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Vikings of the New World Saga #2
Forest Child
~Recipient of a STARRED REVIEW from Publisher's Weekly~
Viking warrior. Dauntless leader. Protective mother.
Determined to rise above her rank as the illegitimate "forest child" of Eirik the Red, Freydis launches a second voyage to Vinland to solidify her power and to demand the respect she deserves. She will return home with enough plunder to force her brother, Leif, to sell her the family farm in Greenland.
But nothing can prepare her for the horrors she must confront in Vinland...and nothing can stand in her way when her family is threatened.
In her race to outrun the truths that might destroy her, Freydis ultimately collides with the only enemy she cannot silence—her own heart.
Historically based on the Icelandic Sagas, Forest Child brings the memorable, conflicted persona of Freydis Eiriksdottir to life. This immersive tale is Book Two in the bestselling Vikings of the New World Saga.
Viking warrior. Dauntless leader. Protective mother.
Determined to rise above her rank as the illegitimate "forest child" of Eirik the Red, Freydis launches a second voyage to Vinland to solidify her power and to demand the respect she deserves. She will return home with enough plunder to force her brother, Leif, to sell her the family farm in Greenland.
But nothing can prepare her for the horrors she must confront in Vinland...and nothing can stand in her way when her family is threatened.
In her race to outrun the truths that might destroy her, Freydis ultimately collides with the only enemy she cannot silence—her own heart.
Historically based on the Icelandic Sagas, Forest Child brings the memorable, conflicted persona of Freydis Eiriksdottir to life. This immersive tale is Book Two in the bestselling Vikings of the New World Saga.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
31 people are currently reading
809 people want to read
About the author
Heather Day Gilbert
40 books868 followersHeather Day Gilbert, an RWA Daphne du Maurier Award-winning author and 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist, enjoys writing contemporary mysteries/psychological thrillers and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather's realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she's not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.
Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.
Find out more at heatherdaygilbert.com.
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October 31, 2024
Note, Oct. Oct. 31, 2024: I've just corrected a typo here (I'd written "Greenland" instead of Vinland in one sentence, which changed the geography drastically!).
This is the long-awaited sequel to the author's God's Daughter, and brings her Saga of the Vikings of the New World to a conclusion. My five-star review of the earlier book is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ; the background information and many of the evaluative comments in that review would apply here as well, though IMO this book, if anything, is even better than the first. I would strongly advise reading the books in order; they have many of the same characters, and it will help you as a reader to come to this book with the better and deeper understanding of the relationships, personalities and general situation that the first book will give you. Where the first book focused on Gudrid, former pagan priestess (now a Christian) and healer, however, this one focuses on her half-sister-in-law by a previous marriage, Freydis, out-of-wedlock daughter of Eirik the Red.
The fictional element in historical fiction about real-life people (which both these women, and a number of the other characters here, were) uses imagination to reconstruct the details history leaves out, and especially the inner personalities and motivations that history may record imperfectly or not at all. As I already knew from reading some faithful modern re-tellings, our sole historical source for the Viking voyages to Vinland, the Icelandic sagas, don't remember Freydis kindly: she's depicted as a vicious, treacherous psychopath who becomes the New World's first mass murderer. BUT.... 1.) No historians, medieval or modern, are wholly free from biases that shape their reaction to their material. Gender relations in early Scandinavian/Germanic and Celtic society, as reflected in these books, were comparatively more equalitarian and meritocratic than those of the "civilized" states of southern Europe. By the 13th century, though, when the oral sagas were being committed to writing, the more patriarchal and stratified attitudes of the latter were re-shaping thought and practice in the northern lands. To these historiographers, a woman who clearly didn't fit their picture of proper gender roles may well have been seen as an obviously deviant villainess by definition, whose actions called for censorious treatment. 2.) Even some of the details recorded by the saga compilers themselves, if one reads between the lines, cast doubt on the supposedly innocent and pacific intentions of Freydis' adversaries. And 3.), the two key conversations in the sagas that cast Freydis in the worst light, taken at face value, were totally private conversations that none of the original tellers of the material could actually have been privy to. They're imaginative reconstructions, just as much as Gilbert's dialogue is --and they're reconstructions created by writers with an ideological agenda of their own.
Gilbert follows the factual account of events in the sagas faithfully (even including the two conversations I find suspect). But she fleshes out the picture with a more sympathetic vision, and a broader reconstruction of a plausible context, that gives us a very different picture of what (may have) actually happened on the Vineland coast a thousand years ago. The Freydis who emerges here isn't an evil harridan, and isn't psychotic. What she is is a tough-as-nails young woman who's the product of a society that puts a premium on physical courage and fighting ability, who's had to fight tooth and nail for anything she's ever gotten, who didn't feel loved as a child, never knew her birth mother, and doesn't show love or give trust very easily, a female warrior (in her culture, that wasn't a contradiction in terms) who killed men in combat while she was still in her teens, who doesn't readily take orders from any man, woman, or deity, and who isn't a total stranger to the effects of the special kind of dried mushrooms imbibed by Viking "berserkers" --which are as potent as modern-day "angel dust," and just as dangerous. She's also a smart, competent woman (it says something that she's the expedition leader here, not her husband) with principles as strong as steel, and deep reserves of love and loyalty. And like all of us, she's a woman on a spiritual journey ... which might not end where it began. In real life, the Vikings of succeeding generations never forgot her. Modern readers probably won't, either.
Gilbert brings Freydis' world vividly to life here, without employing info-dumps or cluttering the narrative with excessive details. (She includes a family tree for Freydis and a short list of other characters in the back, along with a short glossary of Viking terms used in the text; but I personally didn't need the former, and with my Scandinavian background, the latter only included a couple of words I didn't know --and I'd roughly deduced the meanings of those from the context already. Even readers who haven't read much about Vikings, I think, could guess the definitions of all these terms the same way.) This is a very taut, gripping read, with a lot of suspense in the first part even when you know the general outline of the history, and the plot continues to hold dangers and surprises up to the denouement and beyond. It's written in first-person, present-tense, which puts us inside Freydis' head and bonds us to her quickly. As in the first book, the characterizations are believable and vivid. All told, this is historical fiction at its finest! I give it my highest recommendation, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Gilbert's work.
As a quick footnote, I was gifted with a free copy of this work by the author, just because she knew I wanted to read it, and because she's got a generous heart. (A lot of authors give out e-books, which are relatively cheap --she gave me a signed trade paperback copy!) I wasn't asked to give a favorable review (or, really, any review at all) --that had to be earned, and it was earned in abundance.
This is the long-awaited sequel to the author's God's Daughter, and brings her Saga of the Vikings of the New World to a conclusion. My five-star review of the earlier book is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ; the background information and many of the evaluative comments in that review would apply here as well, though IMO this book, if anything, is even better than the first. I would strongly advise reading the books in order; they have many of the same characters, and it will help you as a reader to come to this book with the better and deeper understanding of the relationships, personalities and general situation that the first book will give you. Where the first book focused on Gudrid, former pagan priestess (now a Christian) and healer, however, this one focuses on her half-sister-in-law by a previous marriage, Freydis, out-of-wedlock daughter of Eirik the Red.
The fictional element in historical fiction about real-life people (which both these women, and a number of the other characters here, were) uses imagination to reconstruct the details history leaves out, and especially the inner personalities and motivations that history may record imperfectly or not at all. As I already knew from reading some faithful modern re-tellings, our sole historical source for the Viking voyages to Vinland, the Icelandic sagas, don't remember Freydis kindly: she's depicted as a vicious, treacherous psychopath who becomes the New World's first mass murderer. BUT.... 1.) No historians, medieval or modern, are wholly free from biases that shape their reaction to their material. Gender relations in early Scandinavian/Germanic and Celtic society, as reflected in these books, were comparatively more equalitarian and meritocratic than those of the "civilized" states of southern Europe. By the 13th century, though, when the oral sagas were being committed to writing, the more patriarchal and stratified attitudes of the latter were re-shaping thought and practice in the northern lands. To these historiographers, a woman who clearly didn't fit their picture of proper gender roles may well have been seen as an obviously deviant villainess by definition, whose actions called for censorious treatment. 2.) Even some of the details recorded by the saga compilers themselves, if one reads between the lines, cast doubt on the supposedly innocent and pacific intentions of Freydis' adversaries. And 3.), the two key conversations in the sagas that cast Freydis in the worst light, taken at face value, were totally private conversations that none of the original tellers of the material could actually have been privy to. They're imaginative reconstructions, just as much as Gilbert's dialogue is --and they're reconstructions created by writers with an ideological agenda of their own.
Gilbert follows the factual account of events in the sagas faithfully (even including the two conversations I find suspect). But she fleshes out the picture with a more sympathetic vision, and a broader reconstruction of a plausible context, that gives us a very different picture of what (may have) actually happened on the Vineland coast a thousand years ago. The Freydis who emerges here isn't an evil harridan, and isn't psychotic. What she is is a tough-as-nails young woman who's the product of a society that puts a premium on physical courage and fighting ability, who's had to fight tooth and nail for anything she's ever gotten, who didn't feel loved as a child, never knew her birth mother, and doesn't show love or give trust very easily, a female warrior (in her culture, that wasn't a contradiction in terms) who killed men in combat while she was still in her teens, who doesn't readily take orders from any man, woman, or deity, and who isn't a total stranger to the effects of the special kind of dried mushrooms imbibed by Viking "berserkers" --which are as potent as modern-day "angel dust," and just as dangerous. She's also a smart, competent woman (it says something that she's the expedition leader here, not her husband) with principles as strong as steel, and deep reserves of love and loyalty. And like all of us, she's a woman on a spiritual journey ... which might not end where it began. In real life, the Vikings of succeeding generations never forgot her. Modern readers probably won't, either.
Gilbert brings Freydis' world vividly to life here, without employing info-dumps or cluttering the narrative with excessive details. (She includes a family tree for Freydis and a short list of other characters in the back, along with a short glossary of Viking terms used in the text; but I personally didn't need the former, and with my Scandinavian background, the latter only included a couple of words I didn't know --and I'd roughly deduced the meanings of those from the context already. Even readers who haven't read much about Vikings, I think, could guess the definitions of all these terms the same way.) This is a very taut, gripping read, with a lot of suspense in the first part even when you know the general outline of the history, and the plot continues to hold dangers and surprises up to the denouement and beyond. It's written in first-person, present-tense, which puts us inside Freydis' head and bonds us to her quickly. As in the first book, the characterizations are believable and vivid. All told, this is historical fiction at its finest! I give it my highest recommendation, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Gilbert's work.
As a quick footnote, I was gifted with a free copy of this work by the author, just because she knew I wanted to read it, and because she's got a generous heart. (A lot of authors give out e-books, which are relatively cheap --she gave me a signed trade paperback copy!) I wasn't asked to give a favorable review (or, really, any review at all) --that had to be earned, and it was earned in abundance.
November 3, 2016
I have been waiting eagerly for the second installment of this saga, and I can easily say, I was not disappointed one bit! It’s hard to put my feelings for this book into words – Freydis’s story evoked so many strong emotions that words seem paltry in comparison. This brave story held me captive from page one.
Freydis, at once both wild and fragile, drew me into her story with her proud self-reliance. Contrary to thinking that I might not have anything in common with this warrior woman, more at peace in the forest with a dagger in hand, my heart found in her a kindred spirit. How often do we mistakenly hold those who love us at arm’s length, feeling unworthy of such a love? Not only does Freydis feel unworthy of her husband Ref’s love, but she is sure that she will never be capable of accepting the love of Gudrid’s God, He who seems to ask so much of her in return. It is much easier for her to hold on to the hate, anger and justification for her actions, than it is to admit her need. Freydis is a complex character, with many facets – the juxtaposition of warrior and wife is one she cannot seem to balance – she must be all warrior in order to never appear weak, yet recognizes that being a wife, woman and mother is as equally daunting as going into battle.
The setting is vivid and alive. The hardships, and often danger, that they faced in these times add a heightened sense of the setting and time period. The details of how the Vikings lived – how they ate, their homes, clothing and adornments, their fierce pride of family legacy and their strong love and loyalty – all are touched on here with a deft hand, providing the reader with fascinating and authentic details. No details are sugar-coated; their lives were hard, dangerous, and often violent, but I never once felt like anything went overboard or went into more detail than necessary.
Even though this is a historical novel, issues relevant to readers today, especially marriage, family and feelings of unworthiness are a vital part of this story. There is such a tension found within these scenes, compounded by the exquisite tenderness in the scenes between Freydis and Ref. My heart ached and cheered for them in turns – I admit, I haven’t read about a fictional couple yet this year that put my heart through the wringer as these two did. What a heartbreaking turn of events, yet what a gorgeous resolution readers will discover here. And while nothing ever pushed the boundaries, I did appreciate how realistically their marriage is portrayed.
