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dmcke013's review
3.0
The final(?) novel in Giles Kristian's Raven series of books, this continues - and, maybe, ends - the story first began in Raven: Blood Eye.
Again presented as the older titular character retelling the tale of his younger years, this sees Sigurds wolf-pack of the sea continue their voyage, moving down now into Europe proper, before experiencing Rome and finally ending the tale in the city of Miklagard (i.e. Constantinople). If you've read any of the precious entries in the series, you'd know pretty much what to expect: however, and somewhat unfortunately, I have to say that I felt this particular entry to out-stay it's welcome somewhat.
Again presented as the older titular character retelling the tale of his younger years, this sees Sigurds wolf-pack of the sea continue their voyage, moving down now into Europe proper, before experiencing Rome and finally ending the tale in the city of Miklagard (i.e. Constantinople). If you've read any of the precious entries in the series, you'd know pretty much what to expect: however, and somewhat unfortunately, I have to say that I felt this particular entry to out-stay it's welcome somewhat.
berenikeasteria's review
4.0
This book is the third in a series, completely unknown to me when I purchased it as an on the spot impulse buy. Having jumped into the book as a total newcomer to the series, I’m happy to say that this book stands well on its own and it isn’t necessary to read the previous books in order to enjoy this one… but it probably helps. The characters repeatedly refer to their past adventures, which was tantalisingly frustrating for me, and it’s obvious that this fellowship has been built up over the past two adventures, and reading the first two books would obviously help in understanding the group’s dynamics.
The thing that I really enjoyed about this book was Kristian’s interest in Viking story-weaving and skalding. This remarkable aspect of Viking literature is what makes it so vivid and gripping, and it’s definitely to Kristian’s credit that he tries his hand at it in these books – though he insists that he is a poor emulator in comparison to the original Viking skalds. More than anything else, the author’s passion for this culture comes through in the writing and that is the most involving thing for me as a reader. Obviously I’m not going to be interested in a book if the author isn’t interested and has produced a lacklustre story.
I felt that there were some minor pacing issues. The first half of the book felt rather slow going, and the pace picks up considerably in Rome and Constantinople (or Miklagard as the Vikings knew it). It might have been a bit better if the pacing picked up sooner and there was more of a pause between Rome and Constantinople, or perhaps if Constantinople had more time and build up – but this was a only a slight issue.
The action was pacy and certainly bloody, but there was something slightly missing. I think this was where my not having read the first two books came in as a detriment. I didn’t know the characters too well, and couldn’t care about them as much during these action scenes as someone who’d read all three books. This meant I didn’t engage with the action scenes with as much tension of emotional reaction as perhaps was intended. At least, I’m going to be generous and assume that’s why – but maybe people who’ve read all three would say that all the books have action like this. I know for sure the nuances of the relationship between Raven and Cynethryth escaped me, and maybe if I knew the other characters better, from the previous books, I’d have cared more about them in the battle scenes.
I won’t give away the surprise twist in the tale, but I’m happy to report that this was one twist I didn’t see coming, for once. The story felt a little lacking in descriptiveness, and its biggest flaw was the lack of character development. I enjoyed the raucous action-adventure, but it didn't to show me enough of the characters to care about what happens to them that much, or to allow them room to grow. However, another enjoyable read, ideal for a beach read or airport read.
7 out of 10
The thing that I really enjoyed about this book was Kristian’s interest in Viking story-weaving and skalding. This remarkable aspect of Viking literature is what makes it so vivid and gripping, and it’s definitely to Kristian’s credit that he tries his hand at it in these books – though he insists that he is a poor emulator in comparison to the original Viking skalds. More than anything else, the author’s passion for this culture comes through in the writing and that is the most involving thing for me as a reader. Obviously I’m not going to be interested in a book if the author isn’t interested and has produced a lacklustre story.
I felt that there were some minor pacing issues. The first half of the book felt rather slow going, and the pace picks up considerably in Rome and Constantinople (or Miklagard as the Vikings knew it). It might have been a bit better if the pacing picked up sooner and there was more of a pause between Rome and Constantinople, or perhaps if Constantinople had more time and build up – but this was a only a slight issue.
The action was pacy and certainly bloody, but there was something slightly missing. I think this was where my not having read the first two books came in as a detriment. I didn’t know the characters too well, and couldn’t care about them as much during these action scenes as someone who’d read all three books. This meant I didn’t engage with the action scenes with as much tension of emotional reaction as perhaps was intended. At least, I’m going to be generous and assume that’s why – but maybe people who’ve read all three would say that all the books have action like this. I know for sure the nuances of the relationship between Raven and Cynethryth escaped me, and maybe if I knew the other characters better, from the previous books, I’d have cared more about them in the battle scenes.
