"powerful historical fantasy"
Ulf, already a Viking warrior Wolfskin, learns about a
magical place across the sea. Believing there must be
plenty of treasure and a chance to do honorable deeds in
Thor's name, he decides to sail for the Orkney Islands.
Young Eyvind sees this as his chance to become a Wolfskin
and pleads his way onto the crew. They reach this land, but find friendly people led by a
kind-hearted king Angus who are willing to share their
bounty with the "invaders". Eyvind meets the monarch's
niece, the seer Nessa and falls in love but though
attracted she does not trust the newcomers. Eyvind's new
happiness is tested when his heart friend, Somerled,
invokes their childhood blood oath of lifelong loyalty.
Somerled's demand places Eyvind in a tug between honor and
love exacerbated by a disease that ravages the natives
Folks, but not the Norsemen, which leads to enmity and
perhaps war between the two groups. Juliet Marillier takes her audience to the same Dark Ages
that is the focus of many of her novels with this deep
gritty tale. WOLFSKIN takes no prisoners as the audience
observes a hostile world even when the two groups forge an
alliance. The key to this powerful historical is the cast
as Eyvind, Nessa, and Somerled seem genuine and
their "triangle" makes for great insightful reading. Ms.
Marillier shows why she is among the top writers of
historical fantasy with a fabulous opening novel that will
excite readers with its depth. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted June 24, 2003
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