Certainly for readers who liked book one, God’s Daughter, I highly recommend continuing the saga with Freydis’s story. And if you haven’t read book one yet, I highly recommend them both! Though Forest Child probably could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I do feel that I had such a strong connection with her because I met her first in God’s Daughter. I am a huge fan of Heather Day Gilbert’s writing, especially the characters she has created and how they become so real to me. In Forest Child, she has truly outdone herself. I can easily say it is my favorite book of hers to date, and it has a permanent spot on my keeper shelf.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Freydis, at once both wild and fragile, drew me into her story with her proud self-reliance. Contrary to thinking that I might not have anything in common with this warrior woman, more at peace in the forest with a dagger in hand, my heart found in her a kindred spirit. How often do we mistakenly hold those who love us at arm’s length, feeling unworthy of such a love? Not only does Freydis feel unworthy of her husband Ref’s love, but she is sure that she will never be capable of accepting the love of Gudrid’s God, He who seems to ask so much of her in return. It is much easier for her to hold on to the hate, anger and justification for her actions, than it is to admit her need. Freydis is a complex character, with many facets – the juxtaposition of warrior and wife is one she cannot seem to balance – she must be all warrior in order to never appear weak, yet recognizes that being a wife, woman and mother is as equally daunting as going into battle.
The setting is vivid and alive. The hardships, and often danger, that they faced in these times add a heightened sense of the setting and time period. The details of how the Vikings lived – how they ate, their homes, clothing and adornments, their fierce pride of family legacy and their strong love and loyalty – all are touched on here with a deft hand, providing the reader with fascinating and authentic details. No details are sugar-coated; their lives were hard, dangerous, and often violent, but I never once felt like anything went overboard or went into more detail than necessary.
Even though this is a historical novel, issues relevant to readers today, especially marriage, family and feelings of unworthiness are a vital part of this story. There is such a tension found within these scenes, compounded by the exquisite tenderness in the scenes between Freydis and Ref. My heart ached and cheered for them in turns – I admit, I haven’t read about a fictional couple yet this year that put my heart through the wringer as these two did. What a heartbreaking turn of events, yet what a gorgeous resolution readers will discover here. And while nothing ever pushed the boundaries, I did appreciate how realistically their marriage is portrayed.
Certainly for readers who liked book one, God’s Daughter, I highly recommend continuing the saga with Freydis’s story. And if you haven’t read book one yet, I highly recommend them both! Though Forest Child probably could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, I do feel that I had such a strong connection with her because I met her first in God’s Daughter. I am a huge fan of Heather Day Gilbert’s writing, especially the characters she has created and how they become so real to me. In Forest Child, she has truly outdone herself. I can easily say it is my favorite book of hers to date, and it has a permanent spot on my keeper shelf.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 11, 2016
Forest Child is one of the bravest works of fiction I’ve ever read. Brimming with tension, yet laced with tenderness, this powerful saga is sure to keep you turning the pages far into the night. An ingenious blend of Viking history and timeless issues of the heart still relevant today.
January 12, 2021
Top notch Viking fiction. Filled with adventure, romance, redemption along with some violence. But it's about Vikings so it's expected. This is a book I recommend to everyone ages 15+.
September 28, 2016
I love history. And I love reading about Vikings. Heather Gilbert combines both extremely well! Her first in this series, God's Daughter, told the story of Gudrid, who abandoned her training as a seer to embrace the Christian God. Gudrid was the daughter in law of Eirik the Red and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America.
Forest Child tells the story of Freydis, child of Eirik the Red and half sister to Leif Erickson. Freydis is angry at nearly everyone, full of fury and armed to the teeth. In fact, she is as deadly as any Viking male! She feels she must show everyone how valuable she can be as both a woman and as a warrior.
I was totally captivated by this book! I enjoyed every moment. I read it in its entirety in one day! Each time I had to put it down to attend to necessary chores, I could not wait to get back to it, reading it while eating meals and leaving things undone to return to its pages.
Heather Gilbert's historical research is impeccable and her characterization of Freydis is top notch. She is so descriptive of everything that I felt as if I were there in the boats sailing to Iceland and n the longhouses during meal times. Seriously, I was plopped right down in the middle of the action each time I came back to read. This is a wonderful story, full of characters that are totally believable. It's one thing to invent a character, a contemporary one, that you can most likely imagine their feelings on a particular subject. But to take an actual historical character and try to get into their minds and tell their thoughts and give them life is quite another. Heather Gilbert has done an absolutely remarkable job with this! Freydis's tale is told in first person present tense and it works wonderfully! I was in complete awe through the entire book.
If you like history, or just like to read, read this book. It can be read as a stand alone, but it's richer if you read God's Daughter first. Amazing, the both of them.
*I was given a preview copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Forest Child tells the story of Freydis, child of Eirik the Red and half sister to Leif Erickson. Freydis is angry at nearly everyone, full of fury and armed to the teeth. In fact, she is as deadly as any Viking male! She feels she must show everyone how valuable she can be as both a woman and as a warrior.
I was totally captivated by this book! I enjoyed every moment. I read it in its entirety in one day! Each time I had to put it down to attend to necessary chores, I could not wait to get back to it, reading it while eating meals and leaving things undone to return to its pages.
Heather Gilbert's historical research is impeccable and her characterization of Freydis is top notch. She is so descriptive of everything that I felt as if I were there in the boats sailing to Iceland and n the longhouses during meal times. Seriously, I was plopped right down in the middle of the action each time I came back to read. This is a wonderful story, full of characters that are totally believable. It's one thing to invent a character, a contemporary one, that you can most likely imagine their feelings on a particular subject. But to take an actual historical character and try to get into their minds and tell their thoughts and give them life is quite another. Heather Gilbert has done an absolutely remarkable job with this! Freydis's tale is told in first person present tense and it works wonderfully! I was in complete awe through the entire book.
If you like history, or just like to read, read this book. It can be read as a stand alone, but it's richer if you read God's Daughter first. Amazing, the both of them.
*I was given a preview copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
February 22, 2017
"Some are born to love, and some to fight. How can I succeed at both?"
Freydis Eiriksgottir has always considered herself a "forest child", an unknown mother and the daughter of a ferocious father, she has been driven to fight through-out her young life; for self-preservation, for recognition, for self-worth, striving to be the warrior that her Viking father trained her up to be; guarding her heart with an iron shield.
"What I did cannot be forgiven anymore that it could be avoided."
When the lives of those she loves are placed in jeopardy, Freydis determinedly oversteps traditional mores to commit a nearly unspeakable act of vigilante justice. Misunderstood and infinitely proud, Freydis chooses isolation instead of explanation, widening family rifts and jeopardizing her entire future. Fortunately, the still, small voice of the one true God is the same yesterday, today and forever, assuring us that Freydis remains an everlasting tribute to the gift of second chances.
Intoxicating barely begins to define this lovely story, the author's careful research bringing this magnanimous historical figure back to life, and it's a masterpiece!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
Freydis Eiriksgottir has always considered herself a "forest child", an unknown mother and the daughter of a ferocious father, she has been driven to fight through-out her young life; for self-preservation, for recognition, for self-worth, striving to be the warrior that her Viking father trained her up to be; guarding her heart with an iron shield.
"What I did cannot be forgiven anymore that it could be avoided."
When the lives of those she loves are placed in jeopardy, Freydis determinedly oversteps traditional mores to commit a nearly unspeakable act of vigilante justice. Misunderstood and infinitely proud, Freydis chooses isolation instead of explanation, widening family rifts and jeopardizing her entire future. Fortunately, the still, small voice of the one true God is the same yesterday, today and forever, assuring us that Freydis remains an everlasting tribute to the gift of second chances.
Intoxicating barely begins to define this lovely story, the author's careful research bringing this magnanimous historical figure back to life, and it's a masterpiece!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.
August 13, 2017
This story is filled with the same struggles mankind has faced throughout the ages.
Freydis, the daughter of Eirik the Red, has struggled her whole life to feel accepted and loved. This search has driven her to be strong and fearless, one who has the strength to lead but needs to learn to trust and be trusted by others. Forest Child is a violent story, filled with vengeance. But it is also a beautiful story of the struggle for acceptance, love and forgiveness. Although I was at times repelled by Freydis, I was also drawn to her.
Heather Gilbert has once again delivered a story that is filled with historical detail that takes her reader back to the Vikings as they explore the New World. She tells of the struggle between those that followed the ancient pagan gods and those who were starting to follow the Christian faith. It is every bit as good if not better than the first book in the series, God's Daughter.
Freydis, the daughter of Eirik the Red, has struggled her whole life to feel accepted and loved. This search has driven her to be strong and fearless, one who has the strength to lead but needs to learn to trust and be trusted by others. Forest Child is a violent story, filled with vengeance. But it is also a beautiful story of the struggle for acceptance, love and forgiveness. Although I was at times repelled by Freydis, I was also drawn to her.
Heather Gilbert has once again delivered a story that is filled with historical detail that takes her reader back to the Vikings as they explore the New World. She tells of the struggle between those that followed the ancient pagan gods and those who were starting to follow the Christian faith. It is every bit as good if not better than the first book in the series, God's Daughter.
September 4, 2016
I've been waiting TWO YEARS for this book and was not disappointed! If you can believe it, Forest Child was every bit as good as God's Daughter (and maybe even a little bit better). Can't wait for you all to get to read it in November!
November 27, 2016
I devoured this book. Wow. How does one put coherent words together after reading a Heather Day Gilbert book? I'm blown away each time.
Ever since reading "God's Daughter" (book one in this series), a year or two ago, I was hooked and anticipating a sequel. And it's finally here! "Forest Child" was amazing. And raw. And...a little shocking, yes, disturbing, maybe....but still amazing. Mrs. Gilbert captures the Viking life-style in such a real way. It is so beautiful. I love her books so much!
It was so great getting to really know Freydis more through this book, and reading through her point of view. She could be frustrating (she didn't always listen to my advice. ;)) but I loved her. What a strong character. The lessons she learned too were so good.
When I read both "God's Daughter" and "Forest Child", it is very much like watching a person's life unfold before you. It's so very real, and you're swept away in it. Each character is so well-constructed, it isn't any trouble imagining them as the real life characters they are.
Now, this book is not for the faint of heart. No, it was rather gruesome to be honest. There were several parts that were hard to read. But also key to the story. So yes, they were on the gruesome side, but it gave understanding to the reader. It helped shape and mold the story.
They're Vikings, after all. And vikings weren't all cushy, always nice people. Mrs. Gilbert shows their strengths and weaknesses very well.
I loved it though. Absolutely. Reading it felt so good, and I can't wait to read it again. Describing The Sagas best would be by saying they are real and raw. And so well written.
So yes, in conclusion, this book met my expectations so very much so. I would highly recommend it be read by a mature audience, probably no younger than 18 or so, because of the unfavourable events shown in this book.
However, those of you who love a good Viking historical series with real depth, these books are for you. :)
Thank you SO much to Heather Day Gilbert for providing a copy of this book! Reading and reviewing it has been my pleasure. :)
Ever since reading "God's Daughter" (book one in this series), a year or two ago, I was hooked and anticipating a sequel. And it's finally here! "Forest Child" was amazing. And raw. And...a little shocking, yes, disturbing, maybe....but still amazing. Mrs. Gilbert captures the Viking life-style in such a real way. It is so beautiful. I love her books so much!
It was so great getting to really know Freydis more through this book, and reading through her point of view. She could be frustrating (she didn't always listen to my advice. ;)) but I loved her. What a strong character. The lessons she learned too were so good.
When I read both "God's Daughter" and "Forest Child", it is very much like watching a person's life unfold before you. It's so very real, and you're swept away in it. Each character is so well-constructed, it isn't any trouble imagining them as the real life characters they are.
Now, this book is not for the faint of heart. No, it was rather gruesome to be honest. There were several parts that were hard to read. But also key to the story. So yes, they were on the gruesome side, but it gave understanding to the reader. It helped shape and mold the story.
They're Vikings, after all. And vikings weren't all cushy, always nice people. Mrs. Gilbert shows their strengths and weaknesses very well.
I loved it though. Absolutely. Reading it felt so good, and I can't wait to read it again. Describing The Sagas best would be by saying they are real and raw. And so well written.
So yes, in conclusion, this book met my expectations so very much so. I would highly recommend it be read by a mature audience, probably no younger than 18 or so, because of the unfavourable events shown in this book.
However, those of you who love a good Viking historical series with real depth, these books are for you. :)
Thank you SO much to Heather Day Gilbert for providing a copy of this book! Reading and reviewing it has been my pleasure. :)
November 1, 2016
Forest Child tells the story of Freydis, Eirik the Red’s daughter, and her struggle to survive in both the Old World and New World. But that one-sentence summation doesn’t do the book justice. This is a stunning historical novel, rich in obviously well-researched detail (without swimming in it) with fully developed characters and a riveting plot line drawn from The Sagas of Icelanders.
Freydis is fierce and angry, loving yet deeply lonely. She is also courageous and honest, and it is those latter two traits that lead to what was for me the heart of the story—her slow, dangerous, and painful journey toward Christianity.
The violence in the book—it is, after all, a tale of largely pagan Vikings—is more suggested than actual, and what violence is depicted is true to history and essential to the story.
As Gilbert showed in God’s Daughter, the first book in her Vikings of the New World Saga series, she has a talent for bringing distant events and historical characters to life. Forest Child is quite possibly even better than God’s Daughter—a brilliant feat.
Freydis is fierce and angry, loving yet deeply lonely. She is also courageous and honest, and it is those latter two traits that lead to what was for me the heart of the story—her slow, dangerous, and painful journey toward Christianity.
The violence in the book—it is, after all, a tale of largely pagan Vikings—is more suggested than actual, and what violence is depicted is true to history and essential to the story.
As Gilbert showed in God’s Daughter, the first book in her Vikings of the New World Saga series, she has a talent for bringing distant events and historical characters to life. Forest Child is quite possibly even better than God’s Daughter—a brilliant feat.
January 1, 2017
Finally, after three years, the sequel to God’s Daughter has been released- and what a sequel it is! It tells the story of Freydis, the daughter of Erik ‘the Red’ of Norway, a figure only known from legend, and notorious in said legends, indeed, she is probably one of the most controversial females in all of Norse literature.
Other reviewers have called this book ‘daring’, and the author herself asserts in was hard to write, and I could see why. Instead of going in for ‘gritty realism’ and excessive, almost absurd amounts of violence to shock the readers, Gilbert portrays a world far removed from the Christian sensibilities of Europe at the beginning of the eleventh century.
The first half of the book is taken up a sojourn in Vinland (the region where it has now been proven that Vikings settled in North America), and the strained relationship between the Icelandic and Norwegian crews as well as their native allies. Strong, warlike Freydis tries to keep the two together, but faces competition from Valdis, an Icelandic priestess, who seeks to gain control of the settlement.
When in Greenland, Freydis and her crew are far beyond the reaches of law, justice, and civilisation, and that means making their own rules. They live, and often die by the sword. As such the author is not willing to shy away from the more unpleasant aspects of what the priestesses might have done when they were removed from all restraining influences- including strange sex rites in sacred groves- and yes, human sacrifice. This was not Britain of France, where such practices had been renounced centuries before- its harsh, its brutal, and it’s what might well have happened in the circumstances.
Freydis is tough, cold and as hard as the Scandinavian forests in which she grew up, she has to make tough decisions- like what to do about the Icelanders that oppose and threaten everything she holds dear. Yet this background also covers a wounded heart- Freydis, the illegitimate ‘Forest Child’ was unloved and largely rejected when she was a girl, she had to make her own way in life, and so she struggles to feel love towards another, and cannot forgive any wrong. She often treats her husband poorly because he will not do things her way, or does not feel she can trust him with her plans. She has few friends, and even fewer can get through to her.
Thus Forest Child is anything but the usual soppy, mushy Romance, it is about a wounded, but self-reliant young woman in a cruel world and her journey to love, redemption and hope. On the way she makes many choices and takes many actions which are hard to stomach, or would not normally be accepted in the Inspirational Fiction Genre.
For all this, Freydis proves to be a very sympathetic heroine. She is very much the outsider, has made a desire for money and fame the goal of her life to gain acceptance, and to live independently. Underlying it all a core of vulnerability, a craving to be loved an accepted, and that is something which the audience can identify with.
Even as a reader who is not ‘into’ the Vikings, I loved this story for the way it brings to life little known events and figures (even semi-legendary ones whose existence is questionable), and the people behind them. I have said before that I like to feel ‘immersed’ in the period and the world the characters inhabit when I read historical fiction, and not be jarred out of it by modern language, attitudes or general silliness.
Aside from a few hiccups this novel was thoroughly immersive.
Recommended for those who love the period, but also want to see another side of the Vikings, far removed from the modern idea of brash, uncouth marauders who were weakened by and derided Christianity.
I requested to be part of the Early Readers team for this book, and was provided with a digital ARC. I was not required to write a postive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Other reviewers have called this book ‘daring’, and the author herself asserts in was hard to write, and I could see why. Instead of going in for ‘gritty realism’ and excessive, almost absurd amounts of violence to shock the readers, Gilbert portrays a world far removed from the Christian sensibilities of Europe at the beginning of the eleventh century.
The first half of the book is taken up a sojourn in Vinland (the region where it has now been proven that Vikings settled in North America), and the strained relationship between the Icelandic and Norwegian crews as well as their native allies. Strong, warlike Freydis tries to keep the two together, but faces competition from Valdis, an Icelandic priestess, who seeks to gain control of the settlement.
When in Greenland, Freydis and her crew are far beyond the reaches of law, justice, and civilisation, and that means making their own rules. They live, and often die by the sword. As such the author is not willing to shy away from the more unpleasant aspects of what the priestesses might have done when they were removed from all restraining influences- including strange sex rites in sacred groves- and yes, human sacrifice. This was not Britain of France, where such practices had been renounced centuries before- its harsh, its brutal, and it’s what might well have happened in the circumstances.
Freydis is tough, cold and as hard as the Scandinavian forests in which she grew up, she has to make tough decisions- like what to do about the Icelanders that oppose and threaten everything she holds dear. Yet this background also covers a wounded heart- Freydis, the illegitimate ‘Forest Child’ was unloved and largely rejected when she was a girl, she had to make her own way in life, and so she struggles to feel love towards another, and cannot forgive any wrong. She often treats her husband poorly because he will not do things her way, or does not feel she can trust him with her plans. She has few friends, and even fewer can get through to her.
Thus Forest Child is anything but the usual soppy, mushy Romance, it is about a wounded, but self-reliant young woman in a cruel world and her journey to love, redemption and hope. On the way she makes many choices and takes many actions which are hard to stomach, or would not normally be accepted in the Inspirational Fiction Genre.
For all this, Freydis proves to be a very sympathetic heroine. She is very much the outsider, has made a desire for money and fame the goal of her life to gain acceptance, and to live independently. Underlying it all a core of vulnerability, a craving to be loved an accepted, and that is something which the audience can identify with.
