Flight of the Wren

Flight of the Wren #1

by Winter Fox

"An impressive and intricate novel that’s rich in character and full of action." -Kirkus Reviews A Booklife Editor's "Fox (the Grace Coffin series) enchants with his first Viking Age novel, a sweeping medieval saga that stretches across 11th-century Scandinavia... This exquisitely wrought medieval tale will appeal to fans of both fantasy and historical epics." A book with a huge heart, epic battles, and young heroes coming of age at the cusp of an era... In 1002 AD, a shaman's apprentice returns home to find her village razed. Hilja begins an impossible quest to redeem her tribe and must use all her courage and craft to survive. From the four corners of Scandinavia, Flight of the Wren weaves history with battles, magic, intrigue and romance, sweeping the reader along on a collision course with the end of an age. A broad and lavish saga that spans five novels and thirty years, we follow several threads that weave across the weft of history. In this first novel of the series, we witness the origins of Olav Haraldsson and the apprenticeship of Canute the Great under Thorkell. We meet the crafty Witch of Vestfold and her children, and watch as she shapes the future with her seidr magic. Thorkell's crew fights against vengeful Russians as he sails to Uppsala to steal magical rune tiles for his wife and, all along, our heroine Hilja travels across the breadth of Scandinavia with her companion, 'The Cursed Boy' in search of her lost tribe.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2020

Reviews

[Winter Fox]

Here is the Kirkus review for "Flight of the Wren"

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

Fox’s novel of adventure and intrigue, set in Scandinavia at the turn of the 11th century, follows a young woman from Lapland on a quest to save her family.

As the story opens, 6-year-old Hilja is left alone after her mother and sister are kidnapped by Norsemen. Soon afterward, the local shaman, Taika—also called “the Lady of the Wood”—takes Hilja under her wing and trains her as an apprentice. The training gives the girl an intimate knowledge of the natural world and allows her to communicate with animals. Hilja’s final test, at the age of 14, is a journey to the Underworld, where she receives a cryptic mission from one of its spirits: “You must cross the water to save the bear, heal the devil, find your sister, and help your son unite your land!” Elsewhere, the rulers of the Scandinavian countries plot their alliances and futures. Denmark’s king, Svein Forkbeard, favors his elder son, Harald, as his heir, but he asks Thorkell the Tall, a warrior of renown, to train his younger son, Canute. In Canute, Thorkell sees the potential for greatness, but his wife, the powerful witch Hekka, has her own plans for Norway. Intrigue abounds as Thorkell and Gunnhilde, queen of Denmark, struggle to suppress their mutual attraction. Svein, meanwhile, aims to marry the widow Sigrid of Uppland, whose son is heir to the Swedish throne. Somehow, Fox manages to juggle all of these many and varied storylines with grace and even finds room to write evocatively of real-life customs and rituals of the time and place in which his characters live. The depiction of Beltane, an ancient May Day celebration, is especially vivid. Along the way, the author also artfully embroiders the novel with plenty of historical, cultural, and even religious context; for example, after a fight with a Russian warrior that partly hinges on the definition of the term “Viking,” Thorkell announces to his men, “We can either be Vikings or vassals of Rome, never both.”

An impressive and intricate novel that’s rich in character and full of action.

[ReadWithE · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow to start but I was ready to jump into book 2 by the end

[Kiera Reardon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pleased to learn that this is the first in a five book series. It picked up a bit of momentum towards the end and I was hard pressed to put it down. A very interesting tale. Thought provoking and intentional.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book
I listened to it on Audible and the narration was perfect.
I am looking forward to book 2
Voyage of the white bear!

[Karla Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Flight of the Wren series is my new favorite book series, one that meets all the criteria I love about a story and so much more! Winter Fox weaves together a tale so vibrant, you really feel drawn into the time period and blossoming adventure. I’m so grateful that one of the book covers appeared during a Pinterest search, piquing my curiosity.

