Among Sea Wolves
The Midwinter Dragon, Book 2
by Jean Gill
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Pub Date Feb 09 2024 | Archive Date Mar 01 2024
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Description
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A yarn fit for a Norse saga. Full of action, poetry and heart; a thrilling voyage through the vibrant world of the twelfth century.’ Matthew Harffy
1150: The Whale Road. An epic medieval adventure, with a hint of magic, set in the Viking world of 12th century Orkney. To change their doom, Skarfr and Hlif must pay the price. Can be read as a standalone.
Warrior-poet Skarfr embarks on a death-defying pilgrimage with his ruler, Jarl Rognvald, from the wind-whipped shores of Orkney to the Holy Land. He is one of the few men trusted by the Jarl, whether facing sea-monsters or murder.
Fifteen ships sail on the ‘whale road’ in the pilgrims’ fleet. The only woman among the ‘sea wolves’, Hlif is respected as much for her practical skills as for her mystical gifts. Yet beneath her indomitable façade lies a secret – she is handfasted to Skarfr, their love forbidden by the Jarl’s decree.
As tensions rise, Skarfr is torn between fealty to his Jarl and devotion to Hlif. One oath must be broken but which one? How can he steer a course between loyalty and love without losing his honour?
Book 2 in The Midwinter Dragon series, from an award-winning writer, Among Sea Wolves is perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's mythic storytelling, Bernard Cornwell's gritty realism, and Matthew Harffy's visceral medieval sagas.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Made me want to read on... just one more chapter... and then another, and another. Late into the night!" B.A. Morton
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Top quality literary historical fiction; a cracking story with action and adventure based on real events, plus a touch of magic. Highly recommended." J G Harlond
Advance Praise
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Embarking on Jean Gill's "Among the Sea Wolves" is like setting sail on a Viking ship, where every wave and wind has a story to tell... Hlif, one of our protagonists, brings to life the daily nuances of seafaring life, from the practicality of lip care to the deeper understanding of the sea's moods. Her one-eyed cat, a delightful addition, not only adds charm but also symbolizes a connection to the divine, mirroring the Norse myth of Freyja's chariot... Jean Gill's vivid descriptions transported me right onto the deck, with the salt air and sea spray almost tangible. "Among the Sea Wolves" is not just a novel; it's a voyage through the mystic and rugged life of the Vikings." Kat Christensen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "An amazing sea adventure that reeks of suspenseful and enthralling tales told in a Viking hall." Kristin Gleeson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The balance between the savagery of battle and male head-butting and the sensitivity of Scarfr and Hlif's relationship, is dealt with by a gentle, skilled hand, and it works so well, because without the extremes, the sacrifices wouldn't feel so real... The prose is beautiful, painting a wonderful picture so easy to visualise. One example that I particularly liked was from Inge… 'She could feel the smile she wore, as new as her clothes, a little stiff but growing more comfortable each day'. Marvelous, historically accurate ,skilled storytelling, with vivid imagery, and truly wonderful characters." B.A. Morton
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A voyage that will bring murder, terrible storms and sea monsters, clashes both in battles and cultures and mystical encounters, but perhaps the greatest risk of all is treachery from within the ranks...A must for those already well-versed in Viking lore, but readers of Jean Gill’s The Troubadours series will enjoy cameo roles from Estela and Dragonetz as the pilgrims visit the port of Narbonne – a reminder that her other characters’ stories are playing out in parallel." Jane Davis
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I’m a long-term reader and fan of Jean Gill’s writing, and I’ve never read anything of hers which wasn’t fascinating, absorbing and thoroughly enjoyable. It was no surprise, therefore, to find all these qualities in this, her latest novel... It takes some skill to weave fictional events and characters into the background of known history but this is done so successfully that you can’t see the join!" Paul Trembling
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The balance between the savagery of battle and male head-butting and the sensitivity of Scarfr and Hlif's relationship, is dealt with by a gentle, skilled hand, and it works so well, because without the extremes, the sacrifices wouldn't feel so real... The prose is beautiful, painting a wonderful picture so easy to visualise. One example that I particularly liked was from Inge… 'She could feel the smile she wore, as new as her clothes, a little stiff but growing more comfortable each day'. Marvelous, historically accurate ,skilled storytelling, with vivid imagery, and truly wonderful characters." B.A. Morton
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Gill's impeccable research recreates life at sea in a longship so well I felt I was there. The story of how Skarfr and Hlif try to hide their love, and the means by which they can spend time together makes compelling reading. As does what happens to the two thralls we meet in the Book 1, Fergus and Brigid. Gill shows how everybody's life was in jeopardy (especially women) in this epoch. High-ranking women and domestic thralls, their life-styles and prospects may be very different but they are equally constrained. This is top quality literary historical fiction; a cracking story with action and adventure based on real events, plus a touch of magic. Highly recommended." J.G. Harlond
Marketing Plan
The ebook version of Book 1 The Ring Breaker is discounted to 0.99 from all online retailers until Publication Day 9th February, as part of the launch plan for Among sea Wolves.
The ebook version of Among sea Wolves is on pre-order at all online retail stores at the discounted price of 0.99 until Publication Day 9th February.
The ebook version of bestselling, award-winning novel Song at Dawn, the first book in the linked 12th century series The Troubadours is discounted to 0.99 until Publication Day of Among Sea Wolves, 9th February. Estela and Dragonetz, the popular heroes of The Troubadours make a cameo appearance in Among Sea Wolves. The scene is one readers will recognise from Song at Dawn but seen from the Viking viewpoint. No prior knowledge of Song at Dawn is required to enjoy the scene for its own sake.
Also available in paperback - Publication Date 9th February 2024
ISBN 979-10-96459-47-6
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798223246367 |
| PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 344 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Ink R, Reviewer
This saga is a glorious tale for lovers of Norse history and lore. I was absolutely captivated from page one due to the exemplary attention to detail, the writing style and the immersive narrative
You will feel as if you are embarking on a voyage, learning about navigation methods and life on board a longboat, right down to the smallest details, including skincare. The level of research is astounding and the attention to detail is a joy to behold. These small details add an enriching layer to an already fully immersive saga
The interplay between Hlif and Skarfr is both inspiring and breathtaking, let alone Fergus' quest to be reunited with his lost love. The various relationships and politics are as tumultuous as the seas they traverse and so elegantly woven as to be easy to follow
A key element in this tale, is that it is told in the same style as Norse communities would share their sagas through prose and song and as such, having a warrior poet as an MMC and the well-chosen quotes in the epigraphs were an elegant and fitting detail, a really nice touch
Among Sea Wolves is a fantastic read for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Norse Lore, Viking Saga's and Voyages you can really get your teeth into. Fantastic!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Reviewer 774133
Among Sea Wolves by Jean Gill
Warrior-poet Skarfr embarks on a death-defying pilgrimage with his ruler, Jarl Rognvald, from the wind-whipped shores of Orkney to the Holy Land. He is one of the few men trusted by the Jarl, whether facing sea-monsters or murder.
Fifteen ships sail on the ‘whale road’ in the pilgrims’ fleet. The only woman among the ‘sea wolves’, Hlif is respected as much for her practical skills as for her mystical gifts. Yet beneath her indomitable façade lies a secret – she is handfasted to Skarfr, their love forbidden by the Jarl’s decree.
A wonderful saga and a great plot , I love hearing about the character Hilf a woman in a mainly man's world.
This would make a great film / series .
Librarian 1146347
Among Sea Wolves carries on the story of Skarfr and Hlif, the young Viking couple having to keep their forbidden relationship a secret as they travel with Jarl Rognvald of Orkney on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. At the same time we follow what's happening to the leaders of Orkney left behind to battle for power, and those of their servants, Fergus and Brigid, who we met in the first book.
I really enjoyed the first book of the series and this follows on beautifully. If you have any interest in Viking history, these books are a really immersive experience. The author's research has obviously been meticulous as she doesn't just tell the story of the characters, but manages to place it all in the mindset of the time and people. Some of the Vikings, such as Rognvald, are converting to Christianity, others maintain the older beliefs, and it's interesting to see how these influence and contradict each other. Similarly in this book the pilgrimage takes us on the voyage to places like Narbonne and Sicily, vastly different to Orkney and a real shock to the Vikings to see such vast differences in culture, architecture and behvaiour. The characters are all well drawn and their behaviour makes sense, especially as we are given so much context of their belief system. Skarfr, the main character, is a skald, a poet and teller of sagas, and this series is really the saga of his own life that he yearns for throughout.
The book ends in a whole new situation and I can't wait to see where we go next!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Reviewer 1049228
A very entertaining story of the continuing Viking saga of Skarfr and Hlif. They sail off with nine ships on a Crusade to Jerusalem, and have amazing adventures along the way, including meeting Saracens in Spain. Treachery, betrayal, love, honor, loyalty--all are themes that make this a fantastic Viking epic saga.
Highly recommended!
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