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Bloodsong #1
Warrior Witch of Hel
The evil wizard Nidhug rules, but a cry of rebellion is still remembered: the cry of Bloodsong, the woman warrior who once fought her way to freedom. Hers is the dream of thousands doomed to slavery and unspeakable torture in the deathless lord's terrible fortress.
Now, her cry is heard again, as Bloodsong returns, riding a Hel-horse, from the grim halls of Death itself. She wields such magic as few mortals possess. On her hand is the skull ring of the Death Goddess, Hel. At her side are a few good friends...faithful and daring companions willing to follow Bloodsong into the very bowels of the evil stronghold, capture the powerful War Skull of Hel, and destroy Nidhug's might forever.
Now, her cry is heard again, as Bloodsong returns, riding a Hel-horse, from the grim halls of Death itself. She wields such magic as few mortals possess. On her hand is the skull ring of the Death Goddess, Hel. At her side are a few good friends...faithful and daring companions willing to follow Bloodsong into the very bowels of the evil stronghold, capture the powerful War Skull of Hel, and destroy Nidhug's might forever.
218 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
10 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Asa Drake
10 books9 followersAsa Drake is a pseudonym used by author C. Dean Andersson:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
C. Dean Andersson writes Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. His day-jobs (and night) have included rock band drummer, television graphic designer, US Air Force band percussionist, robotics programmer, and technical writer. His Swedish-born father inspired the Viking Age studies he uses in his tales about the warrior Bloodsong, collected in HELx3: Warrior Witch of Hel, Death Riders of Hel, and Werebeasts of Hel. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award finalist for his story about a modern encounter with the Goddess Hel, "The Death Wagon Rolls on By."
Website: www.cdeanandersson.com
Wikipedia, C. Dean Andersson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Dean_...
New interview with C. Dean Andersson: http://uparoundthecorner.blogspot.com...
Interview about writing the Hel Trilogy: http://kingsofthenight0.tripod.com/de...
facebook: Bloodsong: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloods...
Wikipedia, Bathory's "One Rode to Asa Bay," dedicated to C. Dean Andersson in honor of Bloodsong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_rode...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
C. Dean Andersson writes Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. His day-jobs (and night) have included rock band drummer, television graphic designer, US Air Force band percussionist, robotics programmer, and technical writer. His Swedish-born father inspired the Viking Age studies he uses in his tales about the warrior Bloodsong, collected in HELx3: Warrior Witch of Hel, Death Riders of Hel, and Werebeasts of Hel. He is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was a Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award finalist for his story about a modern encounter with the Goddess Hel, "The Death Wagon Rolls on By."
Website: www.cdeanandersson.com
Wikipedia, C. Dean Andersson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Dean_...
New interview with C. Dean Andersson: http://uparoundthecorner.blogspot.com...
Interview about writing the Hel Trilogy: http://kingsofthenight0.tripod.com/de...
facebook: Bloodsong: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloods...
Wikipedia, Bathory's "One Rode to Asa Bay," dedicated to C. Dean Andersson in honor of Bloodsong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_rode...
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 9, 2023
Very satisfying pulp fantasy by Drake, along with great cover art. Warrior Witch of Hel features Bloodsong, a former slave and warrior left to die by the wizard tyrant of the land 6 years ago. As Bloodsong was at death's door, the goddess Hel made her an offer-- to return to the land as a Hel warrior and kill the tyrant king. Now, six years later, she makes her entrance atop a Hel stead to begin her quest...
Drake gives us here a fast-paced fantasy romp with a Nordic twist, the gods being of Norse extraction. He also tosses in some interesting magic and of course, lots of swords. There were countless sword and sorcery novels in the 70s and 80s, building off the Conan fame, but this one stands out to some degree. Our heroine faces down death on almost every page, assembling piece by piece a group of adventurers all dedicated to the downfall of the wizard tyrant king. The king has ruled for centuries, using magic 'stolen' from a great crystal skull that belonged to Hel. Once the king was a Hel warrior on a quest to find and return the skull, but after finding it, turned traitor and used the skull's power to build and empire. The goddess Hel has sent many more Hel warriors to take him down, but to no avail. Can Bloodsong finally end his reign? Sharpen your swords, steady your mounts and prepare to go on a wide ride here. 4 witchy stars!!
Drake gives us here a fast-paced fantasy romp with a Nordic twist, the gods being of Norse extraction. He also tosses in some interesting magic and of course, lots of swords. There were countless sword and sorcery novels in the 70s and 80s, building off the Conan fame, but this one stands out to some degree. Our heroine faces down death on almost every page, assembling piece by piece a group of adventurers all dedicated to the downfall of the wizard tyrant king. The king has ruled for centuries, using magic 'stolen' from a great crystal skull that belonged to Hel. Once the king was a Hel warrior on a quest to find and return the skull, but after finding it, turned traitor and used the skull's power to build and empire. The goddess Hel has sent many more Hel warriors to take him down, but to no avail. Can Bloodsong finally end his reign? Sharpen your swords, steady your mounts and prepare to go on a wide ride here. 4 witchy stars!!
November 17, 2025
This is the first in a dark fantasy trilogy first published in 1985. The darkness, mystical Norse mythology, and sword and sorcery elements make it stand out from the Eddings, Brooks, TSR, type fantasy of the period.
Freyadis Guthran’s Daughter was a warrior slave in the clutches of the mighty sorcerer king known as Nidhug. She led a slave revolt but was captured and eventually tortured to death. Freyadis made a pact with the Norse goddess of Death and the Underworld, Hel. Freyadis, now known as Bloodsong, came back as one of Hel’s Death-riders and vowed to perform a deed for Hel in the depths of Nidhug’s fortress. If successful, Bloodsong will get her daughter back from the underworld, and Bloodsong and Hel can have their revenge on the mighty Nidhug.
This was quite a ride with excellent pacing. Bloodsong picks up some friends along the way. The young witch, Huld, was probably my favorite. Freya, Odin, Thor, and Loki are all mentioned, but Hel is the only one to make an appearance. Nidhug is such a dark and vile sorcerer- does so many viscous deeds- that it’s no problem to hate him and wish for his demise. He gets a good amount of page count. There was a pretty good section with some Dwarves in a magical mountain Kingdom. They were never seen, but definitely felt. Will Bloodsong get her revenge? Will Hel get what she is after? Whatever that may be. Or will Nidhug continue his Iron grip over all?
This clocked in around 250 pages on Kindle. It’s a good thing it wasn’t written in the 90s, 2000’s, or after because the publisher would probably have wanted an extra 500 pages of fluff. Keep in mind, this is more brutal and dark than most of the series of the time period. Bloodsong is a solid warrior cut in the Red Sonja type cloth, but certainly not a ripoff. Enjoyable. I will continue the series to see how this works out.
Freyadis Guthran’s Daughter was a warrior slave in the clutches of the mighty sorcerer king known as Nidhug. She led a slave revolt but was captured and eventually tortured to death. Freyadis made a pact with the Norse goddess of Death and the Underworld, Hel. Freyadis, now known as Bloodsong, came back as one of Hel’s Death-riders and vowed to perform a deed for Hel in the depths of Nidhug’s fortress. If successful, Bloodsong will get her daughter back from the underworld, and Bloodsong and Hel can have their revenge on the mighty Nidhug.
This was quite a ride with excellent pacing. Bloodsong picks up some friends along the way. The young witch, Huld, was probably my favorite. Freya, Odin, Thor, and Loki are all mentioned, but Hel is the only one to make an appearance. Nidhug is such a dark and vile sorcerer- does so many viscous deeds- that it’s no problem to hate him and wish for his demise. He gets a good amount of page count. There was a pretty good section with some Dwarves in a magical mountain Kingdom. They were never seen, but definitely felt. Will Bloodsong get her revenge? Will Hel get what she is after? Whatever that may be. Or will Nidhug continue his Iron grip over all?
This clocked in around 250 pages on Kindle. It’s a good thing it wasn’t written in the 90s, 2000’s, or after because the publisher would probably have wanted an extra 500 pages of fluff. Keep in mind, this is more brutal and dark than most of the series of the time period. Bloodsong is a solid warrior cut in the Red Sonja type cloth, but certainly not a ripoff. Enjoyable. I will continue the series to see how this works out.
January 26, 2014
Imagine, if you will, a 1980's sword and sorcery flick. Not the actual item, of course, that sordid thing of dubious acting, wobbly sets, budget-limited effects, underdressed starlets, and a suspiciously modern skyline lurking in the distance. I mean the platonic ideal(*), the movie in your mind's eye, filtered by nostalgia or copious alcohol or a posse of like-minded friends watching late at night.