I won’t give away the surprise twist in the tale, but I’m happy to report that this was one twist I didn’t see coming, for once. The story felt a little lacking in descriptiveness, and its biggest flaw was the lack of character development. I enjoyed the raucous action-adventure, but it didn't to show me enough of the characters to care about what happens to them that much, or to allow them room to grow. However, another enjoyable read, ideal for a beach read or airport read.
7 out of 10
krste93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jefffrane's review against another edition
5.0
Giles Kristian's novels are all excellent but he has a particular gift for his stories about Vikings at the turn of the 9th Century. Odin's Wolves is the culmination of his original tales of young Raven, who joins a band of Norse warriors led by Sigurd the Lucky. The Vikings battle and raid across Wessex and Frankia and finally, in Odin's Wolves, through the Moorish coastline and Rome to arrive in Byzantium.
The novels are pretty gory and Kristian has a gift for capturing the chaos of combat, so the gore is vivid and unsparing. If you like that sort of thing, if you're a fan of writers like Bernard Cornwell, the entire series is right up your alley. Kristian is currently in the midst of a new Viking trilogy, prequels following the life of Sigurd the Lucky from his youth. The brilliant God of Vengeance was published in 2014, while Winter's Fire releases in April 2016.
The novels are pretty gory and Kristian has a gift for capturing the chaos of combat, so the gore is vivid and unsparing. If you like that sort of thing, if you're a fan of writers like Bernard Cornwell, the entire series is right up your alley. Kristian is currently in the midst of a new Viking trilogy, prequels following the life of Sigurd the Lucky from his youth. The brilliant God of Vengeance was published in 2014, while Winter's Fire releases in April 2016.
thewashouts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
blackestclovers's review against another edition
4.0
I quite like this series. Will have to read the prequel Sigurd stuff at some point...
nerdyboy's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
This is the third and final book in the Raven Trilogy. This book takes us first to Rome and then on to Constantinople.
While still enjoyable, an easy read that I got through quickly, I found this to be lacking compared to the first two books. This was more like three novella’s than a single novel. You have the journey to Rome. The time spent in Rome then the journey to Constantinople and the time spent there.
A whole novel could have been spent on either of the latter two. Preventing them from feeling rushed.
As an ending to a trilogy this was also lacklustre. There is not much progression over the course of the three novels for the main character of Raven. The position he is in halfway through the first novel is pretty much where we find him at the end of the third.
Wow, I've been moaning a lot. Would still recommend reading not only this book but the whole trilogy and I certainly will be reading the author’s other works.
speesh's review
4.0
A real shame it is to have come to the end of this one. Really enjoyable, really well-written, really satisfying and surely, one that's going to be really hard to beat in the whole Viking saga genre.
And, while reading books on the iPad is very convenient and generally an all-round excellent idea; how fab was it to hold the actual paperback in your hands while reading the story? Almost gives you the impression you're physically a part of the action... Quick, slap me before I start getting over-emotional and start burbling on about the magical and mystical qualities of the feel of the paper and the entoxicating smell of the ink...
Ahem...
It was surprisingly easy to slip back into Raven's world, even though it had been a year or so since I read no.2. But the Viking world Giles Kristian has created, is so enveloping, so effortlessly realised and so 'real', that even though I have read several other Viking-period sagas since the last Raven book, there was never any doubt about where I was, or who Raven and the Wolfpack are. I tried to hold myself back; I tried not to race through it but only partially succeeded. It's hard when a book is so interesting and so action-packed.
And. Maybe finally figured out what this series has had me thinking of.
I know from the book jackets (and, to boast a moment) from what he told me on Twitter (!), that Giles Kristian is part Norwegian. I now live in Denmark. I don't know whether they have put a name to the stoic, self-depreciating, beware of thinking of yourself as being more than you are, feeling, up there in Norway, however, in Denmark it is called 'Janteloven.'
'Janteloven', says you should never think you are better than others, never think you are more than you are - generally keep your head down and do your bit and don't try and claim you're better than anyone else. It is seemingly in-built for modern-day Danes, though not something I suppose that might be readily associated with the good old Vikings. However, reading this book and reflecting on how the whole Raven saga has dealt with the Vikings' relationship with their gods and the control they believe their gods have over their world - the fatalism and the way they expect anyone who sticks their head above the parapet to be struck down at some point or other, certainly did made me think about Janteloven.