Combining magic, nature, folklore, history, impossible journeys, romance, battle and mystery, Flight of the Wren takes you into your imagination and for some time, you can disconnect from this modern era to sink into a different way of life. This journey sparks many questions and wonderings.

For me it was fascinating to reflect on my ancestors and my own focus on nature magic and animal communication, so this is why I particularly enjoyed learning about Hilja and Hekka. It is easy to imagine all the characters as real individuals who truly lived, some actually did, each with their own complexities and diverse personalities. Winter Fox has brought all the characters to life with expertise, leading readers through multiple interlinked storylines, and it’s beautiful to discover how they influence each other throughout the series.

The writing flows so seamlessly as well, full of rich detail and creativity. The world comes to life with the characters and you can picture yourself there. Learning about historical details through the experiences of different characters added such depth to this multi-layered story. I was continuously surprised by the turn of events, never once guessing what would happen next.

I loved following Hilja’s growth and seeing the world through her eyes, feeling the pain of each tragedy and celebrating with her victories. I enjoyed the book so much that I both read it and listened to the Audio version, narrated by Winter Fox, and he does a superb job reading the story too! Thank you for crafting such a profound tale.

There are times when finishing a book feels so sad because you wish for it to continue, and I think this emotion is a sure sign of incredible storytelling. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way, since I’ve found a book that includes nearly everything I love in a story, and I can’t wait for Book 4!

[Readbyheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad that i came across a book which has all the combination of elements. If you are searching for a book which possess magic, nature, folklore, history, impossible journeys, romance, battle and mystery then your search ends here. If you're looking for some short fantasy read then believe me this book is a perfect pick for you. Flight of the Wren takes you to your fantasy and lately isolates you from this modern era to dig into a different way of life. This book revolves around 6-year-old Hilja who is left alone after her mother and sister are kidnapped by Norsemen. Soon afterward, the local shaman, Taika-also called "the Lady of the Wood"-takes Hilja under her wing and trains her as an apprentice. The training gives the girl an intimate knowledge of the natural world and allows her to communicate with animals. Hilja's final test, at the age of 14, is a journey to the Underworld, where she receives a cryptic mission from one of its spirits: "You must cross the water to save the bear, heal the devil, find your sister, and help your son unite your land!" Elsewhere, the rulers of the Scandinavian countries plot their alliances and futures.
A book with a huge heart, epic battles, and young heroes coming of age at the cusp of an era In 1002 AD, a shaman's apprentice returns home to find her village razed. Hilja begins an impossible quest to redeem her tribe and must use all her courage and craft to survive. Fox's novel of adventure and intrigue, set in Scandinavia at the turn of the 11th century, follows a young woman from Lapland on a quest to save her family.
The writing style along with the narration is gripping, the pace of the book is moderate neither too fast nor too slow. I got to learn alot from this book which i hope will be helpful in my life as well. Overall, a perfect read.

[Meredith Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning journey

This book is beautiful, well-written, and I loved every second of the journey. Each character is a unique thread woven together in a fantastic tapestry of historical fiction. The author’s descriptions were vivid and wonderfully written. In this book you will find magic, myths, battles, and a brave and wise girl on a quest to save her people. I look forward to reading the next book and continuing the journey with these characters.

If you love Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales or Warlord Chronicles, you will likely love the first installment in this series as much as I did.

[Nnaemeka David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel was entertaining from the first page to the last. It was fascinating how the author was able to take us back to the Viking Age and still produce memorable work. It was like reading two plots in one book and then the story became harmonized. Well written.
In this interview, the author explains his novel. https://youtu.be/KgtFKmBocyU

[Holly]

DNF at the halfway point.

I tried, I really did. The writing juat didn't flow, and felt very broken. And the incapable to really just SAY things grew to be too much.

A fish struggling in his leggings? Really?

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed the storyline

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Taintedrose76 Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I chose this title it was a wonderful story. I will be going to get book 2 to continue the journey.