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Europa #2
Freya the Huntress
For fans of the Halcyon Trilogy, the dark odyssey across Europa continues:
Last night, Freya’s sister was bitten by a horrific beast in the snowy hills of Ysland. Now, Freya has only a few hours to find a cure for this strange plague before her sister becomes a ravening fox demon.
With her husband Erik and the young witch Wren at her side, Freya explores deserted cities full of ghosts and lone survivors on the edge of madness. She finally seeks answers in the ancient city of Rekavik where she must face the deadly witch queen Skadi and the vicious warrior Leif Blackmane.
But the only person who can cure the demon plague is the same person who created it, a stranger from a distant land who carried a sword full of captured souls, a man who was murdered five years ago…
Last night, Freya’s sister was bitten by a horrific beast in the snowy hills of Ysland. Now, Freya has only a few hours to find a cure for this strange plague before her sister becomes a ravening fox demon.
With her husband Erik and the young witch Wren at her side, Freya explores deserted cities full of ghosts and lone survivors on the edge of madness. She finally seeks answers in the ancient city of Rekavik where she must face the deadly witch queen Skadi and the vicious warrior Leif Blackmane.
But the only person who can cure the demon plague is the same person who created it, a stranger from a distant land who carried a sword full of captured souls, a man who was murdered five years ago…
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
Unknown Binding
First published January 22, 2012
1 person is currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Robert Lewis
68 books97 followersJoseph R. Lewis enjoys creating worlds in which history, mythology, and fantasy collide in unpredictable ways. He also likes writing about heroines that his daughters can respect and admire. Joe was born in Annapolis and went to the University of Maryland to study ancient novels, morality plays, and Viking poetry.
www.josephrlewis.com
www.josephrlewis.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 6, 2012
This book rather surprised me as I was expecting something along with a steam-punk flavor as I found in the first book in the series. Instead this particular book was pure fantasy with a very Nordic flavor. Once I got over that particular shock, I very much enjoyed FREYA THE HUNTRESS.
In fact in my opinion FREYA THE HUNTRESS is the superior book. This book has a classic fantasy plotline that draws heavily from Nordic mythology, interesting characters and a wonderful blend of horror and humor. Freya is a strong heroine whose motivations are plain. Erik, her husband, is her silent supporter. But my favorite character has to be Wren. Some of her one sided conversations with Wodan are hilarious.
I don’t often come across fantasies with such a Nordic influence and this one is well worth reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys epic battles between good and evil. I rate it a 4.1.
***I received this book at no charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
In fact in my opinion FREYA THE HUNTRESS is the superior book. This book has a classic fantasy plotline that draws heavily from Nordic mythology, interesting characters and a wonderful blend of horror and humor. Freya is a strong heroine whose motivations are plain. Erik, her husband, is her silent supporter. But my favorite character has to be Wren. Some of her one sided conversations with Wodan are hilarious.
I don’t often come across fantasies with such a Nordic influence and this one is well worth reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys epic battles between good and evil. I rate it a 4.1.
***I received this book at no charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2012
I found the second book in the Europa series interesting and entertaining. It is a story from the distant past in a society that is facing many of the problems that we face in the modern world. The struggle for power and the greed that goes along with it are shown in the book as being the cause for the major conflicts going on in their little world. As the war against the "reavers" spreads to outlying areas the story brings together and interesting cast of characters who find themselves embroiled in a struggle not of their own making simply because they are searching for a cure.
I enjoyed the first of the series and look forward to the next volume to continue the story. Yes it is fantasy but it still can be related to what is going on in the world at this time. Very good job.
I enjoyed the first of the series and look forward to the next volume to continue the story. Yes it is fantasy but it still can be related to what is going on in the world at this time. Very good job.
October 27, 2012
Excellent Book! My new favorite author!
January 3, 2016
Il primo episodio di questa saga, Omar l'immortale, era in realtà un racconto e ci mostrava questa creatura immortale, armata della sua spada capace di catturare le anime (un po' come l'arma di Elric di Melniboné) e di metterle al servizio del suo portatore. Fino alla sua partenza dal nord Africa di questo mondo (dove lì abbiamo l'apice della civiltà) verso la mitologica terra d'Islanda, nel freddo nord, oltre i ghiacci perenni dell'Europa.
Ed è qui che lo ritroviamo, anni più tardi. E quasi mezzo libro più tardi.
Omar è diventato un semplice co-protagonista, più un deus-ex-machina che non un vero personaggio.
La protagonista è Freya, una cacciatrice di un piccolo villaggio, che col marito muto una sera soccorre la sorella ridotta in fin di vita a causa dell'attacco di una creatura stranissima.
La sorella era la vala del villaggio, la curatrice, e spiega alla sorella come tentare di salvarla: portandola dalla vala del villaggio più vicino.
E così comincia l'odissea di Freya, un lungo e difficile viaggio che la porterà a scoprire il ritorno di una piaga mitologica che ha scatenato sull'Islanda la maledizione degli uomini bestie di Fenrir, il cui morso può trasformare in altre bestie di quel tipo.
Un viaggio contro il tempo alla ricerca di una cura per salvare da questo fato la sorella, e per salvare l'intera Islanda ormai in ginocchio contro gli uomini-volpe potenti, violenti, veloci e feroci.