Even as a reader who is not ‘into’ the Vikings, I loved this story for the way it brings to life little known events and figures (even semi-legendary ones whose existence is questionable), and the people behind them. I have said before that I like to feel ‘immersed’ in the period and the world the characters inhabit when I read historical fiction, and not be jarred out of it by modern language, attitudes or general silliness.
Aside from a few hiccups this novel was thoroughly immersive.
Recommended for those who love the period, but also want to see another side of the Vikings, far removed from the modern idea of brash, uncouth marauders who were weakened by and derided Christianity.
I requested to be part of the Early Readers team for this book, and was provided with a digital ARC. I was not required to write a postive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
March 9, 2018
I read and really enjoyed the first book in this series, God's Daughter, so I was excited to read Forest Child. I wasn't disappointed. While the story didn't follow the main character from the first book, Gudrid, she shows up enough that I was satisfied. I was also interested to see how the author would deal with Freydis, the daughter of Eirik the Red. There isn't much historical documentation about her, and what is there is quite horrible. Without backing away from the record the author managed to make Freydis a sympathetic character. I truly cared about her fate.
Highly recommended for the readers of the first book in the series, as well as readers who like unusual historical fiction and Vikings in general. While first reading God's Daughter is helpful in understanding what is going on in Forest Child, it isn't necessary. There is quite a bit of violence in the book, but it is true to the time and culture and not too graphic.
Highly recommended for the readers of the first book in the series, as well as readers who like unusual historical fiction and Vikings in general. While first reading God's Daughter is helpful in understanding what is going on in Forest Child, it isn't necessary. There is quite a bit of violence in the book, but it is true to the time and culture and not too graphic.
May 10, 2018
Freydis Eiriksdottir is the child of Erik the Red and his mistress. She is known as a forest child because of who her mother was. She has always had to fight for everything. She has several older half brothers .She trained to be a warrior like her father. She is married to a man who is weaker than her and leads her own group of men . She is going to Vinland for her second voyage . She has already fought in a previous battle . She dreams of buying her family farm and settling there after she returns from her voyage. While in Vinland , she is faced with evil and things happen beyond her control and she has to act quick. . When she returns home she has to face her brother Leif and deal with what happen while in Vinland. Can she come to terms with what happened in Vinland? Will everybody learn about what happened in Vinland? Will her husband and her men stand by her?
This is book two in the Vikings of the New World series. Warning to the faint of heart: This book isn't about hearts and flowers . There is great hardships, war, pagan Gods and some of the worse evil that I have ever heard of. With that being said this is a terrific book about the Vikings and Freydis. Freydis is a woman trying her best to survive in a man's world the only way she knows how. She hasn't experienced love and a good childhood. She cant show fear or be weak. She had to be tough as a man and do whatever it took to survive. I think the author did a fantastic job with this character and this subject. This couldn't have been an easy subject to write about especially the evil stuff. I can tell there was a lot of research that went into this book. I think there is something in this book that any woman can relate to and that is being accepted for who you are especially by men . Freydis never felt love and had no idea how to accept love especially from her husband. Raf loves her deeply and tries everything to show his love to Freydis . Underneath all the war and violence there is also a love story. This book is well worth reading and I highly recommend it. Christian fiction
This is book two in the Vikings of the New World series. Warning to the faint of heart: This book isn't about hearts and flowers . There is great hardships, war, pagan Gods and some of the worse evil that I have ever heard of. With that being said this is a terrific book about the Vikings and Freydis. Freydis is a woman trying her best to survive in a man's world the only way she knows how. She hasn't experienced love and a good childhood. She cant show fear or be weak. She had to be tough as a man and do whatever it took to survive. I think the author did a fantastic job with this character and this subject. This couldn't have been an easy subject to write about especially the evil stuff. I can tell there was a lot of research that went into this book. I think there is something in this book that any woman can relate to and that is being accepted for who you are especially by men . Freydis never felt love and had no idea how to accept love especially from her husband. Raf loves her deeply and tries everything to show his love to Freydis . Underneath all the war and violence there is also a love story. This book is well worth reading and I highly recommend it. Christian fiction
September 22, 2016
Forest Child is more than just the story of Freydis Eiriksdaughter. Heather Gilbert expertly takes the reader back in time to walk in the shoes of Freydis and see history come to life thru her eyes.
Freydis had a difficult childhood, growing up on the fringes of her family and society. She felt like she had to prove herself daily for acceptance and often times the choices she makes are not always the best. She struggles to accept the love freely given to her and pushes away those that care the most. Through her struggle she comes to understand the all-encompassing love of our Heavenly Father and accepts His forgiveness of her bad choices.
I have read several books written by various authors about Vikings, but never so rich and detailed a story as Heather Gilbert writes. I enjoyed the historical details, as well as the well rounded characters that drew me into the story.
*I received an early reader copy free of charge for my honest review.
Freydis had a difficult childhood, growing up on the fringes of her family and society. She felt like she had to prove herself daily for acceptance and often times the choices she makes are not always the best. She struggles to accept the love freely given to her and pushes away those that care the most. Through her struggle she comes to understand the all-encompassing love of our Heavenly Father and accepts His forgiveness of her bad choices.
I have read several books written by various authors about Vikings, but never so rich and detailed a story as Heather Gilbert writes. I enjoyed the historical details, as well as the well rounded characters that drew me into the story.
*I received an early reader copy free of charge for my honest review.
April 24, 2017
Full review and excerpt on Faithfully Bookish http://www.faithfullybookish.com/revi...
Freydis Eiriksdottir is one intensely fierce warrior woman. Although she isn’t able to rule her violent Viking crew with brute force, Freydis does have stealth, strength, precision, intelligence, and cunning among her arsenal of intimidating skills.
Beautiful messages of courage, redemption, healing, and love are woven throughout the lives of these formidable characters and turbulent times. I’m excited to see where this series goes next.
I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
Freydis Eiriksdottir is one intensely fierce warrior woman. Although she isn’t able to rule her violent Viking crew with brute force, Freydis does have stealth, strength, precision, intelligence, and cunning among her arsenal of intimidating skills.
Beautiful messages of courage, redemption, healing, and love are woven throughout the lives of these formidable characters and turbulent times. I’m excited to see where this series goes next.
I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 3, 2016
Wow this book is so strong and powerful. I felt like I was walking in Freydis' shoes. It also told a powerful story of the mercy and forgiveness that only God can give as well as the power of a changed life only Christ could make possible. I found myself kept being propelled through this book. It is one I will want to read again.
January 22, 2020
Love this series
February 11, 2024
Forest Child is of Freydis, the daughter of Eirik the Red and half sister of Leif Eiriksson. A warrior, she is used to living in the woods. She also keeps people, including her husband, at arm's length so not to appear weak.
This Viking story has action, danger, and flawed characters and has the themes of forgiveness and repentance as Freydis wrestles with believing there is one God. This is a wonderful story, one you don't want to miss.
This Viking story has action, danger, and flawed characters and has the themes of forgiveness and repentance as Freydis wrestles with believing there is one God. This is a wonderful story, one you don't want to miss.
February 3, 2017
WOW! I was drawn into the story from the beginning. I found it very hard to put the book down. I appreciate the faith element that is woven throughout the story. It is an EPIC adventure. I highly recommend this book!
May 26, 2017
I looooved Heather's God's Daughter and the sequel does not disappoint! Here we get a peek into what we always hear Vikings were--tough, vicious, warriors. And yet those traits bring their own dark pain. Heather does a wonderful job of telling that story and how the characters dealt with the consequences of their actions. Loved, loved, loved Forest Child. Like God's Daughter, it's one I'll be reading again.
January 10, 2018
Great historical fiction! Thinking of how they lived and died is challenging. Understanding Christianity's introduction into different societies is well illustrated in this book. Highly recommend both of this author's Viking books.
July 7, 2018
Awesome
Loved this second book in this series. Started and finished in a few hours, I couldn't put it down. Like this author's books.
Loved this second book in this series. Started and finished in a few hours, I couldn't put it down. Like this author's books.
November 10, 2016
Forest Child by Heather Day Gilbert is the second novel in her Vikings of The New World series. Yes, Vikings! Based on Icelandic Sagas written hundreds of years ago, Gilbert manages to shed light on a woman obscured by history and bring her struggles, fears, and victories into the 21st century. Freydis emerges as a character very different from today’s women, but also very similar. Well-written, impeccably researched, and a story with Vikings! Yes, this novel is a must-read.
Forest Child opens in the New World settlement known as Vinland. Freydis, her husband, her men and a band of Icelanders have arrived to harvest the wealth of an unexplored land. The 11th century is full of pagan rites, ruthless revenge and a glimmer of faith. With a first person, present tense perspective, the reader is thrust into the action. Freydis is a remarkable character — ruled by insecurities and the desire to have a place, she is also intelligent, a leader and a warrior. She has a strong personality that keeps her safe, but also alienates those around her. Her fierce passions lead her to extreme measures that lead to betrayal and banishment.
If Forest Child was just a tale of Viking mayhem with a female lead character, it would be a fun read. But Freydis meets God and her world is upended. A woman who does everything all the way, she fully embraces her Savior. Yet her past and personality are often at odds with her new faith. And her present brings with it trials. Sounds so very familiar. How many new believers struggle with past sins that are forgiven and with an old nature at odds with a new creation? I loved that Freydis grew into the woman God created — a woman who had distinct God-given talents and gifts that could be tempered and refined by Him.
With great historical detail, a flawed and intriguing main character, and again, Vikings!, Forest Child is a highly recommended read.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Forest Child opens in the New World settlement known as Vinland. Freydis, her husband, her men and a band of Icelanders have arrived to harvest the wealth of an unexplored land. The 11th century is full of pagan rites, ruthless revenge and a glimmer of faith. With a first person, present tense perspective, the reader is thrust into the action. Freydis is a remarkable character — ruled by insecurities and the desire to have a place, she is also intelligent, a leader and a warrior. She has a strong personality that keeps her safe, but also alienates those around her. Her fierce passions lead her to extreme measures that lead to betrayal and banishment.
If Forest Child was just a tale of Viking mayhem with a female lead character, it would be a fun read. But Freydis meets God and her world is upended. A woman who does everything all the way, she fully embraces her Savior. Yet her past and personality are often at odds with her new faith. And her present brings with it trials. Sounds so very familiar. How many new believers struggle with past sins that are forgiven and with an old nature at odds with a new creation? I loved that Freydis grew into the woman God created — a woman who had distinct God-given talents and gifts that could be tempered and refined by Him.
With great historical detail, a flawed and intriguing main character, and again, Vikings!, Forest Child is a highly recommended read.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
December 20, 2016
Forest Child by Heather Day Gilbert is an amazing historical tale of tenth century Viking history, based on the Sagas of the Greenlanders. Gilbert has written a seemingly realistic view of the Viking world as she continues the story she began in God's Daughter. Although second in a series, the author does a nice job making this a stand alone story by filling in some of the back story of the characters that reappear in Forest Child. Characters that are strong and have the similar feelings and failings as folks centuries hence. This novel is a story of compelling adventures of a people who need to rely on community and cunning to survive. A people who lived a life of revenge and protecting their own. A people exuding raw power and raw emotions. A people of strength and fury.
Freydis, the heroine, the Forest Child, wants respect but knows she has to fight for every favor. She is a godless rebel, ready to fight her way out of any situation and yet not ready to accept love from those who care for her. Does she go too far to protect her family, her land? Will she ever find the solace and promise of a new life? Can she find forgiveness from the Christ that she has come to hear about and begin to recognize who she really is?
Powerful messages of the weakness of the human soul and the forgiveness and hope that faith in God alone can bring. With vivid, detailed descriptions of a harsh, violent and hostile life softened by the love of family and God, Forest Child is a fascinating, forcefully dynamic book that should not be missed.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
Freydis, the heroine, the Forest Child, wants respect but knows she has to fight for every favor. She is a godless rebel, ready to fight her way out of any situation and yet not ready to accept love from those who care for her. Does she go too far to protect her family, her land? Will she ever find the solace and promise of a new life? Can she find forgiveness from the Christ that she has come to hear about and begin to recognize who she really is?
Powerful messages of the weakness of the human soul and the forgiveness and hope that faith in God alone can bring. With vivid, detailed descriptions of a harsh, violent and hostile life softened by the love of family and God, Forest Child is a fascinating, forcefully dynamic book that should not be missed.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 15, 2016
Forest Child by Heather Day Gilbert
Freydis, woman of Freyr, Freydis Eiriksdottir, a daughter of Erik the Red, known through the Sagas of the Greenlanders, comes alive in this story. At times, this reader wanted to shake her until her red hair became even more tangled, and her teeth rattled (a very dangerous thing to attempt, as you will soon see). Though she is extremely courageous and is incredibly attuned to her body and environment in terms of battle and political intrigue, for much of the truth-based tale Freydis seems to be perilously unaware of her own inner nature and that of her husband. They both pay dearly.
Forest Child (a negative category applied to Freydis because of the circumstances of her conception/birth is a raw story, true to the times. Some events are horrifying, described with sufficient, though not gratuitous, detail to leave their mark on your memory. Balance and hope are provided by two Christians, Gudrid, in particular, who appeared in God’s Daughter, the first book of Gilbert’s Greenlander sagas relived.
For greater ease in reading this attention-holding story, I recommend bookmarking the family tree and the glossary. You might want to skim the brief glossary before reading the book itself, so you can remain immersed in the story. For the same reason, I prefer to keep a copy of both it and the tree at hand, but that isn’t necessary.
Freydis, woman of Freyr, Freydis Eiriksdottir, a daughter of Erik the Red, known through the Sagas of the Greenlanders, comes alive in this story. At times, this reader wanted to shake her until her red hair became even more tangled, and her teeth rattled (a very dangerous thing to attempt, as you will soon see). Though she is extremely courageous and is incredibly attuned to her body and environment in terms of battle and political intrigue, for much of the truth-based tale Freydis seems to be perilously unaware of her own inner nature and that of her husband. They both pay dearly.
Forest Child (a negative category applied to Freydis because of the circumstances of her conception/birth is a raw story, true to the times. Some events are horrifying, described with sufficient, though not gratuitous, detail to leave their mark on your memory. Balance and hope are provided by two Christians, Gudrid, in particular, who appeared in God’s Daughter, the first book of Gilbert’s Greenlander sagas relived.
For greater ease in reading this attention-holding story, I recommend bookmarking the family tree and the glossary. You might want to skim the brief glossary before reading the book itself, so you can remain immersed in the story. For the same reason, I prefer to keep a copy of both it and the tree at hand, but that isn’t necessary.
September 20, 2016
This is a story that draws the reader into another time and another world - Where we are immersed into the fierce culture and the dynasty of the Vikings. This story is harsh but so brave. The author is unafraid to venture where she must take readers in order to be true to the bravery of the heroine, Freydis. How I loved that! A story that is so unique and different.
Freydis is a woman like no other. She is one with the forest. A brave warrior who protects those she loves while she fights against being loved in return. I felt her frustration in her choices. Choices that cost her so much, yet ones she felt were necessary. She leads her people with great physical strength. Her husband admires her with all his heart but she protects her heart and gives him little place in her life.
Indeed, how brave and ruthless Freydis is. It is in closing herself off that she feels the strongest. She suffers through challenge after challenge believing her lot in live is to never know the intimacy at the heart of love. But, in such a wonderful way, Freydis begins to discover a greater truth than she ever hoped for.
Well written, and just as with God’s Daughter, I loved it!
Freydis is a woman like no other. She is one with the forest. A brave warrior who protects those she loves while she fights against being loved in return. I felt her frustration in her choices. Choices that cost her so much, yet ones she felt were necessary. She leads her people with great physical strength. Her husband admires her with all his heart but she protects her heart and gives him little place in her life.
Indeed, how brave and ruthless Freydis is. It is in closing herself off that she feels the strongest. She suffers through challenge after challenge believing her lot in live is to never know the intimacy at the heart of love. But, in such a wonderful way, Freydis begins to discover a greater truth than she ever hoped for.
Well written, and just as with God’s Daughter, I loved it!
December 17, 2016
Forest Child is the second book in the Vikings of the New World Saga and follows the story of Freydis Eiriksdottir. Shortly after the events of God’s Daughter, Freydis finds herself on a new and perilous adventure, encountering new enemies that threaten the safety of both her crew and family. When her world comes crashing down around her, she must make a choice to open her heart to God or reject him. After reading the first book in this series I couldn’t wait to dive into the second and this historical novel did not disappoint. It had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. In fact I stayed up late and finished this novel in about two days! Freydis’ story is raw, intense and at times heartbreaking, but that is what makes it such a great read. I loved the underlying theme of redemption in this novel and believe it paints a vivid picture of God’s unconditional love even when our sins seem unforgiveable. If you love historical tales with Vikings, adventure and suspense, I believe you’ll enjoy Forest Child just like I did.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 2, 2016
Forest Child by Heather Day Gilbert is riveting, raw and honest. Based on the life of Leif Erickson’s daughter, this is a gripping tale made even more intimate because of the author’s choice to use first person, present point of view. Freydis is not the typical heroine. She is deeply flawed, but true to the historical figure, she is a woman that demands attention. The book is touching and gentle at times as she comes to terms with her own weaknesses and is also romantic, although never sweetly so. There is plenty of action and even some rather graphic scenes, but these are necessary, in my opinion, to tell the tale of this fierce Viking woman. I read it in two sittings and probably would have read it all the way through except that I had to get up for work the next day! It is a book that deserves a place alongside historical fiction of the highest calibre. I highly recommend it to history buffs, action adventure seekers, and just those looking for a great story.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a complimentary copy from the author.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a complimentary copy from the author.
October 5, 2016
Heather Day Gilbert's sequel to God's Daughter allows us see into Freydis's stormy, violent life and what led her to become the fierce warrior she is. Certain events in her childhood help us understand her combative and competitive nature. Surprising for me was hearing her inner dialogue about love, how the deepest part of her yearns to feel loved and to show love, but she squashes it every time. Is such a warrior even capable of love, even the love of a Heavenly Father?
My love of history and curiosity to know more of the connection between Vikings and Christianity drew me to this series. Gilbert's adventurous writing, vivid details, strong characters, and seemingly strange plot twists captivate me and leave me hungry for more after the last page is read.
My love of history and curiosity to know more of the connection between Vikings and Christianity drew me to this series. Gilbert's adventurous writing, vivid details, strong characters, and seemingly strange plot twists captivate me and leave me hungry for more after the last page is read.
October 20, 2016
Gilbert's Viking stories are some of my favorite stories. In-depth, flawed characters telling the stories in their own voices set me right into the middle of the action and I cannot get out. I am captive to these tales. Gilbert gives us a gift in retelling these little-known Viking sagas. More than simply entertaining, they lead us to truths about marriage, forgiveness, love, and community. The Viking era is not one I am overly familiar with beyond the famous names like Erik the Red and Leif Ericsson (both who play roles in these stories and whose names are spelled differently, reflecting their heritage) but Gilbert's books make me want to read more about them and hop a plane to Iceland.
Book 2 lives up to the high standard set in book 1. Truly, these are remarkable stories.
Book 2 lives up to the high standard set in book 1. Truly, these are remarkable stories.
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