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The Viking #1
The Slayer Rune
The Slayer Rune is a historical action-adventure novel with slight supernatural elements, at times bawdy, humorous, and frightening. It's a story of love and hate and Viking action, infused with Norse mythology. Does Sigurd’s love for Ylajali lead to his dark deeds, or do other powers force him to act?
The stage is set in the Scandinavian Viking Age in 967 AD. Young Sigurd is in love with Ylajali, a mysterious foreign thrall girl. Helgi Blackbeard, the king's captain of arm, discovers her beauty and wants to marry her. Blackbeard is a powerful man, a friend of the king, but he is not the only one to lust for the girl. Harald Chieftain, Sigurd's father, has sworn an oath never to touch Ylajali.
Sigurd has friends. Grim teaches him the use of runes, and Gisli owns the best sword at Vik. When Sigurd decides to act, he sparks a chain of event he is unable to control.
In the book you’ll meet Odd the Squinter, Big Bork and his brother Bork Berserk, Skarphedin the Second-Sighted, Hakon, Hild, Sigrunn Silkyhair, and the Witch from Spedale. They are all unique characters who play pivotal roles in the plot. Will Sigurd get Ylajali?
The Slayer Rune is the first book in The Viking Series.
The stage is set in the Scandinavian Viking Age in 967 AD. Young Sigurd is in love with Ylajali, a mysterious foreign thrall girl. Helgi Blackbeard, the king's captain of arm, discovers her beauty and wants to marry her. Blackbeard is a powerful man, a friend of the king, but he is not the only one to lust for the girl. Harald Chieftain, Sigurd's father, has sworn an oath never to touch Ylajali.
Sigurd has friends. Grim teaches him the use of runes, and Gisli owns the best sword at Vik. When Sigurd decides to act, he sparks a chain of event he is unable to control.
In the book you’ll meet Odd the Squinter, Big Bork and his brother Bork Berserk, Skarphedin the Second-Sighted, Hakon, Hild, Sigrunn Silkyhair, and the Witch from Spedale. They are all unique characters who play pivotal roles in the plot. Will Sigurd get Ylajali?
The Slayer Rune is the first book in The Viking Series.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2013
About the author
John Snow
5 books17 followersJohn Snow is the author of "The Slayer Rune", a historical action-adventure novel from the Viking Age with Sigve the Awful as the main character. "The Slayer Rune" is the first book in "The Viking Series".
John lives in Norway with his wife and two sons. He has a deep interest in literature and mythology, especially Norse mythology, and in Viking history. One day, when his wife watched him sitting among his books and computers, she asked why he didn't write a Viking story. "If you find a good pen-name, I will," he said.
Other books in the series are "The Lethal Oath", "The Red Gold", "The Bitch Queen" and "The Viking War".
John lives in Norway with his wife and two sons. He has a deep interest in literature and mythology, especially Norse mythology, and in Viking history. One day, when his wife watched him sitting among his books and computers, she asked why he didn't write a Viking story. "If you find a good pen-name, I will," he said.
Other books in the series are "The Lethal Oath", "The Red Gold", "The Bitch Queen" and "The Viking War".
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 8, 2014
The Slayer Rune by John Snow
The Vikings more as people than as reavers
This is the first book in the Viking Series by the author and is set in around the 10th century. It centres on the settlement of Vik, a place rule by Harald, a chieftain with domestic and political troubles. The story opens with the visit of King Godred to Vik seen largely through the eyes of Sigurd, Harald’s second son. Of course Harald wants the visit to go off well as it will reflect upon him accordingly but he’s a man with a few secrets and it seems like one of them, a particularly dangerous one, is about to get out.
It is common in popular culture to represent Vikings as blood thirsty killers who did nothing else but invade other lands and kill lots of people, but this staid image is not what we get here. The Vikings had their own laws to live by and the taking of another’s life without good reason was viewed very seriously. Murder is punished by the king and there’s more than one murder associated with Vik for Harald to worry about.
I like the idea of the story, it is original and shows this period of history in a new light. The characters are clearly written but under-developed to my mind. Sigurd experiences quite a lot of trauma by the end of the story but I was never convinced of his emotional depth. Although things happen to him they do not seem to have any deep or lasting impact. I am not sure that I came to care very much for him. This under-development is reflected in other ways, such as his relationship with his father Harald, it should have plenty of depth and back-history but none of this comes across. There seems to be no strong feeling between the two and this is the same with Sigurd’s mother Tora.
That said the narrative is richly embellished with references to Norse mythology and this adds an extra dimension to the tale. Quite clearly John Snow is well versed in his subject and this is definitely one of the books strengths. Indeed, I found the level of authenticity to be quite captivating and I learnt something new about the Viking people just by reading this book.
In conclusion, an original story with a rich cultural overlay that is well worth a read.
The Vikings more as people than as reavers
This is the first book in the Viking Series by the author and is set in around the 10th century. It centres on the settlement of Vik, a place rule by Harald, a chieftain with domestic and political troubles. The story opens with the visit of King Godred to Vik seen largely through the eyes of Sigurd, Harald’s second son. Of course Harald wants the visit to go off well as it will reflect upon him accordingly but he’s a man with a few secrets and it seems like one of them, a particularly dangerous one, is about to get out.
It is common in popular culture to represent Vikings as blood thirsty killers who did nothing else but invade other lands and kill lots of people, but this staid image is not what we get here. The Vikings had their own laws to live by and the taking of another’s life without good reason was viewed very seriously. Murder is punished by the king and there’s more than one murder associated with Vik for Harald to worry about.
I like the idea of the story, it is original and shows this period of history in a new light. The characters are clearly written but under-developed to my mind. Sigurd experiences quite a lot of trauma by the end of the story but I was never convinced of his emotional depth. Although things happen to him they do not seem to have any deep or lasting impact. I am not sure that I came to care very much for him. This under-development is reflected in other ways, such as his relationship with his father Harald, it should have plenty of depth and back-history but none of this comes across. There seems to be no strong feeling between the two and this is the same with Sigurd’s mother Tora.
That said the narrative is richly embellished with references to Norse mythology and this adds an extra dimension to the tale. Quite clearly John Snow is well versed in his subject and this is definitely one of the books strengths. Indeed, I found the level of authenticity to be quite captivating and I learnt something new about the Viking people just by reading this book.
In conclusion, an original story with a rich cultural overlay that is well worth a read.
July 7, 2013
The Slayer Rune by John Snow
4 Stars
A review by Steven D. Malone
This excellent tale is a departure from the typical Viking fiction. No tragically orphaned natural born killer is kidnapped by raiding Vikings to learn sword and sea craft, earned the admiration of hard-bitten Nordic pirates, and finally becoming the ship lord. This is a tale of life lived in the gards by the men and women who gave birth to those mythic sagas.
It's a fun read. Sigurd is a wonderful character, excellently drawn, and watching him grow is captivating. I mean watching him. Snow’s style paints vividly. Ylajali . I truly ache for her. Of course, Grim is my favorite 'costar'. I really identify with him.
The ending surprises, stuns, and satisfies. It completes the tale. It is also the perfect set up for what promises to be a series.
I gave it 4 stars but wish I could give it 4.75 stars. I have two reasons. The first is truly my fault for I had trouble sorting through the Nordic names so foreign to me. The second is due to Snow’s unfamiliarity with our language that allowed several anachronistic phrases to sneak in that was a distraction to his otherwise excellent use of culturally specific language.
June 2, 2013
I'm loving this book. If you like well-written fantasy as well as Viking lore, you'll love this book as well.
September 29, 2014
a great Viking tale intertwind with historical fact.
October 22, 2018
An Excellent Read and a Lesson in the Way of the Vikings.
I am a True Blood Viking /Heathen of a number of years and as I have studied using books such as the Havamal, the Eddas and many Sagas, I found this story would be an interesting and easy way for people who are interested in the Old Ways to get a grasp of our Gods and how the Vikings lived but also with a fictional twist to make it less like studying. I found it a good read from both angles and look forward to reading the next part of the series. Also I would recommend it too all people interested in any way in the Vikings. I don't think that people who are easily offended would like it perhaps as it does get very bawdy at times and rather graphic regarding the way these wonderful and interesting people lived.
