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Spirits of the Ice Forest
Vinland. 1000 AD.
Vikings invade the shores of North America and build settlements on the outskirts of the frozen forest.
None are as ruthless as Freydis Eiriksdottir, one of the most notorious shield-maidens in history. She will stop at nothing to conquer the new world and enslave its inhabitants.
The Native people watch silently from the ancient trees as the Pale Ones invade their homeland. One Elder calls the Forest People together for war council. Madawaak, Demasduit, and Shanawdithit are young and unaccustomed to war, but they must rise up to fight for their people.
Tomahawks and shields will clash in one brutal and bloody battle after another as the Vikings attempt to conquer and the native people fight back for survival. Spirits of the Ice Forest is a fictionalized tale inspired by true events surrounding Icelandic Vikings’ invasion of what is today known as Newfoundland.
Vikings invade the shores of North America and build settlements on the outskirts of the frozen forest.
None are as ruthless as Freydis Eiriksdottir, one of the most notorious shield-maidens in history. She will stop at nothing to conquer the new world and enslave its inhabitants.
The Native people watch silently from the ancient trees as the Pale Ones invade their homeland. One Elder calls the Forest People together for war council. Madawaak, Demasduit, and Shanawdithit are young and unaccustomed to war, but they must rise up to fight for their people.
Tomahawks and shields will clash in one brutal and bloody battle after another as the Vikings attempt to conquer and the native people fight back for survival. Spirits of the Ice Forest is a fictionalized tale inspired by true events surrounding Icelandic Vikings’ invasion of what is today known as Newfoundland.
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2021
1 person is currently reading
1907 people want to read
About the author
Max Davine
10 books56 followersMax Davine is an Australian author, educator, and former actor. He was born Southeast Melbourne in 1989 and in 2008 learned about screenwriting and film production on the fly in Los Angeles. From 2010 to 2012 he studied acting at the Melbourne Actor’s Lab before publishing his first novel in November of 2012. Five other novels followed before he took time off to earn a Master of Literature in 2017. In 2018 he returned to publishing with Mighty Mary before again taking time to earn a Master of Education in 2021, the same year he published Spirits of the Ice Forest. While his work is most noted for its graphic violence and emotionally wrought content, his novels often convey messages of hope and courage in the face of adversity.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 17, 2021
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
The most sympathetic characters were Native. The villain was Norse and had an extremely dominant personality, so she was widely feared. There was a great deal of violence which seemed in keeping with the historical context, but I was relieved by the resolution.
The most sympathetic characters were Native. The villain was Norse and had an extremely dominant personality, so she was widely feared. There was a great deal of violence which seemed in keeping with the historical context, but I was relieved by the resolution.
May 4, 2021
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
2nd April 2021
TITLE: Spirits of the Ice Forest
AUTHOR: Max Davine
Star Rating: 5
‘A fast-paced historical novel packed full of larger than life characters. Highly recommended.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
I suspected this was going to be a fantastic story when I saw Norse Terms and a Map of Vinland in the front of the book. This author, I thought, knows his history; and, not only that, he knows he must help his readers to know it too – if a novel is going to be full of odd terms and set in a country the reader has little knowledge of, a glossary and a map helps! So, I confidently settled down to enjoy Spirits of the Ice Forest (cool title, by the way) and I’m happy to report that ‘Yes!’ this is indeed a fantastic story.
So, what’s the book about? Well, in a nutshell, this is the story of the Vikings and how they attempted to conquer Canada's Newfoundland; it’s also the story of three of the forest’s inhabitants, Shanawdithit, Madawaak and Demasduit who fight to protect the land they love. This historical novel is, for the most part, a cleverly plotted adventure. From the very beginning, there's plenty happening - all of the time! In parts, it gets pretty bloody, the author not holding back on showing the reader the brutality of war. But this realism adds to the story, keeping it gritty and often rather dark.
The writing style works well for this genre. It's pacey but, also, the author allows the story to progress. He keeps the focus on the central characters and on the plot, keeping things moving and, most importantly, keeps surprising the reader whenever he can.
So, can I recommend this book? Totally. Who to? Well, if you happen to enjoy a gripping historical adventure, this book is for you. Not only that, readers who like historical novels written by authors who took the time to understand the time and place the story is set in will find this difficult to put down. It’s a thrilling read packed full of memorable characters. What’s not to enjoy!?