As mentioned earlier, Religion - Pagan, Islam and Christian - generally seems to play a large part in this book. There are several savage encounters with the Muslim world, as they journey eastward through Europe and their path takes them via a rapidly declining Rome, to seek their fortunes in Constantinople. But it is the ultimately unwinnable fight against the inward march of Christianity, that is casting a longer and longer shadow over the Vikings' world. The Northmen's own pantheon of benevolent, or malevolent, warrior-gods don't help - seemingly just waiting for the best opportunity to sabotage the Vikings' plans at every turn. Theirs' is a raw, earthy, honest and blood-thirsty faith, superbly represented in Kristian's writing style and the elements he chooses to make up the story. The fight scene descriptions - especially the one-on-one fight scenes - are the best I've ever come across.
So, a thoroughly enjoyable book, an excellent read and a worthy climax to this section of the Raven saga. From the notes Giles Kristian has written at the end of the book, it is clear that he is taking a break from writing about Raven, to do the English Civil War series, but will return to the lands of ice and snow at a later date. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Raven is still young, still hungry for success, silver and all the experiences the Viking world can offer. He's still curious about/dreading what his gods have got planned for his future - and so am I.
(I also want to know how Raven's broken nose gets on).
And, while reading books on the iPad is very convenient and generally an all-round excellent idea; how fab was it to hold the actual paperback in your hands while reading the story? Almost gives you the impression you're physically a part of the action... Quick, slap me before I start getting over-emotional and start burbling on about the magical and mystical qualities of the feel of the paper and the entoxicating smell of the ink...
Ahem...
It was surprisingly easy to slip back into Raven's world, even though it had been a year or so since I read no.2. But the Viking world Giles Kristian has created, is so enveloping, so effortlessly realised and so 'real', that even though I have read several other Viking-period sagas since the last Raven book, there was never any doubt about where I was, or who Raven and the Wolfpack are. I tried to hold myself back; I tried not to race through it but only partially succeeded. It's hard when a book is so interesting and so action-packed.
And. Maybe finally figured out what this series has had me thinking of.
I know from the book jackets (and, to boast a moment) from what he told me on Twitter (!), that Giles Kristian is part Norwegian. I now live in Denmark. I don't know whether they have put a name to the stoic, self-depreciating, beware of thinking of yourself as being more than you are, feeling, up there in Norway, however, in Denmark it is called 'Janteloven.'
'Janteloven', says you should never think you are better than others, never think you are more than you are - generally keep your head down and do your bit and don't try and claim you're better than anyone else. It is seemingly in-built for modern-day Danes, though not something I suppose that might be readily associated with the good old Vikings. However, reading this book and reflecting on how the whole Raven saga has dealt with the Vikings' relationship with their gods and the control they believe their gods have over their world - the fatalism and the way they expect anyone who sticks their head above the parapet to be struck down at some point or other, certainly did made me think about Janteloven.
As mentioned earlier, Religion - Pagan, Islam and Christian - generally seems to play a large part in this book. There are several savage encounters with the Muslim world, as they journey eastward through Europe and their path takes them via a rapidly declining Rome, to seek their fortunes in Constantinople. But it is the ultimately unwinnable fight against the inward march of Christianity, that is casting a longer and longer shadow over the Vikings' world. The Northmen's own pantheon of benevolent, or malevolent, warrior-gods don't help - seemingly just waiting for the best opportunity to sabotage the Vikings' plans at every turn. Theirs' is a raw, earthy, honest and blood-thirsty faith, superbly represented in Kristian's writing style and the elements he chooses to make up the story. The fight scene descriptions - especially the one-on-one fight scenes - are the best I've ever come across.
So, a thoroughly enjoyable book, an excellent read and a worthy climax to this section of the Raven saga. From the notes Giles Kristian has written at the end of the book, it is clear that he is taking a break from writing about Raven, to do the English Civil War series, but will return to the lands of ice and snow at a later date. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Raven is still young, still hungry for success, silver and all the experiences the Viking world can offer. He's still curious about/dreading what his gods have got planned for his future - and so am I.
(I also want to know how Raven's broken nose gets on).
chrudos's review
5.0
Now this was a Book! I have to say that I liked the earlier books in the series, but there still was something that did not exactly fit. But this book had everything that my heart desires, and the whole time I was really apprehensive seeing how I have less and less to read. One of the best books I read this year.
murknas's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It’s a fun adventure with some Vikings! Just be warned: lots of graphic violence.
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