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The Sword
Oddny Einarsdottir, told in two parts, follows the gripping self-discovery and redemption of a young Norwegian woman. Passion, resilience, love and vengeance unfold against a rich backdrop of medieval slavery, civil war, and the day-to-day life of the Viking Age.
The Sword begins the saga of Oddny Einarsdottir as she struggles to reclaim her life after three shattering years in bondage. Beyond all hope, she has managed to avenge herself on the brute sea king who abducted her. But now, pregnant with his child, she finds that this victory may not end her pain as she thought. Her real fight has only just begun.
The Vow sees Oddny reach a crossroads in her new life with her husband, Vermundr. A miscarriage heightens the strain between them and leaves her questioning her rash vow to marry him. Guilty and isolated, Oddny must own up to her neglect of her young bastard son, Brandr. She finds herself torn at last between cold resignation to her duties and a cruel and unexpected kindling of feelings long thought dead.
The Sword begins the saga of Oddny Einarsdottir as she struggles to reclaim her life after three shattering years in bondage. Beyond all hope, she has managed to avenge herself on the brute sea king who abducted her. But now, pregnant with his child, she finds that this victory may not end her pain as she thought. Her real fight has only just begun.
The Vow sees Oddny reach a crossroads in her new life with her husband, Vermundr. A miscarriage heightens the strain between them and leaves her questioning her rash vow to marry him. Guilty and isolated, Oddny must own up to her neglect of her young bastard son, Brandr. She finds herself torn at last between cold resignation to her duties and a cruel and unexpected kindling of feelings long thought dead.
308 pages, Hardcover
Published December 25, 2023
3 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Lilypearl Colman
1 book7 followersLilypearl Colman has been fascinated since childhood with Viking Age culture and history. Now fluent in Old Norse-Icelandic, she makes the literature and society of medieval Scandinavia her personal study. When Lilypearl is not writing, she can typically be found indulging in some kind of handicraft, painting, singing, or fretting over her cherished cat and bonsai. All to an eclectic musical soundtrack, of course. Otherwise, she may be drawing inspiration from some ancient saga or chronicle, or relaxing with a book by her favorite author, Sigrid Undset.
You can find out more about Lilypearl and her writing on www.scaldic-maide.com.
You can find out more about Lilypearl and her writing on www.scaldic-maide.com.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 20, 2024
This book deals with serious, dark themes and is definitely an educational, thought-provoking read. The story follows Oddny in ancient Norway. This was really well done as the writing reflected the setting, and it's very clear the author is extremely knowledgeable about Norse history, so this became one of those books where you learn while you read, which I find extremely enjoyable.
Oddny's story is a complex one that spans over a relatively long time period. Throughout the book, I was left with the feeling of 'what if' with Oddny: 'what if she didn't get captured', 'what if she didn't get pregnant', 'what if her life turned out differently to what it did'.
Oddny, as a character, exemplified the plight of women during the time and would also be relatable for women in the present. I generally felt that I learnt a lot from Oddny and was able to really sympathise with her. She was far from a perfect character. She was complexly written and flawed, her inner monologue interesting to read about as I thought about whether I would make the same decisions as her or how I would act in her place.
The plight of Oddny and of women was really highlighted in this book for me and unfortunately reminded me of modern times. In certain cases, they were somewhat more 'ahead of the time' in terms of lineage and laws around parentage (very sad to think of).
I think a lot of the content in this book was extremely informative and led me to reflect on modern-day circumstances. I am also now more interested to read and delve into Norse history and understand the laws, actions, and happenings of the time.
There was a rollercoaster of emotions and events happening, but they all made sense. This is a heavy book and took me longer than usual to read, but I feel it was well paced and the longer read felt intentional to me, as it's not a story I would have been able to consume and contemplate in a short amount of time.
Overall, the book was written very well, and the author has a distinct writing style, which was really enjoyable to read. Everything was well thought out and well researched, which I always appreciate!
Oddny's story is a complex one that spans over a relatively long time period. Throughout the book, I was left with the feeling of 'what if' with Oddny: 'what if she didn't get captured', 'what if she didn't get pregnant', 'what if her life turned out differently to what it did'.
Oddny, as a character, exemplified the plight of women during the time and would also be relatable for women in the present. I generally felt that I learnt a lot from Oddny and was able to really sympathise with her. She was far from a perfect character. She was complexly written and flawed, her inner monologue interesting to read about as I thought about whether I would make the same decisions as her or how I would act in her place.
The plight of Oddny and of women was really highlighted in this book for me and unfortunately reminded me of modern times. In certain cases, they were somewhat more 'ahead of the time' in terms of lineage and laws around parentage (very sad to think of).
I think a lot of the content in this book was extremely informative and led me to reflect on modern-day circumstances. I am also now more interested to read and delve into Norse history and understand the laws, actions, and happenings of the time.
There was a rollercoaster of emotions and events happening, but they all made sense. This is a heavy book and took me longer than usual to read, but I feel it was well paced and the longer read felt intentional to me, as it's not a story I would have been able to consume and contemplate in a short amount of time.
Overall, the book was written very well, and the author has a distinct writing style, which was really enjoyable to read. Everything was well thought out and well researched, which I always appreciate!
July 28, 2024
What an amazing book. Following the life of Oddny, I was drawn into her story straight from the off.
Lilypearl Colman certainly writes with aplomb. Her knowledge with regards to medieval Norway shines through. I cannot praise her enough for the whole concept of the book, not just Oddny’s story but the whole shebang. I found the explanations and drawings to be particularly interesting. Absolutely perfect.
I do not normally read this genre, but Oddny’s story captured my imagination, and I cannot wait to read the next instalment.
An excellent written saga of a young Norwegian girl, through her volatile life of slavery with a lecherous deviant of a Viking. Her resilience and determination shine through.
This cleverly sculptured book is so worth a read.
Highly recommend.
Lilypearl Colman certainly writes with aplomb. Her knowledge with regards to medieval Norway shines through. I cannot praise her enough for the whole concept of the book, not just Oddny’s story but the whole shebang. I found the explanations and drawings to be particularly interesting. Absolutely perfect.
I do not normally read this genre, but Oddny’s story captured my imagination, and I cannot wait to read the next instalment.
An excellent written saga of a young Norwegian girl, through her volatile life of slavery with a lecherous deviant of a Viking. Her resilience and determination shine through.
This cleverly sculptured book is so worth a read.
Highly recommend.
March 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I was eager and hungry to read more, always curious to see how our girl would manage the next pile of shit the Norns handed to her on a rusted platter. It was clear from the start the depth of knowledge and care that went into depicting life for the Medieval Norse--in this case, a female slave taken by a Viking. However, by no means does the dedication to depicting an authentic experience for a Medieval Norse slave alienate a modern reader. Beyond the notes offered to help clarify/explain certain parts, it's not hard to understand what is going on based on context alone--a skill not always seen.
I appreciated that the darker aspects of Medieval life was not shied from, yet was not used for shock value. Life was brutal--life still is brutal, to be fair, but at least the laws at least try to be more just lol The descriptions of violence and rape were not demure, but they were not overly stomach-churning. The discomfort one feels at facing these ugly aspects of life and humanity served to bolster the reader's sympathies/empathies towards Oddny, not to make you squirm in your seat solely for the sake of, "Wasn't shit absolutely fucked back then?"
My heart aches for Oddny. She has endured so much, and has much yet to trudge her way through, though I hope and pray it pales in comparison to being enslaved to a violent rapist. I understand why everyone acts the way they do--it was a hard time and place to live, especially given the circumstances they were enduring--but I still couldn't help but feel frustrated at how people treated Oddny. So many times I was left thinking, "Oddny, kill this fucking bitch NEOW!!!!!" but Oddny is better than me, so she didn't. That isn't to say Oddny didn't have bite of her own, or make me go, "Now, girl, why would you do/say that?" but I can't help but feel particularly protective of her. Especially when dealing with the rape-baby bestowed upon her from her previous captor (was so happy she got her personal justice), people were so cruel and it made me genuinely so mad. Like actually fuck off. Seeing the consequences of her treatment weighing on Oddny, but no one having the language or understanding to dissect what impact her torments had on her, was very hard.
Honestly, I just want every man to stay five hundred million miles away from her--save maybe her dad, who is a sweetie pie. Yet I could not help but hope one of the kinder men who endeared themselves to Oddny would be the comforting safety and home she needed and deserved after all she had been through. Her story is not over in this book, of course, so I shall cross my fingers that she finds some measure of peace in the future!
I appreciated that the darker aspects of Medieval life was not shied from, yet was not used for shock value. Life was brutal--life still is brutal, to be fair, but at least the laws at least try to be more just lol The descriptions of violence and rape were not demure, but they were not overly stomach-churning. The discomfort one feels at facing these ugly aspects of life and humanity served to bolster the reader's sympathies/empathies towards Oddny, not to make you squirm in your seat solely for the sake of, "Wasn't shit absolutely fucked back then?"
My heart aches for Oddny. She has endured so much, and has much yet to trudge her way through, though I hope and pray it pales in comparison to being enslaved to a violent rapist. I understand why everyone acts the way they do--it was a hard time and place to live, especially given the circumstances they were enduring--but I still couldn't help but feel frustrated at how people treated Oddny. So many times I was left thinking, "Oddny, kill this fucking bitch NEOW!!!!!" but Oddny is better than me, so she didn't. That isn't to say Oddny didn't have bite of her own, or make me go, "Now, girl, why would you do/say that?" but I can't help but feel particularly protective of her. Especially when dealing with the rape-baby bestowed upon her from her previous captor (was so happy she got her personal justice), people were so cruel and it made me genuinely so mad. Like actually fuck off. Seeing the consequences of her treatment weighing on Oddny, but no one having the language or understanding to dissect what impact her torments had on her, was very hard.
Honestly, I just want every man to stay five hundred million miles away from her--save maybe her dad, who is a sweetie pie. Yet I could not help but hope one of the kinder men who endeared themselves to Oddny would be the comforting safety and home she needed and deserved after all she had been through. Her story is not over in this book, of course, so I shall cross my fingers that she finds some measure of peace in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2024
Grizzly and grim, The Sword is a fantastic tale that does not stray from the gruesome truth of life, particularly a woman’s, in 10th-century Norway. This has everything I look for in Norse/Viking historical fiction – it’s gritty, it’s dark, and it’s so realistic.
Told in a unique voice that I admittedly found hard to get into at the start.For instance, the section of chapter 3 where Oddný went to pen the birds was confusing. I couldn’t tell if the author was referring to Oddný being assaulted by Örlygr and his men or the thrall. I’m almost certain it was the thrall, but rather than differentiate, the author just refers to the victim as “she”. The scene of the attacked woman was immediately followed by Oddný’s memory of her foster father being killed, which led to my confusion. With no clear distinction, I can’t tell if that scene was about Oddný or the thrall. I had to reread that section of the chapter multiple times to understand. EDIT: Upon second reading, it was clear that it was Oddny being raped, not Geira or Thordis. I must've been tired when I read this section. >.<
By the time I was 25% of the way through, however, the prose was flowing, and I was hooked. I struggled a little with the dialogue between the characters, but the story itself was stunning, richly detailed, exciting, and heart-wrenching. The violence in this novel is gory and visual, while the love scenes are graphic to a point before fading to black.
I’m still so impressed by the realism in the pages of this novel. All characters are morally grey, flawed individuals – my favourite type. I really enjoyed this story and am eager to read the next in this series.
I forgot to mention how fantastic and detailed the index and educational illustrations at the end of the book were. Really nice addition. Throughout the novel, it was obvious how well-researched the novel was, and it was great to have a bit more information to look at.
Told in a unique voice that I admittedly found hard to get into at the start.
By the time I was 25% of the way through, however, the prose was flowing, and I was hooked. I struggled a little with the dialogue between the characters, but the story itself was stunning, richly detailed, exciting, and heart-wrenching. The violence in this novel is gory and visual, while the love scenes are graphic to a point before fading to black.
I’m still so impressed by the realism in the pages of this novel. All characters are morally grey, flawed individuals – my favourite type. I really enjoyed this story and am eager to read the next in this series.
I forgot to mention how fantastic and detailed the index and educational illustrations at the end of the book were. Really nice addition. Throughout the novel, it was obvious how well-researched the novel was, and it was great to have a bit more information to look at.
January 11, 2024
You know how some books claim to be dark in the blurb, but they turn out to just be Dr Who/Twilight kind of dark? Well this isn't that. The dark bits here are really, really dark.
Oddný Einarsdóttir: The Sword is a historical fiction tale about a young Icelandic girl in the 10th century, who is taken as a slave by a brutal, deviant Viking. A lot of the novel is about the horrendous treatment she and her fellow slaves endure on the maniac's farmstead, but after certain important events occur, the situation radically evolves.
The violent sections are handled deftly: sometimes they are described in 'real time,' as it were, sometimes only hinted at, with the unpleasant details filled in later via Oddny's recollections. It never feels grim for the sake of being grim, and it's always impactful. Characters are well rounded - no one is fully evil or pure of soul. Aside, that is, from the Viking Orlygr who as far as I recall has no redeeming features whatsoever. I struggle to think of many more memorable, terrifying villains from all the books I've read. Pray you never meet anyone like him, seriously.
The writing in this novel is excellent throughout, particularly the dialogue, which feels very genuine. Descriptions of the beautiful Nordic scenery are highly evocative, and the inner world of Oddny is complex and full of pathos. In a few bits here and there it strayed a little close to the dynamics of a romance novel for my liking, but this is a far more complex and nuanced book than that.
The other main strength of the book is the sheer amount of research that has obviously gone into it and this paid off in how authentic it all felt. There are numerous endnotes, background info and illustrations to provide cultural context and I found these quite interesting. This is a book which demands quite a lot of the reader in some ways - the prose is clear and concise but it is easy to lose track of the names of places and people because of the unfamiliar Nordic language. I never felt totally lost though and I got through the book quite quickly.
Overall, this is an absolute hidden gem of a novel, and I urge anyone who values mature, superior story-telling to give it a go. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Oddný Einarsdóttir: The Sword is a historical fiction tale about a young Icelandic girl in the 10th century, who is taken as a slave by a brutal, deviant Viking. A lot of the novel is about the horrendous treatment she and her fellow slaves endure on the maniac's farmstead, but after certain important events occur, the situation radically evolves.
The violent sections are handled deftly: sometimes they are described in 'real time,' as it were, sometimes only hinted at, with the unpleasant details filled in later via Oddny's recollections. It never feels grim for the sake of being grim, and it's always impactful. Characters are well rounded - no one is fully evil or pure of soul. Aside, that is, from the Viking Orlygr who as far as I recall has no redeeming features whatsoever. I struggle to think of many more memorable, terrifying villains from all the books I've read. Pray you never meet anyone like him, seriously.
The writing in this novel is excellent throughout, particularly the dialogue, which feels very genuine. Descriptions of the beautiful Nordic scenery are highly evocative, and the inner world of Oddny is complex and full of pathos. In a few bits here and there it strayed a little close to the dynamics of a romance novel for my liking, but this is a far more complex and nuanced book than that.
The other main strength of the book is the sheer amount of research that has obviously gone into it and this paid off in how authentic it all felt. There are numerous endnotes, background info and illustrations to provide cultural context and I found these quite interesting. This is a book which demands quite a lot of the reader in some ways - the prose is clear and concise but it is easy to lose track of the names of places and people because of the unfamiliar Nordic language. I never felt totally lost though and I got through the book quite quickly.
Overall, this is an absolute hidden gem of a novel, and I urge anyone who values mature, superior story-telling to give it a go. I'm looking forward to the next one.
March 2, 2024
This book was very intense and dark. It follows a slave girl named Oddny in the Norse Viking Age. While the spice is mostly closed door, there are still some parts that are descriptive enough. Nothing is sugar coated and The Sword effectively outlines the horrors that slaves typically had to endure during the Viking Age. Lilypearl has definitely done extensive research for this as I learned a lot about Vikings just from reading this. I think that some trigger warnings would have been a good idea as there is mention of several very heavy subjects and I honestly had to take a break for a few days at several points. Overall, I did enjoy The Sword, though 😊
January 10, 2024
You know how some books claim to be dark in the blurb, but they turn out to just be Dr Who/Twilight kind of dark? Well this isn't that. The dark bits here are really, really dark.
Oddný Einarsdóttir: The Sword is a historical fiction tale about a young Icelandic girl in the 10th century, who is taken as a slave by a brutal, deviant Viking. A lot of the novel is about the horrendous treatment she and her fellow slaves endure on the maniac's farmstead, but after certain important events occur, the situation radically evolves.
The violent sections are handled deftly: sometimes they are described in 'real time,' as it were, sometimes only hinted at, with the unpleasant details filled in later via Oddny's recollections. It never feels grim for the sake of being grim, and it's always impactful. Characters are well rounded - no one is fully evil or pure of soul. Aside, that is, from the Viking Orlygr who as far as I recall has no redeeming features whatsoever. I struggle to think of many more memorable, terrifying villains from all the books I've read. Pray you never meet anyone like him, seriously.
The writing in this novel is excellent throughout, particularly the dialogue, which feels very genuine. Descriptions of the beautiful Nordic scenery are highly evocative, and the inner world of Oddny is complex and full of pathos. In a few bits here and there it strayed a little close to the dynamics of a romance novel for my liking, but this is a far more complex and nuanced book than that.
The other main strength of the book is the sheer amount of research that has obviously gone into it and this paid off in how authentic it all felt. There are numerous endnotes, background info and illustrations to provide cultural context and I found these quite interesting. This is a book which demands quite a lot of the reader in some ways - the prose is clear and concise but it is easy to lose track of the names of places and people because of the unfamiliar Nordic language. I never felt totally lost though and I got through the book quite quickly.
Overall, this is an absolute hidden gem of a novel, and I urge anyone who values mature, superior story-telling to give it a go. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Oddný Einarsdóttir: The Sword is a historical fiction tale about a young Icelandic girl in the 10th century, who is taken as a slave by a brutal, deviant Viking. A lot of the novel is about the horrendous treatment she and her fellow slaves endure on the maniac's farmstead, but after certain important events occur, the situation radically evolves.
The violent sections are handled deftly: sometimes they are described in 'real time,' as it were, sometimes only hinted at, with the unpleasant details filled in later via Oddny's recollections. It never feels grim for the sake of being grim, and it's always impactful. Characters are well rounded - no one is fully evil or pure of soul. Aside, that is, from the Viking Orlygr who as far as I recall has no redeeming features whatsoever. I struggle to think of many more memorable, terrifying villains from all the books I've read. Pray you never meet anyone like him, seriously.
The writing in this novel is excellent throughout, particularly the dialogue, which feels very genuine. Descriptions of the beautiful Nordic scenery are highly evocative, and the inner world of Oddny is complex and full of pathos. In a few bits here and there it strayed a little close to the dynamics of a romance novel for my liking, but this is a far more complex and nuanced book than that.
The other main strength of the book is the sheer amount of research that has obviously gone into it and this paid off in how authentic it all felt. There are numerous endnotes, background info and illustrations to provide cultural context and I found these quite interesting. This is a book which demands quite a lot of the reader in some ways - the prose is clear and concise but it is easy to lose track of the names of places and people because of the unfamiliar Nordic language. I never felt totally lost though and I got through the book quite quickly.
Overall, this is an absolute hidden gem of a novel, and I urge anyone who values mature, superior story-telling to give it a go. I'm looking forward to the next one.
June 28, 2024
Oddný Einarsdóttir: The Sword is a gritty historical novel set in the Norse Viking era. I received a copy of this book as an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review. It follows the story of a young girl who is captured and lives as a slave for the cruel Viking Örlygr for a large portion of the book. Events occur which take Oddný’s story in another direction entirely, and while the onward journey may be less ruthless, Oddný carries with her the trauma and desire to remain unseen and invisible.
The writing style and dialogue are authentic, with the author being incredibly knowledgeable in the field of Norse mythology. Much detail is added in the footnotes, which I appreciated because they give fascinating explanations and historical information, including names of rivers, clothing and weaponry, and references to gods and rituals that couldn’t possibly be explained in the text without disrupting the flow. I also enjoyed the fact that names and vocabulary weren’t modernised; while it takes a little time to ease into the language (I lost track of the names once or twice), it doesn’t take long and really helps to immerse you in the plot.
The attention to detail throughout the book, including everyday mundane tasks, is exceptional. It allows readers to grasp the hardships of daily life with the perfect level of scene setting and character building without overwriting. The characters evoke true feelings of disgust, admiration, despair and hope.
The book is brutal and covers some dark themes, including violent death, rape, and the suffering women had to endure under men’s rule. While the sex and violence are descriptive at times, it never feels unnecessary or for shock value. I think the gritty reality has been portrayed expertly.
At times the book is a real page-turner, but simultaneously, I wanted to linger over the pages and absorb the details. I am keen for the second book to continue Oddný’s journey!
The writing style and dialogue are authentic, with the author being incredibly knowledgeable in the field of Norse mythology. Much detail is added in the footnotes, which I appreciated because they give fascinating explanations and historical information, including names of rivers, clothing and weaponry, and references to gods and rituals that couldn’t possibly be explained in the text without disrupting the flow. I also enjoyed the fact that names and vocabulary weren’t modernised; while it takes a little time to ease into the language (I lost track of the names once or twice), it doesn’t take long and really helps to immerse you in the plot.
The attention to detail throughout the book, including everyday mundane tasks, is exceptional. It allows readers to grasp the hardships of daily life with the perfect level of scene setting and character building without overwriting. The characters evoke true feelings of disgust, admiration, despair and hope.
The book is brutal and covers some dark themes, including violent death, rape, and the suffering women had to endure under men’s rule. While the sex and violence are descriptive at times, it never feels unnecessary or for shock value. I think the gritty reality has been portrayed expertly.
At times the book is a real page-turner, but simultaneously, I wanted to linger over the pages and absorb the details. I am keen for the second book to continue Oddný’s journey!
September 24, 2024
I thought it was really cool and helpful that the author provided a name pronunciation guide in the beginning of the book. I also loved that there were footnotes included in the chapters, too, providing more factual information and context as you read. The author knows what she is talking about, and her passion for Viking Age culture and history really shines through in her work. Both the pronunciation guide and footnotes were nice additions to include, especially since my personal knowledge in the subject matter is extremely limited. They helped ensure the foreign references and cultural customs didn’t pull me out of the story, and I learned a thing or two in the end. The more you know, right?
The book’s description was what caught my eye and enticed me to read, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. That being said, the first half of the story is brutal, in a very realistic, true to the circumstances sort of way that was a bit triggering. It was so hard not to want a superpower that would allow me to reach inside the story and throttle the main villain, but be patient (very patient); he gets his just deserts.
Oddny was a refreshing FMC in that she doesn’t fit the typical alpha female mold but is very multifaceted and real in how she handles the hardships she is forced to endure. Although she doesn’t break during her ordeal, she doesn’t get away unscathed either. The second half of the book dives into what life is like for her on the long, long road toward healing, surrounded by new and old faces and new experiences. All while being haunted by her past. You get to see a glimpse into what life was actually like in Viking Age Norway, and that’s pretty dang cool.
It’s a riveting read, and I highly recommend it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here patiently waiting for the second installment of Oddny Einarsdottir’s story to come out.
The book’s description was what caught my eye and enticed me to read, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. That being said, the first half of the story is brutal, in a very realistic, true to the circumstances sort of way that was a bit triggering. It was so hard not to want a superpower that would allow me to reach inside the story and throttle the main villain, but be patient (very patient); he gets his just deserts.
Oddny was a refreshing FMC in that she doesn’t fit the typical alpha female mold but is very multifaceted and real in how she handles the hardships she is forced to endure. Although she doesn’t break during her ordeal, she doesn’t get away unscathed either. The second half of the book dives into what life is like for her on the long, long road toward healing, surrounded by new and old faces and new experiences. All while being haunted by her past. You get to see a glimpse into what life was actually like in Viking Age Norway, and that’s pretty dang cool.
It’s a riveting read, and I highly recommend it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here patiently waiting for the second installment of Oddny Einarsdottir’s story to come out.
February 18, 2024
DISCLAIMER #1: I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DISCLAIMER #2: I have not yet finished this book due to schoolwork getting in the way of my reading
——————
Log #1:
Since I am not yet far enough into the story to give any substantive critique on the plot, I’ll give some insights into the vibes of the story. This novel is for those who enjoyed the grit of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and the dark historical and moody atmosphere of Kiran Milwood Hargrave’s The Mercies. Different historical details, such as specific pieces of historical clothing, are noted in footnotes, which may hinder the reading experience for some (though I didn’t mind them). The depth of detail is so great that it actually brings to mind another book, Jean M. Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear (though that book doesn’t use footnotes). Now, obviously, Clan of the Cave Bear takes place in the Stone Age while The Sword is a Viking era novel, but both share a similar depth of setting thanks to their respective authors’ deep research.
If you like gritty historical novels, this is the novel for you. If you’re looking for something more lighthearted, I wouldn’t recommend it. I haven’t gotten very far in, but the content foreshadowed thus far is clearly very dark and not for the faint of heart. I unfortunately can’t give an accurate CW list because I haven’t read deep enough in, but I would still take precaution for topics relating to kidnapping, violence, and sexual assault. I’ll update this review with more information if I get deeper.
DISCLAIMER #2: I have not yet finished this book due to schoolwork getting in the way of my reading
——————
Log #1:
Since I am not yet far enough into the story to give any substantive critique on the plot, I’ll give some insights into the vibes of the story. This novel is for those who enjoyed the grit of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and the dark historical and moody atmosphere of Kiran Milwood Hargrave’s The Mercies. Different historical details, such as specific pieces of historical clothing, are noted in footnotes, which may hinder the reading experience for some (though I didn’t mind them). The depth of detail is so great that it actually brings to mind another book, Jean M. Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear (though that book doesn’t use footnotes). Now, obviously, Clan of the Cave Bear takes place in the Stone Age while The Sword is a Viking era novel, but both share a similar depth of setting thanks to their respective authors’ deep research.
If you like gritty historical novels, this is the novel for you. If you’re looking for something more lighthearted, I wouldn’t recommend it. I haven’t gotten very far in, but the content foreshadowed thus far is clearly very dark and not for the faint of heart. I unfortunately can’t give an accurate CW list because I haven’t read deep enough in, but I would still take precaution for topics relating to kidnapping, violence, and sexual assault. I’ll update this review with more information if I get deeper.
November 15, 2024
Mild Spoilers ahead!
When Oddney, daughter of Thane Einar, is set to return to her father in Iceland, the last thing she expected was for their ship to be attacked and to end up a slave. We follow her through her life as a slave, what she does to survive the day to day working for a vile (and I mean absolutely vile) man who has absolute disregard for others. For years, she swallows the abuse, the neglect, and the mistreatment until at last she has a chance to get her vengeance. But life after slavery is difficult to return to, especially as she carries the child of her abuser.
This is a story of perseverance. Of pride. Oddney goes through hell and manages to survive it, though it leaves her forever altered.
History is messy. While people would like to gloss over the horrendous things that happened, they did. We know that Norse laws were very strict and that they were very honorable people. But that doesn’t mean every single one of them were. There were plenty of people less than honorable, just as there are now.
I appreciate that while Lilypearl is not explicit in her writing, the subject is still incredibly heavy. There is SA, thoughts of self harm/ attempted self harm, and mental health struggles throughout the book, so if that is something you might struggle with, be cautious.
I won’t lie. I had to take many breaks while reading. And that is perfectly fine. Its hard to read. And as a mother, it was especially hard to read about Oddney’s feelings toward her bastard child. I love my children. I am also fortunate to be married to a wonderful man who respects me and loves me. Oddney didn’t have that. She didn’t ask to have a child, especially by her abuser.
I am excited to read more of Oddney’s story and to see her triumph over her trauma. This is a fantastic historical fiction book that follows the life of Oddney Einarsdottir. It deals with many heavy topics about the reality of a slave's life in 10th century Norway.
When Oddney, daughter of Thane Einar, is set to return to her father in Iceland, the last thing she expected was for their ship to be attacked and to end up a slave. We follow her through her life as a slave, what she does to survive the day to day working for a vile (and I mean absolutely vile) man who has absolute disregard for others. For years, she swallows the abuse, the neglect, and the mistreatment until at last she has a chance to get her vengeance. But life after slavery is difficult to return to, especially as she carries the child of her abuser.
This is a story of perseverance. Of pride. Oddney goes through hell and manages to survive it, though it leaves her forever altered.
History is messy. While people would like to gloss over the horrendous things that happened, they did. We know that Norse laws were very strict and that they were very honorable people. But that doesn’t mean every single one of them were. There were plenty of people less than honorable, just as there are now.
I appreciate that while Lilypearl is not explicit in her writing, the subject is still incredibly heavy. There is SA, thoughts of self harm/ attempted self harm, and mental health struggles throughout the book, so if that is something you might struggle with, be cautious.
I won’t lie. I had to take many breaks while reading. And that is perfectly fine. Its hard to read. And as a mother, it was especially hard to read about Oddney’s feelings toward her bastard child. I love my children. I am also fortunate to be married to a wonderful man who respects me and loves me. Oddney didn’t have that. She didn’t ask to have a child, especially by her abuser.
I am excited to read more of Oddney’s story and to see her triumph over her trauma. This is a fantastic historical fiction book that follows the life of Oddney Einarsdottir. It deals with many heavy topics about the reality of a slave's life in 10th century Norway.
July 8, 2024
Before my review, I would like to thank the author for reaching out and providing a digital copy of the book for my review.
This is an incredible undertaking and thought-provoking read. The story is centered on Oddny and takes place over the span of her early life. The author is incredibly well versed and studied in Norse history, making this book a very informative read.
The footnotes and diagrams were incredible additions. I feel like in finishing the book, I have a much better understanding of what viking daily life was like. This book truly is a slice of viking life novel. It's dark, and there's a lot of things that a modern reader could find appalling. But it was all part of the culture then. It's such a breath of fresh air to not read a novel (viking based or otherwise) where the MC doesn't have a hero complex. The characters are human and thus flawed. This was an incredible read, and I can't wait for book two!
This is an incredible undertaking and thought-provoking read. The story is centered on Oddny and takes place over the span of her early life. The author is incredibly well versed and studied in Norse history, making this book a very informative read.
The footnotes and diagrams were incredible additions. I feel like in finishing the book, I have a much better understanding of what viking daily life was like. This book truly is a slice of viking life novel. It's dark, and there's a lot of things that a modern reader could find appalling. But it was all part of the culture then. It's such a breath of fresh air to not read a novel (viking based or otherwise) where the MC doesn't have a hero complex. The characters are human and thus flawed. This was an incredible read, and I can't wait for book two!
October 28, 2024
This book was a fantastic read. The author does a great job putting characters together to tell a story. Oddny is a young girl brought into slavery by a brutal Viking. This book goes through her journey of survival in the snake den that is her captor’s lair. Oddny struggles to keep her spirit intact while trapped in captivity. I enjoyed all characters, even the ones who were antagonists. I liked that characters had multi-faceted personalities. Very few characters were all good or bad, just like real life. Because of this, the characters felt very real. I enjoyed the direction the plot took. Many triggering scenes were written artfully and realistically, I had to skim through some of them because of this but it did not take away from the story at all. The story started out slowly to introduce Oddny and then picked up pace as more context was added. Overall, this book was very well written and an excellent addition to the Viking category.
March 15, 2024
This atmospheric novel with transport you to a new but familiar world in all its human foibles and dark emotions, to an historic Norse community. If you like to get your teeth into a story and its characters, this dark and heavily detailed tale will do it for you. Rich in historic underpinnings, footnoted by the author, the language is powerful and nuanced. We follow the tale of Oddny, a slave girl who carries the child of her oppressor. Tormented and hateful, she struggles to find the good in her lowly life. You’ll be entertained throughout by Lilypearl Colman’s epic tale of slavery and suppression but you will ultimately find this an uplifting story.
December 23, 2024
Once again I am impressed by Colman's writing. I read the second book first (as I did not know it was a sequel and agreed to do an ARC read/review) and was thrilled to be able to get the first half of Oddny's story.
What a ride! My heart went through a lot reading this book. I found myself in tears throughout the whole story and even though these themes were tragic and heavy, it was enlightening seeing what life was like for a 10th century Norwegian woman. The writing was beautiful and really well thought out. You can tell this author has put so much into her research and into the development of her characters.
What a ride! My heart went through a lot reading this book. I found myself in tears throughout the whole story and even though these themes were tragic and heavy, it was enlightening seeing what life was like for a 10th century Norwegian woman. The writing was beautiful and really well thought out. You can tell this author has put so much into her research and into the development of her characters.
July 7, 2024
This was quite an interesting read. Very deep and can be intense but very well written. Covers quite a bit of time and the writing and names are different so it kept me on my toes but definitely a page turner as I followed Odney on her journey. Really enjoyable book!
July 18, 2024
This wasn’t my go to style of book, but it took me by surprise! Once I got used to the Nordic words it was very easy to read! The story of the MFC was very engrossing, and I was constantly wondering what she was going to do next, she always surprised me! I will definitely be reading the next book!
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October 13, 2024This one was a DNF for me :( I appreciated the deep and rich historical detail and the main character goes through a LOT. Sadly, I just couldn’t get into this one as it’s not really as fast-paced as I prefer.
December 2, 2024
This book was an absolute emotional rollercoaster in the best way. There were so many moments were I just sat with my jaw dropped in shock, laughing from the little banter or completely sobbing. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. There are various serious, mature and dark themes throughout this book as we follow along the FMC, Oddny, and her journey as a young teen slave. The writing style and world building is masterfully done in a way that really allows you to feel the raw moments of Oddny's life. The character depth in this book is breathtaking. Oddny is so resilient as she faces so many traumatic events during her captivity and as she finds her independence and voice with time. There are several side characters throughout this story as well that each have their own unique personalities and charm which add another layer of plot depth. One of the major things I appreciated in this book was the true nature and accuracy of the Nordic history and culture. I look forward to reading book 2 to learn what happens next with Oddny!
December 20, 2024
This book is a gripping and thought-provoking journey into the life of Oddny, a young woman navigating the harsh realities of ancient Norway. From the first page, the story pulls you in, immersing you in a world shaped by Norse history and culture. The author’s research is evident, and the richly detailed setting brings the Viking Age to life in a way that feels both authentic and educational. Oddny’s journey is filled with challenges that reflect the struggles of women in her time while drawing surprising parallels to the present. Her character is flawed, complex, and deeply human, making it easy to empathize with her as she grows stronger and more determined.
While the book’s heavy themes and slower pace require time to absorb, the depth and emotional weight make it worth the investment. Oddny’s transformation throughout the story keeps you motivated, rooting for her as she confronts unimaginable trials. However, the pacing occasionally felt uneven, with some sections lingering too long on certain details. That said, the vivid writing and gripping narrative kept me engaged. This is a beautifully crafted novel that offers both a compelling story and a meaningful reflection on resilience and identity, earning a solid 4 stars.
While the book’s heavy themes and slower pace require time to absorb, the depth and emotional weight make it worth the investment. Oddny’s transformation throughout the story keeps you motivated, rooting for her as she confronts unimaginable trials. However, the pacing occasionally felt uneven, with some sections lingering too long on certain details. That said, the vivid writing and gripping narrative kept me engaged. This is a beautifully crafted novel that offers both a compelling story and a meaningful reflection on resilience and identity, earning a solid 4 stars.
January 1, 2024
The Sword is a saga about the life and times of a young woman called Oddny in tenth century Norway, which I read as an ARC reader for the author (I received a copy of the manuscript in exchange for an honest review). The writing style is generally archaic, matching the era in which the book is set, and the author obviously knows a lot about her subject; she makes detailed reference to Norse, Icelandic and Orkney Island culture, beliefs and customs throughout the book, and provides explanatory notes for additional context. Personally, I would have preferred the terms described in the notes to be explained within the story itself as I found the notes disrupted the flow somewhat.
The book goes to some dark places, particularly when it goes into quite graphic detail about the hardships endured by women, and the violence committed by quite a few of the characters.
I wanted to like at least one of the characters, but I don't think this book is about sympathetic characters. It is more about the gritty reality of life at this time.
It would be a good read for anyone studying Norse mythology and history as it paints a very believable picture of what life would have been like, and for that I commend this young author, who has great potential to develop her voice, her storytelling, and her characters in the sequel to this book.
The book goes to some dark places, particularly when it goes into quite graphic detail about the hardships endured by women, and the violence committed by quite a few of the characters.
I wanted to like at least one of the characters, but I don't think this book is about sympathetic characters. It is more about the gritty reality of life at this time.
It would be a good read for anyone studying Norse mythology and history as it paints a very believable picture of what life would have been like, and for that I commend this young author, who has great potential to develop her voice, her storytelling, and her characters in the sequel to this book.
August 4, 2024
This is such a dark book. Oddný is kidnapped as a young teen by Vikings and is a slave the majority of her teen years. I find this book to probably be a realistic tale of life as a female slave. There is a situational change and Oddný has the ability to hope again. Can’t wait to see where the sequel takes us.
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