Blood of the Bear

Fire Born #5

by Angus Donald

Battle calls the berserker once again... AD 781. Pagan Saxony groans under the Christian yoke. The invincible armies of Karolus, King of the Franks, occupy all this freedom-loving land and every Saxon must submit to baptism and pay tithes to the Church, or face death by beheading.

Duke Widukind, leader of the Saxon rebels, is sheltering in the North, beyond Karolus’s reach. He hopes to persuade Bjarki Bloodhand – once a famous berserker, but now a father and family man – and his fierce sister the shield-maiden Tor, to join his revolt against tyranny.

But Bjarki has eloped with Widukind’s sister Edith, who was betrothed to Abbio the Crow. In revenge, Abbio uses seithr to strike at Bjarki – a powerful spell to drive him insane. Can Bjarki resist the long slide into madness? And will Widukind finally liberate Saxony from the Franks?

A Viking epic of rebellion and revenge, perfect for fans of Matthew Harffy and Giles Kristian.

Genres: Historical Fiction

370 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4*. Beautiful story with big history in the background. I thought story was finished with book 4, but author commented my review with info about book 5. Mr Angus Donald - thank you! I had a chance to read this book through Netgalley. I enjoyed it from the start to the last page.

[Rowdy Geirsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a solid and fitting end to the Fire Born series. Starts a little slowly but then ramps up towards the great conflict at the heart of the whole series: the conflict between the Franks and Saxons. This conflict was at the forefront of the first two books, then took a back seat for books 3 and 4, so it felt very fitting that it resumed focus for the final book.

The lovable (and in some cases, hateworthy) characters are back. And it’s another action-filled romp through 8th century Germany. If you liked the other books in the series, make sure you finish it off by reading the concluding volume!

[W. Boal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly and brilliantly blood soaked series and Blood of the Bear is a great finale.

[Nick Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth and final book in this very entertaining series. Bjarki Bloodhand, viking and “berserkr” is living a peaceful life with his wife and kids, not much need of the two bear spirits living within him. His sister, Tor, is out raiding while he focuses on fatherhood and being the local leader.
But before long he is convinced to join the Saxon rebellion against the Franks and their new fangled Christianity. The Franks are using violence and to enforce their religion and the Saxons are using violence to stand for their old ways and Pagen Gods. No real good guys here sadly. But from the Saxon point of view, having a famous warrior and berserkr on their side would be a bit of a bonus. But how to get him out of retirement…?
In this Bjarki is the character everything happens around, he is hampered by a strange illness and, as usual, it is his sister that carries the story. The politics of the time and the power of the forces supporting Christianity are key here, an interesting period we don’t hear much about but that allows the author leeway to weave fiction and history into a thrilling story.

[Darren F. Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of his best! This book kept me in it from start to finish.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent series. Just what I needed, it hit all the right notes for a series of any genre. True and faithful characters, realistic storylines, and excellent pacing.

For a novel historical fiction it was rooted in fact but Angus Donald crafted it in to its own believable story. These characters felt real, they felt believable and not created and manipulated to push a fanciful storyline. As a reader it felt like these events and lives actually existed. The characters loosely based on real people felt like they belonged in this tale and not like they were plucked from history and dropped in to the story only to sit there in the way because they were not integrated in to the storyline.

I could go on some more but this is as much as I can say without beginning to venture in to spoiler territory. I look forward to working my way through the author’s other series.

[Peter Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion to an epic tale. I hope for further stories from characters in this book sometime in the future, but for now I look forward to seeing what Angus has in store for us.

[Richard West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Fifth and final volume of the Fire Born series, the adventures of berserker Bjarki Bloodhand and it's a rip-roaring end to the series although it is tinged with a bit of sadness.

Normally, the Saxons aren't thought of as the "good guys" because it seems they're usually fighting the English. Here, however, they're fighting those dastardly Franks which is a bit different. Without giving away too much, Bjarki has had a spell cast on him which is designed to drive him slowly insane because he eloped with Duke Widukind's sister who was supposed to marry the dastardly Abbio the Crow. Abbio has cast the spell and the story revolves around whether Bjarki can resist it while helping to fight off the Franks who want to impose Christianity on those wicked pagan Saxons. Also coming into play is a romance (of sorts) between Tor, Bjarki's somewhat obnoxious sister and Widukind which makes for an interesting subplot.

Does Bjarki succeed or does Abbio and Duke Widukind win? Well, if you want to find out, you'll have to read the book. But first, you'll want to read the 4 previous volumes or this one will make little to no sense.

Recommended for fans of this genre, obviously and for fans of Angus Donald who has become one of the leading writers of tales from this period of history.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final(?) entry in Angus Donald's 'Fire Born' series about the Viking berserker Bjarki Bloodhand in the time of Charlemagne, a series which - will enjoyable enough - has never *quite* managed to hit the heights of his Robin Hood 'Outlaw Chronicles' series of novels.

Here, we have Bjarki living a quiet life at the start of the novel, before events transpire to drag him - and his sister Tor - back into the conflict between the Christian Franks and the pagan Danes/Saxons, events that culminate in one of the few Frankish (temporary) defeats.

Worth a read? Yes.
As good as the Outlaw Chronicles series? No.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. But not the best in the series

Although it was good and kept you relatively interested throughout the book, it definitely lacked the fire some of the others had. It wasn't till towards the end where the book became very difficult to put down. And the end... I'll leave it at that.

[Liz Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this absolutely amazing book and I am both heartbroken and happy for various different reasons. I absolutely adore this series of books. Very well done to my dear friend Angus.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another engrossing tale by Angus Donald in this incredible series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. With all that happened, the door was seemingly left open for another tale....a sixth book perhaps? Please say yes, Angus, please say yes...

[Matthew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bittersweet but brilliant end to a great series.

[Angus Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb
This is an excellent conclusion to the Fire Born saga. May all such heroes feast for ever in Valhalla!

[John M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bjarki Bloodhand returns to save the Viking north country from the Frankish Christians. As ever, Mr. Donald has delivered and exciting, enthralling and highly satisfying tale

[Benjamin John Tolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utter utter brilliance. AD I love this book, a fitful end to an excellent series. It sat on my bookshelf for too long, largely because it was the last in series.