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
2nd April 2021
TITLE: Spirits of the Ice Forest
AUTHOR: Max Davine
Star Rating: 5
‘A fast-paced historical novel packed full of larger than life characters. Highly recommended.’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
I suspected this was going to be a fantastic story when I saw Norse Terms and a Map of Vinland in the front of the book. This author, I thought, knows his history; and, not only that, he knows he must help his readers to know it too – if a novel is going to be full of odd terms and set in a country the reader has little knowledge of, a glossary and a map helps! So, I confidently settled down to enjoy Spirits of the Ice Forest (cool title, by the way) and I’m happy to report that ‘Yes!’ this is indeed a fantastic story.
So, what’s the book about? Well, in a nutshell, this is the story of the Vikings and how they attempted to conquer Canada's Newfoundland; it’s also the story of three of the forest’s inhabitants, Shanawdithit, Madawaak and Demasduit who fight to protect the land they love. This historical novel is, for the most part, a cleverly plotted adventure. From the very beginning, there's plenty happening - all of the time! In parts, it gets pretty bloody, the author not holding back on showing the reader the brutality of war. But this realism adds to the story, keeping it gritty and often rather dark.
The writing style works well for this genre. It's pacey but, also, the author allows the story to progress. He keeps the focus on the central characters and on the plot, keeping things moving and, most importantly, keeps surprising the reader whenever he can.
So, can I recommend this book? Totally. Who to? Well, if you happen to enjoy a gripping historical adventure, this book is for you. Not only that, readers who like historical novels written by authors who took the time to understand the time and place the story is set in will find this difficult to put down. It’s a thrilling read packed full of memorable characters. What’s not to enjoy!?
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
April 28, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Well it was a wild ride and I have to admit a gruesome one at times. The first chapter alone sees death and destruction in quite vivid detail. This being said and a native of Dublin I love all things Vikings and it's been a massive part of my culture and heritage. The story follows the Vikings invasion of Newfoundland and their attempts to conquer it's land and people. Freydis in particular from the outset is a nasty scheming individual who will stop at nothing to get what she wants . Apart from Demasduit it was hard to warm up to the characters and at times with the similar Viking names it was easy to get confused with the characters and who belonged to what tribe. Overall though it was an epic telling of a Viking invasion outside of Europe and all that entails.
Well it was a wild ride and I have to admit a gruesome one at times. The first chapter alone sees death and destruction in quite vivid detail. This being said and a native of Dublin I love all things Vikings and it's been a massive part of my culture and heritage. The story follows the Vikings invasion of Newfoundland and their attempts to conquer it's land and people. Freydis in particular from the outset is a nasty scheming individual who will stop at nothing to get what she wants . Apart from Demasduit it was hard to warm up to the characters and at times with the similar Viking names it was easy to get confused with the characters and who belonged to what tribe. Overall though it was an epic telling of a Viking invasion outside of Europe and all that entails.
May 5, 2021
Max Davines latest work is not for the faint of heart. A grimdark historical fiction, that uses the Norse colonization of North America to explore the darkest recesses of human nature. Spirits of the Ice Forest tells the sprawling tale of two civilizations meeting, disagreeing, and walking the path of mutual destruction. Following an expansive cast of characters, the story attempts to explain the horrors of war, by putting the reader into the minds of both victim and villain, often leaving it the reader to decide which is which. A task easier said than done, as Freydis Eiriksdottir’s war of conquest works as a Babushka nesting doll of human evils. With each dark act nestled within and leading to several more. The reader is chained to their seat, forced to watch as the situation escalates beyond sensibility and the violence grows out of control.
Davine is not solely focused on the darker sides of each of his combatants, ensuring the reader gets to know the way each culture functions and thrives. Their unique spiritualities and religious beliefs, as well as the methods that each society use to guarantee the safety of their future generations. The characters lucky enough to survive the hostilities get to experience a host of emotional growth and transformation. Each cast member slowly learning more about their enemy and having to make a decision on how to respond to that information. Sometimes to heart-wrenching effect.
It cannot be overstated that while Spirits of the Ice forest does take an interest in the political structures of both the Norse and Skræling people, it primarily functions as a trigger warning bingo card. Covering the entire spectrum, using the dehumanizing effects of colonialism to justify its racial violence, physical, emotional, and sexual. It also doesn’t stray away from the more insidious forms of aggression, from emotional manipulation to phycological trauma and domestic abuse. Davine doesn’t glorify the violence, instead using it to highlight its detrimental effects. From the PTSD suffered by many soldiers, to the long-term effects indoctrination can have on a person. But whether it is condoned or condemned, those who are sensitive to such topics should be aware that this may be a challenging read.
Those without such sensibilities, may appreciate the details put into the world-building and historically accurate descriptions. From the disparities in technology and environmental knowledge to the battle tactics used by each side. Whether you take a side or choose to withhold judgment on the conflict, it is easy to understand the reasoning and justifications of each side. With both just trying to stay alive and protect their people from the vicious other. Spirits of the ice forest is an emotional tragedy, disguised as historical fiction. Promising education and catharsis, but only at the cost of empathetic suffering and emotional tempering. Not for squeamish, but a solid read for those truly jaded by life, or willing to take the pain to experience the story.
Davine is not solely focused on the darker sides of each of his combatants, ensuring the reader gets to know the way each culture functions and thrives. Their unique spiritualities and religious beliefs, as well as the methods that each society use to guarantee the safety of their future generations. The characters lucky enough to survive the hostilities get to experience a host of emotional growth and transformation. Each cast member slowly learning more about their enemy and having to make a decision on how to respond to that information. Sometimes to heart-wrenching effect.
It cannot be overstated that while Spirits of the Ice forest does take an interest in the political structures of both the Norse and Skræling people, it primarily functions as a trigger warning bingo card. Covering the entire spectrum, using the dehumanizing effects of colonialism to justify its racial violence, physical, emotional, and sexual. It also doesn’t stray away from the more insidious forms of aggression, from emotional manipulation to phycological trauma and domestic abuse. Davine doesn’t glorify the violence, instead using it to highlight its detrimental effects. From the PTSD suffered by many soldiers, to the long-term effects indoctrination can have on a person. But whether it is condoned or condemned, those who are sensitive to such topics should be aware that this may be a challenging read.
Those without such sensibilities, may appreciate the details put into the world-building and historically accurate descriptions. From the disparities in technology and environmental knowledge to the battle tactics used by each side. Whether you take a side or choose to withhold judgment on the conflict, it is easy to understand the reasoning and justifications of each side. With both just trying to stay alive and protect their people from the vicious other. Spirits of the ice forest is an emotional tragedy, disguised as historical fiction. Promising education and catharsis, but only at the cost of empathetic suffering and emotional tempering. Not for squeamish, but a solid read for those truly jaded by life, or willing to take the pain to experience the story.
April 24, 2022
Found this very hard to follow at first, and to be honest at times throughout. There were lots of names introduced and it felt nigh on impossible to remember who everyone was!
Overall I enjoyed the story, even if it took me a good 100 pages to quite understand what was going on. We follow the Viking invasion of newfoundland, as the norse warriors try to conquer the native peoples and steal their land.
We also follow the natives, as they try and fight their much larger enemy, which they know as the Pale Ones. A native girl is key to the tale, Desduisuit as she is revered among her people for killing a polar bear that attacked her.
The norse warriors therefore strive to capture her and have a child by her, hoping it will make her people conform.
I think the story and premise were good, and really enjoyed it once it got going. The female leader of the norse Freyui was a truly nasty piece of work. I felt much sympathy for the native people, as they were brutally slaughtered, and for their fight for freedom.
There are endless plot lines and characters that you follow that I could discuss but that would make the review a ridiculous length.
Overall a good fantasy novel, definitely one for the more seasoned fantasy reader though. My brain hurts a bit.
Overall I enjoyed the story, even if it took me a good 100 pages to quite understand what was going on. We follow the Viking invasion of newfoundland, as the norse warriors try to conquer the native peoples and steal their land.
We also follow the natives, as they try and fight their much larger enemy, which they know as the Pale Ones. A native girl is key to the tale, Desduisuit as she is revered among her people for killing a polar bear that attacked her.
The norse warriors therefore strive to capture her and have a child by her, hoping it will make her people conform.
I think the story and premise were good, and really enjoyed it once it got going. The female leader of the norse Freyui was a truly nasty piece of work. I felt much sympathy for the native people, as they were brutally slaughtered, and for their fight for freedom.
There are endless plot lines and characters that you follow that I could discuss but that would make the review a ridiculous length.
Overall a good fantasy novel, definitely one for the more seasoned fantasy reader though. My brain hurts a bit.
May 7, 2022
This was a really interesting story but I did find it hard to get into.
The chapters alternate between the Viking POV and the Native POV but it's not always the same narrator for each, it changes between different members of the Viking clans and the Native tribes, so it took a while for me to build a clear picture of who the characters were and the relationships between them.
It was really brutal, the Natives were just living their lives and the Vikings just came along and started killing them and over hunting the local wildlife and they didn't even seem to try to live peacefully alongside them.
I obviously don't want to spoil anything but I didn't expect the ending!
Good read if you like historical fiction and Vikings 😊
The chapters alternate between the Viking POV and the Native POV but it's not always the same narrator for each, it changes between different members of the Viking clans and the Native tribes, so it took a while for me to build a clear picture of who the characters were and the relationships between them.
