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Vikings of Highgard #1
The Norse Protector
She learns the ways of the fiercely loyal, but undeniably dangerous Vikings
Torunn the Strong and her sisters, the descendants of the Goddess Solveig of Highgard are the only survivors of the dreaded Red Death. Tall, blonde, beautiful, brave and skilled in weaponry, Torunn will do whatever is necessary to save them from the scourge that killed their people. Forced to leave her sisters and her world behind, she is transported to the land of the Vikings where she is to discover the fate of the lost Highgardian boys sent there twenty years earlier.
Near death, she is saved by Brandr, a fearless, tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome man once a Viking warrior. Torunn and Brandr are forced to battle the brutal mountainous climate, wild beasts, and dangerous enemies. Neither want to admit they are falling deeply in love, for Torunn hasn’t ever met a man before and Brandr’s past is filled with tragedy and betrayal.
Is it possible for them to find happiness together?
Torunn the Strong and her sisters, the descendants of the Goddess Solveig of Highgard are the only survivors of the dreaded Red Death. Tall, blonde, beautiful, brave and skilled in weaponry, Torunn will do whatever is necessary to save them from the scourge that killed their people. Forced to leave her sisters and her world behind, she is transported to the land of the Vikings where she is to discover the fate of the lost Highgardian boys sent there twenty years earlier.
Near death, she is saved by Brandr, a fearless, tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome man once a Viking warrior. Torunn and Brandr are forced to battle the brutal mountainous climate, wild beasts, and dangerous enemies. Neither want to admit they are falling deeply in love, for Torunn hasn’t ever met a man before and Brandr’s past is filled with tragedy and betrayal.
Is it possible for them to find happiness together?
577 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2019
181 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 30, 2019
Don’t ask me why but while reading this first in a saga, a series I read two decades ago popped up in my mind, the Earth’s Children by Jean M. Auel. It has nothing in common except for the encounter of two different worlds and the journey of the main characters to discover who they really are and what threats await them at every turn.
In all, it was a tale of epic proportions, with all the elements to keep you on edge.
Mrs Leigh Ann Edwards is a new-author-to-me, what a talent she has to narrate such a tremendous legend.
Torunn is a force to be recognized, why she is named The Strong. She is so determined in her quest, she sometime runs straight in the traps set for her or awaiting for her. But despite her fiery temper, she is also tender-hearted. She is sure very focused on her pursuit but she is not the sort to turn her back to those needing her help.
She has an innocence in her which enlightens this story, so bad events wounded the people she meets during her journey that her simple view of life is also quite refreshing. She makes mistakes but won’t settle for half-hearted measures, she wants all or nothing as for her commitment to Brandr.
Brandr is one of those scarred soul, he had lost so much, but he is still the one taking care of the others. He is the one who will bring back a startling fallen from the nest. He is a caretaker, always there to assist those in need. Even if at time, to avoid the pain brought by loosing his loved ones, he decided for a solitary life. Torunn’s intrusion in his well ordained life shattered his illusions that he was safe living all by himself. She introduced new hopes while reawakening old wounds. So which path will he choose, cautious but desolate or full of hurdles but fulfilling with the woman he cares for.
The side protagonists are aplenty, each with moving background, some with scars so deep it nearly destroyed them but also hope for a better future for them.
The storyline plot ends on a cliffhanger but the main couple get their happy for now end, so I suppose the next book in this series will be about the next couple Mikkel and Brenna as the tittle lets it imply.
I was granted through Netgalley by the publisher Tule Publishing an advance copy, I also purchased my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
In all, it was a tale of epic proportions, with all the elements to keep you on edge.
Mrs Leigh Ann Edwards is a new-author-to-me, what a talent she has to narrate such a tremendous legend.
Torunn is a force to be recognized, why she is named The Strong. She is so determined in her quest, she sometime runs straight in the traps set for her or awaiting for her. But despite her fiery temper, she is also tender-hearted. She is sure very focused on her pursuit but she is not the sort to turn her back to those needing her help.
She has an innocence in her which enlightens this story, so bad events wounded the people she meets during her journey that her simple view of life is also quite refreshing. She makes mistakes but won’t settle for half-hearted measures, she wants all or nothing as for her commitment to Brandr.
Brandr is one of those scarred soul, he had lost so much, but he is still the one taking care of the others. He is the one who will bring back a startling fallen from the nest. He is a caretaker, always there to assist those in need. Even if at time, to avoid the pain brought by loosing his loved ones, he decided for a solitary life. Torunn’s intrusion in his well ordained life shattered his illusions that he was safe living all by himself. She introduced new hopes while reawakening old wounds. So which path will he choose, cautious but desolate or full of hurdles but fulfilling with the woman he cares for.
The side protagonists are aplenty, each with moving background, some with scars so deep it nearly destroyed them but also hope for a better future for them.
The storyline plot ends on a cliffhanger but the main couple get their happy for now end, so I suppose the next book in this series will be about the next couple Mikkel and Brenna as the tittle lets it imply.
I was granted through Netgalley by the publisher Tule Publishing an advance copy, I also purchased my own. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
July 30, 2019
It has been over a year since Leigh Ann Edwards’ last series ended so I was delighted to see The Norse Protector, the first in a new series. This time Ms. Edwards has taken on Viking mythology. The prologue and first few chapters set the stage for what has led up to Torunn, the strong coming to the Viking world. The world building in this new series is extremely well-done as is the vivid description of the land in which she arrives. The separation of the sisters is a main plot of the story along with a subplot. Because of the world building and introduction of the quest this book feels long.
The Norse Protector is a fantasy romance in a historical setting. That is the way the last series was done. It is also character driven as Torunn goes on her quest. Then add one reluctant hero, Brandr, who is battle weary and life scarred. Together they have quite a journey facing many calamities along the way. The plight of women in these times is also part of the story. I say this because it could be a trigger for some. Still life was harsh then and sadly is still that way today for many of the world’s women.
One aspect I really liked is that the Torunn and Brandr story is complete by the conclusion. There is a cliffhanger but it is with the overall theme. This leads the way for the next sister to receive her story. Hope it will be soon.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Norse Protector is a fantasy romance in a historical setting. That is the way the last series was done. It is also character driven as Torunn goes on her quest. Then add one reluctant hero, Brandr, who is battle weary and life scarred. Together they have quite a journey facing many calamities along the way. The plight of women in these times is also part of the story. I say this because it could be a trigger for some. Still life was harsh then and sadly is still that way today for many of the world’s women.
One aspect I really liked is that the Torunn and Brandr story is complete by the conclusion. There is a cliffhanger but it is with the overall theme. This leads the way for the next sister to receive her story. Hope it will be soon.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 12, 2019
The Norse Protector is the first in a new series by an amazing author. Leigh Ann Edwards knows how to draw a reader into the world she has created and introduces you to well developed primary and secondary characters. Her writing is not one dimensional, it's mutil layered which makes her stories and characters memorable.
You first meet Torunn and her sisters in thier world, they are the only ones left in this world. After a certain event happens it becomes apparent that they must leave their world but aren't able to go together, Torunn is the first to leave.
The Norse Protector follows Torunn on her journey to Norway, where she meets Brandr. These two are not sure of each other but find they must work together to understand what the future holds (and possibly the past) for them.
This story has many twists and turns to draw you in and keep you guessing as to what will happen next. I highly recommend this book and will wait as patiently as possible for The Norse Sorcerer (the second book in the series.
You first meet Torunn and her sisters in thier world, they are the only ones left in this world. After a certain event happens it becomes apparent that they must leave their world but aren't able to go together, Torunn is the first to leave.
The Norse Protector follows Torunn on her journey to Norway, where she meets Brandr. These two are not sure of each other but find they must work together to understand what the future holds (and possibly the past) for them.
This story has many twists and turns to draw you in and keep you guessing as to what will happen next. I highly recommend this book and will wait as patiently as possible for The Norse Sorcerer (the second book in the series.
November 6, 2019
This is a great beginning to a new series. Just love Leigh Ann Edwards writing style and stories and this new one is no exception. It's book one in a series and if you like mythical romance novels this is the one for you. It has a great setting and wonderful characters. Can't wait to read more.
October 19, 2019
Very compelling
I loved the relationship of the sisters. The village people were wonderful as well. But the storyline altogether was wonderful.
I loved the relationship of the sisters. The village people were wonderful as well. But the storyline altogether was wonderful.
May 5, 2020
I loved Leigh Ann’s Irish Witch series however, I am on the second book already in the Vikings of Highgard series and I can’t put it down. This series hooked me in the first chapter of The Norse Protector. This series is amazing and kept me hooked from page to page. The characters are amazing as are all the elements of the background and history Leigh Ann creates in this series. I highly recommend this series you will not be disappointed!
April 20, 2020
Am loving this series, Thorann and Bandr are such rich characters they just suck you into the story and you wonder what will happen next. If you're into magical fantasy this will be right up alley and you'll enjoy of this series
October 12, 2022
Amazing!
I loved this book and couldn't put it down .
The description of the land and the character s was developed with a variety seldom found
in current fiction! Brava MS Edwards!
I loved this book and couldn't put it down .
The description of the land and the character s was developed with a variety seldom found
in current fiction! Brava MS Edwards!
October 31, 2022
Beginning of an epic story
It felt like a slow start, but it is very well written and engaging from the beginning. I just couldn't figure where the story was going which I need up loving! Great characters and I am excited for the rest of the series
It felt like a slow start, but it is very well written and engaging from the beginning. I just couldn't figure where the story was going which I need up loving! Great characters and I am excited for the rest of the series
August 2, 2019
Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019...)
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library romance ebook collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
___________________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Medium burn
Relationship dynamics: The Reclusive Mountain Man (H) / The Powerful Descendant of a Goddess (h)
Sexual content: Some; explicit and “onscreen; frequent use of euphemisms for anatomy
Triggers: descriptions of rape; extreme violence; a lot of death; animal death
Grammar/Editing: My ARC had a number of issues, including imprecise pronoun references, comma splices, typos, incorrect verb tenses, and about a million exclamation points.
Review: This novel read very slowly for me, hindered by what I consider to be a lot of repetition of detail. Some of the prose is stilted and some details in the novel seem thrown in as afterthoughts. As a result, the narrative did not feel very seamless. I believe that some judicious content editing would have greatly improved the flow of the novel. While this is the case, the world building and mythology are well-done. The fictional realm of Highgard is well-developed enough for the action that takes place there, although most of the description of Highgard is done after the action leaves that realm. Solveig, the goddess, is also fictional, although the name is Norse in origin. The details about the Norse gods are accurate and well-researched and the fictionalized realm and goddess are well-slotted into the mythological narrative. The bulk of the novel is set in circa 1000 CE, and while there is now some debate about the nature of Vikings from this time period, the author comes down consistently on the traditional side of things, which is to say that vikings were brutal, bloodthirsty rapists. I appreciated that the author did emphasize, however, that not all Norwegians were Vikings.
Brandr and Torunn’s relationship begins in necessity and develops into something more quite quickly. Brandr is, by his nature, a rescuer – not just a protector; Torunn is strong and fiercely protective of her sisters, to the point of single-mindedness. Even given that, though, she is a bit odd about what we would call her “deal breakers.” What would be a firm “no” for most women can seem to be okay for her in certain circumstances. Brandr is by far the more interesting of the two characters because he has a fairly complex backstory, which is gradually revealed rather than all given up front like Torunn’s is (the story being primarily told from Torunn’s point of view) and he is the reason I eventually became invested in the love story in this novel. The supporting characters are well-developed, some with fairly elaborate backstories. This is one of those infrequent books that includes supporting characters that are just as interesting as the leads. The villains, however, are only as developed as far as necessary – their motivations are not complex and when they are defeated, they are quickly forgotten.
I do intend to continue with this series, with hopes of better prose.
Tagline version: Come for the story, endure for the story.
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library romance ebook collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
___________________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Medium burn
Relationship dynamics: The Reclusive Mountain Man (H) / The Powerful Descendant of a Goddess (h)
Sexual content: Some; explicit and “onscreen; frequent use of euphemisms for anatomy
Triggers: descriptions of rape; extreme violence; a lot of death; animal death
Grammar/Editing: My ARC had a number of issues, including imprecise pronoun references, comma splices, typos, incorrect verb tenses, and about a million exclamation points.
Review: This novel read very slowly for me, hindered by what I consider to be a lot of repetition of detail. Some of the prose is stilted and some details in the novel seem thrown in as afterthoughts. As a result, the narrative did not feel very seamless. I believe that some judicious content editing would have greatly improved the flow of the novel. While this is the case, the world building and mythology are well-done. The fictional realm of Highgard is well-developed enough for the action that takes place there, although most of the description of Highgard is done after the action leaves that realm. Solveig, the goddess, is also fictional, although the name is Norse in origin. The details about the Norse gods are accurate and well-researched and the fictionalized realm and goddess are well-slotted into the mythological narrative. The bulk of the novel is set in circa 1000 CE, and while there is now some debate about the nature of Vikings from this time period, the author comes down consistently on the traditional side of things, which is to say that vikings were brutal, bloodthirsty rapists. I appreciated that the author did emphasize, however, that not all Norwegians were Vikings.
Brandr and Torunn’s relationship begins in necessity and develops into something more quite quickly. Brandr is, by his nature, a rescuer – not just a protector; Torunn is strong and fiercely protective of her sisters, to the point of single-mindedness. Even given that, though, she is a bit odd about what we would call her “deal breakers.” What would be a firm “no” for most women can seem to be okay for her in certain circumstances. Brandr is by far the more interesting of the two characters because he has a fairly complex backstory, which is gradually revealed rather than all given up front like Torunn’s is (the story being primarily told from Torunn’s point of view) and he is the reason I eventually became invested in the love story in this novel. The supporting characters are well-developed, some with fairly elaborate backstories. This is one of those infrequent books that includes supporting characters that are just as interesting as the leads. The villains, however, are only as developed as far as necessary – their motivations are not complex and when they are defeated, they are quickly forgotten.
I do intend to continue with this series, with hopes of better prose.
Tagline version: Come for the story, endure for the story.
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2020
I am a huge fan of Leigh Ann Edwards ! I loved her first series The Irish Witch so really looked forward to this new series. This book focuses on setting the stage for what Torunn and her family have endured. The struggles and triumphs that Torunn endures are so detailed you feel as though you are there with her. I am the oldest of three girls so really connected with the lead female being the strong, protective leader. I found this first in a series very well written and enjoyed being in the land of the Vikings. There were a couple of surprises I had not expected so definitely ready to dive into book 2 !
August 28, 2019
Torunn the Strong and her sisters are the only remaining people of the descendants of the Norse goddess Solveig. They live in Highgard, protected from any other worlds outside their own, but their population was decimated by the Red Death. In an attempt to save some of their people, three young boys were sent to Midgard years ago. Now, after their sister’s death, Torunn and her two remaining sisters must do something to ensure their survival.
In steps a mysterious group of light beings, who tells them about a vessel that can take them one at a time to Midgard and that it is their only chance to save themselves. Torunn is the first to make the journey. She meets Brandr, a man living on his own in the mountains.
Together they travel to the village below, and eventually further to find Torunn’s two sisters. During their journey they discover that Brandr is one of the Highgard boys that came to Midgard years ago.
Torunn came from a world where she grew up with absolutely no contact with any men, and therefor has no experience dealing with them. The sisters received some information from the light beings, but quite incomplete and not wholly true in some spots. Yet, she had no problem starting up a relationship with Brandr, who didn’t have great experiences in his past with women. She was untrusting of some people she met, but very trusting with other strangers, and there didn’t seem to be any particular reason for this behaviour.
The world the author created is interesting, and I would like to know what happens to Brenna and Aster (Torunn’s sisters) next, and their quest to discover a cure for the Red Death. Overall I quite enjoyed the book, but the writing didn’t appeal at all times. In some places the dialogue seemed to jump around and I felt like I missed something somewhere.
I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In steps a mysterious group of light beings, who tells them about a vessel that can take them one at a time to Midgard and that it is their only chance to save themselves. Torunn is the first to make the journey. She meets Brandr, a man living on his own in the mountains.
Together they travel to the village below, and eventually further to find Torunn’s two sisters. During their journey they discover that Brandr is one of the Highgard boys that came to Midgard years ago.
Torunn came from a world where she grew up with absolutely no contact with any men, and therefor has no experience dealing with them. The sisters received some information from the light beings, but quite incomplete and not wholly true in some spots. Yet, she had no problem starting up a relationship with Brandr, who didn’t have great experiences in his past with women. She was untrusting of some people she met, but very trusting with other strangers, and there didn’t seem to be any particular reason for this behaviour.
The world the author created is interesting, and I would like to know what happens to Brenna and Aster (Torunn’s sisters) next, and their quest to discover a cure for the Red Death. Overall I quite enjoyed the book, but the writing didn’t appeal at all times. In some places the dialogue seemed to jump around and I felt like I missed something somewhere.
I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read
December 28, 2019This is the first in a new series by Leigh Ann Edwards. From her bio, she loves history and you can tell by this book, though it has way more than that. She does a great job at describing the time they are in so you understand the reasoning behind certain actions. It has magik, gods and goddesses, mythical creatures. It also describes family relations, social topics (such as LGBTQ rights, especially in book 3), morals of the day, and more, all while telling a fantastic story of survival from another realm, love, taking chances, just so many layers. You really need to read this first one and you will be hooked. Very well done and entertaining.
October 23, 2022
Great story.
July 13, 2019
This book is a fantastical journey into Nordic mythology and Norwegian lore. The characters are bold, strong and mysterious in their own right. I enjoyed every moment and had a tough time putting it down. I can’t wait for the next book
Advanced Review Copy provided by NetGalley for voluntary review consideration.
Advanced Review Copy provided by NetGalley for voluntary review consideration.
April 13, 2020
Enjoyed it immensely! It was an emotional roller coaster. Love story to the max.. with curves and extra input from family and sorcery. I could and would write more but afraid I would end up doing a spoiler report .
Read it , you will not be disappointed, even if you just liked the other 3 in the series. It’s a page turner .
Read it , you will not be disappointed, even if you just liked the other 3 in the series. It’s a page turner .
January 18, 2023
The Highgardians are willing to have their few descendants live on in another realm to avoid the killing plague that has been wiping out their people. Torrunn’s journey to Midgard shows how she endures new harsh exposures and finds newer purposeful info to reunite with her family.
July 16, 2019
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Rating: 1🌟
Genres: Adult, Romance, Historical Fantasy
Trigger warnings: death of loved ones, gore, blood, violence, multiple mentions of rape, sex
____________________________________
She learns the ways of the fiercely loyal, but undeniably dangerous Vikings
Torunn the Strong and her sisters, the descendants of the Goddess Solveig of Highgard are the only survivors of the dreaded Red Death. Tall, blonde, beautiful, brave and skilled in weaponry, Torunn will do whatever is necessary to save them from the scourge that killed their people. Forced to leave her sisters and her world behind, she is transported to the land of the Vikings where she is to discover the fate of the lost Highgardian boys sent there twenty years earlier.
Near death, she is saved by Brandr, a fearless, tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome man once a Viking warrior. Torunn and Brandr are forced to battle the brutal mountainous climate, wild beasts, and dangerous enemies. Neither want to admit they are falling deeply in love, for Torunn hasn’t ever met a man before and Brandr’s past is filled with tragedy and betrayal.
Is it possible for them to find happiness together?
____________________________________
I don’t think this book was really for me.
I almost gave up reading this book while reading the first chapter. But decided to keep going to see if I got used to it. I was not a big fan of the writing style in general, especially how the dialogue was written. It felt stilted, forced and as if the author was trying to emulate a writing style from a past century.
At first I thought that it might just be to show the difference between those in Highgardan and in Midgard. But no, they spoke pretty much exactly the same.
Often the characters would repeat what they had already said or repeat the information back to other characters that had already been said. Rather than showing the reader the author opted to tell the reader everything. Repeatedly. Even things they, and many of the characters, already knew.
It did annoy me a bit that there was a lot of emphasis on Torunn and her sisters being pure and unworldly, unaware how to act around men, only for Torunn to have sex and fall in love with the first man she ever meets in Midgard. Also the fact that they kept calling it ‘joining’ I felt was a but weird. I don’t think it was ever just call sex.
Also there was a lot of mentions of rape. Of characters having been raped in the past and threatened to be raped. Paired with the fact that Torunn was constantly warned not to be alone or let people know that she was otherwise she would kidnapped, raped, killed, sold as a slave, or made into a prostitute (referred to exclusively as whores) made me feel pretty uncomfortable.
Female characters had little autonomy. I feel like the author ran with the idea that women in the medieval era weren’t allowed indepence or any/few rights. Without taking into account the amount of freedom viking women had. They were allowed to have there own property, money, freedom to marry who they wished, divorce, fight and join in the raids as shield maidens. I know that every woman wouldn’t have had all of these options depending on class, wealth, etc. But a lot would have. I would have liked to have seen more variety.
Same goes for the men. So many of them were big, strong, tough vikings that would do anything to protect “their women” got old pretty quickly. I would have like more that weren’t just fighters that just lived more normal everyday lifes.
I know that this is a historcal fantasy story and you can’t be true to everything. And that there was a differnt social structure and values, but that didn’t mean that there couldn’t have been more of a modern spin on things. Because some parts of this book just felt pretty old fashioned to me.
Another thing that I didn’t like that every character seemed to be a seer or read runes. It just made it feel less special that so many of the characters that Torunn meets can do this. At first it was only Torunn and her sisters. Then ever Highgardan she meets has these abilities or some other magic power. It just felt over used and unnecessary. If it had been established earlier on that all Highgardans had the ability to see bits of the future I wouldn’t have minded.
I felt like many of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough. They felt very flat at times.
Now on to the things that I did like about this book. :/
Honestly there’s not much.
I liked that it was a pretty simple plot and that it was character driven. Some characters I would have liked to have seen more of. Like Thurston (I think that’s how you spell his name) he ended up being a better character than when he was first introduced. Or Asta, one of Torunn’s sisters. I really liked her snarky humour and her constant digs and questioning of everyone and everything. Sadly she was only in the book in the start. Where it left everything it did sound like she would be joining her sisters in the next book. I had thought that the next book would about finding the twins Asta and Brenna until Brenna showed up in the last chapter.
I thought that the world building was pretty good. I was able to imagine everything as I was reading it. And I very easily could imagine the characters in my mind.
I loved the idea of adding onto Norse mythology by creating a whole other world for beings descended from gods. I would have liked it if Torunn, or any of the other characters, were shown struggling more with adapting to living in a new world. There was some but Torunn seems to simply just see it, learn about it, and then instantly adapt. I would have liked to have seen Torunn take more time to really comes to grips with everything and struggled more as she adapted. I think it would have made it feel more believable.
I’m unsure if I’ll read the next book in this series. At this point probably not. It will all depend on of I remember this book by the time the next comes out and whether or not I am curious enough to see where the series goes. Because the book did leave off with a bit of a cliffhanger and left me with some questions and curiosity of what will happen next.
Rating: 1🌟
Genres: Adult, Romance, Historical Fantasy
Trigger warnings: death of loved ones, gore, blood, violence, multiple mentions of rape, sex
____________________________________
She learns the ways of the fiercely loyal, but undeniably dangerous Vikings
Torunn the Strong and her sisters, the descendants of the Goddess Solveig of Highgard are the only survivors of the dreaded Red Death. Tall, blonde, beautiful, brave and skilled in weaponry, Torunn will do whatever is necessary to save them from the scourge that killed their people. Forced to leave her sisters and her world behind, she is transported to the land of the Vikings where she is to discover the fate of the lost Highgardian boys sent there twenty years earlier.
Near death, she is saved by Brandr, a fearless, tall, muscular, ruggedly handsome man once a Viking warrior. Torunn and Brandr are forced to battle the brutal mountainous climate, wild beasts, and dangerous enemies. Neither want to admit they are falling deeply in love, for Torunn hasn’t ever met a man before and Brandr’s past is filled with tragedy and betrayal.
Is it possible for them to find happiness together?
____________________________________
I don’t think this book was really for me.
I almost gave up reading this book while reading the first chapter. But decided to keep going to see if I got used to it. I was not a big fan of the writing style in general, especially how the dialogue was written. It felt stilted, forced and as if the author was trying to emulate a writing style from a past century.
At first I thought that it might just be to show the difference between those in Highgardan and in Midgard. But no, they spoke pretty much exactly the same.
Often the characters would repeat what they had already said or repeat the information back to other characters that had already been said. Rather than showing the reader the author opted to tell the reader everything. Repeatedly. Even things they, and many of the characters, already knew.
It did annoy me a bit that there was a lot of emphasis on Torunn and her sisters being pure and unworldly, unaware how to act around men, only for Torunn to have sex and fall in love with the first man she ever meets in Midgard. Also the fact that they kept calling it ‘joining’ I felt was a but weird. I don’t think it was ever just call sex.
Also there was a lot of mentions of rape. Of characters having been raped in the past and threatened to be raped. Paired with the fact that Torunn was constantly warned not to be alone or let people know that she was otherwise she would kidnapped, raped, killed, sold as a slave, or made into a prostitute (referred to exclusively as whores) made me feel pretty uncomfortable.
Female characters had little autonomy. I feel like the author ran with the idea that women in the medieval era weren’t allowed indepence or any/few rights. Without taking into account the amount of freedom viking women had. They were allowed to have there own property, money, freedom to marry who they wished, divorce, fight and join in the raids as shield maidens. I know that every woman wouldn’t have had all of these options depending on class, wealth, etc. But a lot would have. I would have liked to have seen more variety.
Same goes for the men. So many of them were big, strong, tough vikings that would do anything to protect “their women” got old pretty quickly. I would have like more that weren’t just fighters that just lived more normal everyday lifes.
I know that this is a historcal fantasy story and you can’t be true to everything. And that there was a differnt social structure and values, but that didn’t mean that there couldn’t have been more of a modern spin on things. Because some parts of this book just felt pretty old fashioned to me.
Another thing that I didn’t like that every character seemed to be a seer or read runes. It just made it feel less special that so many of the characters that Torunn meets can do this. At first it was only Torunn and her sisters. Then ever Highgardan she meets has these abilities or some other magic power. It just felt over used and unnecessary. If it had been established earlier on that all Highgardans had the ability to see bits of the future I wouldn’t have minded.
I felt like many of the characters weren’t fleshed out enough. They felt very flat at times.
Now on to the things that I did like about this book. :/
Honestly there’s not much.
I liked that it was a pretty simple plot and that it was character driven. Some characters I would have liked to have seen more of. Like Thurston (I think that’s how you spell his name) he ended up being a better character than when he was first introduced. Or Asta, one of Torunn’s sisters. I really liked her snarky humour and her constant digs and questioning of everyone and everything. Sadly she was only in the book in the start. Where it left everything it did sound like she would be joining her sisters in the next book. I had thought that the next book would about finding the twins Asta and Brenna until Brenna showed up in the last chapter.
I thought that the world building was pretty good. I was able to imagine everything as I was reading it. And I very easily could imagine the characters in my mind.
I loved the idea of adding onto Norse mythology by creating a whole other world for beings descended from gods. I would have liked it if Torunn, or any of the other characters, were shown struggling more with adapting to living in a new world. There was some but Torunn seems to simply just see it, learn about it, and then instantly adapt. I would have liked to have seen Torunn take more time to really comes to grips with everything and struggled more as she adapted. I think it would have made it feel more believable.
I’m unsure if I’ll read the next book in this series. At this point probably not. It will all depend on of I remember this book by the time the next comes out and whether or not I am curious enough to see where the series goes. Because the book did leave off with a bit of a cliffhanger and left me with some questions and curiosity of what will happen next.
December 9, 2022
The plot had potential, but the story is too long full of coincidence upon coincidence, too predictable with a heroine overrated and very annoying.. instead of Torunn the Strong, I'd say she is Torunn the Stupid, a very lame and childish person, one minute says and decides something and in the other minute does the opposite. I rolled my eyes so many times while reading the stupid things she says or does ..my God, I'm supposed to believe that she's some kind of descended from gods, but she's nothing like that..
Another thing that made my eyes roll every time while reading is that in a world so big everybody know everybody... everybody meets everybody...really? What a coincidence.. the whole plot is a big coincidence.
The hero is ok..a pleasant character with flaws but a kind soul.
Another thing that made my eyes roll every time while reading is that in a world so big everybody know everybody... everybody meets everybody...really? What a coincidence.. the whole plot is a big coincidence.
The hero is ok..a pleasant character with flaws but a kind soul.
Want to read
September 29, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/29/2022)! 🎁
Read
November 13, 2022DNF too mythical for me.
February 25, 2024
A bit long in some parts but really kicked off in the second half. Good character development but I feel that there are some lengths to some scenes that could have been cut down
July 17, 2019
This review was originally posted on my review blog Deanna Reads Books
I love Norse Mythology, and since I have been breaking out of my normal reading habits by reading more romance books, I stumbled upon The Norse Protector by Leigh Ann Edwards. It's part fantasy, part historical fiction and part romance, so I think it has something for everyone. I especially love the setting of this, and I felt like I could just see everything in my head.
One thing that made me not like this book as much as I thought I would is the pacing. I believe this is the first in a series, so I think a lot of this is because of setup. I just felt like it took way too long to get anywhere in this book. And then when the romance between Brandr and Torunn starts to really heat up, they go their separate ways and I wasn't really that interested in the new characters she meets. They are important in the end, but it just felt like there was a lot of walking in this book.
I do appreciate that even though this book is set in ancient Norway, during the time of Vikings, the mention of sexualities outside of heteronormativity is discussed. Because...heterosexuality has never been the "default" so that was cool to see in this book. Although, it does bring up a weird subplot of this novel that I just felt was a little unnecessary.
This story is interesting, but I'm unsure yet if I want to continue with the series. I think the next one is going to be in one of Torunn's sister's point of view, which could be interesting, but I'm afraid of reading another book that takes forever to get to the point.
*I received an eARC copy of this book via Netgalley from Tule Publishing. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love Norse Mythology, and since I have been breaking out of my normal reading habits by reading more romance books, I stumbled upon The Norse Protector by Leigh Ann Edwards. It's part fantasy, part historical fiction and part romance, so I think it has something for everyone. I especially love the setting of this, and I felt like I could just see everything in my head.
One thing that made me not like this book as much as I thought I would is the pacing. I believe this is the first in a series, so I think a lot of this is because of setup. I just felt like it took way too long to get anywhere in this book. And then when the romance between Brandr and Torunn starts to really heat up, they go their separate ways and I wasn't really that interested in the new characters she meets. They are important in the end, but it just felt like there was a lot of walking in this book.
I do appreciate that even though this book is set in ancient Norway, during the time of Vikings, the mention of sexualities outside of heteronormativity is discussed. Because...heterosexuality has never been the "default" so that was cool to see in this book. Although, it does bring up a weird subplot of this novel that I just felt was a little unnecessary.
This story is interesting, but I'm unsure yet if I want to continue with the series. I think the next one is going to be in one of Torunn's sister's point of view, which could be interesting, but I'm afraid of reading another book that takes forever to get to the point.
*I received an eARC copy of this book via Netgalley from Tule Publishing. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 10, 2019
I enjoyed this book The Norse Protector by Leigh Ann Edwards.
Norse Mythology and the human world mixed together made for a nice story about three sisters having to leave their hidden world to escape the dreaded desease that killed the entire population of Highgard.
The story did lack speed in some places and was drawn out in other side stories that weren’t that important to the storyline. I did enjoy Torunn and Brandr together and can’t wait for next book in the series.
I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
Norse Mythology and the human world mixed together made for a nice story about three sisters having to leave their hidden world to escape the dreaded desease that killed the entire population of Highgard.
The story did lack speed in some places and was drawn out in other side stories that weren’t that important to the storyline. I did enjoy Torunn and Brandr together and can’t wait for next book in the series.
I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
October 1, 2019
I was given this book to read and review by Tule Publishing.I usually don't read historical romances but this one piqued my interest being fantasy. I have been following the The Vikings on the History channel for awhile and I love Nordic mythology .I loved the sisters Torunn and Asta and how close they were and their gifts.I look forward to reading The Irish Witch series books by Ms.Edwards in the near future.
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