I am a True Blood Viking /Heathen of a number of years and as I have studied using books such as the Havamal, the Eddas and many Sagas, I found this story would be an interesting and easy way for people who are interested in the Old Ways to get a grasp of our Gods and how the Vikings lived but also with a fictional twist to make it less like studying. I found it a good read from both angles and look forward to reading the next part of the series. Also I would recommend it too all people interested in any way in the Vikings. I don't think that people who are easily offended would like it perhaps as it does get very bawdy at times and rather graphic regarding the way these wonderful and interesting people lived.
November 14, 2017
Really couldnt settle reading this. The narration, description and characters felt so stilted, clunky. None of it captured my attention, the world within felt very flat and 2D. Reading it felt like a chore...not a pleasure. Gave up about 25% in... this felt very unrefined compared to other historical fiction I have read.
June 12, 2018
Pretty much nothing happens
Always looking for the next series of books to make my daily commute more enjoyable. This wasn't it. Lots of descriptions of family trees and myths but when it comes to the actual story about the characters there is very little substance. Was glad to finish it so I could try a different author. Did nothing for me.
Always looking for the next series of books to make my daily commute more enjoyable. This wasn't it. Lots of descriptions of family trees and myths but when it comes to the actual story about the characters there is very little substance. Was glad to finish it so I could try a different author. Did nothing for me.
May 11, 2022
Very interesting
The Slayer Rune is a will written novel with interesting will developed characters. The story line is in a different time when magic, pagan gods ruled, and lives often ended in death. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a quick read. Enjoy reading
The Slayer Rune is a will written novel with interesting will developed characters. The story line is in a different time when magic, pagan gods ruled, and lives often ended in death. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a quick read. Enjoy reading
April 10, 2015
Whereas The Slayer Rune was a good Viking tale... (the subject matter does easily lend itself to such), this book was a big let down for me in the way it was written... it was like looking at a piece of art 'painted-by-numbers'. The correct colours were filled in, but there was no art in the brush strokes.
The writing was very stilted. There was very little evidence of a writer's craft, and as such it felt rather 'flat'.
I'd hoped I had found another series of viking fictions to read, but alas no... After reading other worthy offerings, better written, this was a poor choice for my reading time.
The writing was very stilted. There was very little evidence of a writer's craft, and as such it felt rather 'flat'.
I'd hoped I had found another series of viking fictions to read, but alas no... After reading other worthy offerings, better written, this was a poor choice for my reading time.
July 15, 2016
I gave this three stars as generally speaking it was a decent book, but no more than that. The characters are well constructed and draw the right emotions based on their place in story and the author seems to have a good knowledge of the subject matter, thus creating a believable setting for the story. However the writing was somewhat stunted in it's writing style at times, so much so it seemed at times like the book had been written in a foreign language and translated into English.
However if one is looking to occupy oneself for a couple of hours, then this book is certainly worth looking at.
However if one is looking to occupy oneself for a couple of hours, then this book is certainly worth looking at.
April 22, 2014
While I liked the story and enjoyed learning tidbits of Viking life, the writing was a bit stilted. Its cadence was somewhat flat. This happened, now this happened, then this happened. A little more variety in the sentence structures would have helped a lot.
Otherwise, the book is a good tale and short enough to be a worthy addition to any Norse life library.
Otherwise, the book is a good tale and short enough to be a worthy addition to any Norse life library.
April 8, 2016
Interesting Story
I didn't care for the plot or the way it was constructed, broken up and starting slowly. The characters were good.. The dialogue was just so so. Authentic Norse words are interesting but do not add much to the story or its readability.
I didn't care for the plot or the way it was constructed, broken up and starting slowly. The characters were good.. The dialogue was just so so. Authentic Norse words are interesting but do not add much to the story or its readability.
January 12, 2017
Strange writing style
The book has a strange rhythm that I found hard to follow. I found myself turning a page and having to check I had not missed a page as it did not seem to flow.
The book has a strange rhythm that I found hard to follow. I found myself turning a page and having to check I had not missed a page as it did not seem to flow.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews