The Tale of Melkorka: A Novella

by Octavia Randolph

Silence - and RevengeFrom the author of the beloved Circle of Ceridwen Saga comes a new and transporting tale of adventure. A beautiful slave girl. A missing royal daughter. A carefully wrought revenge.

Iceland in the 10th century. There is nothing unusual in a wealthy farmer returning home with a slave girl, even if she is a mute. But she conceals a secret that will echo across the oceans.

Based on an episode from the great Icelandic Sagas, The Tale of Melkorka will grip you with an unfolding mystery of loss, triumph, and the rough justice of revenge.

Melkorka's world awaits you...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2013

About the author

I write the kind of book I want to read myself. I write about history as a way to better understand my own times. I write about people who are far better, and (I hope) far worse than myself. And beautiful objects inspire me: the hand-carved combs, skilfully wrought swords, and gemmed goblets of the world of The Circle of Ceridwen Saga. Almost everything interests me; I've studied Anglo-Saxon and Norse runes, and learnt to spin with a drop spindle. My path has led to extensive on-site research in England, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and Gotland - some of the most wonderful places on Earth. In addition to the Circle Saga, I've written the novella Ride, a retelling of the story of Lady Godiva, and The Tale of Melkorka, based on the Icelandic Sagas. I've been the fortunate recipient of fellowships at the MacDowell Colony, Ledig House International, and Byrdcliffe.
Hearing from readers is a special pleasure and I always answer my letters. So write to me! www.octavia.net Author photo by Barbara Simundza

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novella written by one of my favourite authors.
In the 10th Century, Melkorka, an Irish princess, captured, abused and sold as a slave at a street market to an Icelandic farmer, returns to her homeland to seek her revenge on those who wronged her.
The story of a beautiful, powerful woman who takes control of her life for the sake of her son. A woman who literally ‘finds her voice’ in her male dominated world.
What’s not to love about this story?

[Jocelyn Fuentes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story

The story unfolds with a twist. Would never have guessed Melkorka would be an Irish princess nor that she would have the father of her child killed. Was hoping there would be more to the tale. All in all, it's a good read

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but powerful read.

[Skye Sands · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow starter. Not much dialogue. An ending that was unexpected.

[Erlo00 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful story, an author I plan to read more often.

[Paul Burnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaah, m'darlin', and did y'not see the thing comin'? Well, not too early on, but somewhat before the silent slave ever spoke. Could it be that our author set me up and led me down a story path while I kept looking out too far toward the story’s horizon and missed her clues to the identity of this beautiful but silent woman slave purchased by the rich farmer Hoskulda? Randolph is one of my favorites, always with a clever plot and complex characters to lead my imagination on a fine adventure. This novella does not disappoint, but fulfills our need for both adventure and the sort of fierce justice that for untold eons ruled humanity’s sense of right and wrong. Randolph has infused the language of her tale with the style and tone of myths and stories long ago sung around the firepits of the Northern warrior clans while they drank ale and later dreamed of daily battles, feasts, and shield-maidens in Valhalla. Just that would be enough fun without the surehandedness of her treatment of the characters, setting, and plot.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella very much. It was short, as novellas are, but I thought the story was very interesting and had a satisfying ending. Octavia Randolph is an author that excels at being able to engage the reader from the very first sentence of her novels or in this case, novellas. She also writes in such a way that I find myself wishing that the story would just go on and on and never end. It is quite evident that the author does her research and knows about the lands in which her stories take place. I love her writing and hope that she will always be able to come up with new ideas for her novels.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, for me, the history that my favorite authors research and reveal to me are important.This novella made clear for me the ease in which one could reach Ireland from Iceland in the 10th century,importantly for my genetic studies.

Melkorka, the Slave-Princess, happily returned to her native Connacht in the end of this short story. She lived out her life with her son and her extended family and her abusers did not. That worked for me.

Thank you Octavia Randolph for this one. I so enjoyed it.

[Lori Greenlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good short story

A good short story

pretty easy read . I always like the stories Randolph imagines . but it's almost too short . I really liked her other cerellewyn series

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that satisfies both a trip across miles and a trip across time. While the ending veers off, worth a read if you are at all familiar with the Icelandic sagas.

[Toni N Traylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprise

This book was hard to put down and the ending a good surprise. I hope others will enjoy it as much as I did. Toni

[Sue Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's short, but then it is a novella. Worth reading