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Bane of the North #2

Rise of the Draugr

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'We live as men - but fight like gods.'

A new threat looms over Garik Castle, forcing Bane and Alruna to once again defy the odds to defend the realm. Their quest begins with finding the key to unlocking the Fug and uniting the fractured clans As the war between gods intensifies and the end of days draws near, the fate of mankind rests in the hands of a mortal.

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2024

709 people are currently reading
194 people want to read

About the author

A.C. Salter

22 books208 followers

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5 stars
824 (69%)
4 stars
285 (23%)
3 stars
74 (6%)
2 stars
10 (<1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Chloe Cherrington.
71 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2025
A.C.Salter does it again with another fantastic book! 💪
Wow, this books definetly took me on a journey of emotions 😲The action in the book is captivating and really pulls you in from page 1 right up until the last!
One of the charactwr i really enjoyed in book 1 has taken a complete 180°, I am floored 🤣

The ending though! 😲😲😲😲
"We live as men, but fight as gods" ⚔️

Onto the Crooked Shard 🖤
Profile Image for Blaise.
469 reviews142 followers
January 15, 2025
And done! Much more of a slowburn than book 1 but the last 5 chapters were Epic!!!! Very much loving this series and can’t wait to read book 3
Profile Image for Ishani  Guha-Shepherd .
205 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2025
5 🌟
This is an even easier, more thriling read than the first. Wow, what a sequel! All the familiar faces return, and the action picks up immediately, thrusting you into the battles at a dizzying rate. Bane, now a man, Alruna, a chief with a loyal following and the 'family' of Bane, by his side now, through thick and thin.
A.C. Salter has truly excelled in this book. The narrative and prose are formidable and the action relentless. Next, who is The Crooked Shard?! I can not wait for book 3!
Profile Image for rebecca Challenger.
27 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2025
Rise of the Draugr by @a.c.salter book review


Rise of the draugr is book 2 in the bane of the north series. A Viking fantasy series’s

Book 2 pick up exactly where gallows born ended and it doesn’t let up. The storey follows Bane and Alruna as they confront a looming menace over the castle. My heart was in a mouth in this book.

Then my jaw hit the floor and my heart broke.
AC salter has a fantastic way of thinking you know what’s to come then throwing something at you that complete blind sides you. The little notes from Nel warms my heart and is the extra I never know I needed
Another 5⭐️from me and yes I am already
reading book 3 l cannot put this series down
Profile Image for Charlotte’s Books.
89 reviews8 followers
February 15, 2025
Wow! I am loving this series!

I jumped straight into this after finishing the first book and I’m going to do the same with the next one because I can’t get enough of this.

The battle/fight scenes in these books are awesome. The details and the way the characters move during the fights really paint a clear picture of what the scenes look like and I love that with fight scenes!

Again the characters in these books are amazing and the relationships between them are so good. I will admit I was a little mad at who the turncoat turned out to be but only because they were one of my favourites 😂

I am very excited to read the next book!
72 reviews
September 18, 2025
Good book, I love the characters and enjoy the banter between them, I’m looking forward to reading book 3.
3 reviews
July 7, 2025
It wasn’t bad. There were quite a few spelling mistakes as some reviews point out. My main problem was Alruna. She was just aggravating to me in whatever scene she was in. Some times the writing was confusing and although characters did act somewhat differently for me their dialogue read the same. I did binge read it though after finishing the first, so, again, it’s not horrible.

(The main reason I rate this so low is basically just Alruna, which is pretty bad because she’s an integral part of the plot).
12 reviews2 followers
December 26, 2024
Get an editor or proofreader or something!

The story and characters are interesting and likable enough.

But holy crap! The entire book is riddled with spelling errors, comma trauma, and grammatical mistakes.

Please get a better editor or add more because your current editor is missing SO many things
8 reviews
May 31, 2025
Constant killing

I guess that the viking era entailed a lot of war, and if that's what you're looking for, this would be a great series. It just seems there are just so many ways to use a knife, sword and arrows to kill. I would have like to see more personal interaction. These books were exhausting to me. I think I need to look at a different genre.
Profile Image for Rebekah Bouttell.
27 reviews
July 8, 2025
From the very first page, the second installment of The Bane of the North series grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. Action-packed from start to finish, this book delivered twist after jaw-dropping twist that left me gasping, furious at certain characters, and emotionally wrecked—in the best way possible. There were moments I genuinely questioned why I ever started this series, only to remember how completely addicted I am to the chaos and emotional turmoil it delivers.

This sequel raises the stakes without missing a beat, deepening the world and characters while maintaining the high-octane pace and emotional punches. If anything, it proves that this series is only getting stronger. A solid five-star read for me, and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Profile Image for Syreeta Benjamin.
Author 1 book2 followers
September 25, 2024
Couldn’t put it down!

Book 2 is just as fantastical as the first. I couldn’t put it down. Even though I kind of knew who the turn coat was, I still thoroughly enjoyed it as it played out. I love the depth of the characters and the world. Each of them and their individual journeys are important to the bigger story. A.C Salter’s story weaving is magical. I can see everything unraveling in my mind as it is written. I can’t wait for the third book.
Profile Image for Maryelizabeth.
20 reviews
June 7, 2025
This second part of the saga is exciting!

This novel continues the saga of Bane and those around him. So many twists and surprises kept me glued to the book and leaving me wanting more. Mr. Salter delivers another action packed story that is truly written as a saga. I highly recommend this book series for anyone who enjoys conflict, well developed characters, and a fantasy world filled with good, evil, and everything in between.
77 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2025
Ok.....I'm so hooked!!!

A.C. Salter, you have my undivided attention! I have never liked fantasy books! I didn't think I would like this one either, since it's written by a man...😁 but......these 2 books so far, have me captivated. I have bawled like a baby, I have fist punched the air, and laughed like a crazy person. When I realized the Draughr were coming in on the Fug to the rescue, I jumped up and down in my chair! Going to get book number 3 right now! Amazing!!!
4 reviews
August 24, 2024
Bane of the North, a review

This was a truly great read. Full of action and a lot of great descriptive reading. A good read for anyone into fantasy stories. My only disappointment was the amount of spelling mistakes which took the edge of the excitement as they reminded me I was only reading a book

31 reviews
January 11, 2025
A whirlwind of battles, action, and excitement ensues

The book was incredibly full of action as our heroes battles overwhelming odds amidst multiple betrayals and the rising of the gods of old. There is love, magic and heroism that inspires the characters to face the daunting odds. The book certainly sets an exciting stage for the rest of the unfolding epic.
26 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2025
Very Enjoyable

This is great. I love the character and the plot. If you guys would be so kind as to correct the spelling errors (steins? Think you meant stains.), I’d be grateful. A bit distracting. I’m a teacher. These things bother us. No matter, great story. And the Draugr are totally cool.
105 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2025
What’s a “stein”.?

Not sure how any author or spell check can miss “stein” instead of stain? It’s not just a one off but every time that the word stain is needed. This almost reads like a YA book just a bit gorier ,you’d need to be really young to miss the big bad mc reveal as it’s so obvious! Enough for me to move onto the next one.
4 reviews
July 28, 2024
As good as the first

Great book! This book is as good as the first book.. action, adventure and twists and turns and a little romance to boot. The author tells a great story that just keeps you hook page after page.
70 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2024
Epic Fantasy Novel

This is a story of heroes, monsters and legendary characters. It will transport you to a new world of wonder and adventure unlike any
other . You will witness the great battles against evil ! Read on great adventurers and be amazed !
43 reviews
August 20, 2024
This series hooked me when Nell was being hanged and Bane was born. A very original storyline and has great writing. Bane is a great character and has many good supporting roles as his mentor and friends. I look forward to the next book in series.
Profile Image for Amy Brautigam.
99 reviews
September 19, 2024
Vikings, Gods and the Draugr go to war

Another great read! These characters are so vivid and the story is sublime. So much action and intrigue. Bane, Alruna, Cuthburt Belle and Bailin have grabbed my interest. Was not expecting what happened with Glance and Jurl.
Profile Image for Martin Murphy.
120 reviews1 follower
September 25, 2024
A really good read

The second instalment builds on the first, characters are built on and you get to enjoy them. The author skilfully weaves the story and there are some great twists and turns, building to the end crescendo. Cannot wait till the next instalment.
19 reviews
October 3, 2024
2nd Read

I read Gallows Born, thinking it was the first of long set. Imagine my surprise to find it was only the first, and there was no second. Now I have read the second and enjoyed it immensely. Now, to wait for the third.
151 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2024
Very enjoyable - as the first one was.
There are fewer spelling mistakes than the first book but still far too many - surely someone could proofread this better before it's published? Things like 'a horse tide to a tree' and 'blood steins' just jerk you out of the plot.
6 reviews
January 7, 2025
fantastic

Both this book and the first one are exceptional reads. The story is compelling and the characters are very well made. It is a story of hope and endurance in the face of long odds.
Profile Image for Pumpkinpuddy.
229 reviews3 followers
February 27, 2025
Needs editing

Too many mistakes. Spelling errors, words missing from sentences or words out of order. Other mistakes, too And it's stain, not stein. A stein is something you drink from. The glaring errors take away ftom the story.
6 reviews
June 16, 2025
Goosebumps
I got so much Goosebumps from this amazing book.
Ive cried, laughed with this amazing book.
The author is a talented writer and i can't wait to read the rest.

"We live as MEN ! , but fight as GODS ! "
Profile Image for Charlotte_booktok_lady.
38 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2025
No 2 of the Bane of the North Series and a fantastic read too. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment and the characters are so well thought out. I find it difficult to say too much without giving anything away. Looking forward to book 3 !
3 reviews
August 16, 2025
Girl power

Ok, story. Simple characters and simple world building. Strong female characters, Strong male characters and not much between. There are a lot of editing problems. I would give him points for effort, but he's written several books, so no.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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