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Freya Eriksdottir #1
Queen of America
All eight episodes of the highly rated Queen of America series collected into a single edition (with bonus final chapter!)
500 years before Christopher Columbus, a young Viking woman led an expedition from Greenland in the Arctic Sea, to discover and settle North America.
For a thousand years her story was considered a myth, a tale told around campfires to ward off cold winter nights with visions of Viking conquest.
Late last century, archeologists discovered her settlement at L'ans Aux Meadows in North America.
This is the incredible story of Viking Shieldmaiden Freya Eriksdottir.
Publishers Weekly, Booklife Prize in Fiction Sept 2016.
500 years before Christopher Columbus, a young Viking woman led an expedition from Greenland in the Arctic Sea, to discover and settle North America.
For a thousand years her story was considered a myth, a tale told around campfires to ward off cold winter nights with visions of Viking conquest.
Late last century, archeologists discovered her settlement at L'ans Aux Meadows in North America.
This is the incredible story of Viking Shieldmaiden Freya Eriksdottir.
Publishers Weekly, Booklife Prize in Fiction Sept 2016.
350 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2016
1 person is currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 29, 2018
For the History Buffs out there!
Well-analysed and excellently portrayed.
Regardless of how long ago a historical novel takes place, authenticity and accuracy of the setting are tremendously vital. Although it is not applicable to the characters, their values and attributes.
Historical Fiction books have the ability to provide true sense of enlightenment to the theme which should be more than just mere glance at the subject and past.
Talking about the Fiction, in that book author's imaginative skills should also be broadcasting itself. Different people have multiple perspective about how far an author can experiment about the characters.
T.J.Slee's Queen of America very well fits to the definition of historical fictions.
Queen of America documents the courageous story of Freya Eriksdottir, born into Viking Nobility and how she struggled endlessly to make her vision of glorious future come true.
The story breaks with a scene of war and action. It was a do-or-die situation. It prompted the scenes of wars between Indian Freedom fighters and East India Company people which I read in my history course books. Since that moment, I was hooked with the novel.
Flashback to one year ago, where Freya is getting ready for a special occasion. She is about to go on an adventure. How far will she risk her life and why? What perils awaited her was interesting to watch.
The cover is simply adorable. When you take the book in your hand, the golden braid on it seems magnificent.
Being a history fan, Queen of America did all the justice in increasing my knowledge about Vikings. I look forward to read more of T.J. Slee's novels.
Sibling rivalry is the key point. Comprehensive writing style, circumstantial view points of characters offers the readers an exhilarating experience.
Insightful and thrilling are the two words I can mutter up for Queen of America.
If Viking History catches your attention, then T.J. Slee's Queen of America is a must read.
Well-analysed and excellently portrayed.
Regardless of how long ago a historical novel takes place, authenticity and accuracy of the setting are tremendously vital. Although it is not applicable to the characters, their values and attributes.
Historical Fiction books have the ability to provide true sense of enlightenment to the theme which should be more than just mere glance at the subject and past.
Talking about the Fiction, in that book author's imaginative skills should also be broadcasting itself. Different people have multiple perspective about how far an author can experiment about the characters.
T.J.Slee's Queen of America very well fits to the definition of historical fictions.
Queen of America documents the courageous story of Freya Eriksdottir, born into Viking Nobility and how she struggled endlessly to make her vision of glorious future come true.
The story breaks with a scene of war and action. It was a do-or-die situation. It prompted the scenes of wars between Indian Freedom fighters and East India Company people which I read in my history course books. Since that moment, I was hooked with the novel.
Flashback to one year ago, where Freya is getting ready for a special occasion. She is about to go on an adventure. How far will she risk her life and why? What perils awaited her was interesting to watch.
The cover is simply adorable. When you take the book in your hand, the golden braid on it seems magnificent.
Being a history fan, Queen of America did all the justice in increasing my knowledge about Vikings. I look forward to read more of T.J. Slee's novels.
Sibling rivalry is the key point. Comprehensive writing style, circumstantial view points of characters offers the readers an exhilarating experience.
Insightful and thrilling are the two words I can mutter up for Queen of America.