It was really brutal, the Natives were just living their lives and the Vikings just came along and started killing them and over hunting the local wildlife and they didn't even seem to try to live peacefully alongside them.
I obviously don't want to spoil anything but I didn't expect the ending!
Good read if you like historical fiction and Vikings 😊
April 2, 2024
4.5⭐️
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠: nonstop adventure and suspense. This is not easy fiction. There is a lot of difficult subjects and plots here, I appreciate the background: Vikings living in Newfoundland in 1000 AD - the height of the Viking Age. It deals with Erik the Red’s daughter Freydís Eiríksdóttir. This woman is a shield maiden and every bit of an explorer, survivor, warrior, war hero and war criminal as she deals with Newfoundland’s indigenous inhabitants. Honestly, I felt I was reading Game of Thrones in the way the characters come and go ( don’t get too attached to anyone ) and there are lots of twists.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: you like THICK books ( over 450 pages! ) , powerful female leads, suspenseful plot, historical fiction based on true people and events.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠: nonstop adventure and suspense. This is not easy fiction. There is a lot of difficult subjects and plots here, I appreciate the background: Vikings living in Newfoundland in 1000 AD - the height of the Viking Age. It deals with Erik the Red’s daughter Freydís Eiríksdóttir. This woman is a shield maiden and every bit of an explorer, survivor, warrior, war hero and war criminal as she deals with Newfoundland’s indigenous inhabitants. Honestly, I felt I was reading Game of Thrones in the way the characters come and go ( don’t get too attached to anyone ) and there are lots of twists.
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: you like THICK books ( over 450 pages! ) , powerful female leads, suspenseful plot, historical fiction based on true people and events.
April 25, 2022
This was an interesting read about how Vikings attempted to conquer Canada's Newfoundland. There's plenty of action and adventure. The author didn't shy away from the brutality of the war. Which really adds to the authenticity of the time and of the story. The book is full of memorable characters and I liked that the author didn't set a distinctive villain and allowing me to decide. If you like historical fiction with plenty of action and adventure Spirits of the Ice Forest is definitely worth checking out!
Thank you Insta Book Tours and Max Davine for sharing this book with me!
Thank you Insta Book Tours and Max Davine for sharing this book with me!
May 3, 2021
THE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORIC NOVEL
This is a monumental work by Max Davine whose books I have known and read before but never on such a grand scale! It is not a book for a quick read and neither for entertainment. Max conducted a massive research into the ear of so remote today. However, history always keeps a key for a future. Human feelings, desires and aspirations are different in their form but common in their essence.
That is probably the overall impression which comes to me as a reader when I continue pondering about this work.
Of course, I am not going to uncover the plot, but rather emphasise how elaborately all the dialogues are written there. In my view, that is one of the strongest points to admit. Excellent, expertly presented dialogues make the characters alive.
Lots of lovely details to pay attention to, starting from a list of those hard to pronounced names of people and places, called Norse Terms. And the Map of Vinland drawn by hand as well as the image of a bear at "The end" concluded the book.
I wish to congratulate Max on the delivery of such an exploration of history. No doubts it cost him a tremendous effort and amount of time, but the result has been worth it!
This is a monumental work by Max Davine whose books I have known and read before but never on such a grand scale! It is not a book for a quick read and neither for entertainment. Max conducted a massive research into the ear of so remote today. However, history always keeps a key for a future. Human feelings, desires and aspirations are different in their form but common in their essence.
That is probably the overall impression which comes to me as a reader when I continue pondering about this work.
Of course, I am not going to uncover the plot, but rather emphasise how elaborately all the dialogues are written there. In my view, that is one of the strongest points to admit. Excellent, expertly presented dialogues make the characters alive.
Lots of lovely details to pay attention to, starting from a list of those hard to pronounced names of people and places, called Norse Terms. And the Map of Vinland drawn by hand as well as the image of a bear at "The end" concluded the book.
I wish to congratulate Max on the delivery of such an exploration of history. No doubts it cost him a tremendous effort and amount of time, but the result has been worth it!
April 6, 2024
The nitty gritty details put me off a bit and I couldn’t find any character to root for. So much violence against everyone, nobody was spared… very in line with the historical context of it all. I haven’t read much about this part of the invasion, it was very eye-opening for sure.
From the beginning, there was plenty of action, some of it very violent. I enjoyed the author's writing style and it really suited this genre.
From the beginning, there was plenty of action, some of it very violent. I enjoyed the author's writing style and it really suited this genre.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews