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The Whale Road Chronicles #3
The Wolf Hunt
When you can't protect everyone, who will you save?
AD 935.
Einar Unnsson is destined to be great. He has already defeated the men sent to kill him by his father, Jarl Thorfinn, the 'Skull Cleaver'. Einar has a gift that makes him lethal in battle, a gift he needs now more than ever.
Jarl Thorfinn is set on vengeance. Einar's mother, Unn, was once Thorfinn's favourite bedslave and when she escaped, it was a humiliation he never forgot. Whilst he attempts to supplant the Irish throne, Thorfinn sends his Galdr Man to Iceland on an assassination mission.
Unaware that his mother's life is on the line, Einar spends his exile with the Wolf Coats, a band of fearsome, bloodthirsty warriors. Convinced the fates have turned against them, the Wolf Coats embark on a wild journey, desperate to lift the curse. Yet no amount of Wolf Coats, curse remedies or even Einar's special gifts will help, if Einar can't use them to save Unn's life...
AD 935.
Einar Unnsson is destined to be great. He has already defeated the men sent to kill him by his father, Jarl Thorfinn, the 'Skull Cleaver'. Einar has a gift that makes him lethal in battle, a gift he needs now more than ever.
Jarl Thorfinn is set on vengeance. Einar's mother, Unn, was once Thorfinn's favourite bedslave and when she escaped, it was a humiliation he never forgot. Whilst he attempts to supplant the Irish throne, Thorfinn sends his Galdr Man to Iceland on an assassination mission.
Unaware that his mother's life is on the line, Einar spends his exile with the Wolf Coats, a band of fearsome, bloodthirsty warriors. Convinced the fates have turned against them, the Wolf Coats embark on a wild journey, desperate to lift the curse. Yet no amount of Wolf Coats, curse remedies or even Einar's special gifts will help, if Einar can't use them to save Unn's life...
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2020
294 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Tim Hodkinson
20 books186 followersI love reading and writing historical fiction.
My interest in ancient times, and particularly the medieval period, goes back to my childhood when my parents took us kids around the castles and megaliths of Ireland. I remember riding my bike as a boy to the see the various remnants of the Normans within reach of my home town of Lisburn. What would appear to most as uninspiring hillocks to me became in my imagination the site of heroic battles and I suppose that's where inspiration for some of my stories came from.
My interest only deepened with studying Old Norse, Medieval English and Celtic civilization at university and these topics have informed my first novels, along with a passion to tell stories about areas of Irish history that are sometimes overlooked and forgotten.
"Lions of the Grail" is set in Medieval Ireland, at the time the Scots invaded. Its a tale of knights and tournaments set against a war that time has forgotten. "The Waste Land" carries on the tale where Lions left off, while the novella, "The Savage Forest" takes the hero of this series, Richard Savage back to a time when he was still a young idealistic member of the Order of Knights Templar.
"The Spear of Crom" goes back to the time of the druids and is the story of a celtic cavalry officer in the Roman Army and his hunt for a mystical spear.
"The Undead" takes place in Victorian Belfast and moves into Gothic Horror, taking inspiration from Chapter 20 of Mary Shelley's classic novel "Frankenstein", which takes place in North Ireland.
Apart form that I have a couple of short stories set in the world of the Anglo-Saxons - "All the Kings Thanes" is my retelling of a true story treachery and the paranoia of power, while "Beowulf's Return" is set in the time of myth & legend.
My novels are available in print at all good online retailers and also (as well as the short stories) in Kindle format from Amazon.
I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing them.
My interest in ancient times, and particularly the medieval period, goes back to my childhood when my parents took us kids around the castles and megaliths of Ireland. I remember riding my bike as a boy to the see the various remnants of the Normans within reach of my home town of Lisburn. What would appear to most as uninspiring hillocks to me became in my imagination the site of heroic battles and I suppose that's where inspiration for some of my stories came from.
My interest only deepened with studying Old Norse, Medieval English and Celtic civilization at university and these topics have informed my first novels, along with a passion to tell stories about areas of Irish history that are sometimes overlooked and forgotten.
"Lions of the Grail" is set in Medieval Ireland, at the time the Scots invaded. Its a tale of knights and tournaments set against a war that time has forgotten. "The Waste Land" carries on the tale where Lions left off, while the novella, "The Savage Forest" takes the hero of this series, Richard Savage back to a time when he was still a young idealistic member of the Order of Knights Templar.
"The Spear of Crom" goes back to the time of the druids and is the story of a celtic cavalry officer in the Roman Army and his hunt for a mystical spear.
"The Undead" takes place in Victorian Belfast and moves into Gothic Horror, taking inspiration from Chapter 20 of Mary Shelley's classic novel "Frankenstein", which takes place in North Ireland.
Apart form that I have a couple of short stories set in the world of the Anglo-Saxons - "All the Kings Thanes" is my retelling of a true story treachery and the paranoia of power, while "Beowulf's Return" is set in the time of myth & legend.
My novels are available in print at all good online retailers and also (as well as the short stories) in Kindle format from Amazon.
I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 6, 2021
Very engaging. By far the best of the series!
July 16, 2021
Great adventure!!
Once again Tim Hodkinson has brought forth another outstanding read. Einar an the Wolf Coats have to fix the evil that threatens there world an the lives of others. This series is a DAMN FINE READ!!!!! Pick it up an give it a go. Vikings rule the sea.
Once again Tim Hodkinson has brought forth another outstanding read. Einar an the Wolf Coats have to fix the evil that threatens there world an the lives of others. This series is a DAMN FINE READ!!!!! Pick it up an give it a go. Vikings rule the sea.
November 21, 2023
a rousing sea tale
3.75
This third book is a better story overall. There are some good action scenes like the skiing down a mountain and some good battles scenes. There is a bit more murderous gore in this as well. And most importantly, Einar our main character is maturing and becoming a worthy Úlfhedinn.
3.75
This third book is a better story overall. There are some good action scenes like the skiing down a mountain and some good battles scenes. There is a bit more murderous gore in this as well. And most importantly, Einar our main character is maturing and becoming a worthy Úlfhedinn.
November 27, 2023
The best in the series so far.
I think the atmosphere and tension went up a notch in this one. I liked that we explored a wider story and that drove its own interest.
There is however something missing for me, with the character work, I cant articulate it, but something makes me disengage with Einar at times
I think the atmosphere and tension went up a notch in this one. I liked that we explored a wider story and that drove its own interest.
There is however something missing for me, with the character work, I cant articulate it, but something makes me disengage with Einar at times
November 29, 2023
3.5*/5 - round up to 4 because the narrator of this was really good. Made listening an experience!
other than that - nice continuation of book 2 but i think i need a break from the time-period, since it didn't really grip me. Could also be, because I am desperately trying to connect to Einar but, for the life of me, can not.
other than that - nice continuation of book 2 but i think i need a break from the time-period, since it didn't really grip me. Could also be, because I am desperately trying to connect to Einar but, for the life of me, can not.
March 1, 2021
Another author to add to my list of favorites, ranking right up there with Bernard Cornwell. Another page turner, nail biter, can't put it down, kept me up late at night book (or should I say series of books). I was on a wild and merry adventure with Einer Unnsson and the Wolf Coats, all set to dive into the fourth and last book of this series and imagine my HUGE bonecrushing disappointment when I learned that it's not being released until June!! It's going to be a loooooong 3 months.
September 4, 2023
Best so far. Gets better for each book. Have bought the rest and i look forward to read the next one.
June 12, 2021
I was so excited to get my copy of the third book in The Whale Road Chronicles. I have throughly enjoyed every minute of this series, and with each book the writing and the story just gets better and better. As I have mentioned before in my previous reviews of this series, Hodkinson depiction of the era is fabulous. I really felt like I had stepped back in time.
This novel kept me up well past my bedtime, but it was so worth it. I absolutely loved every minute of it. I really hope someone makes this series into a television drama, as then it would reach a new audience who I know would love it just as much as I do.
This novel kept me up well past my bedtime, but it was so worth it. I absolutely loved every minute of it. I really hope someone makes this series into a television drama, as then it would reach a new audience who I know would love it just as much as I do.
August 9, 2020
OMG! Yet another page-turning adventure featuring our rag-tag bunch of adventurers as they constantly jump out of the frying pan and into the oven before making a final last stand worthy of "The Magnificent Seven" or "Zulu".
Hodkinson weaves his spell so intricately that you are drawn in before you know it - and pages and hours have passed in no time at all. The story is compelling - the reader finds themselves as part of this warband as they traverse 10th century Norway on their quest for revenge and redemption.
This third chapter must be read following the other two - in order - as many of the characters and events referenced will flow more easily for the reader.
This is a series worth investing in!
Hodkinson weaves his spell so intricately that you are drawn in before you know it - and pages and hours have passed in no time at all. The story is compelling - the reader finds themselves as part of this warband as they traverse 10th century Norway on their quest for revenge and redemption.
This third chapter must be read following the other two - in order - as many of the characters and events referenced will flow more easily for the reader.
This is a series worth investing in!
April 28, 2021
A fantastic third installment and quite possibly my favourite yet!
Plans don't quite go their way for the wolf coats as they struggle to rid the curse, as they find themselves in the middle of far too many wars and not coming out too well..
A full struggle to survive, and the battles keep going. Tim Hodkinson has an amazing way of putting you right in the action every time, letting you visualise every stab made, and every limb severed from the body!
It's rare I read a series but this has not disappointed in the slightest, and I cannot wait to read the next installment of The Whale Road Chronicles!
A solid 5 star from me, I loved it from the moment I opened the book, right up until the last few pages!
Plans don't quite go their way for the wolf coats as they struggle to rid the curse, as they find themselves in the middle of far too many wars and not coming out too well..
A full struggle to survive, and the battles keep going. Tim Hodkinson has an amazing way of putting you right in the action every time, letting you visualise every stab made, and every limb severed from the body!
It's rare I read a series but this has not disappointed in the slightest, and I cannot wait to read the next installment of The Whale Road Chronicles!
A solid 5 star from me, I loved it from the moment I opened the book, right up until the last few pages!
October 16, 2020
After reading the previous two books in the series, I was eagerly waiting for the this book release on October 15, 2020 and grabbed the moment it was out in Amazon; finished reading the same night. Very nail bitingly exciting adventure, keeps up the expectation from the previous books. I discovered the author by accident and he is a remarkable writer reaching up and exceeding the league of Bernard Cornwell...
Glad to be the first to review this book!
The only damper is, I have to wait until mid next year for the last book in this series...
Well, you cannot have the cake and eat it too right?
Glad to be the first to review this book!
The only damper is, I have to wait until mid next year for the last book in this series...
Well, you cannot have the cake and eat it too right?
November 2, 2020
I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me read and review this book.
The ‘Wolf Coats’ are a band of outlaw Viking warriors, who are on the run from a ‘would be king’ of the Viking nations. Along with a few others that they picked up along the way, they fight in huge battles, get captured, escaped from certain death, and repeated the process. They attribute their misfortune to a curse from a witch, and keep trying to get the curse lifted, without much luck.
Against all of the odds, their travels take them through many adventures and battles, just trying to survive. I enjoyed reading about the days of Viking lore, much of which seems to be based in historical fact.
The ‘Wolf Coats’ are a band of outlaw Viking warriors, who are on the run from a ‘would be king’ of the Viking nations. Along with a few others that they picked up along the way, they fight in huge battles, get captured, escaped from certain death, and repeated the process. They attribute their misfortune to a curse from a witch, and keep trying to get the curse lifted, without much luck.
Against all of the odds, their travels take them through many adventures and battles, just trying to survive. I enjoyed reading about the days of Viking lore, much of which seems to be based in historical fact.
April 27, 2022
Absolute quality
This is the third book in this excellent series and while there are some references to our heroes previous escapades it can be read as a standalone story. However take my advice and start at book one.
Well written atmospheric descriptive gripping from first to last page, this is a quality read with plenty action. Brilliant characters throughout a real page turner.
WARNING : Slight spoiler is it just me or is there a slight reference to the classic Seven Samurai later remade as the Magnificent Seven in the villages defence by our heroes.
Completely and utterly recommended.
This is the third book in this excellent series and while there are some references to our heroes previous escapades it can be read as a standalone story. However take my advice and start at book one.
Well written atmospheric descriptive gripping from first to last page, this is a quality read with plenty action. Brilliant characters throughout a real page turner.
WARNING : Slight spoiler is it just me or is there a slight reference to the classic Seven Samurai later remade as the Magnificent Seven in the villages defence by our heroes.
Completely and utterly recommended.
September 21, 2021
Sucked In!
Books 1-3 have not really excited me: the hero is none too bright and heroine (the implied love interest) both smarter and more useful. I'm hoping this element is not dragged out too much longer. It's a good yarn though, despite the repeated happy coincidences that keep saving their necks - which ultimately become a little predictable. 4-star more in the hope of better to come than anything else.
Books 1-3 have not really excited me: the hero is none too bright and heroine (the implied love interest) both smarter and more useful. I'm hoping this element is not dragged out too much longer. It's a good yarn though, despite the repeated happy coincidences that keep saving their necks - which ultimately become a little predictable. 4-star more in the hope of better to come than anything else.
April 18, 2025
Well writen story and addictive. Very blood thirsty but I guess the value of life was much less then as it is now. Very difficult times. Learn a lot about people living in olden times in the far north and those nations of Norway, Denmark, iceland etc. and interactions with Ireland England and Scotland. The people are shown as very hearty and resoureful. I will try and read a history summaries to see how well it fits real life then. The book series has wetted my interest.
February 5, 2024
The adventure continues
I read series, I've not read a Viking era one for a while. The evolving story and the twists, changing alliances , the intrigue is keeping my glued to this series well worth reading.
Now onto the next part of the story, time for the " eastward" son to kill his father , responsible for the slaughter of his mother.
I read series, I've not read a Viking era one for a while. The evolving story and the twists, changing alliances , the intrigue is keeping my glued to this series well worth reading.
Now onto the next part of the story, time for the " eastward" son to kill his father , responsible for the slaughter of his mother.
October 21, 2020
Another cracker story
Enjoyed it very much. The team are still together. Grinding battle scenes and a feel for life back then. Feels like the next in the series isn’t far away. Can’t wait.
Enjoyed it very much. The team are still together. Grinding battle scenes and a feel for life back then. Feels like the next in the series isn’t far away. Can’t wait.
October 22, 2020
Lots of action
Story line is one of constant combat. Too bad the Wolf Coats are so unlucky or cursed! One could get the idea they need a jarl or king to guide them. They have the life style of monks and need to spice up their lives otherwise what are they fighting for?
Story line is one of constant combat. Too bad the Wolf Coats are so unlucky or cursed! One could get the idea they need a jarl or king to guide them. They have the life style of monks and need to spice up their lives otherwise what are they fighting for?
January 4, 2021
Again the author has kept us in suspense with this tale.
Another fast pace tale which kept you turning the next pages. I have enjoyed the first 3 books in this series and cannot wait for the 4th one.
Another fast pace tale which kept you turning the next pages. I have enjoyed the first 3 books in this series and cannot wait for the 4th one.
November 6, 2021
This is a another well paced tale from The Whale Road Chronicles, the series is not slacking or becoming jaded and this story leaves you wanting to carry on and follow this band further.
I have already purchased number 4 and I will look for further stories by this author. Well done Tim!
I have already purchased number 4 and I will look for further stories by this author. Well done Tim!
February 17, 2022
The saga continues as the strange band of warriors battles their enemies, fate and even the gods as they journey through Scandinavia. They try to survive against treacherous kings, earls and jarls as they seek justice for members of the group.
May 23, 2023
Loved it!
The Wolf Hunt is the second book of a really enjoyable series. Great story-telling of a fascinating time in history which previously I knew very little about. Tim Hodkinson has made it fun learning about it.
The Wolf Hunt is the second book of a really enjoyable series. Great story-telling of a fascinating time in history which previously I knew very little about. Tim Hodkinson has made it fun learning about it.
July 29, 2023
Once again, excellent
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was drawn into the adventures and shared in the highs and lows experienced by the “the gang.” A mish mash of personalities that are a pleasure to meet. A wonderful author I would whole heartedly recommend.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was drawn into the adventures and shared in the highs and lows experienced by the “the gang.” A mish mash of personalities that are a pleasure to meet. A wonderful author I would whole heartedly recommend.
July 13, 2025
Wolf Hunt
What a great read, in a fascinating time. The story of a time of conflict and leadership change in Norway. And the conflict of a time that left to many sons alive to inherit the throne of Norway.
What a great read, in a fascinating time. The story of a time of conflict and leadership change in Norway. And the conflict of a time that left to many sons alive to inherit the throne of Norway.
October 22, 2020
What a great story
This held me spellbound from beginning to end, it was almost impossible to put down. A most exciting read. Can't wait for the sequal.
This held me spellbound from beginning to end, it was almost impossible to put down. A most exciting read. Can't wait for the sequal.
November 18, 2020
Looking forward to the 4th book in the series. Lots of good action and excitement
December 17, 2020
Superb saga
Very good a Cornwall like story. Looking forward to the next book others the makings of a very good series
Very good a Cornwall like story. Looking forward to the next book others the makings of a very good series
December 21, 2020
Fantastic read
This was a fantastic read, could not put it down. Well written and unpredictable twists and turns. Can’t believe I need to wait 6 months for the next one.
This was a fantastic read, could not put it down. Well written and unpredictable twists and turns. Can’t believe I need to wait 6 months for the next one.
January 21, 2021
Outstanding
Fast paced page Turner
Well written and addictive
Congratulations on making the series more addictive if that was possible
Well done indeed !
Fast paced page Turner
Well written and addictive
Congratulations on making the series more addictive if that was possible
Well done indeed !
March 31, 2021
Enjoyable
Einer along with the Wolfcoat Warriors manage to get themselves in and out of favor with one King after another.
Einer along with the Wolfcoat Warriors manage to get themselves in and out of favor with one King after another.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews