reelection campaign isn't exactly the best time to announce that she's a Heathen, and her excitement at teaching Norse history at the local college is quickly dampened when her views are challenged in the classroom. To make things worse, a reporter has gotten hold of information about her faith that gives her father's opponent ammunition to take him down right before the election, and Emma has to decide if standing up for her beliefs will cost her more than she's willing to lose.

So this story ended up being not quite what I was expecting. I think I got so excited when I saw Amalia Carosella and Erik the Red's daughter that I stopped reading the blurb and immediately said yes to reviewing the book. I enjoyed Freydis's story, but I was not such a fan of Emma's. I confess I found Emma to be rather weak, and I skimmed a lot of her internal conflict, her arguments with her parents about attending church, and her rehashing of those arguments and her interactions with her boyfriends with her best friend. I kept saying to myself, if your friends don't think you're religious enough for them, find new friends! Find a backbone! Stand up for yourself! She finally does, but I found most of her story to be repetitive and slow-moving. The initial bright spot was her budding romance with Alex, her father's campaign manager, but that quickly became rather tame as well. More interest came along later in the story when Emma had to contend with allegations of religious discrimination and personal bias in the classroom. While the questions raised are thought-provoking and challenging, I just wasn't in the mood for such contemplation or for a mirror of what's going on politically in the US right now. I've been reading to escape all of that. And while I think the author succeeded in drawing relevant parallels between these two women in two very different time periods, I was expecting the two narratives to have more of a connection between them, not just similarities in their experiences, but more of a tangible physical or spiritual connection between the two protagonists as we see so often in dual timeline stories.

But Freydis's story was fresh ground for me. I loved the depiction of the time period, and though her pride and stubbornness cause her problems, I found her strong, fiery personality much more engaging, as were her relationships with her husband, lover, and family. The struggle to hold on to her faith in the Norse gods as Christianity laid claim to her lands and her struggle to hold on to her identity and make a name for herself as a woman rather than as a wife felt more dramatic and compelling within its historical context. I could have read an entire novel just about her, and I think there was a lot of potential and room for creative license to carry her story further.

So take two stars for the modern-day story, four stars for the historical story, and you get what amounts to a three-star read for me. Not one of my favorites, but still a book I can recommend to anyone interested in the subject and time period. Well written, as always from Ms. Carosella, and well worth a read for the historical details, and for the theological discussion, if you're in the mood for one.

Loved his book - love strong women characters who stand up for their beliefs even though they know that society wills it differently.

Freydís is the daughter of Erik the Red in 1000 AD Greenland. Much like her father and brothers, she is fiery and passionate. However, Freydís is passionate about the old gods while Christianity is spreading throughout her people and her family. Freydís' devotion to Thor now marks her as different. She is still determined to make her own fate and practice in her own way, regardless of her brother's or husband's wishes. When the opportunity arises to sail away to Vinland with a man who shares her beliefs, Freydís takes the opportunity to follow her own path. A thousand years later, Emma Moretti has found her path within the Heathen religion of her Icelandic ancestors. Although she has kept her faith a secret since it will likely ruin her father's election chances. Congressman Moretti has run on the platform of Christian family values every election cycle and it hasn't failed him yet. Emma has moved back home this election cycle and has taken an adjunct professor job at the college. Through her class, her faith is revealed and threatens to destroy her and her family.


As a lover of dual time stories, I enjoyed reading about the parallels of Freydís' and Emma's lives one thousand years apart. Emma and Freydís are strong women that show immense courage, they are both true to themselves while trying to live up to their family's wishes. Both women are strong in their faith, even in times of turmoil. I did not know much about the time of Erik the Red and Leif Erikson's voyage other than that it happened, so I enjoyed reading about the journey from Freydís' point of view. I was surprised to learn about the switch in religion in Greenland and Iceland in 1000 AD to Christianity and away from the gods and goddesses. I was also curious about the rise of the worship of old Norse gods in present day. From both sides of history, religion and religious freedom are strong themes. Usually in dual time stories, I am pulled further into one story than the other. In this case, I was pulled further into Emma's plight at first and then Freydís' plight later. I felt more for Freydís's struggle with religion as everyone else turned towards the newer Christianity and she was losing her family. At the same time, Freydís had more freedom with her relationships and was even able to have a relationship outside of her marriage. I felt more for Emma's struggle when her hiding her religion was costing her a chance at romance. Emma's story picked up again for me near the end when she became free in her beliefs. Overall, a wonderful mix of historical fiction and contemporary fictions that compares women's struggles and religious persecution through time. While a lot has changed for the better, Emma and Freydís's stories of courage and standing up for their rights still emanate today.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

The author has written Daughter of a Thousand Years in dual time periods. Here we have two women born a thousand years apart and yet have the same struggles.

In present day there is Emma, daughter of a congressman up for reelection. Being raised in a Catholic home has not automatically made her what her parents want, secretly converting to follow the path of Heathen she is forced to open up when word leaks to the media. The timing couldn't be worse and she is forced to make decisions that affect not just herself but the rest of the family.

A thousand years ago there is Freydis, daughter of Eric the Red. Christianity has just started to spread on the island and she isn't buying it, doing whatever she can to follow her heart and worship whom she wants to. It's a struggle, as the family converts and being a daughter she is still expected to do what the family says. Determined to follow her own path there are many struggles, decisions and conflicts she is forced to deal with.

It sometimes seems in dual time period books that I have a favorite setting and with this one I enjoyed reading the past story line. With the historical elements, customs and lifestyle I found this part very interesting. The immersion of Christianity onto these people and being Christian I would have loved to read more about that. It has perked my interest in that area and I love when a book does that. Freydis was a woman ahead of her time, she didn't want to waiver from her beliefs and yield to society demands but to forge her own destiny even when they could end with dire consequences. If the whole book has been about Freydis I would have been satisfied with that.

I struggled with Emma's plight, she got off to a slow start but I loved how it picked up at the end. I didn't alway feel her conviction in her beliefs, at times she was strong and other times her actions seem too impulsive.

All in all a nice story and one I would recommend. Thanks to Amy from HVBFT for the invite to be part of this tour and Lake Union for an advanced copy (via Netgalley).

I finished this book almost one week ago. Usually I write a review within two days of finishing a book. But this one was different. This one was personal.

First and foremost, this book is brilliant. It is brilliant.

My great-great grandparents on my father's side emigrated to the United States from Norway. My great-great grandfather's name was "Thorbjørn." His father was named after Thor, as was his father. The farther back on my tree that you go, the more you see names like "Odin," "Frigg," "Freyja," and variations thereof. Norse Mythology is literally in my blood, and I have been fascinated with it for years. So when this book popped up for review, and a redhead wearing Mjölnir was on the cover? Count me in, right. now.

The book covers the stories of Freydis Eiriksdotter (about 1000 A.D.) and Emma (2016.) Two women, a thousand years apart, connected by ancestry perhaps; but more importantly, connected by their devotion to Thor. Freydis is living in Brattahlid, Greenland, right around the time that Christianity has reached the area. She remains loyal to her gods and her beliefs, holding tightly to her faith despite the great hardships and heartaches thrown her way, as everyone around her converts to Christ. She is strong, determined, opinionated, a favorite of her father and determined to forge her own path.

Emma was raised in a Catholic home, but no longer attends church. Her family believes she is going through a phase. What Emma hasn't told her family...or anyone, other than her best friend...is that this is nowhere near a phase. Emma wears a Mjölnir pendant under her shirt, given to her by her aunt. The aunt who lives in Iceland, who still worships the old gods. The same gods that Emma worships, as well. And with her father being a congressman, and this being an election year, Emma's secret must stay hidden. From her family, her new boyfriend, from everyone at work. Yet, hiding is not something Emma feels that she should have to do.

Each chapter switches between Freydis and Emma, and does so seamlessly. The book flows effortlessly, and despite my best efforts (I loathe feeling feelings), I got so caught up in the lives of these two characters. (Also, Freydis isn't exactly a character. There is mounting evidence that Freydis Eiriksdotter actually lived, born around 970 A.D. to Erik the Red.) This book made me cry more than once. I had to put the book down a few times, to get myself breathing and back to to reality. (Only to pick it back up again about 1.5 heartbeats later.) Some of the other characters, who are wonderfully developed (and again, are more historical than fictional) made me angry. And some of the characters made me ridiculously happy. (Wait until you meet Sonnung. You're going to want to thank the author yourself, I promise you.)

Bottom Line: I have never, ever had a book hit me so hard. It has challenged my beliefs. It has forced me to step outside of my comfort zone, to study the beliefs that my ancestors held to so fiercely. That people today, hold to so fiercely. Get the book. Meet Freydis. Meet Emma. I promise you; you won't be able to put it down, even long after you've finished it.

I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

The story line is split between Freydis in AD 999 and Emma in AD 2016. They both are worshipers of the god Thor. Both protagonists are firmly set in their beliefs and/or faiths, and come hell or high water, they will not budge.

I couldn't decide this book was, chick lit or Gothic romance or historical fiction or a religious study of Anti-Christ vs other gods. I just didn't get it.

1.5 stars rounded up to 2

DNF @ 12%

Dual timelines! Iceland! Thor! And…Viking romance you say??

*ponders hot Vikings*

Alas, I never got to the hot Vikings bit, if that was even a possibility. The bit I did read didn’t amount to much other than a complete dwelling on religion. In 1000 AD, Freydís is battling to retain her belief in the old gods as everyone around her is being converted to a belief in one god. In present day, Emma is battling to retain her belief in the old gods… in a society that hasn’t recognized those gods in centuries. She’s determined to believe as she wishes even as she breaks up with her boyfriend because of it and is discussing it with her friend incessantly.

“I’ve tried to be patient with you, Emma,” he said when I didn’t respond “I think I’ve been incredibly understanding, all things considered, while you’ve worked through whatever rebellion this is. I haven’t pressured you or made any demands –“

The “rebellion” being her refusal to believe in God. Guy sounds like a dick anyways.

“I loved Sarah, I did. We’d been friends practically since birth. But if I hadn’t been Catholic enough for David, I would never be Christian enough for her, either.”

Good grief. If any “friend” ever said that I wasn’t Christian enough for them I’d probably die laughing.

Sorry, but I came for the hot Vikings.

It has to be said, anyone of any faith who does not recognize that terrible things have been done in the name of their faith, doesn’t understand the history of their faith. As long as humanity has been calling out to the void and listening for an echo in answer to their prayers, they have been arguing over whose god is best. Whether it is the Ottoman empire, Charlemagne, Vikings, Crusaders, even the Tudors, who seem to be all over our books and our screens, killed over faith. We like to think ourselves more sophisticated than our ancestors, or that they were bringing light(faith) to a savage people. Yet even in today’s world, matters of faith divide us just the same. Here in the States, we have the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. Yet as is visible in Amalia Carosella’s latest book “Daughter of a Thousand Years,” more often than not, those who fall outside the Judeo-Christian faiths(Protestant or Catholic) are judged on a different level and risk more for their faiths here in the Land of the Free.
This historical fiction novel switches between AD 990s and modern day chapter by chapter. This allows the reader to follow these two paths as they meet their conflicts and struggles. The back and forth pushes the reader forward at a fair clip, looking for resolution and hoping for the happy ending. Even with such a space of time between these two characters, it is their faith that binds them together, giving the readers a look at a world that they might not have ever experienced. From experiencing public bias, to relationship struggles and families, Author Carosella has given this book a spirit that shines through her strong women characters. Without faith bashing on any fronts, she is able to show cultural and religious bias that still thrives in our everyday lives.
If you enjoy historical fiction with an eye for detail and a pinch of something different, I would recommend “Daughter of a Thousand Years.” It really shines a light on personal faith and the need for community. I am really looking forward to reading through her previous books and I hope to be able to review them in due time.
*This eBook was provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for honest feedback*