If Viking History catches your attention, then T.J. Slee's Queen of America is a must read.
March 2, 2017
Hi! Clearly this isn't a review as this my own book! So these are just some notes about the background to the book, and this novella series.
Why another Viking book?
I love the old Viking sagas. These huge folk mythology stories written around the turn of the 1st century AD trying to capture the old oral histories. I'd just read a book "The Viking Discovery of America: The Excavation of a Norse Settlement in L'Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland" which details how the first Europeans to 'discover America' were in fact Vikings, some 500 years before anyone else.
The two sagas, 'Erik the Red' and the 'Greenlander' saga, both refer to Vikings travelling from Greenland to a land that can only be America. All this is pretty well known and some have even written about the first expedition from Greenland, led by son of Erik the Red, Leif 'The Lucky' Eriksson.
But much more interesting, I think, is the second expedition, led by Leif's sister Freydis. The two sagas have slightly differing accounts of her story, but common elements are that after Leif's second attempt to settle America failed when he got lost at sea, Freydis convinced Erik the Red to let her try. She led a fleet to America, took over Leif's old settlement (apparently in Canada) and abandoned the settlement after about a year. In the sagas she is portrayed quite unsympathetically, either as scheming, dishonest, bloodthirsty and a bit deranged or just downright evil. But this wasn't unusual for most women of strength in 'literature' right up until the last century (and some would argue, still today!)
Think about it though. This young Viking woman fought for and was given command of a fleet of ships and a mandate to establish a new colony. What kind of woman must she have been! It isn't like the Viking culture was some sort of incredibly enlightened society in which female leaders were seen as the equal of men. Strong, yes. Even fearsome, sure. But they were wives, child rearers, home makers, farmers and only occasionally leaders or warriors. For Freydis to have been granted such a responsibility and to have carried it through, is simply incredible.
So I have taken Freydis, not Leif, as the viewpoint in my novellas. I think her story is much, much more compelling that the story of Leif who was essentially just another Viking raider who happened to get blown off course and landed in America. And I've tried to answer these questions:
- What kind of woman was she, that she was able to persuade her father to support her quest
- She was accused in the sagas of some rather bloodthirsty acts. Assuming she was quite sane, but very ambitious, what could have motivated her to do those things?
- Her settlement comprised several small buildings, livestock pens, and a forge for smelting iron and making metals, so what transpired in those first months or years after she landed in America?
- Given that determination, that obvious iron will, what was it that led her to abandon her colony. The sagas refer to conflict with the indigenous peoples and of the Vikings being driven from the new continent by the 'skraeling' or 'savages'. But the Vikings were a nation of warriors - could the local indigenous people really have posed such a threat to several hundred heavily armed Vikings that they would flee and never return?
- The Vikings were raiders and traders, not miners or prospectors. They preferred storming cathedrals and city states and plundering their gold and gems, so what riches did Freydis hope to find in an undeveloped, wild continent like America? She was unlikely to have set sail without a plan for the success of her colony, and it's pretty sure it didn't involve trading in wood and seal pelts.
- Finally, what kind of people would have joined such a voyage, and what might their motivations have been - soldiers, smithies, sailors, fishermen, farmers, nobles and thralls - they were sailing into the unknown when they left Greenland. They might as well have been setting out to colonise the moon. Who would sign up for such a journey and why?
These then are the themes of the Queen of America.
Why novellas? Why not just publish the book as one collected work?
In each episode I have tried to tackle one of these themes. So the novellas stand alone to some extent, thematically, but are connected in storyline. It's just a fun way of writing the story, and allows for a reader to test out whether they are interested in the story in a simple, quick and inexpensive way.
You're Australian, why write about Viking history/mythology?
I live in Denmark at the moment. I am surrounded by reminders of Viking history - every day to and from home I pass a Viking burial mound, my son and daughter carry common Viking names that date back centuries.
But this country is incredibly ignorant of its Viking past. It is not taught in schools in any meaningful way. My children know more about modern American history than they do about Denmark and its place in European history which I consider simply criminal. My son had a project recently to memorise the names of the American presidents of the last century - but has never had to learn the names of any of the line of Danish kings or queens which stretch back nearly 2,000 years.
This year, for the very first time, the Viking sagas were translated into Danish and published. The Danish press noted that they were published in Hindu and Mandarin ten years ago, but it has taken a thousand years to translate them into Danish.
Just as it sometimes takes a tourist to appreciate the novelty or beauty of your home town, I think it is often foreigners who are more taken with Viking history, mythology and tradition than the people who inherited it. I suspect that is less so for the people of Iceland and Norway than of Denmark, but the average Dane seems both ignorant of their Viking history, and indifferent to it.
I might annoy some Scandinavians by saying so, but I think Viking history is wasted on the Vikings!
Why another Viking book?
I love the old Viking sagas. These huge folk mythology stories written around the turn of the 1st century AD trying to capture the old oral histories. I'd just read a book "The Viking Discovery of America: The Excavation of a Norse Settlement in L'Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland" which details how the first Europeans to 'discover America' were in fact Vikings, some 500 years before anyone else.
The two sagas, 'Erik the Red' and the 'Greenlander' saga, both refer to Vikings travelling from Greenland to a land that can only be America. All this is pretty well known and some have even written about the first expedition from Greenland, led by son of Erik the Red, Leif 'The Lucky' Eriksson.
But much more interesting, I think, is the second expedition, led by Leif's sister Freydis. The two sagas have slightly differing accounts of her story, but common elements are that after Leif's second attempt to settle America failed when he got lost at sea, Freydis convinced Erik the Red to let her try. She led a fleet to America, took over Leif's old settlement (apparently in Canada) and abandoned the settlement after about a year. In the sagas she is portrayed quite unsympathetically, either as scheming, dishonest, bloodthirsty and a bit deranged or just downright evil. But this wasn't unusual for most women of strength in 'literature' right up until the last century (and some would argue, still today!)
Think about it though. This young Viking woman fought for and was given command of a fleet of ships and a mandate to establish a new colony. What kind of woman must she have been! It isn't like the Viking culture was some sort of incredibly enlightened society in which female leaders were seen as the equal of men. Strong, yes. Even fearsome, sure. But they were wives, child rearers, home makers, farmers and only occasionally leaders or warriors. For Freydis to have been granted such a responsibility and to have carried it through, is simply incredible.
So I have taken Freydis, not Leif, as the viewpoint in my novellas. I think her story is much, much more compelling that the story of Leif who was essentially just another Viking raider who happened to get blown off course and landed in America. And I've tried to answer these questions:
- What kind of woman was she, that she was able to persuade her father to support her quest
- She was accused in the sagas of some rather bloodthirsty acts. Assuming she was quite sane, but very ambitious, what could have motivated her to do those things?
- Her settlement comprised several small buildings, livestock pens, and a forge for smelting iron and making metals, so what transpired in those first months or years after she landed in America?
- Given that determination, that obvious iron will, what was it that led her to abandon her colony. The sagas refer to conflict with the indigenous peoples and of the Vikings being driven from the new continent by the 'skraeling' or 'savages'. But the Vikings were a nation of warriors - could the local indigenous people really have posed such a threat to several hundred heavily armed Vikings that they would flee and never return?
- The Vikings were raiders and traders, not miners or prospectors. They preferred storming cathedrals and city states and plundering their gold and gems, so what riches did Freydis hope to find in an undeveloped, wild continent like America? She was unlikely to have set sail without a plan for the success of her colony, and it's pretty sure it didn't involve trading in wood and seal pelts.
- Finally, what kind of people would have joined such a voyage, and what might their motivations have been - soldiers, smithies, sailors, fishermen, farmers, nobles and thralls - they were sailing into the unknown when they left Greenland. They might as well have been setting out to colonise the moon. Who would sign up for such a journey and why?
These then are the themes of the Queen of America.
Why novellas? Why not just publish the book as one collected work?
In each episode I have tried to tackle one of these themes. So the novellas stand alone to some extent, thematically, but are connected in storyline. It's just a fun way of writing the story, and allows for a reader to test out whether they are interested in the story in a simple, quick and inexpensive way.
You're Australian, why write about Viking history/mythology?
I live in Denmark at the moment. I am surrounded by reminders of Viking history - every day to and from home I pass a Viking burial mound, my son and daughter carry common Viking names that date back centuries.
But this country is incredibly ignorant of its Viking past. It is not taught in schools in any meaningful way. My children know more about modern American history than they do about Denmark and its place in European history which I consider simply criminal. My son had a project recently to memorise the names of the American presidents of the last century - but has never had to learn the names of any of the line of Danish kings or queens which stretch back nearly 2,000 years.
This year, for the very first time, the Viking sagas were translated into Danish and published. The Danish press noted that they were published in Hindu and Mandarin ten years ago, but it has taken a thousand years to translate them into Danish.
Just as it sometimes takes a tourist to appreciate the novelty or beauty of your home town, I think it is often foreigners who are more taken with Viking history, mythology and tradition than the people who inherited it. I suspect that is less so for the people of Iceland and Norway than of Denmark, but the average Dane seems both ignorant of their Viking history, and indifferent to it.
I might annoy some Scandinavians by saying so, but I think Viking history is wasted on the Vikings!
November 24, 2016
I'm thankful to the author for sending me her book for the second time. I've read "The Vanirim" a few months back and really loved the plot. It was a sci-fi meets mythology story. But this book, "Queen if America" is different. It's genre is purely based on mythology and history.
The story starts with a battle scene between a young Viking rebel woman that happened about 500 years ago. Many years later, the Viking girl Freya is set for a mission to find the Vinland. I really liked the character of the female protagonist. The way the author has described her character as a strong, fearless and rebellious, it was very impressive. The story is not fast paced like "The Vanirim" but this book is a must read for mythology lovers. It says a great deal about Viking history and Greek mythology.
The story starts with a battle scene between a young Viking rebel woman that happened about 500 years ago. Many years later, the Viking girl Freya is set for a mission to find the Vinland. I really liked the character of the female protagonist. The way the author has described her character as a strong, fearless and rebellious, it was very impressive. The story is not fast paced like "The Vanirim" but this book is a must read for mythology lovers. It says a great deal about Viking history and Greek mythology.
February 10, 2017
Authentic and detailed, Queen of America is based on a saga about Freydis, daughter of famed Viking leader, who's more famous son Leif son traveled to Vinland making contact with the Americas while the rest of Europe was stuck int he dark ages. This story is told through Freya's eyes. Sibling rivalry sets the tone, as Erik's two children are pitted against each other in the race to settle the new land. Proud and pagan Freya wants to make her mark as a brave warrior. Her brother, Leif has embraced the new religion, Christianity and their differences just begin there. He has given her a gift for the journey, and Freya suspects that his intentions are not in her best interests. Sweeping, realistic, and full of adventure, this is a wonderful picture into the days when stories were told in sagas and people were immortalized for their bravery.
November 9, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for the book!
First and foremost, the picture of the cover does not translate well online. It is striking in its simplicity in person. There could have been a myriad of designs showing different aspects of Viking life, but I believe that would have detracted from the actual story being told. The golden braid lets you know up front that this novel will be different from all the rest.
Being a big history buff, I was excited to learn about a different facet of the traditional Leif-led expeditions to North America stories. The conquest of the natives by a female led force and told from a female perspective sheds a whole new light on the traditional blood-thirsty Viking tales.
I would highly recommend this book (in fact, I have already done so) to anyone who not only enjoys historical fiction but also just an interesting story with a powerful female lead. I am looking forward to future installments in this series.
First and foremost, the picture of the cover does not translate well online. It is striking in its simplicity in person. There could have been a myriad of designs showing different aspects of Viking life, but I believe that would have detracted from the actual story being told. The golden braid lets you know up front that this novel will be different from all the rest.
Being a big history buff, I was excited to learn about a different facet of the traditional Leif-led expeditions to North America stories. The conquest of the natives by a female led force and told from a female perspective sheds a whole new light on the traditional blood-thirsty Viking tales.
I would highly recommend this book (in fact, I have already done so) to anyone who not only enjoys historical fiction but also just an interesting story with a powerful female lead. I am looking forward to future installments in this series.
October 1, 2016
The whole series was really good, although it was a bit slow paced from time to time. I'm not so familiar with the vikings history, but I expected more action and definitely longer final battle. Either way, it was really interesting.
Oh, and the author's notes! I LOVE when there's an author's notes in a book. It's like a next level of thoughtfulness. :)
Oh, and the author's notes! I LOVE when there's an author's notes in a book. It's like a next level of thoughtfulness. :)
February 6, 2017
Great book depicting the colonization of America by Vikings. It was a bit slow at times, but was overall an amazing read. Will definitely be checking out this author more!
November 8, 2016
I won this book through a giveaway here on Goodreads.
3.5 stars
Queen of America was a really nice reading for different reasons.
First of all, the story is quite easy to follow and its setting are really compelling. I haven't read many books about Vikings -nor I know that much about them apart from common knowledge- so I can't say if this book lives up to the other novels of his own kind, however it was well planned, it had a good pace and it was easy to grow fond of the characters.
For what concerns them, they were probably the most satisfying part of this book. Freya and the other women embody my ideal of shield-maidens, they are strong and independent, witty and stunning, of course. They are as sharp as their men, they know how to gain respect from them when they are not treated as equals -of course it doesn't always happens, and I didn't expect to.
Moreover, sometimes there were this out-of-the-blue comebacks between the characters that made really laugh and that were sweet in some ways because they showed the familiarity and so the affection between them.
I have read at the end of the book that many were struck by the topic of slavery. I was among them, but in a positive way: it only gave accuracy to the story. While in some parts the author herself said that she didn't respect the historical reality in order to make the book more appealing, in this subject she did, in my opinion. I really didn't expected this Vikings to be moved just by the desire of discovering new places and creating new colonies, there must have been some kind of more material and immediate profit as well. Slavery is one the most obvious alternatives and I was satisfied with the fact that the first who talked about it was the protagonist herself, and that no one really mentioned the morality of it, it wouldn't have made sense.
Another thing that I really appreciated is that the author has made many, many researches about the Vikings' world in order to guarantee the best accuracy possibile as she has written plenty about them in the last pages of her book. As I already said, I do not really know much about it and it was really interesting to finally deepen my knowledge.
Also, the author was really kind some months ago when she replied to a (tricky) question of mine with a really long and detailed answer about Freya's world. She has published it, and here is the link, if anyone is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/questions/8...
Now, some last words about what I didn't like in this novel.
One first downside is linked to the development of the story. Yes, I know what I have written before, but I had also said "quite". Truth to be told, at first I wasn't really enjoying the book: it begins in medias res, narrating the battle between the Vikings and the Beothuk without really explaining why it started or who are the opponents and the different persons who talk to Freya and fight with her. It was confusing, I wasn't able to make a clear idea about the characters and the event. Later, as I went on and on reading, it became more clear -even though I wouldn't say completely clear, some parts were still a bit nebulous. I can't even properly say why, sometimes I just lost myself in the words and found out I hadn't really understood what it had happened and so I needed to go back and read it again. It wasn't really pleasant.
My second point is purely graphic: the book has right justification. While reading I had understood that there was something strange and upsetting but I didn't immediately spotted what it was. Then I saw it, and I couldn't unseen it anymore. Every line ends in a different place, it seems like there were some missing words. It doesn't really help the reading experience. Please, dear T.J. Slee, be careful about this! It's a no-no on this point, I really hated it. There were also some mistakes in the text but they were not many and they were quite evidently errors caused by distraction.
Overall I feel satisfied with this reading and I can say that I would recommend this novel.
3.5 stars
Queen of America was a really nice reading for different reasons.
First of all, the story is quite easy to follow and its setting are really compelling. I haven't read many books about Vikings -nor I know that much about them apart from common knowledge- so I can't say if this book lives up to the other novels of his own kind, however it was well planned, it had a good pace and it was easy to grow fond of the characters.
For what concerns them, they were probably the most satisfying part of this book. Freya and the other women embody my ideal of shield-maidens, they are strong and independent, witty and stunning, of course. They are as sharp as their men, they know how to gain respect from them when they are not treated as equals -of course it doesn't always happens, and I didn't expect to.
Moreover, sometimes there were this out-of-the-blue comebacks between the characters that made really laugh and that were sweet in some ways because they showed the familiarity and so the affection between them.
I have read at the end of the book that many were struck by the topic of slavery. I was among them, but in a positive way: it only gave accuracy to the story. While in some parts the author herself said that she didn't respect the historical reality in order to make the book more appealing, in this subject she did, in my opinion. I really didn't expected this Vikings to be moved just by the desire of discovering new places and creating new colonies, there must have been some kind of more material and immediate profit as well. Slavery is one the most obvious alternatives and I was satisfied with the fact that the first who talked about it was the protagonist herself, and that no one really mentioned the morality of it, it wouldn't have made sense.
Another thing that I really appreciated is that the author has made many, many researches about the Vikings' world in order to guarantee the best accuracy possibile as she has written plenty about them in the last pages of her book. As I already said, I do not really know much about it and it was really interesting to finally deepen my knowledge.
Also, the author was really kind some months ago when she replied to a (tricky) question of mine with a really long and detailed answer about Freya's world. She has published it, and here is the link, if anyone is interested: https://www.goodreads.com/questions/8...
Now, some last words about what I didn't like in this novel.
One first downside is linked to the development of the story. Yes, I know what I have written before, but I had also said "quite". Truth to be told, at first I wasn't really enjoying the book: it begins in medias res, narrating the battle between the Vikings and the Beothuk without really explaining why it started or who are the opponents and the different persons who talk to Freya and fight with her. It was confusing, I wasn't able to make a clear idea about the characters and the event. Later, as I went on and on reading, it became more clear -even though I wouldn't say completely clear, some parts were still a bit nebulous. I can't even properly say why, sometimes I just lost myself in the words and found out I hadn't really understood what it had happened and so I needed to go back and read it again. It wasn't really pleasant.
My second point is purely graphic: the book has right justification. While reading I had understood that there was something strange and upsetting but I didn't immediately spotted what it was. Then I saw it, and I couldn't unseen it anymore. Every line ends in a different place, it seems like there were some missing words. It doesn't really help the reading experience. Please, dear T.J. Slee, be careful about this! It's a no-no on this point, I really hated it. There were also some mistakes in the text but they were not many and they were quite evidently errors caused by distraction.
Overall I feel satisfied with this reading and I can say that I would recommend this novel.
July 14, 2016
This is a review of the whole series because it comes in 8 episodes and I can't be bothered doing a seperate review of each! First, I loved this series - it is like fantasy, but set a thousand years ago. No one knows if Vikings really did make it to America so it could just as well be fantasy. The character of Freya is awesome but I also liked Gunnar who is an evil sh*t who you love to hate. Haki and Hyka the two scouts are good value too, though I wish Hyka was given more airtime. In general I think this series could be expanded out a lot lot more, because there are so many interesting characters to explore!
This is how I rate the different chapters:
1) 5 stars for the battle scene
2) 4 stars for the sea voyage to America and the storm
3) 5 stars for Freya showing what a cold blooded psycho she can be
4) 4 stars - 3 really, this one spends a bit too much time getting into the characters, not much action but one extra star for the cover alone ;) I want it as a poster
5) 4 stars - for showing the Viking invasion from the point of view of the native people
6) 5 stars - for showing what a swine Gunnar is
7) 4 stars - for turning the tables on him
8) 5 stars - for finishing the book by re-describing the opening battle from a completely different point of view (really unexpected, nice touch, was wondering how the author would do that) and finishing the series off nicely.
So I end up with 4 stars overall.
If I have one thing, it is that this should be made into a single book, not eight episodes. OK I got the first four for free on special and they are only 1.50 each after that but it was just annoying to have to download five times (even if I did enjoy the covers). So pls TJSlee make this as a single book and I might buy the paperback! But keep the images inside the book, they do add to the story!
And think about a series based on Gunnar. He is one of those love him hate him love him characters.
This is how I rate the different chapters:
1) 5 stars for the battle scene
2) 4 stars for the sea voyage to America and the storm
3) 5 stars for Freya showing what a cold blooded psycho she can be
4) 4 stars - 3 really, this one spends a bit too much time getting into the characters, not much action but one extra star for the cover alone ;) I want it as a poster
5) 4 stars - for showing the Viking invasion from the point of view of the native people
6) 5 stars - for showing what a swine Gunnar is
7) 4 stars - for turning the tables on him
8) 5 stars - for finishing the book by re-describing the opening battle from a completely different point of view (really unexpected, nice touch, was wondering how the author would do that) and finishing the series off nicely.
So I end up with 4 stars overall.
If I have one thing, it is that this should be made into a single book, not eight episodes. OK I got the first four for free on special and they are only 1.50 each after that but it was just annoying to have to download five times (even if I did enjoy the covers). So pls TJSlee make this as a single book and I might buy the paperback! But keep the images inside the book, they do add to the story!
And think about a series based on Gunnar. He is one of those love him hate him love him characters.
December 11, 2017
Anyone who is interesting in vikings needs to read this book. Once you start reading you won't be able to stop.
In the book you accompany Freya on a voyage to Vinland. This is her first voyage and it comes shortly after she turns 17. She takes this as her chance to show everyone who she is and make a name for herself instead of being known as her father's daughter.
The characters I find most interesting are Hyka and Haki her father's Scottish scouts. Freya's father Eric sends Hyka and Haki along on the voyage. Hyka and Haki were taken as young children and trained to be the scouts. Hyka she always had a love for climbing trees where as Haki he had the ability to run for very long lengths of time. Freya had is very found of the two and has a lot of trust in them. Could there be something going on between Hyka and Haki or perhaps between Haki and Freya?
Taking Vinland proofs to not be an easy task. Freya's brother had a group there before and they failed against the natives of the land the Skraeling (Beothuk).Now it's Freya's turn to see if she can do better with the Skraeling than her brother did. Can Freya manage to do better than her brother and take and keep the land of Vinland for the Vikings?
If you enjoy a book with drama, history, sorrow, and battle this is a book for you. It is truly amazing how everything comes together so well in this book. It is a must read for just about anyone.
In the book you accompany Freya on a voyage to Vinland. This is her first voyage and it comes shortly after she turns 17. She takes this as her chance to show everyone who she is and make a name for herself instead of being known as her father's daughter.
The characters I find most interesting are Hyka and Haki her father's Scottish scouts. Freya's father Eric sends Hyka and Haki along on the voyage. Hyka and Haki were taken as young children and trained to be the scouts. Hyka she always had a love for climbing trees where as Haki he had the ability to run for very long lengths of time. Freya had is very found of the two and has a lot of trust in them. Could there be something going on between Hyka and Haki or perhaps between Haki and Freya?
Taking Vinland proofs to not be an easy task. Freya's brother had a group there before and they failed against the natives of the land the Skraeling (Beothuk).Now it's Freya's turn to see if she can do better with the Skraeling than her brother did. Can Freya manage to do better than her brother and take and keep the land of Vinland for the Vikings?
If you enjoy a book with drama, history, sorrow, and battle this is a book for you. It is truly amazing how everything comes together so well in this book. It is a must read for just about anyone.
Read
September 14, 2016I was lucky enough to receive this book! A Viking heroine powerful in her strength, sharp and witty, owning her own life. I can imagine this book being made into a movie, easily. The story to me read like a movie script.
May 29, 2016
This short little novel was fun to read! While it may not be structurally "a five" the story and the telling are worth the stars. I can't wait to read the next installment.
June 11, 2016
It was an entertaining read. I only wished it was longer.
June 25, 2018
I won this book on Goodreads but I'll give it a fair and honest review.
I entered the giveaway because I was interested in reading a story about the Vikings and their attempt at the settlement of America. I was surprised to read that this is taken from one of the old Norse sagas. Which means it is likely to have some elements of truth to it. That makes this story all the more fascinating. It is about Erik the Red's daughter Freya who leads an expedition to America to settle and trade with Greenland, Iceland and the other Norse countries.
Queen of America is a short, easy to read novel. It is the first in a series which means that a lot of characters are introduced. They are all well developed and easy to keep separate. Freya's misjudgments and the problems resulting from her arrogance and her inability or unwillingness to be compassionate are well written and entirely logical. I can easily believe that the story that Slee has told in this book could have happened.
I would recommend this for those loving historical novels, the old Norse sagas or those who like stories of America before the arrival of the Pilgrms.
I entered the giveaway because I was interested in reading a story about the Vikings and their attempt at the settlement of America. I was surprised to read that this is taken from one of the old Norse sagas. Which means it is likely to have some elements of truth to it. That makes this story all the more fascinating. It is about Erik the Red's daughter Freya who leads an expedition to America to settle and trade with Greenland, Iceland and the other Norse countries.
Queen of America is a short, easy to read novel. It is the first in a series which means that a lot of characters are introduced. They are all well developed and easy to keep separate. Freya's misjudgments and the problems resulting from her arrogance and her inability or unwillingness to be compassionate are well written and entirely logical. I can easily believe that the story that Slee has told in this book could have happened.
I would recommend this for those loving historical novels, the old Norse sagas or those who like stories of America before the arrival of the Pilgrms.
November 4, 2016
Book Review
Book Title: Queen of America (Freya Eriksdottir #1)
Author: T.J. Slee
Date Read: September 26th - November 4th, 2016
Date Reviewed: November 4th, 2016
Background: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads for an honest review.
Quick Synopsis: This book is all about female vikings, which is a nice change from seeing all men vikings all the time. Freya goes out on a mission and is determined to finish it. You follow her struggles and the adventures that vikings have. It's a great read following strong female characters that are also vikings.
Evaluation: This book was a good read, but I felt that the style did not match with me. This book is truly beautifully written and I love the strong female characters, the exciting plot and the incredible adventures, but I just didn't like the writing style. It felt too slow for me, but that's because I really like to read fast paced books. Yet, this book isn't slow by any means - TJ keeps up an amazing pace. I just found it didn't fit well with me as a reader. Other readers will definitely like this book! It gets all my praises and awards, but as a reader I just know the types of writing styles I like to read and TJ's writing style doesn't match with me personally.
That being said, it's time to get into the juicy parts of this book. You follow Freya as she goes on an adventure, but you also meet her brother Leif. Her story was truly inspiring and compelling, which had me continue and finish this book.
For people interested in viking history but want a more interesting read than a history textbook, I would definitely suggest picking this book up. It's a great fiction read that keeps you hooked and gives you some insight into their culture.
There are definitely characters I would have loved to see more of, but other than that there's not much else to improve on in this set of stories. It's truly a great read and I suggest readers pick it up!
4 out of 5 stars.
Book Title: Queen of America (Freya Eriksdottir #1)
Author: T.J. Slee
Date Read: September 26th - November 4th, 2016
Date Reviewed: November 4th, 2016
Background: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads for an honest review.
Quick Synopsis: This book is all about female vikings, which is a nice change from seeing all men vikings all the time. Freya goes out on a mission and is determined to finish it. You follow her struggles and the adventures that vikings have. It's a great read following strong female characters that are also vikings.
Evaluation: This book was a good read, but I felt that the style did not match with me. This book is truly beautifully written and I love the strong female characters, the exciting plot and the incredible adventures, but I just didn't like the writing style. It felt too slow for me, but that's because I really like to read fast paced books. Yet, this book isn't slow by any means - TJ keeps up an amazing pace. I just found it didn't fit well with me as a reader. Other readers will definitely like this book! It gets all my praises and awards, but as a reader I just know the types of writing styles I like to read and TJ's writing style doesn't match with me personally.
That being said, it's time to get into the juicy parts of this book. You follow Freya as she goes on an adventure, but you also meet her brother Leif. Her story was truly inspiring and compelling, which had me continue and finish this book.
For people interested in viking history but want a more interesting read than a history textbook, I would definitely suggest picking this book up. It's a great fiction read that keeps you hooked and gives you some insight into their culture.
There are definitely characters I would have loved to see more of, but other than that there's not much else to improve on in this set of stories. It's truly a great read and I suggest readers pick it up!
4 out of 5 stars.
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