La storia sarebbe anche interessante, tra l'ambientazione intrigante e la mitologia norrena, ma il suo difetto maggiore è che non si avverte la minima empatia con Freya o con qualunque altro personaggio. Troppo distanti, troppo descritti da lontano, non siamo dentro di loro, non riusciamo a fare nostri i loro problemi, i loro sentimenti.
Senza contare poi Omar, moralmente al di sopra di tutto e tutti, intoccabile e inattaccabile, saggio e altruista e indifferente a quanto lo circonda.
Un personaggio abbastanza impossibile, insomma.
Un peccato, perché come detto l'ambientazione avrebbe enormi potenzialità.
Ma se manca l'empatia con i personaggi, la storia si limita a trascinarsi verso la conclusione...
Ed è qui che lo ritroviamo, anni più tardi. E quasi mezzo libro più tardi.
Omar è diventato un semplice co-protagonista, più un deus-ex-machina che non un vero personaggio.
La protagonista è Freya, una cacciatrice di un piccolo villaggio, che col marito muto una sera soccorre la sorella ridotta in fin di vita a causa dell'attacco di una creatura stranissima.
La sorella era la vala del villaggio, la curatrice, e spiega alla sorella come tentare di salvarla: portandola dalla vala del villaggio più vicino.
E così comincia l'odissea di Freya, un lungo e difficile viaggio che la porterà a scoprire il ritorno di una piaga mitologica che ha scatenato sull'Islanda la maledizione degli uomini bestie di Fenrir, il cui morso può trasformare in altre bestie di quel tipo.
Un viaggio contro il tempo alla ricerca di una cura per salvare da questo fato la sorella, e per salvare l'intera Islanda ormai in ginocchio contro gli uomini-volpe potenti, violenti, veloci e feroci.
La storia sarebbe anche interessante, tra l'ambientazione intrigante e la mitologia norrena, ma il suo difetto maggiore è che non si avverte la minima empatia con Freya o con qualunque altro personaggio. Troppo distanti, troppo descritti da lontano, non siamo dentro di loro, non riusciamo a fare nostri i loro problemi, i loro sentimenti.
Senza contare poi Omar, moralmente al di sopra di tutto e tutti, intoccabile e inattaccabile, saggio e altruista e indifferente a quanto lo circonda.
Un personaggio abbastanza impossibile, insomma.
Un peccato, perché come detto l'ambientazione avrebbe enormi potenzialità.
Ma se manca l'empatia con i personaggi, la storia si limita a trascinarsi verso la conclusione...
March 1, 2014
An enjoyable Fantasy/Adventure novel with Vikings (or at least I'd like to think they are). The book involves Norse mythology and is set in an alternate history where Europe is quite different from what we know. I actually read this one first before Omar the Immortal which is the first in the series but I could still make sense of the world and the characters.
The story begins with Freya finding out her sister has been bitten by a wolf creature that's quite similar to a werewolf but more terrifying and beastly. Each chapter has action, horror and even humor. Look at that cover? Promises a cool huntress, doesn't it? And the book delivers! Freya is one of the most badass female characters I've read in books. She loves her sister so much, she's willing to travel across the country to find a cure and it wasn't an easy journey. She never gave up. Heck, she even cut her beautiful hair in order to trap a beast.
Another character I adored was Erik. He was supportive, kind and understanding.
To sum up, Freya the Huntress is a great book with lots of action, wolf-zombie monsters, magic, a little bit of romance and Norse mythology.
The story begins with Freya finding out her sister has been bitten by a wolf creature that's quite similar to a werewolf but more terrifying and beastly. Each chapter has action, horror and even humor. Look at that cover? Promises a cool huntress, doesn't it? And the book delivers! Freya is one of the most badass female characters I've read in books. She loves her sister so much, she's willing to travel across the country to find a cure and it wasn't an easy journey. She never gave up. Heck, she even cut her beautiful hair in order to trap a beast.
Another character I adored was Erik. He was supportive, kind and understanding.
To sum up, Freya the Huntress is a great book with lots of action, wolf-zombie monsters, magic, a little bit of romance and Norse mythology.
December 16, 2016
When Katja is bitten by a Fenrir, a beast reminiscent of a werewolf; her sister, Freya sets out on a journey to save her from becoming a beast herself. With the help of Erik, Freya's husband, they cross Ysland in search of the cure.
They run into Wren, a vala or healer, and Omar (from book 1), an immortal from another land. The 4 of them joined together to battle not only the Fenrir and his beasts, but the queen from the city where the plague seems to have originated.
I really like the story and characters. Mr. Lewis has a very captivating style of writing. I like that we got a more in depth look at Omar and can not wait to read Book #3.
They run into Wren, a vala or healer, and Omar (from book 1), an immortal from another land. The 4 of them joined together to battle not only the Fenrir and his beasts, but the queen from the city where the plague seems to have originated.
I really like the story and characters. Mr. Lewis has a very captivating style of writing. I like that we got a more in depth look at Omar and can not wait to read Book #3.
February 8, 2014
Love your books. This one is no exception! Keep up the good work. Oh & can you write faster? lol. I want more.....
February 8, 2014
Love your books. This one is no exception! Keep up the good work. Oh & can you write faster? lol. I want more.....
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews