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Wodan's Children #1
The Wolf and the Raven
Born to rival kings in fifth-century Rhineland, Sigfrid and Brunahild each learn the ancient arts of their heritage, until their powers surpass those of their teachers, and they are united in perfect love and glory. Reprint.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
15 people are currently reading
560 people want to read
About the author
Diana L. Paxson
170 books409 followersDiana L. Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published nonfiction books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.
Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".
Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.
Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.
A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.
She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.
More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 9, 2012
2.5 stars, really.
I was excited to read this. I've read the Nibelungenlied and love the operatic cycle. I've even seen Siegfried performed, which is the opera that corresponds to this novel.
It has some strong parts. The writer's knowledge of the period and Germanic magical beliefs was evident. I liked that it didn't hold so closely to the legend that I should have just reread the Nibelungenlied. I enjoyed the characterization of the main characters.
That said, it definitely has First Book in a Trilogy Syndrome. Nothing happens except set-up for the next book. For most of the novel, I had no idea where it was going, despite my familiarity with the source materials. The parallel narratives merged by the end, but I would have liked them to merge sooner. That's when the two characters really got the most interesting. (Though their sex scenes had me rolling my eyes at times.) There were too many names and tribes to keep straight, despite the helpful chart. Towards the end, I just started skipping pages. The writing was stilted in places.
To be fair, I wanted this to be more historical fiction than fantasy. I just read M. D. Lachlan's Wolfsangel, which seemed very similar, and had the same opinion about the history to fantasy ratio. I probably won't read the other two books.
I was excited to read this. I've read the Nibelungenlied and love the operatic cycle. I've even seen Siegfried performed, which is the opera that corresponds to this novel.
It has some strong parts. The writer's knowledge of the period and Germanic magical beliefs was evident. I liked that it didn't hold so closely to the legend that I should have just reread the Nibelungenlied. I enjoyed the characterization of the main characters.
That said, it definitely has First Book in a Trilogy Syndrome. Nothing happens except set-up for the next book. For most of the novel, I had no idea where it was going, despite my familiarity with the source materials. The parallel narratives merged by the end, but I would have liked them to merge sooner. That's when the two characters really got the most interesting. (Though their sex scenes had me rolling my eyes at times.) There were too many names and tribes to keep straight, despite the helpful chart. Towards the end, I just started skipping pages. The writing was stilted in places.
To be fair, I wanted this to be more historical fiction than fantasy. I just read M. D. Lachlan's Wolfsangel, which seemed very similar, and had the same opinion about the history to fantasy ratio. I probably won't read the other two books.
April 14, 2015
Here come another tale of Sigfrida and Sigfrid or Brunhild, better known as the Volsumg Saga. Sigfrid is the son of Sigmund, who was a shape strong war lord who could change into a wolf. Sigmund was slain and his son was raised by the Albings. But trouble does not stop following the son of the cursed leader. Heming a member from an enemy tribe recognized the boy and tried to kill him. Fortunate with only a broken arm the boy leaves the village and his mother behind. Learning the ways of the forest and the forge, he is raised by Ragen, one of the indigenous earth people who were there before the Germans and the Roman.
Brunhild is the niece of Attila the Hun. Dark skinned and green eyes she befriends Gudrun daughter of a king. Together they visit a forbidden well. It is from
This point that she is selected by Wodan and taught the eats of the Vallyrie. It is in fox dance mountain thAt she learn magic and fighting skills.
In the end Sugfrid must battle fFafnar for treasure and avenge his father. The fighting separates him From Regan and Brunhilds battle behavior seperTes her from the Valkyries. Along the road they meet up.
Diane Paxson knows her Norse literature, religion and magic. She pours that expertise into her retelling of the story. She is on the level of Marion Zimmerman Bradley in fact she took over where Marion left off,
Definitely got to read more of her stuff.
Brunhild is the niece of Attila the Hun. Dark skinned and green eyes she befriends Gudrun daughter of a king. Together they visit a forbidden well. It is from
This point that she is selected by Wodan and taught the eats of the Vallyrie. It is in fox dance mountain thAt she learn magic and fighting skills.
In the end Sugfrid must battle fFafnar for treasure and avenge his father. The fighting separates him From Regan and Brunhilds battle behavior seperTes her from the Valkyries. Along the road they meet up.
Diane Paxson knows her Norse literature, religion and magic. She pours that expertise into her retelling of the story. She is on the level of Marion Zimmerman Bradley in fact she took over where Marion left off,
Definitely got to read more of her stuff.
January 16, 2010
Thoroughly enjoyed this, and will be finishing the other 2 in the series shortly. Loved the Norse overview throughout and the fictional history with Rome. One peeve, however, was the "great romance" between the 2 characters didn't happen till the last 10 pages or so. I get so irked with book jacket descriptions that profess one thing and it doesn't pan out that way.
September 27, 2016
The Wolf and the Raven is the tale of the Nibelung cycle made by Diana L. Paxson. A strong retelling about the story with some clever interpretations.
In here you will be witness of Sigfrid's and Brunahild's stories from their own point of view and then finally merge as they do in the book. You will also see a wise and scheming one-eyed god who will do whatever it takes to do his will and obtain knowledge to stop fate.
Meanwhile Sigfrid is running with wolves and doing some errands for Ragan in the smithforge, Brunahild is walking the path of the Walkyrja and become a master in combat, herb-lore, runes and witchcraft. After some crucial moments who will define Sigfrid's life, he will go straight ahead to his fate, and getting prepared to challenge the mighty Fafnar.
This first part of three book on Wodan's Children series is different from other books that I have read about this legend. I would say that is because it is more personal. Paxson has put words to the fears and doubts of both main characters, making them more humans (at least if compare with some reinterpretations of this legend), which is good. Both Sigfrid and Brunahild personalities are complex, and they feel alone and rejected by the people around. As example, on this tale Sigfrid is not so proud and reliable about his father's heritage and sometimes he felt alienated by it.
This is the main feature inside the plot and there are some writing reminiscences about another similar book (Mists of Avalon, which Paxson uncreditedly co-wrote with Zimmer-Bradley).
The only problem about making the plot more human, is that this tale feels less epic. There some situations that could be more epic and they weren't: Sigfrid shape changing in the fire, Fafnar's death and Brunahild's rescue. That doesn't mean that you don't see epicness, but I think that is unbalanced. You will see it in when Gram is forged and when Gundohar battles for survival.
Other issue that I found is some unbalance in the plot. In the beginning I felt more interested by Brunahild's chapters than Sigfrid. After the reforging of Gram, I felt more interested by Sigrid's.
Lastly, I missed more insight about Sigmund, Sintarfizilo and Signy but I think that is better as it is.
Bottom line: book is great, story is amazing and it is well written. There are minor problems (just in my opinion) and is a more friendly entry to the legend than many other books. I am looking forward to reading the next: The Dragons of the Rhine.
Last but no least, this was read in an Ipad using the Kindle app. Book edition is good and it has everything. A shame that the two other books on this series, have not come into Kindle so far.
In here you will be witness of Sigfrid's and Brunahild's stories from their own point of view and then finally merge as they do in the book. You will also see a wise and scheming one-eyed god who will do whatever it takes to do his will and obtain knowledge to stop fate.
Meanwhile Sigfrid is running with wolves and doing some errands for Ragan in the smithforge, Brunahild is walking the path of the Walkyrja and become a master in combat, herb-lore, runes and witchcraft. After some crucial moments who will define Sigfrid's life, he will go straight ahead to his fate, and getting prepared to challenge the mighty Fafnar.
This first part of three book on Wodan's Children series is different from other books that I have read about this legend. I would say that is because it is more personal. Paxson has put words to the fears and doubts of both main characters, making them more humans (at least if compare with some reinterpretations of this legend), which is good. Both Sigfrid and Brunahild personalities are complex, and they feel alone and rejected by the people around. As example, on this tale Sigfrid is not so proud and reliable about his father's heritage and sometimes he felt alienated by it.
This is the main feature inside the plot and there are some writing reminiscences about another similar book (Mists of Avalon, which Paxson uncreditedly co-wrote with Zimmer-Bradley).
The only problem about making the plot more human, is that this tale feels less epic. There some situations that could be more epic and they weren't: Sigfrid shape changing in the fire, Fafnar's death and Brunahild's rescue. That doesn't mean that you don't see epicness, but I think that is unbalanced. You will see it in when Gram is forged and when Gundohar battles for survival.
Other issue that I found is some unbalance in the plot. In the beginning I felt more interested by Brunahild's chapters than Sigfrid. After the reforging of Gram, I felt more interested by Sigrid's.
Lastly, I missed more insight about Sigmund, Sintarfizilo and Signy but I think that is better as it is.
Bottom line: book is great, story is amazing and it is well written. There are minor problems (just in my opinion) and is a more friendly entry to the legend than many other books. I am looking forward to reading the next: The Dragons of the Rhine.
Last but no least, this was read in an Ipad using the Kindle app. Book edition is good and it has everything. A shame that the two other books on this series, have not come into Kindle so far.
August 7, 2023
If you enjoy a good old fashion book on warriors and finding oneself. With Nordic and Celtic pull with just enough twist to it to give it a new feel. I highly recommend this book
November 10, 2020
A beautiful and intence rendition of the beginnings of the Brunahild and Sigfrid story. It'she best example of northern/germanic/viking historical fiction I've come accross. I love how Diana gets to the heart of her characters; you can really relate to their inner emotions. I can't wait to read the second and third installments to this series.
June 9, 2024
This is a book I had been wanting to read for quite some time; it is out of print so not the easiest to find (although there does appear to be a self-published re-release available...?). At any rate, it's a shame because it is a really good book and Diana Paxson was something of a heavy-hitting fantasy novelist in the late 20th century who seems to have faded into obscurity since then (her non-fiction books on runes appear to still be going strong though).
The Wolf and the Raven is, at its core, a retelling of the The Saga of the Volsungs, which has been providing inspiration to many fantasy novelists since the genre basically began. Paxson's version treats the story well and with respect, focusing first and foremost on the childhoods and coming of age of Sigfrid and Brunhild (the earlier portions of the Norse saga that relate primarily to Sigfrid's ancestry do not form a part of Paxson's novel). As such, she adds a lot of her own details and inventions, particularly concerning Brunhild, but everything fits together nicely without feeling like a dishonest or inappropriate intrusion. The way she grounds the story in its historic time period and belief system is particularly well done (she's a leading figure in runology and Asatru, and she knows her stuff).
My main criticism is that, for a story already chock-full of characters to keep track of (nature of the beast), Paxson introduces even more of her own, particularly along the story arc of Brunhild. The individual identity of some of the characters (particularly the valkyries, or walkyruin as she calls them) serve very little purpose in advancing the plot and could have gone without being named. There are moments where it feels like Paxson is over-complicating things a bit unnecessarily. Additionally, and perhaps ironically, Paxson's trilogy was released around the same time as Stephan Grundy's Rhinegold, another retelling of the same legendary story, which is also now out of print. Personally, I found Grundy's adaptation to be unbeatable--so the comparison is perhaps uninvited but also unavoidable. Grundy's version stays a little truer to the source material and covers the full story arc of the original saga, rather than taking a truncated approach as Paxson's does.
The Wolf and the Raven is the first in Paxson's trilogy of the ancient story; it ends when Sigfrid and Brunhild finally meet. The second book presumably picks up where this one ends, and anyone who knows the source material will know where it is headed, but not necessarily how it will be treated, which is part of the fun of a book/series like this. I hope to find a copy of it to read in the not-so-distant future.
The Wolf and the Raven is, at its core, a retelling of the The Saga of the Volsungs, which has been providing inspiration to many fantasy novelists since the genre basically began. Paxson's version treats the story well and with respect, focusing first and foremost on the childhoods and coming of age of Sigfrid and Brunhild (the earlier portions of the Norse saga that relate primarily to Sigfrid's ancestry do not form a part of Paxson's novel). As such, she adds a lot of her own details and inventions, particularly concerning Brunhild, but everything fits together nicely without feeling like a dishonest or inappropriate intrusion. The way she grounds the story in its historic time period and belief system is particularly well done (she's a leading figure in runology and Asatru, and she knows her stuff).
My main criticism is that, for a story already chock-full of characters to keep track of (nature of the beast), Paxson introduces even more of her own, particularly along the story arc of Brunhild. The individual identity of some of the characters (particularly the valkyries, or walkyruin as she calls them) serve very little purpose in advancing the plot and could have gone without being named. There are moments where it feels like Paxson is over-complicating things a bit unnecessarily. Additionally, and perhaps ironically, Paxson's trilogy was released around the same time as Stephan Grundy's Rhinegold, another retelling of the same legendary story, which is also now out of print. Personally, I found Grundy's adaptation to be unbeatable--so the comparison is perhaps uninvited but also unavoidable. Grundy's version stays a little truer to the source material and covers the full story arc of the original saga, rather than taking a truncated approach as Paxson's does.
The Wolf and the Raven is the first in Paxson's trilogy of the ancient story; it ends when Sigfrid and Brunhild finally meet. The second book presumably picks up where this one ends, and anyone who knows the source material will know where it is headed, but not necessarily how it will be treated, which is part of the fun of a book/series like this. I hope to find a copy of it to read in the not-so-distant future.
June 8, 2025
I bought this back in 2018 on a whim and only just now got around to reading it. A hidden gem! I loved both the writing and the story. I'm not familiar with the legend this is based on so this was all new to me.
The casting out of Sigdrifa (Brunhilda) was the most electrifying part of the book, for me. Because she acts in accordance with Wodan's will and not the collective group of Walkyria, they deem her untrustworthy and strip her of everything (or at least, attempt to). Her powers, possessions; down to her long dark locks. Then they left her as a thrall, for anyone to claim.
"The things that had been her life for eight years burned like the gravegoods men lay on the pyre. But if she had been dead, their essence, and her spirit, would have gone free. They burned, and hope burned with them, and faith, and love.
"I am Sigdrifa!" she whispered desperately.
"You are no one and nothing," came Galemburgis's voice at her ear." -268.
I also really loved following Sigmund as he was essentially driven on a path forged for him. A Wolsung, a man with powers both terrifying and incredible.
Looking forward to the next 2 books!
The casting out of Sigdrifa (Brunhilda) was the most electrifying part of the book, for me. Because she acts in accordance with Wodan's will and not the collective group of Walkyria, they deem her untrustworthy and strip her of everything (or at least, attempt to). Her powers, possessions; down to her long dark locks. Then they left her as a thrall, for anyone to claim.
"The things that had been her life for eight years burned like the gravegoods men lay on the pyre. But if she had been dead, their essence, and her spirit, would have gone free. They burned, and hope burned with them, and faith, and love.
"I am Sigdrifa!" she whispered desperately.
"You are no one and nothing," came Galemburgis's voice at her ear." -268.
I also really loved following Sigmund as he was essentially driven on a path forged for him. A Wolsung, a man with powers both terrifying and incredible.
Looking forward to the next 2 books!
December 18, 2018
It was hard to get into, but once it took off impossible to put down. What a story!
September 28, 2009
I recommend this to anyone who likes historical literature and ledgends. There are good many maps of that era and the book gives a good reality of that time in history. It is a page-turner deluxe.
It is a ledgend of Germanie myth - half warriors, half gods, these superhuman characters inspired awe in all who heard of their strength and their magic.
Sigfrid and Brunahild - born to rival kings.
Very real turbulent scenery of fifth-century Europe.
It is a ledgend of Germanie myth - half warriors, half gods, these superhuman characters inspired awe in all who heard of their strength and their magic.
Sigfrid and Brunahild - born to rival kings.
Very real turbulent scenery of fifth-century Europe.
September 27, 2011
Valkyries, Gods and ledgends. Paxson, makes the legends come alive. I never knew much about the Germanic legends aside from the brass-brested opera singers. The book is pretty good in laying out the real legends of the Brunhilda-Sigfried history and backgroung. A pretty good read.
September 13, 2011
I hated this book. If I could give it negative amounts of stars, I would. The only reason I still own this book is so that no one else can read the copy I have taken out of circulation.
February 26, 2012
Totally apart from her work with MZB and the "Avalon cycle", this book was intriguing on it's own merits.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews