Errant Gods

Blood of the Isir #1

by Erik Henry Vick

Alternative cover editions for this ASIN can be found here & here.


Winner of the 2018 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards Silver Medal for Fantasy

Do you believe in destiny?

The skein of Hank Jensen's fate seemed fixed, riddled with pain, deceit, and loneliness. Two monsters wrapped in human flesh took everything he cared about, warping his life's tapestry with a dark curse, abducting his family in the dead of night. Compelled by love, Hank must follow them across a shimmering portal into an unknown land. Unprepared for what awaits him there, he flounders…until he meets a figure straight out of Norse mythology who offers to help.

His quest is simple: overcome all the obstacles in his path—his disability, his lack of knowledge, demons, dragons, and dark vengeful gods. If he succeeds, the war will have just begun. If he fails, he will never see his wife or son again.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Ebooks, Dark Fantasy

730 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2017

About the author

Erik Henry Vick is an author who happens to be disabled by an autoimmune disease (also known as his Personal Monster™). He writes to hang on to the few remaining shreds of his sanity. His current favorite genres to write are dark fantasy and horror.

He lives in Western New York with his wife, Supergirl; their son; a Rottweiler named after a god of thunder; and two extremely psychotic cats. He fights his Personal Monster™ daily with humor, pain medicine, and funny T-shirts.

In the meantime, he'd like to invite you to check out his blog:
erikhenryvick.com

Or follow him on:
Twitter @BerserkErik
Facebook @erikhenryvick
Amazon USA Author Page
Amazon UK Author Page

He'd love to hear from you.

Reviews

[Carl Bluesy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is where the dark tower and American Gods meet.

This was a fun fantasy book with some darker elements mixed in focused heavily on Norse mythology, and the connection to the real world. There’s lots of fun and adventure that I was hoping for with this one. Although I found some parts were a little bit longer than they needed to be and folks too much on the backstory.

I think this is a good I’m hoping it’s gonna be a great series.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Errant Gods, Erik Henry Vick

Yes, Errant Gods compares favorably to Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, and yes, Mr. Vick’s work holds up well to that of LL Tolkien. All share the Great Quest, which on the face of things, appears seems fantastically unlikely to succeed. Yet the heroes persist.

I also sense an echo, in Vick’s Hank Jensen (possibly the most sympathetic protagonist I can think of since Danny Torrance in the Overlook Hotel), of Bill Hodges in King’s Mr. Mercedes cycle. They seem to share the same wounded, damaged, relentless persistence in their journeys, despite how implausible success may seem. I just don’t see that kind of doggedness portrayed -- and so well -- very often.

Then there are the “Bristol Butchers”, two of the most appallingly horrifying, just plain evil-with-a-capital-E antagonists I have ever encountered. And that’s just chapter one. Plenty more to come, never doubt it..

In short, Vick sucked me into the dark and detailed world of this story in less than two chapters and never let me go until the very last pages. The path from here to there was strange indeed, spanning worlds and dimensions, peopled with beings of unknown heritage and abilities.

Fortunately, this is only Book One. Book Two can’t come out soon enough for this fantasy/horror fan.

[Kevin Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, I will start with the narrator. I really couldn't ask for better. There are a few points where a voice or accent falters or the tone or tempo doesn't feel quite right, but all in all it was a great performance.

Now, the story.

This story uses an atypical structure somewhat reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, in that it relies heavily on flashbacks interspersed between forward momentum of the story.

(a part of me would have liked it to be more straightforward, but I understand why it was done this way)

There are a few hiccups in the prose (namely clunky constructions and passive voice), but they really did not detract from the story.

The book switches between first person for the main character's chapters and third person for other points of view and while I'm normally adamantly opposed to first person, the way it is managed in this book is fantastic and Hank has an incredibly compelling voice.

Finally, I'm a huge fan of both mythology and subversion. So when I realized this story included a strong element of subversion of mythology, I knew I was hooked.

I would have liked to see an ending with a more epic feel, but apart from that Erik pretty well nailed it.

Now I have to anxiously await the audio production of the next book!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I find a new book that blows me away I think there cannot be another one out there better than that one, and then a better one shows up like a fallen star. This first book of the series had me at the go and never let up. It is like Stephen King spliced with Norse Mythology with a few twists. What if Asgard was real? The nine realms? What if what we call mythology is influenced by real life events and people? Maybe not "gods" as we know them but longer living and powerful beings? You could even go so far as to say it is similar in concept as Stargate but centralized around Norse Mythology instead of ancient Egyptian Mythology. It can be a bit visceral but we are dealing with supernatural creatures here. It was an incredible adventure and truly look forward to the rest of the series.

[Ray Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I don’t know where to start. I had hoped that Errant Gods, Blood of the Isir Book One, by Erik Henry Vick was a good read. I doubted that it was as good as Stephen King’s The Dark Tower because that series is one of the best I have ever read. Period. I’m not going to say Errant Gods is better than The Dark Tower. Loyalty is a very strong facet of my personality, and I am a long time Stephen King fan. What I will say is this. If you like The Dark Tower. If you like the writing of Stephen King, then read Errant Gods. It is good, no, it is great. It is powerful, and it is writing at the highest level. I never thought I would be able to read a writer that wrote in that style of moving in and out of dimensions and describes pure evil as well as Stephen King. I was wrong. Erik Henry Vick is the real thing, and I look forward to reading him for just as long a time as I have been reading Stephen King.

Two pages into Errant Gods I was blown away by the sheer power of the writing. The beauty and style used to describe a conversation between two obviously evil people driven only by their primal desires are beautiful in its straightforward simplicity. I usually review a book by stating which literary element I feel is its strongest point, but I am at a loss now. What do you say when all the elements are above and beyond anything you have read in a very long time? The writing is excellent. The characters are brilliant. I can go on and on about every part of this book, but the best thing I can do is to tell you to read it. You won’t regret it.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank Jenson used to be one of the best criminal profilers in New York City. That is until the Bristol Butchers came to town and caused all kinds of murder and mayhem. Then Hank loses his job and his health. The only happiness he has is his wife and son. Then they disappear. Hank has no choice, but to go out and find them. But following them causes another run in with the Bristol Butchers and it causes Hank to question everything he thought he knew or could believe in. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Debra Barstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It kept me entertained and how the story unfolded was great. would recommend this book.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Errant Gods by Erik Henry Vick.
A great read. Loved some of the characters. Loved the story. Looking forward to more. 4*.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this novel.

Frist I hated the narrator, his voice had a droning quality that grated on my nerves, his talent for doing the female voice didn't really work due to him having a deep voice. So he didn't help in the joy of this.

Second, the main character of Hank Jenson, he was written, in my view as typical male who has to rescue the damsel in distress, after he got her kidnapped and is too macho to ask for help and take the help that is offered. He also grated on me. I have nothing against male characters like that, but boy could Hank moan.

The premise of the book was a good idea, exiled God living in our world, cop pisses her of, she kidnaps his family taking them to her world. This then introduces the myths of the norse Gods. All good so far, I wasn't overly keen on these well know Gods having slight name changes, not knowing much about the said Gods i suppose they could be the right names, for me no.

I'm sorry to say this was not for me and I will not be reading any more also its a good job audible allow you to return audio books with the subscription service,

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously... don’t bother reading this. While it started off as interesting, it slogged through the rest of the story. I found myself skimming it just to get through to the end. 👎🏼

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Errant Gods does not disappoint! Having been compared with Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, which I loved, I would say the comparison is beyond accurate. Errant Gods has an excellent format of moving back and forth through time to explain background details to provide the historical background of the characters and plot, and he does it in such a seamless way, the past becomes the present. The story is solid and the plot original, one that draws you in from the very first chapter. The story is action packed and keeps you turning pages long into the night. A thrill ride which is also welcomingly humorous. Plenty of room in the character and plot to find a moment of normalcy to add a realism to an otherwise mystical tale. One welcome contrast to The Dark Tower Series is the LACK of confusing, overwhelming details that my beloved Stephen King has a habit of employing. This book is eloquent in its formation and doesn’t waste a word. Action scenes are vivid and unrelenting as well as unpredictable. The portions of “action downtime” are well used to establish plot and develop characters. These characters are extraordinary! Their personalities and physical descriptions are multidimensional. From the introduction of each, you will find a desire to know them deeply, and the author accomplishes this with perfection giving you just enough to envision them physically and know their personality while leaving a bit for the imagination and further development along the pages of the narrative. I will give no spoilers, but I highly recommend this book, the first in the Blood of the Isir Series. This is a MUST READ series!

[Grace Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Errand Gods by Erik Henry Vick is the first installment in the Blood Of Isir series. The book follows the story of Hank Jenson once one of the best criminal profilers in New York City but now a disabled man who can barely walk because of the excruciating pain in his bones. The doctors told him he has arthritis but Hank knows different. Several years ago he was on a case that changed his life and challenged his sanity. The Bristol Butchers were a pair of criminals who killed their victims ruthlessly and fed on them like a prime side of beef. On his last night as an able-bodied man, Hank witnessed things that were impossible. At the back of his mind Hank has always known that the Bristol Butchers were still out there and when they return they take his wife and son with them. Hank has no choice but to follow…
I enjoyed reading Errant Gods because it is a fresh perspective on Norse mythology. This book won’t read like an extension of Marvel’s Thor but something totally different but no less entertaining. It is difficult to classify this book because it has a blending of various genres. Fans of horror, crime and fantasy will enjoy this read. Erik Henry Vick is a great storyteller who blended modern culture with mythology in a dramatic way that made the story unpredictable. Even horror veterans will not be able to predict how this story unfolds. I liked the author's way of showing how an average man can overcome insurmountable odds and come out the victor.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I liked Dark Tower, I couldn’t read them again especially after the film. This one reminded me of it at the start before the little references. With the kidnapping I dropped my head in my hands and was “Oh no here we go again.” Thankfully that’s where the similarities stopped and quickly the story becomes its own. A lot of information drops in this one and the story relies on flashbacks to fill in the gaps. I liked how quickly Hank adapted and how he kept his disability. The queen reminded me of the awful girlfriend no one wants anything to do with, with Luka an ever-faithful puppy. Has pretty much everything most fantasies have but reminds me of a Mario/Pokemon video I once watched on Youtube. I think my favorite part of the book is the characters. They’re masterfully done with each one having their own quirks and none of the support is glossed over. I loved the relationship between the family and the “might as well ask.” I also liked how the other side is complicated and not a straight in needs to die. Don’t remember his name but my favorite character was the dragon guy. Entertaining with death, violence, monsters and Norse themes. One of those that stays with you when you're done. Not an immediate cliff-hanger but one that leaves you hungry for more.

[Bani R · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the gods become serial killers, do mortals stand a chance? One broken man must fight the impossible to save mankind.


Hank Jensen was New York's most dedicated criminal profiler, but the demonic Bristol Butchers crushed his career and left him disabled and hopeless. He was cursed with a broken body. The book is compared to a Stephen King book.
Although he was trying to live his new life the demons attack his family but to save his loved ones he has to enter an unrecognizable world of Norse gods. With lingering injuries and crippling doubts, he must overcome a land of dragons and shapechangers to defeat pure evil. Can a mere mortal outwit the gods to save his family, or will his quest end in fire and ash?


The story will hook you till the end. From start to end, the book will give you chills, action, and thrillers.I loved the audio explaining each character and maintaining the thriller and suspense throughout the story.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It has been said that there should be more than one word to express the concept of love. The same was true for pain. It was silly to think one single four letter word could adequately express the myriad kinds of pain I had felt since I'd been sick"

A disabled former cop's family goes missing in a series of unfortunate and incredibly gruesome events, leading him to travel to a world where Norse mythology originated while at the same time dealing with crippling chronic pain. Genre-bending and interesting twist on famous characters like Thor and Loki. Just as in Demon King, many of the scenes are brutal and not for the squeamish. Although I felt the book could've gone through another round of editing (the banter went on for a little longer than necessary) it was overall very enjoyable.

[Eggbeater · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good dark fantasy adventure. It had norse mythology and a disabled protagonist that gave it an original flare. The depictions of pain and limitations of disability are spot on. As someone who suffers from chronic pain, I think I recognize a kindred spirit here. People in pain slay invisible dragons all day long. I did wish the author would consider giving women more visible, less secondary, traditional roles. I don’t think it’s intentional but the book is a little slanted toward men. I loved the descriptive writing style. This guy is a good writer. It was his first book and I’ll be looking for more.

[Scott Ripley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start for a series! Interesting plotline and no spelling errors 👍.

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome read!

I can't say I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed Demon King, but that's partly because I enjoyed the horror element in that book very very much.

Mr. Vick's many characters are very well written and quite vibrant. My personal favorites are the main character, Meuhlnir, Luka, and Suel.

I really liked the main character, but I wanted more of him in certain parts. Moreover, I agree with the author's notes in that the book shouldn't be strictly about all the difficulties of struggling with a disability. However, I do feel that some of those elements could have been sprinkled in a bit more toward the end to make things a bit more believable.

The only other reason that keeps this book form getting 5 stars in my opinion is that there can be some really slow sections that involve certain characters telling stories. I really really enjoyed certain stories/memories of characters (basically anything involving the changed Luka and Suel), and Mr. Vick must be commended for handling all these flashbacks so creatively. However, sometimes I did feel like some flashbacks were long pieces of exposition that could have been weaved in smaller chunks.

Overall I really loved the author's writing, the darker elements, and the very grounded take on a world inspired (or that inspired ;)) Norse mythology. I can't wait to read the next one! Thank you Erik Henry Vick for showing us your personal monster in an exciting journey about a man only wanting to help is family.

[Gen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing take on the modern hero’s journey and Norse Mythology

Long and meaty, we follow our somewhat irritating hero as he traverses realms seeking personal justice, building a band of supporters along the way who are genuinely likeable and multilayered. The retelling and Co-opting of the Sagas give some grandeur of scale and an opportunity to think .... what if the Gods really had visited Scandinavia? What might it have been like in their home worlds?
There’s quite a lot of battle description that (ahem) some of us might skip through a bit, and a protagonist who is of course surprisingly powerful for a mortal cop with a willingness to put worlds at risk to save a wife and son that rankles and serves as a drawback. But frankly, he doesn’t spend half the novel smirking, and that in itself is refreshing!

[Louis Jumeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a read! I purchased this book along with four others ere I'd read a single word by this author.
I enjoyed this novel for many reasons; E.H.V.'s love of words and his extensive vocabulary, his evident love of his family, his incorporation of his debilitating illness woven into the storyline, his humour and his well researched knowledge of the subject matter.
All this he weaves into a tale of dark fantasy, along with a soupçon of reality, a detective story that gets derailed by a wormhole. (Figuratively speaking)
Yet he takes us on this journey and weaves such a tale that it made it seem reasonable that such incredible events were occurring. Read this at your own peril, as you will become hooked and spend your waking hours devouring the story, or wishing you were.
I am about to dive into the second book of the series, so excuse me, must dash!

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third star is for ambition, as the book certainly is that. The blurb I read compared it to 'American Gods' but it is nowhere near as good. The author overuses set phrases ('chartreuse ichor' - three times in one passage) and the language meanders from cod-olde Norse to modern English to a curious hybrid of the two. Certainly admirable is the author's attempts to give a rational background to the Norse myths and I had high hopes when a technological explanation is offered early on. Sadly, he all but abandons this and goes all-in for, quite frankly, ridiculous magic with no bounds. As in any 'gotta rescue my loved ones' scenario I can't help but question the body count necessary to do so.

[Jim Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably good!!

Was scrolling through Facebook and saw a suggestion for this book and saw that it was compared to Stephen Kings The Dark Tower saga. I figured what the hell might as well give it a try. Thank god I did! If your looking for something with the feel of The Dark Tower it does have that feel a little but, it is a story that is totally different. I absolutely loved it!
I love how it involves Norse mythology, dragons, dwarfs, and some really dark fantasy and horror. So well written and just keeps you hooked by how fast it moves. It is wicked fun to read and can’t wait until the next book. So great!

[Linda J. Grindstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was slow to engage me because of how hard it was to learn to pronounce names and places. Once I had that down, it rolled along very smoothly and quickly. I enjoyed the idea of different worlds being as close as the portals in story. Also a little off-putting in that anything or anyone could cross through these portals into our little human world here. I found myself reading faster and enjoying it more about half way through. Now, I am looking forward to the sequel so I can see how everything is working out. I highly recommend this book and this author because you won't find the mundane here. You will find fresh ideas, full living characters and lots of action.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book

I really liked the combination of good and evil Norse gods, and a cop with a mission. Lots of fun details. Characters are well written and believable, each with their own personalities. I did feel that Sig was a bit juvenile for his age. Would have put him at 10 years old if his age wasn't mentioned. Very few grammar/usage errors, which makes the reading so much nicer! I like Vick's descriptions of the various lands the group travels through - enough detail so you can see it without swamping your vision with too much detail. I look forward to the next book.

[Sally Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge for actions taken by a policeman. A curse that is debilitating. A wife and son kidnapped and taken to a different realm by what we would call cannibals. All is not what it seems. Hank is coerced into traveling through what we would call a portal to another plain to find his wife and son. He meets a kindly old man who gives him food and shelter. Then things get really bizarre. This realm has its basis on Norse mythology and customs, but tweaked a bit. Gods, thralls, etc. Deviousness and treachery abound. Will Hank be able to rescue his family? I was at the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read the next volume.

[CATHERINE · Rating 1 out of 5]

This kept popping up as something I should read because I loved the Dark Tower series. Apart from the fact the main character having read those books I didn't see much of a connection. To be honest I don't really understand the positive reviews. I am a sucker for cannibalistic serial killers from another dimension and mythology. This got off to an interesting start and I was with it until Hank meets Meuhlnir. Then although I thought the mythology was a good twist I just lost interest and it felt like a slog it just didn't engage with me.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Errant Gods, Erik Henry Vick's 1st book in the Blood of the Isir series, is an adventure on the grandest of scales! The storyline is fast-paced and unique, filled with adventure, intrigue, and danger. The characters are endearing and well developed. The setting is highly creative, taking place not not only on earth, but in other rhelms as well. The nature and inhabitants of each new rhelm demonstrates a well-versed imagination. Can't wait to continue with the series and see where the story goes!

[Leah Speller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaw droping!!

When I first started this book it was to get myself reading again. It was a slow start but then I could not stop. It was so much more than I expected.

The characters were well rounded and made me care so much about them. I think what I enjoyed the most was the Norse mythology used yet in his world that he created that is not who they really were. This added to his story arc in a unique way.

It is well worth the read and I can not wait to read the next in the series.

[Buddy McFelea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this book because of the reviews comparing this in some way to the works of Stephen King. While King's name is mentioned a few times in the storyline, that is about as far as it goes.

That being said, this book has enough leg to stand on its own. An excellent mix of genres. Elements of Crime/SciFi/Fantasy/Mythology come together to create a very interesting read! Kudos to Erik!

Bring on book #2!

[Bleumoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still Catching My Breath

I was concerned in the beginning of the book that it was not going to live up to the hype provided by the reviews. I'm so happy I stuck with it! It became a book that I absolutely dreaded putting down! I love the story, the characters, the land everything... well except the beginning. I'm going to Amazon right now and looking for more from this author. Very highly recommend!