This book is of that movie. A damn earnest movie of grand gestures and heroics and no subtlety whatsoever, yet a strangely intimate one, where the slave rebellion is past and failed and no armies march the field and no cities or settlements exist. This is a trek through wilderness to the Evil Overlord Lair.
It's a book whose Evil Overlord is perhaps a case study for the Evil Overlord List itself: he not only keeps his enemies alive, but brings them into the one room containing the object that could cause his defeat; he explains his plans to his enemies; he abuses his henchmen and everyone else around him; he sends various magical traps and attacks against the heroes instead of using his dull-but-reliable Evil Legion. He is in fact so completely over-the-top evil and unreasonable that it's impossible to fault him or the author for Overlord List transgressions, except to note in passing that what Nidlug the evil king had done was spectacularly stupid and unnecessary and will surely catch up with him. Because he's an evil sorcerer-king and will lose, in accordance with the logic and language of legend and heroism.
But beyond this I kept seeing things that made me wonder. The heroines' frequent nakedness is always part of the violence they endure (a disturbing amount, disturbingly done) and is never made into a prurient display to the reader, however much Nidlug might salivate at it. The appearances of the heroines themselves--and all the women here are heroines in one form or another--are never described in detail, the lascivious creeping way that Lin Carter or Andrew Offutt might do. These women are not objects for the reader to ogle.
A romantic subplot never develops, and in fact the men of the story aside from Nidlug are largely ineffectual or secondary presences, and none of the women define themselves by their relationship to them.
Even Hel the Death Goddess is something of an underdog, or a victim, if her story is to be believed.
----
(*) It is entirely possible that the platonic ideal of an 80's sword and sorcery flick is precisely dubious acting, wobbly sets, etc. I leave such deep thinking to those more wise in such things.
This book is of that movie. A damn earnest movie of grand gestures and heroics and no subtlety whatsoever, yet a strangely intimate one, where the slave rebellion is past and failed and no armies march the field and no cities or settlements exist. This is a trek through wilderness to the Evil Overlord Lair.
It's a book whose Evil Overlord is perhaps a case study for the Evil Overlord List itself: he not only keeps his enemies alive, but brings them into the one room containing the object that could cause his defeat; he explains his plans to his enemies; he abuses his henchmen and everyone else around him; he sends various magical traps and attacks against the heroes instead of using his dull-but-reliable Evil Legion. He is in fact so completely over-the-top evil and unreasonable that it's impossible to fault him or the author for Overlord List transgressions, except to note in passing that what Nidlug the evil king had done was spectacularly stupid and unnecessary and will surely catch up with him. Because he's an evil sorcerer-king and will lose, in accordance with the logic and language of legend and heroism.
But beyond this I kept seeing things that made me wonder. The heroines' frequent nakedness is always part of the violence they endure (a disturbing amount, disturbingly done) and is never made into a prurient display to the reader, however much Nidlug might salivate at it. The appearances of the heroines themselves--and all the women here are heroines in one form or another--are never described in detail, the lascivious creeping way that Lin Carter or Andrew Offutt might do. These women are not objects for the reader to ogle.
A romantic subplot never develops, and in fact the men of the story aside from Nidlug are largely ineffectual or secondary presences, and none of the women define themselves by their relationship to them.
Even Hel the Death Goddess is something of an underdog, or a victim, if her story is to be believed.
----
(*) It is entirely possible that the platonic ideal of an 80's sword and sorcery flick is precisely dubious acting, wobbly sets, etc. I leave such deep thinking to those more wise in such things.
April 26, 2023
The evil wizard King Nidhug has ruled the world for hundreds of years, enslaving all of humanity with his powerful dark magic and keeping himself alive by torturing innocents to death and feeding on their life essence. The brave warrior Freyadis dies leading a failed rebellion against Nidhug's army of wicked creatures, regretfully being forced to watch her husband, friends, family and two children tortured to death before she was killed most ruthlessly of all. Freyadis's noble sacrifice and motherly rage towards the evil king that destroyed everything she ever loved touches Hel, the goddess of death, who resurrects her from the realm of Helheim with the promise of letting her and her unborn daughter live in exchange for taking down Nidhug once and for all. Reborn as the vengeful warrior Bloodsong, the fallen Freyadis rises once more to lead a second rebellion to free the world from the grip of darkness.
A very grim sword and sorcery tale. Freyadis is the typical edgy antihero thirsty for revenge, but her perspective as a grieving mother and an undead warrior distinguishes her from most protagonists of the genre. She almost reminded me of a female version of Kratos from God of War. Not to mention the world building incorporates many magical, religious and mythological plot elements from Norse Mythology which adds even more similarities.
Bloodsong meets a charming crew of comrades on her journey to face the evil King Nidhug once more, among them is my favorite character Huld, a goofy witch girl who adds a lot of humor and charm to the otherwise horrifically grim story.
As much as I love cheesy sword and sorcery stories, one thing I tend not to like about the genre is their tendency to have overly simplistic and forgettable villains. While King Nidhug was indeed a one-dimensional mustache-twirling bad guy, he was so disgustingly brutal, vile, immoral and violent that I genuinely loathed him and couldn't wait for him to get the ass kicking he deserved. He also has just as much time on page as the main characters so you're given tons of scenes of him being a massive douch. Though far from being a great character, he served his role as a nasty bad guy well.
My rating: 3.7/5
A very grim sword and sorcery tale. Freyadis is the typical edgy antihero thirsty for revenge, but her perspective as a grieving mother and an undead warrior distinguishes her from most protagonists of the genre. She almost reminded me of a female version of Kratos from God of War. Not to mention the world building incorporates many magical, religious and mythological plot elements from Norse Mythology which adds even more similarities.
Bloodsong meets a charming crew of comrades on her journey to face the evil King Nidhug once more, among them is my favorite character Huld, a goofy witch girl who adds a lot of humor and charm to the otherwise horrifically grim story.
As much as I love cheesy sword and sorcery stories, one thing I tend not to like about the genre is their tendency to have overly simplistic and forgettable villains. While King Nidhug was indeed a one-dimensional mustache-twirling bad guy, he was so disgustingly brutal, vile, immoral and violent that I genuinely loathed him and couldn't wait for him to get the ass kicking he deserved. He also has just as much time on page as the main characters so you're given tons of scenes of him being a massive douch. Though far from being a great character, he served his role as a nasty bad guy well.
My rating: 3.7/5
January 27, 2010
Mediocre at best, but trashy sword and sorcery is a guilty pleasure of mine. (There is also good sword and sorcery about which I don't feel guilt.)
The setting is drawn convincingly from Nordic mythology, but the plot is rather simplistic, and the one-dimensional cackling villain refrains from menacingly stroking his moustache only by virtue of not having one.
The book was republished under the author's real name, C. Dean Andersson, a few years ago.
The setting is drawn convincingly from Nordic mythology, but the plot is rather simplistic, and the one-dimensional cackling villain refrains from menacingly stroking his moustache only by virtue of not having one.
The book was republished under the author's real name, C. Dean Andersson, a few years ago.
January 8, 2014
Old School Violent Sword And Sorcery
This came out around the time that the fantasy genre became flooded with bloated epics and continuing series. This is more old school. More Conan the Barbarian than Lord of the Rings. It's a quick, violent read that you don't have to give up months of your life to enjoy.
This came out around the time that the fantasy genre became flooded with bloated epics and continuing series. This is more old school. More Conan the Barbarian than Lord of the Rings. It's a quick, violent read that you don't have to give up months of your life to enjoy.
January 18, 2014
An entertaining gateway to Hell, and toward darker fiction
This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson
History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) Warrior Witch of Hell; 2) Death Riders of Hell; and 3) Werebeasts of Hel.
The concepts and setting really carry the story: a reanimated mother is out to save her unborn daughter from the Goddess Hel. This more than compensates for the dialogue which relies heavily on characters broadcasting their intentions. Its simplistic tone and fast pace is appropriate for young-adult novels, but its abundance of mature scenes makes it more suitable for adults (there are many heroines who continually find themselves stripped naked, chained, and tortured) . This is highly recommended for epic/high fantasy readers looking for darker fiction. It would work well as a "gateway drug" for those introduced to fantasy via Tolkien, but are now looking for gritty fare.
Bloodsong and Freedom: The conflict centers on the female warrior Bloodsong who is pitted against Hel Queen of Darkness, Death Goddess. It begins with Bloodsong coming back from Hel's domain, resurrected and sworn to serve the Goddess. Hel is holding Bloodsong's daughter, hostage (she had died in Bloodsong's womb, but was raised in Helheim). The conflict over freedom/domination is persistent and explicitly echoed in the protagonist's war cry & call to action "Bloodsong and Freedom!" The subsequent books fill in many details about Bloodsong's husband and her son, who had died during the same raid as she; they are, of course, plagued past their natural deaths.
Fun Horror: The variety and abundance of undead creatures makes this most fun, and their titles speak to their coolness: Flesh Demons (skeletons who steal skin), Skull Slaves (humans possessed by ghosts), Death Riders (undead warriors mounted on skeletal Hel-Horses who ride the wind), Corpse Beasts (humanoids who eat their kill), Hel-Witch (sorceress who draw upon Her powers), etc. There are of course Viking inspired monsters (i.e. Frost Giants, Invisible Dwarves), but the series is really about Hel's incarnations, as the three titles communicate, so expect lots of necromancy.
New vs. Old: The 2013 Helx3 eBook release has a lengthened first book (in the omnibus, the first book "Warrior Witch from Hel" has 24 chapters versus the original 18). The remaining books have the same number of chapters, but their content is altered to accommodate some character development , mostly regarding the secondary character Jalna. The additions are fine, but the paperback originals are just as enjoyable.
Coverart:The illustrations for the paperbacks and eBook are from Boris Vallejo. They are incredible and accurately portray the characters and books' tone:
More Bloodsong Adventures:
2014...: A new novel, The Valkyries of Hel, is in progress now.
1996: Eternal Champion cross-over: In the Pawn of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion anthology, Bloodsong interacts with Michael Moorcock's eternal champion (the Urlik Skarsol incarnation) in the short story: "The Warskull of Hel" (which was the title for the first book in the trilogy according to the author). This continues the saga in a solid way, even if a short story.
2006: R.E.Howard and Texas: For the World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, there was a R. E. Howard centenary tribute anthology called Cross Plains Universe - Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. Therein there is a fun, Bloodsong short "Slim and Swede and the Damned Dead Horse."
This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson
History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) Warrior Witch of Hell; 2) Death Riders of Hell; and 3) Werebeasts of Hel.
The concepts and setting really carry the story: a reanimated mother is out to save her unborn daughter from the Goddess Hel. This more than compensates for the dialogue which relies heavily on characters broadcasting their intentions. Its simplistic tone and fast pace is appropriate for young-adult novels, but its abundance of mature scenes makes it more suitable for adults (there are many heroines who continually find themselves stripped naked, chained, and tortured) . This is highly recommended for epic/high fantasy readers looking for darker fiction. It would work well as a "gateway drug" for those introduced to fantasy via Tolkien, but are now looking for gritty fare.
Bloodsong and Freedom: The conflict centers on the female warrior Bloodsong who is pitted against Hel Queen of Darkness, Death Goddess. It begins with Bloodsong coming back from Hel's domain, resurrected and sworn to serve the Goddess. Hel is holding Bloodsong's daughter, hostage (she had died in Bloodsong's womb, but was raised in Helheim). The conflict over freedom/domination is persistent and explicitly echoed in the protagonist's war cry & call to action "Bloodsong and Freedom!" The subsequent books fill in many details about Bloodsong's husband and her son, who had died during the same raid as she; they are, of course, plagued past their natural deaths.
Fun Horror: The variety and abundance of undead creatures makes this most fun, and their titles speak to their coolness: Flesh Demons (skeletons who steal skin), Skull Slaves (humans possessed by ghosts), Death Riders (undead warriors mounted on skeletal Hel-Horses who ride the wind), Corpse Beasts (humanoids who eat their kill), Hel-Witch (sorceress who draw upon Her powers), etc. There are of course Viking inspired monsters (i.e. Frost Giants, Invisible Dwarves), but the series is really about Hel's incarnations, as the three titles communicate, so expect lots of necromancy.
New vs. Old: The 2013 Helx3 eBook release has a lengthened first book (in the omnibus, the first book "Warrior Witch from Hel" has 24 chapters versus the original 18). The remaining books have the same number of chapters, but their content is altered to accommodate some character development , mostly regarding the secondary character Jalna. The additions are fine, but the paperback originals are just as enjoyable.
Coverart:The illustrations for the paperbacks and eBook are from Boris Vallejo. They are incredible and accurately portray the characters and books' tone:
More Bloodsong Adventures:
2014...: A new novel, The Valkyries of Hel, is in progress now.
1996: Eternal Champion cross-over: In the Pawn of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion anthology, Bloodsong interacts with Michael Moorcock's eternal champion (the Urlik Skarsol incarnation) in the short story: "The Warskull of Hel" (which was the title for the first book in the trilogy according to the author). This continues the saga in a solid way, even if a short story.
2006: R.E.Howard and Texas: For the World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, there was a R. E. Howard centenary tribute anthology called Cross Plains Universe - Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. Therein there is a fun, Bloodsong short "Slim and Swede and the Damned Dead Horse."
January 18, 2014
An entertaining gateway to Hell, and toward darker fiction
This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson
History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) Warrior Witch of Hell; 2) Death Riders of Hell; and 3) Werebeasts of Hel.
The concepts and setting really carry the story: a reanimated mother is out to save her unborn daughter from the Goddess Hel. This more than compensates for the dialogue which relies heavily on characters broadcasting their intentions. Its simplistic tone and fast pace is appropriate for young-adult novels, but its abundance of mature scenes makes it more suitable for adults (there are many heroines who continually find themselves stripped naked, chained, and tortured) . This is highly recommended for epic/high fantasy readers looking for darker fiction. It would work well as a "gateway drug" for those introduced to fantasy via Tolkien, but are now looking for gritty fare.
Bloodsong and Freedom: The conflict centers on the female warrior Bloodsong who is pitted against Hel Queen of Darkness, Death Goddess. It begins with Bloodsong coming back from Hel's domain, resurrected and sworn to serve the Goddess. Hel is holding Bloodsong's daughter, hostage (she had died in Bloodsong's womb, but was raised in Helheim). The conflict over freedom/domination is persistent and explicitly echoed in the protagonist's war cry & call to action "Bloodsong and Freedom!" The subsequent books fill in many details about Bloodsong's husband and her son, who had died during the same raid as she; they are, of course, plagued past their natural deaths.
Fun Horror: The variety and abundance of undead creatures makes this most fun, and their titles speak to their coolness: Flesh Demons (skeletons who steal skin), Skull Slaves (humans possessed by ghosts), Death Riders (undead warriors mounted on skeletal Hel-Horses who ride the wind), Corpse Beasts (humanoids who eat their kill), Hel-Witch (sorceress who draw upon Her powers), etc. There are of course Viking inspired monsters (i.e. Frost Giants, Invisible Dwarves), but the series is really about Hel's incarnations, as the three titles communicate, so expect lots of necromancy.
New vs. Old: The 2013 Helx3 eBook release has a lengthened first book (in the omnibus, the first book "Warrior Witch from Hel" has 24 chapters versus the original 18). The remaining books have the same number of chapters, but their content is altered to accommodate some character development , mostly regarding the secondary character Jalna. The additions are fine, but the paperback originals are just as enjoyable.
Coverart:The illustrations for the paperbacks and eBook are from Boris Vallejo. They are incredible and accurately portray the characters and books' tone:
More Bloodsong Adventures:
2014...: A new novel, The Valkyries of Hel, is in progress now.
1996: Eternal Champion cross-over: In the Pawn of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion anthology, Bloodsong interacts with Michael Moorcock's eternal champion (the Urlik Skarsol incarnation) in the short story: "The Warskull of Hel" (which was the title for the first book in the trilogy according to the author). This continues the saga in a solid way, even if a short story.
2006: R.E.Howard and Texas: For the World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, there was a R. E. Howard centenary tribute anthology called Cross Plains Universe - Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. Therein there is a fun, Bloodsong short "Slim and Swede and the Damned Dead Horse."
This review covers the trilogy, printed in 1986 but released in an eBook omnibus in 2013 called Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 by C. Dean Andersson
History and Style: The three books combined in Bloodsong! — Hel X 3 were written within ~1.5 yrs (1985-86). C. Dean Andersson (aka Asa Drake) was motivated to make a fun horror series on quick timing. The result was easily digestible horror / fantasy, all rooted in Viking lore. The trilogy includes: 1) Warrior Witch of Hell; 2) Death Riders of Hell; and 3) Werebeasts of Hel.
The concepts and setting really carry the story: a reanimated mother is out to save her unborn daughter from the Goddess Hel. This more than compensates for the dialogue which relies heavily on characters broadcasting their intentions. Its simplistic tone and fast pace is appropriate for young-adult novels, but its abundance of mature scenes makes it more suitable for adults (there are many heroines who continually find themselves stripped naked, chained, and tortured) . This is highly recommended for epic/high fantasy readers looking for darker fiction. It would work well as a "gateway drug" for those introduced to fantasy via Tolkien, but are now looking for gritty fare.
Bloodsong and Freedom: The conflict centers on the female warrior Bloodsong who is pitted against Hel Queen of Darkness, Death Goddess. It begins with Bloodsong coming back from Hel's domain, resurrected and sworn to serve the Goddess. Hel is holding Bloodsong's daughter, hostage (she had died in Bloodsong's womb, but was raised in Helheim). The conflict over freedom/domination is persistent and explicitly echoed in the protagonist's war cry & call to action "Bloodsong and Freedom!" The subsequent books fill in many details about Bloodsong's husband and her son, who had died during the same raid as she; they are, of course, plagued past their natural deaths.
Fun Horror: The variety and abundance of undead creatures makes this most fun, and their titles speak to their coolness: Flesh Demons (skeletons who steal skin), Skull Slaves (humans possessed by ghosts), Death Riders (undead warriors mounted on skeletal Hel-Horses who ride the wind), Corpse Beasts (humanoids who eat their kill), Hel-Witch (sorceress who draw upon Her powers), etc. There are of course Viking inspired monsters (i.e. Frost Giants, Invisible Dwarves), but the series is really about Hel's incarnations, as the three titles communicate, so expect lots of necromancy.
New vs. Old: The 2013 Helx3 eBook release has a lengthened first book (in the omnibus, the first book "Warrior Witch from Hel" has 24 chapters versus the original 18). The remaining books have the same number of chapters, but their content is altered to accommodate some character development , mostly regarding the secondary character Jalna. The additions are fine, but the paperback originals are just as enjoyable.
Coverart:The illustrations for the paperbacks and eBook are from Boris Vallejo. They are incredible and accurately portray the characters and books' tone:
More Bloodsong Adventures:
2014...: A new novel, The Valkyries of Hel, is in progress now.
1996: Eternal Champion cross-over: In the Pawn of Chaos: Tales of the Eternal Champion anthology, Bloodsong interacts with Michael Moorcock's eternal champion (the Urlik Skarsol incarnation) in the short story: "The Warskull of Hel" (which was the title for the first book in the trilogy according to the author). This continues the saga in a solid way, even if a short story.
2006: R.E.Howard and Texas: For the World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, there was a R. E. Howard centenary tribute anthology called Cross Plains Universe - Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard. Therein there is a fun, Bloodsong short "Slim and Swede and the Damned Dead Horse."
May 26, 2018
I was in the mood for some pulpy, old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery adventure, so I decided to try this book out. It took a little while for me to get fully invested but it ultimately delivered exactly what was promised. Bloodsong is rather like a female Conan with Norse overtones, as she is literally a warrior granted witch-powers by the death-goddess Hel in order to bring down a sorcerer who is draining the life from women to fuel his own unnaturally long life. To the book's credit, there are a lot of female characters, most of whom are warriors, and the book is very matter-of-fact about it. There's also a lot of violence against women, but in the context of the story, it makes sense and helps show just how evil the wizard is. The language is very blunt and nothing is stated in a subtle manner. A lot of it is just flat-out telling you things, but there's also enough description to give a good sense of the world. Part of me is mildly interested in reading more Bloodsong books, but this one gave a satisfying ending, so there really is no need to read further unless you really want to.
January 18, 2021
Quick and fun "not hard to follow" fantasy. Very straight forward and gets straight to the point. The characters are all likeable but could have done with a bit more development. The evil king/wizard was a complete asshole that you couldn't wait to see get his. Good violence and tight action scenes. Overall a nice pulpy ready.
Want to read
October 1, 2023Found the complete trilogy at Half Price books
May 1, 2024
I was pretty impressed with this one. It's pretty much straight forward Sword and Sorcery, but it is well paced and a fun read. A little dark at times, but usually the best S&S is a little dark. This is the first of a trilogy, but it is a self contained story.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!
I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!
January 18, 2018
To start, the books title.
This runs along the Norse Gods mythos.
So Odin, Freya and yes Hela.
Another main part with the title.
Hel relates to Hela, and her servants and realm.
Bloodsong, has made a pact with Hela.
She will complete a task, against a wicked sorcerer.
To gain her freedom, and her daughters from Hel.
The story has a lot of good points. It moves along smoothly.
As Bloodsong, finds a few allies along the way.
In the vein of Red Sonja, and Conan type tales.
Bloodsong spent her early years, and arena warrior.
You have myth, mingled in with bloody battles, and sorcery.
The one point, that kept me from giving it a 4.
A lot of it simply stays darker then it needs to be.
Trying to put over how wicked and evil the enemies can be.
It tends to be dark, in actions, and events.
Like OK we get the point, realm of the dead. Evil sorcerer.
Now enough with necromancy just give us some even handed entertainment.
If you like Red Sonja, you will likely enjoy.
The main lead fighting female Bloodsong.
This runs along the Norse Gods mythos.
So Odin, Freya and yes Hela.
Another main part with the title.
Hel relates to Hela, and her servants and realm.
Bloodsong, has made a pact with Hela.
She will complete a task, against a wicked sorcerer.
To gain her freedom, and her daughters from Hel.
The story has a lot of good points. It moves along smoothly.
As Bloodsong, finds a few allies along the way.
In the vein of Red Sonja, and Conan type tales.
Bloodsong spent her early years, and arena warrior.
You have myth, mingled in with bloody battles, and sorcery.
The one point, that kept me from giving it a 4.
A lot of it simply stays darker then it needs to be.
Trying to put over how wicked and evil the enemies can be.
It tends to be dark, in actions, and events.
Like OK we get the point, realm of the dead. Evil sorcerer.
Now enough with necromancy just give us some even handed entertainment.
If you like Red Sonja, you will likely enjoy.
The main lead fighting female Bloodsong.
September 17, 2019
This fantasy novel is quite well done. The protagonists are not your standard group of fantasy heroes, but something a little more special. The villain is more standard, but still delightfully evil. The Dwarfish passages were a nice surprise, handled in an unexpected and pleasing manner. There's some cool battles and magic, a little pathos and a lot of action. There's a Norse element as well, which I quite like. Not bad at all.
Read
April 14, 2008Fantasy
February 18, 2017
Heyyyyy! This was great! Classic sword and sorcery but with women protagonists! Hooray!
November 20, 2018
This book is great. I loved the characters and the Norse mythology theme.
July 18, 2019
It's schlock but sometimes that's okay (and the cover art is sweet)
September 21, 2021
These books are difficult to rate, hence the low rating.
Personally I do enjoy reading them a lot, they are my current guilty pleasure; but there's an awful lot of gratuitous nudity, lots of mention of sexualized violence (though thankfully never graphic), and lots and lots of BDSM fantasy.
They are very light on plot, although the whole incorporation of Norse mythology is, in my impression, well done.
On the plus side certainly stand its female heroes and a lot of fun banter.
As with the last book in the series I can only say, if you have grown up with the short-lived Barbarian Fantasy wave of the 80s or have otherwise aquired a taste for those movies, then these books come highly recommend.
For everyone else I'd recommend to read the first couple pages to see if it's for you.
Personally I do enjoy reading them a lot, they are my current guilty pleasure; but there's an awful lot of gratuitous nudity, lots of mention of sexualized violence (though thankfully never graphic), and lots and lots of BDSM fantasy.
They are very light on plot, although the whole incorporation of Norse mythology is, in my impression, well done.
On the plus side certainly stand its female heroes and a lot of fun banter.
As with the last book in the series I can only say, if you have grown up with the short-lived Barbarian Fantasy wave of the 80s or have otherwise aquired a taste for those movies, then these books come highly recommend.
For everyone else I'd recommend to read the first couple pages to see if it's for you.
December 27, 2023
A solid swords and sorcery fantasy title that doesn't get bogged down in being fancy. It delves into the mind of the villain more than most and presents a female protagonist in a realistic way. The final chapter felt out of place as it changed tone and took the spotlight off the main character - almost as though a second book wasn't planned.
December 19, 2021
Good old sword and sorcery. Has a lot of torture by the villian which added to the tension but not in a bondage porn kind of way. Could have done with less though. Well-paced.
December 3, 2022
My ideal work of Sword & Sorcery. It’s like Masters of the Universe made for Heavy Metal magazine.
June 22, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this literary piece and had the pleasure of working on it with Crossroads Press. A must read!
Read
February 17, 2024Anyone else made it here after reading Ready Player Two?
August 29, 2025
I tried to read this but its just not my thing. its a neat story but it just couldn't keep my attention.
March 12, 2013
Very-very fine
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