A Mankind Witch

Heirs of Alexandria #1.5

by Dave Freer

In an alternate world where magic works, the Holy Roman Empire still rules Europe, the time of the Renaissance has come, with very different results. Norway is still pagan, and a sacred relic, the Armring of Telemark, has been stolen from Odin's temple. Without it, truce-oaths cannot be renewed and bloody war with the Empire will follow. Signy, the older stepsister to the King Vortenbras is accused. When she disappears, most think it proof of her gult. Her only partisan, the Corsair-Captain Cair, knows that she had been carried off and is determined to find and rescue her. Cair is an educated man, and a hardened skeptic, thinking that all talk of magic is nonsense. As he and Prince Manfred of Brittany set out to rescue Signy, following her trail into the Underworld, battling trolls and other deadly supernatural creatures every step of the way, he will not only find that magic is very real, and dangerously so, but that he himself has a natural talent for it. A new novel set in the universe of the top-selling novels The Shadow of the Lion and This Rough Magic.

Genres: Fantasy, Alternate History, Fiction, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy, Historical Fantasy

344 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2005

Reviews

[Gergely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great riff on Beowulf with some elements from Hamlet, of all things.

The worldbuilding and Norse mythical background feels alive and shows the research that went into the writing. It's definitely better to read this as the second book in the series (before This Rough Magic), as the timeline makes more sense that way.

[Jennavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I'm so glad I read this. Written as a sort of aside to a larger series, A Mankind Witch takes two of my favorite characters from the Heirs to Alexandria series and sets them off on their own adventure. I loved the addition of Cair and Sginy to the cast, and I'm kind of bitter that they're probably one offs. A Mankind Witch loses a star for occasional plot incoherence, but gains more from being such a fun and satisfying read.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read, though not as engaging as some of the other books in the series. I think this is a premise that benefits from the multiple authors writing in the perspective of multiple characters, and this books suffers some for being only by one author.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In Freer's superior heroic fantasy novel, set in 16th-century Scandinavia, allies of a demon try to thwart Christian missionary-magicians from the Holy Roman Empire. Freer (_The Forlorn_) wisely concentrates on individual participants within this big struggle: a shipwrecked Barbary corsair, Cair Aidin, branded as a worthless thrall; a good-hearted but insecure princess; a spectacularly evil troll hag and her grendel son; and a team led by the Holy Roman emperor's nephew/secret agent. All these characters are credibly smart and quirky. Cair, for example, is a clever contriver of mechanical devices, so he stoutly refuses to believe in any of the magic taking place around him. When a sacred pagan token disappears and the princess is framed for its theft, the skeptical Cair pursues her out of love while agents of the Empire follow out of duty—into the clutches of the troll mother. Freer's people are sometimes mistaken and often stubborn but basically likable; he even presents them convincingly enough to get away with some outright sentimentality. Good characterization, ripsnorting action and an ingenious plot make this a feast for sword and sorcery fans. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

(Starred Review) ¿In Freer's superior heroic fantasy novel, set in 16th-century Scandinavia, allies of a demon try to thwart Christian missionary-magicians from the Holy Roman Empire. Freer (_The Forlorn_) wisely concentrates on individual participants within this big struggle: a shipwrecked Barbary corsair, Cair Aidin, branded as a worthless thrall; a good-hearted but insecure princess; a spectacularly evil troll hag and her grendel son; and a team led by the Holy Roman emperor's nephew/secret agent. All these characters are credibly smart and quirky. Cair, for example, is a clever contriver of mechanical devices, so he stoutly refuses to believe in any of the magic taking place around him. When a sacred pagan token disappears and the princess is framed for its theft, the skeptical Cair pursues her out of love while agents of the Empire follow out of duty¿into the clutches of the troll mother. Freer's people are sometimes mistaken and often stubborn but basically likable; he even presents them convincingly enough to get away with some outright sentimentality. Good characterization, ripsnorting action and an ingenious plot make this a feast for sword and sorcery fans.¿ ¿_Publishers Weekly_

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the only single-author entry into the alternative 16th-century Heirs of Alexandria series, Dave Freer's A Mankind Witch isn't quite as rich as the rest of the collaborations between Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer, but it's a vivid and entertaining side story in an previously unexplored area of their map: Scandinavia. Freer is fantastic with historical and mythological details in the region, with especially fun kobolds and dwarves. He gives a few grin-worthy vignettes about familiar characters Manfred and Erik, although the main protagonists are an unlikely pair (a local princess and a shipwrecked Barbary pirate). The central romance is shaky (it's pretty much instalove on one hand and obliviousness on the other) and the dramatic irony is a bit heavy (the reader knows whodunit well before the characters), but overall, it's an enjoyable read. While chronologically it's listed as #1.5, you do not have to read this between the first and second novels; I'd recommend saving it for when you are caught up with the series and are waiting for the next to come out.

[Beverly K]

I liked it...and I didn't. There were parts of the book where I wished I was reading another book and that I never wanted to read again. And then there were parts where it was really good.



I think this was a case of my particular preferences not matching the writing style, more than anything. I can't really pin down why certain parts rubbed me the wrong way, but I will say that I disliked the spots where the surrounding scenery was vague and I had no idea where the characters were.

[Howard Brazee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting is 1538, mostly in Telemark, in a world where there is magic practiced by both Christian and Northern religions. The title character was a real life Barbary pirate who doesn't believe in magic, but after being captured by the North men centers the plot.

I really enjoyed the book.

Note, it has a glossary in the back, and the e-book should have had links.


Actually, all e-book readers should look first for glossaries before going to their dictionaries.

[Roberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and entertaining. It's a sort of volume 1.5 of the "Heirs of Alexandria" series, and if you read any of those, you could call it "Prince Manfred goes to Norway".

Lighter in tone, not surprising since it has a different author, it is a good fantasy/adventure book.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fill in story. We knew that Eric and Manfred had an adventure after leaving Venice and before traveling to the Holy Land. This is the story of that adventure.

Several new interesting characters and I hope they show up in later books of this series!

[Leons1701 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite a few oddities caused at least in part by Freer not working with his collaborators on this one and the later decision to take the series in some directions Freer clearly did not anticipate, this is a solid entry in the Heirs of Alexandria series.

[George Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Book. I cant believe my library missed getting this between the 1st & 3d parts of this series. Facinating fantasy, great characters and fine action, all well written & believable. Various characters coming together and becoming a wonderful read about magis and adventure.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 12.01.05

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Read as part of Heirs of Alexandria-- takes place in between the other 2.

[Mickey Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Greer's standalone book on what happens to Prince Manfred and Erik Hakkonsen between Shadow of the Lion and This Rough Magic. Very nice.

[David H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retroactive Review (11 Jun 2022): Please see my review of the series here under the first volume.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I expected.
Oh this was a joy to read.
Dave Freer is a very easy read.

Magic, monsters and trolls. Swords, dwarves and a Princess.
Much more than I had hoped.


read this

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manfred and Erik, our favorite knights from Shadow of the Lion, are in the north country on a mission for the Holy Roman Emperor.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freer did it held me page one to page last I still don't understand Norce legionds but the story flowed