Werebeasts of Hel

Bloodsong #3

by Asa Drake

Vintage paperback

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

About the author

Asa Drake is a pseudonym used by author C. Dean Andersson:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

C. Dean Andersson writes Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. His day-jobs (and night) have included rock band drummer, television graphic designer, US Air Force band percussionist, robotics programmer, and technical writer. His Swedish-born father inspired the Viking Age studies he uses in his tales about the warrior Bloodsong, collected in HELx3: Warrior Witch of Hel, Death Riders of Hel, and Werebeasts of Hel. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award finalist for his story about a modern encounter with the Goddess Hel, "The Death Wagon Rolls on By."
Website: www.cdeanandersson.com
Wikipedia, C. Dean Andersson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Dean_...
New interview with C. Dean Andersson: http://uparoundthecorner.blogspot.com...
Interview about writing the Hel Trilogy: http://kingsofthenight0.tripod.com/de...
facebook: Bloodsong: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloods...
Wikipedia, Bathory's "One Rode to Asa Bay," dedicated to C. Dean Andersson in honor of Bloodsong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_rode...

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picks up about two years after the last installment and follows a similar pattern. Bloodsong and friends have built a stronghold up in the North waiting for Hel or her minions to make the next move. As in the prior two installments, this starts off with butterflies and rainbows as Bloodsong has returned to celebrate her daughter's 15th birthday and the whole compound has turned up for a feast. Things quickly become ominous, however, as two mysterious guests Bloodsong admitted to the compound are giving some of the folks there a bad vibe; turns out they are working for Hel, or at least her minions, preparing for an invasion, and drug the food. Once everyone is knocked out, Lokith, Bloodsong's formerly dead son, and now a Hel creature, arrive with with a small army and capture the compound. While Bloodsong, her daughter, Huld the witch and Ulfhild the Berserker/shape-changer manage to escape, there soon will be Hel to pay!

Perhaps the thing I like best about this series concerns its lack of politics and so forth; all three heroic adventures were basically balls to the wall action from the first page to the last. Another thing I really enjoyed were the female heroines, led by Bloodsong herself. All the major protagonists are female except the 'bad guy' Lokith. While the other two prequels involved the gods in a tangential way, this time they are front and center. The gods involved are based on the Nordic tradition and Drake does a good job breathing some new life into the mythos. Lots of action, twists and turns, swords and sorcery-- Werebeasts of Hel will not win any literary awards, but it sure is fun and entertaining. It took me awhile to source an affordable copy of this, but well worth the effort (and hey, I even got a signed copy!). 4 Bloodsong and Freedom stars!!

[Jim Kuenzli · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining book to finish up the Bloodsong Saga. Plenty of action, magic, fighting etc. It does get a little repetitive - kind of mimicking sections of the other books with the endless ridiculous capturing and torture. You definitely hate the antagonists in this series. There were enough new things thrown in to keep it entertaining. Odin appeared as an old feeble man and as a wolf. Freya makes an appearance. The Witch Huld gains more power from Freya. Odin explains strategy to defeat Hel. (Along with a little help from him). The Vanir aren’t left out as Frigg is mentioned. If you enjoy strong female fighting characters and Norse mythology, you should be entertained by this. It is brutal, though.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being a really good trilogy. It's more Sword and Sorcery than Fantasy, but that's more my genre anyway. The cast of characters were memorable and the villains were evil. I will say the author is very hard on his characters, as there's many torture scenes (rape scenes as well, although not graphic scenes) and the heroes really suffer at times.

Overall this is an above average S&S series, and I think it's underrated and should be more well known. If you like S&S, especially Norse mythology, give this series a read.

[S.E. Lindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining gateway to Hell, and toward darker fiction

This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson

History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) Warrior Witch of Hell; 2) Death Riders of Hell; and 3) Werebeasts of Hel.

The concepts and setting really carry the story: a reanimated mother is out to save her unborn daughter from the Goddess Hel. This more than compensates for the dialogue which relies heavily on characters broadcasting their intentions. Its simplistic tone and fast pace is appropriate for young-adult novels, but its abundance of mature scenes makes it more suitable for adults (there are many heroines who continually find themselves stripped naked, chained, and tortured) . This is highly recommended for epic/high fantasy readers looking for darker fiction. It would work well as a "gateway drug" for those introduced to fantasy via Tolkien, but are now looking for gritty fare.

Bloodsong and Freedom: The conflict centers on the female warrior Bloodsong who is pitted against Hel Queen of Darkness, Death Goddess. It begins with Bloodsong coming back from Hel's domain, resurrected and sworn to serve the Goddess. Hel is holding Bloodsong's daughter, hostage (she had died in Bloodsong's womb, but was raised in Helheim). The conflict over freedom/domination is persistent and explicitly echoed in the protagonist's war cry & call to action "Bloodsong and Freedom!" The subsequent books fill in many details about Bloodsong's husband and her son, who had died during the same raid as she; they are, of course, plagued past their natural deaths.

Fun Horror: The variety and abundance of undead creatures makes this most fun, and their titles speak to their coolness: Flesh Demons (skeletons who steal skin), Skull Slaves (humans possessed by ghosts), Death Riders (undead warriors mounted on skeletal Hel-Horses who ride the wind), Corpse Beasts (humanoids who eat their kill), Hel-Witch (sorceress who draw upon Her powers), etc. There are of course Viking inspired monsters (i.e. Frost Giants, Invisible Dwarves), but the series is really about Hel's incarnations, as the three titles communicate, so expect lots of necromancy.

New vs. Old: The 2013 Helx3 eBook release has a lengthened first book (in the omnibus, the first book "Warrior Witch from Hel" has 24 chapters versus the original 18). The remaining books have the same number of chapters, but their content is altered to accommodate some character development , mostly regarding the secondary character Jalna. The additions are fine, but the paperback originals are just as enjoyable.

Coverart:The illustrations for the paperbacks and eBook are from Boris Vallejo. They are incredible and accurately portray the characters and books' tone:


More Bloodsong Adventures:

2014...: A new novel, The Valkyries of Hel, is in progress now.

1996: Eternal Champion cross-over: In the Pawn of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion anthology, Bloodsong interacts with Michael Moorcock's eternal champion (the Urlik Skarsol incarnation) in the short story: "The Warskull of Hel" (which was the title for the first book in the trilogy according to the author). This continues the saga in a solid way, even if a short story.

2006: R.E.Howard and Texas: For the World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, there was a R. E. Howard centenary tribute anthology called Cross Plains Universe - Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. Therein there is a fun, Bloodsong short "Slim and Swede and the Damned Dead Horse."

[S.E. Lindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining gateway to Hell, and toward darker fiction

This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson

History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) Warrior Witch of Hell; 2) Death Riders of Hell; and 3) Werebeasts of Hel.

The concepts and setting really carry the story: a reanimated mother is out to save her unborn daughter from the Goddess Hel. This more than compensates for the dialogue which relies heavily on characters broadcasting their intentions. Its simplistic tone and fast pace is appropriate for young-adult novels, but its abundance of mature scenes makes it more suitable for adults (there are many heroines who continually find themselves stripped naked, chained, and tortured) . This is highly recommended for epic/high fantasy readers looking for darker fiction. It would work well as a "gateway drug" for those introduced to fantasy via Tolkien, but are now looking for gritty fare.

Bloodsong and Freedom: The conflict centers on the female warrior Bloodsong who is pitted against Hel Queen of Darkness, Death Goddess. It begins with Bloodsong coming back from Hel's domain, resurrected and sworn to serve the Goddess. Hel is holding Bloodsong's daughter, hostage (she had died in Bloodsong's womb, but was raised in Helheim). The conflict over freedom/domination is persistent and explicitly echoed in the protagonist's war cry & call to action "Bloodsong and Freedom!" The subsequent books fill in many details about Bloodsong's husband and her son, who had died during the same raid as she; they are, of course, plagued past their natural deaths.

Fun Horror: The variety and abundance of undead creatures makes this most fun, and their titles speak to their coolness: Flesh Demons (skeletons who steal skin), Skull Slaves (humans possessed by ghosts), Death Riders (undead warriors mounted on skeletal Hel-Horses who ride the wind), Corpse Beasts (humanoids who eat their kill), Hel-Witch (sorceress who draw upon Her powers), etc. There are of course Viking inspired monsters (i.e. Frost Giants, Invisible Dwarves), but the series is really about Hel's incarnations, as the three titles communicate, so expect lots of necromancy.

New vs. Old: The 2013 Helx3 eBook release has a lengthened first book (in the omnibus, the first book "Warrior Witch from Hel" has 24 chapters versus the original 18). The remaining books have the same number of chapters, but their content is altered to accommodate some character development , mostly regarding the secondary character Jalna. The additions are fine, but the paperback originals are just as enjoyable.

Coverart:The illustrations for the paperbacks and eBook are from Boris Vallejo. They are incredible and accurately portray the characters and books' tone:


More Bloodsong Adventures:

2014...: A new novel, The Valkyries of Hel, is in progress now.

1996: Eternal Champion cross-over: In the Pawn of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion anthology, Bloodsong interacts with Michael Moorcock's eternal champion (the Urlik Skarsol incarnation) in the short story: "The Warskull of Hel" (which was the title for the first book in the trilogy according to the author). This continues the saga in a solid way, even if a short story.

2006: R.E.Howard and Texas: For the World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, there was a R. E. Howard centenary tribute anthology called Cross Plains Universe - Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. Therein there is a fun, Bloodsong short "Slim and Swede and the Damned Dead Horse."

[Ward G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this a nice wrap up for the series.

A lot more interaction, by the Norse gods.
As final showdown, with Hela and her minions comes.
New characters, twists and turns continue to appear.
More trials and quests from the gods. Along the way.

While leaving plenty of room. For the main characters.
That started the journey book one.
Plus some revelations, about the main character Bloodsong's origins.
That she never had any previous idea of.

All in all, a well paced, action oriented ride.
Worth the read. Especially, if your a fan of the Norse god mythos.

[Carlsagansghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two, but still a worthy entry into this masterful series.

[Gerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have read this thirty years ago.

Remember the 80s wave of barbarian movies following on the heels of "Conan - The Barbarian" with Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Lot's of sleaze in that genre back in the days, and that's exactly what the Bloodsong trilogy is.
Viking mythology, sleaze, and the trademark colourful 80s bad computer CGI (no honestly it's really in there) with a good helping of heavy BDSM scenes.

Reads like a guilty pleasure.
I'm too old to like overt use of sexualized violence in a novel, though, but I'm still giving it a good two stars because the mythology and magic is entertaining to read in an 80s nostalgic way.
Also, there's werewolves. :)

[Samantha Françoise Dark Regions Press Proofreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I thoroughly enjoyed and had the pleasure of working on it with Crossroads Press. Another must read! Two other books I've had the pleasure of reading in this collection was Warrior Witch from Hel and Death Riders of Hel.

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best of the series largely because it dials back the torture sequences and ups the magic. A suitable payoff for the series which is not to say I'd recommend reading it or the trilogy. I felt the ending was anticlimactic.

[Dan Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old sword and sorcery. Has a lot of torture by the villian but not in a bondage porn kind of way. Well-paced.

[Cornelia Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fine!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the trilogy. Lots of action and Norse mythology. Very enjoyable.