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Birkebeiner
Norway, 1203
Birkebeiner is a story of motherhood and war. Inga, wife of the Birkebeiner King, realizes the enemy will overrun Lillehammer and kill her child, the prince who may unite the country. The King asks his two best warriors and Inga to flee with the infant. They ski for eight exhausting days in treacherous terrain, pursued by enemy soldiers.
Birkebeiner is a story of motherhood and war. Inga, wife of the Birkebeiner King, realizes the enemy will overrun Lillehammer and kill her child, the prince who may unite the country. The King asks his two best warriors and Inga to flee with the infant. They ski for eight exhausting days in treacherous terrain, pursued by enemy soldiers.
260 pages, Nook
First published October 25, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 1, 2012
If you have spent any time at all on writers' forums, you've seen the endless debates over whether women can write convincingly from a male perspective, and vice-versa. In my long observation, the general consensus seems to be that men are especially inept at writing well from the intimate perspective of a female main character -- the idea being, I guess, that men cannot possibly fathom the intricate emotions and depth of feeling inherently present in the female mind -- an opinion I find both laughable and deplorably sexist, for I don't buy for a minute that men and women are all that different psychologically.
Birkebeiner and Jeff Foltz are delicious pie in the eye of that tiresome and needless debate. Foltz's stunner of a novel opens with an exceptionally well-written birth scene, one of the most intimate and convincing I've yet read, and that close, utterly believable connection to Inga Varsteigsdottir, the primary protagonist of Birkebeiner, never flags or wavers.
Birkebeiner explores a sadly untrammeled territory in historical fiction -- the civil war of medieval Norway, a time when two factions clashed over the throne and the unity of church and country. This is the kind of rich, detailed, fast-paced storytelling historical fiction fans crave, and the kind they won't find in the world of trade publishing, driven now more than ever by trends and the influence of other media. In a sea of endless repetitions of the now yawn-inducing Tudor soap opera and similar been-there, done-that historical fiction themes, more adventurous historical fiction readers have lost track of original and enlightening tales such as Foltz presents. Innovative and original historical fiction has migrated more and more toward the realm of self-publishing and the smallest of the small presses, where intrepid readers can unearth brilliant treasures such as Birkebeiner, if they only dig far and hard enough.
Aside from the undeniable strength and believability of Inga as a protagonist, Birkebeiner shines in its intensity of detail. Foltz clearly knows his stuff, and no detail of life in frigid Medieval Norway is left unexplored, from what the clothing was made from to what was eaten and when and how, to how skis were made, to how travelers in the harshest of wilderness settings found and made life-saving shelter. Yet this detail is never provided in a heavy-handed way. Foltz is more than adept at knotting his ample research tightly into the fabric of an action-packed, intense, emotionally gripping story.
The plot is simple enough: when the opposing Crozier army is on the brink of overthrowing Lillehammer, stronghold of the people's chosen king Hakon, the mother of Hakon's heir (Inga) and two of the king's best soldiers must flee with the child for the safety of a sympathetic army many days away, traveling by ski through a forbidding landscape in the dead of winter. But the story itself is anything but simple. Inga is a complex woman, faced with the difficult choice to stay with the love of her life or risk the elements and pursuit to try to save her son's life. Magnus, the imposter king, could easily have been a melodrama bad-guy, but Foltz instead makes him just as complex as Inga, the unwilling puppet of his father and of a politically powerful but corrupt bishop. Magnus is plagued by his own terrible history and is uncertain of what he truly wants. This makes him a nuanced character, one it's hard to be entirely against. As the narrative switches back and forth between Inga's and Magnus' perspectives, the reader is pulled into the complexity of the Norwegian Civil War.
Foltz' writing is strong and evocative, often lovely and moving. The only quibble keeping this from being a five-star review is his repeated misuse of the noun "wretch" when the verb "retch" is meant. That, and some occasionally misused commas. These are small nits to pick -- nits that can be cleared up with another pass by a good copy editor.
Birkebeiner is not a novel to be missed for any fan of historical fiction, Norwegian history, or Medieval stories. It is exciting and touching, and a welcome relief from the same old tired drivel you'll find the trade publishers vomiting forth onto book shelves near you. At $2.99 for an ebook edition, Foltz is grossly underpricing himself, so steal it from him now before he comes to his senses and realizes he's at least as good a writer as any being promoted by the Big Six imprints, and should be making the same amount of money as they.
Birkebeiner and Jeff Foltz are delicious pie in the eye of that tiresome and needless debate. Foltz's stunner of a novel opens with an exceptionally well-written birth scene, one of the most intimate and convincing I've yet read, and that close, utterly believable connection to Inga Varsteigsdottir, the primary protagonist of Birkebeiner, never flags or wavers.
Birkebeiner explores a sadly untrammeled territory in historical fiction -- the civil war of medieval Norway, a time when two factions clashed over the throne and the unity of church and country. This is the kind of rich, detailed, fast-paced storytelling historical fiction fans crave, and the kind they won't find in the world of trade publishing, driven now more than ever by trends and the influence of other media. In a sea of endless repetitions of the now yawn-inducing Tudor soap opera and similar been-there, done-that historical fiction themes, more adventurous historical fiction readers have lost track of original and enlightening tales such as Foltz presents. Innovative and original historical fiction has migrated more and more toward the realm of self-publishing and the smallest of the small presses, where intrepid readers can unearth brilliant treasures such as Birkebeiner, if they only dig far and hard enough.
Aside from the undeniable strength and believability of Inga as a protagonist, Birkebeiner shines in its intensity of detail. Foltz clearly knows his stuff, and no detail of life in frigid Medieval Norway is left unexplored, from what the clothing was made from to what was eaten and when and how, to how skis were made, to how travelers in the harshest of wilderness settings found and made life-saving shelter. Yet this detail is never provided in a heavy-handed way. Foltz is more than adept at knotting his ample research tightly into the fabric of an action-packed, intense, emotionally gripping story.
The plot is simple enough: when the opposing Crozier army is on the brink of overthrowing Lillehammer, stronghold of the people's chosen king Hakon, the mother of Hakon's heir (Inga) and two of the king's best soldiers must flee with the child for the safety of a sympathetic army many days away, traveling by ski through a forbidding landscape in the dead of winter. But the story itself is anything but simple. Inga is a complex woman, faced with the difficult choice to stay with the love of her life or risk the elements and pursuit to try to save her son's life. Magnus, the imposter king, could easily have been a melodrama bad-guy, but Foltz instead makes him just as complex as Inga, the unwilling puppet of his father and of a politically powerful but corrupt bishop. Magnus is plagued by his own terrible history and is uncertain of what he truly wants. This makes him a nuanced character, one it's hard to be entirely against. As the narrative switches back and forth between Inga's and Magnus' perspectives, the reader is pulled into the complexity of the Norwegian Civil War.
Foltz' writing is strong and evocative, often lovely and moving. The only quibble keeping this from being a five-star review is his repeated misuse of the noun "wretch" when the verb "retch" is meant. That, and some occasionally misused commas. These are small nits to pick -- nits that can be cleared up with another pass by a good copy editor.
Birkebeiner is not a novel to be missed for any fan of historical fiction, Norwegian history, or Medieval stories. It is exciting and touching, and a welcome relief from the same old tired drivel you'll find the trade publishers vomiting forth onto book shelves near you. At $2.99 for an ebook edition, Foltz is grossly underpricing himself, so steal it from him now before he comes to his senses and realizes he's at least as good a writer as any being promoted by the Big Six imprints, and should be making the same amount of money as they.
January 17, 2026
I just could not get past the poor writing. And also lost me on the huge fail of a man attempting to describe birth.
March 8, 2014
Wow. What an astonishing book. I laughed, my palms sweated, and the tears streamed. Mr. Foltz is gifted in his ability to revive the gruesome reality of Norwegian winter. The heart break of motherhood is one only mothers will understand - but this tale will strike anyone with a soul.
May 11, 2024
Oddly, a blurb on the back refers to how well researched the book is, but the characters make several references to coyotes, which are exclusively North American. Throws a bunch of the small details into a different light. A lot of lentils were eaten in the book, but had they arrived in Norway by then. A little research has thrown more of the details into question. Deep dive into the history of the Norwegian civil war looking at the small details and it looks like it was more complicated than I originally thought. If only he hadn’t talked about coyotes…
Otherwise! A great book. WE NEED MORE ADVENTURE STORIES CENTERED AROUND SKIING.
Otherwise! A great book. WE NEED MORE ADVENTURE STORIES CENTERED AROUND SKIING.
March 25, 2018
I bought this on a whim when I wandered up to a table at a Scandinavian Fair that Jeff Foltz was sitting at, and I'm pretty glad I did.
While there are some things that weren't so great at the beginning, this book really sucked me in, not just into the story, but the whole history of the Norwegian Civil War.
I don't know what else to say. I really liked it, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
While there are some things that weren't so great at the beginning, this book really sucked me in, not just into the story, but the whole history of the Norwegian Civil War.
I don't know what else to say. I really liked it, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
May 12, 2019
After completing the American Birkebeiner for a few years, I was interested in knowing more about the origins of the race. Jeff does a great job taking us back to 13th century Scandinavia and through an excellent tale of war, chase and endurance. Would recommend to any cross country skier or to those that are just looking for a quick, thrilling read.
December 13, 2019
I was ambivalent about this story in the beginning but Foltz is quite the storyteller and he won me over. The war scenes at the end had me looking away but wanting to continue. The story is rich with detail. I felt like I was in Norway fighting alongside the Birkebeiner. Thank you for this story.
December 14, 2019
I didn't know what to think of this story at first but got sucked in and by the end I was closing my eyes but wondering what would happen next. This New England Book Festival Honorable Mention winner includes such vivid detail that I felt as if I was fighting the Croziers in Norway as well.
March 11, 2019
3.5
I enjoyed the story but I can affirm that there’s no real glide possible whilst breaking trail.
I enjoyed the story but I can affirm that there’s no real glide possible whilst breaking trail.
April 10, 2024
Loved this story of Prince Hakons mother’s likely role in his escape from harm. Easy read and filled with suspense.
February 10, 2013
This is a book about devotion; to the ones you love and trust. Devotion is more than loyalty and faithfulness because those things you chose to do, but devotion is something that takes place in your heart without your knowledge. Birkebeiner is the story of Norway's civil war. During the 1200s, there were two kings: one appointment by traditional means (Hakon) and the other had his crown bought for him by his father (Magnus). Each was standing on their beliefs. When Hakon realizes his town was going to fall to the enemy army, he had his two best warriors escort his son and his mother, Inga, to Nicadors which is where they had a stronghold. This was an 8 day journey in the middle of winter with an toddler and Magnus' men following their every step.
Inga's devotion was to her child. She knew that he was a prince and would one day be king, but that wasn't her concern. Her concern was for his welfare and doing whatever is possible to keep him safe. Torstein and Skjervald are Hakon's most trusted warriors and their devotion to him and his child is unrelenting. They do not even questions King Hakon's request knowing the odds would not be in their favor. While the story focuses on these men, their courage and selfless extends to all the Birkebeiner warriors. This story is beyond compelling. I found myself unable to put it down and cheering on the good guys the entire time. At every little set back I wanted to close my eyes and hope they would make it. Now I am not going to spoil the ending so you will have to read it to find out if they made it to safety or not. This is a must read in my opinion. There are very few books about this time period and these places. It is a step into a different world and is well worth the price of admission.
Inga's devotion was to her child. She knew that he was a prince and would one day be king, but that wasn't her concern. Her concern was for his welfare and doing whatever is possible to keep him safe. Torstein and Skjervald are Hakon's most trusted warriors and their devotion to him and his child is unrelenting. They do not even questions King Hakon's request knowing the odds would not be in their favor. While the story focuses on these men, their courage and selfless extends to all the Birkebeiner warriors. This story is beyond compelling. I found myself unable to put it down and cheering on the good guys the entire time. At every little set back I wanted to close my eyes and hope they would make it. Now I am not going to spoil the ending so you will have to read it to find out if they made it to safety or not. This is a must read in my opinion. There are very few books about this time period and these places. It is a step into a different world and is well worth the price of admission.
October 6, 2012
A fascinating novel about a 13th century Norway. I was intrigued by the title as I had vaguely heard of the modern Birkenbeiner cross-country ski event, but had no idea of the source of the name. I am passionate about reading (and writing) historical novels, especially about the times/places less frequently written-about. I was born in Denmark, so I include books about the Nordic countries among my favorites. All this motivated me to start the book and it delivered all that I hoped for. Since most of the story is about fleeing on skis, I kept expecting my enthusiasm to flag; not so, the author manages to grip me throughout the story--I was right there in the Norwegian mountains skiing in the winter cold with Foltz's appealing characters. I especially appreciated the author's evident expertise with cross-country skiing, knowledge of the trail, and his attention to historical accuracy and detail.
January 6, 2014
I was looking for some fiction to get away from my constant diet of EMS and Lewis & Clark books, and saw this when I was in the office of the American Birkebeiner ski race and bought it. As part of the Birkie medical team (and an x-c skier), I was familiar the legend, but this book, told from the perspective of Prince Haakon's mother, gave me a whole new understanding. Well researched, exceptionally well written, it kept drawing me in whenever I had a chance to sit down and read more. If you enjoy historical fiction, as I do, and even if you have no idea there even was a civil war in Norway centuries ago, Birkebeiner is a great read. And if you ski the Birkie (or the Korte or Prince Haakon 12K) you owe it to yourself to read the story of what the largest ski race in North America memorializes.
December 29, 2023
I actually really enjoyed this book. But, I am an avid cross country skier, and am fascinated with the story of the Birkebeiner flight, so the subject matter had me highly engaged. Looking at it purely as a novel - it is solid, but not great 3 1/2*. The character development is good, and the story of the flight very well told. However, the lead in is a bit clunky and expository, and I would have liked a chapter that carried the end a bit more forward in time. Overall, 3 1/2 stars - if the subject matter interests you, it is definitely worth reading.
January 1, 2013
Birkebeiner is historical fiction. Jeff investigated the story behind a cross country ski event he participated in and uncovered this story. While the background is a war of succession, his take boils it down to the heart of the matter, a mother's love for her son and the length's she'll go to preserve his life. It's well researched and well written. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially involving northmen and women, this is definitely worth a read.
February 24, 2013
Not the usual type of book I would read, but I plowed through it, found myself wanting to return to it, and overall quite enjoyed this historical fiction. It is a fairly good example of a male writing a female voice. The birth scene is especially amazing for that. I picked up this book because I randomly ran into the author at a book store in Marquette. He has published two books now, and I would get the second after reading this one.
June 8, 2012
I’m not typically a fan of historical fiction, but Foltz’s gorgeous prose and ability to recreate a moment in very-distant-history (Norway circa the 12th century) and make his readers feel as though they’re right there, swayed me on this particular title. A compelling story with fascinating characters by an indie author truly worth his salt, this is historical fiction at its very best.
June 24, 2013
Overall, an enjoyable read. However, at times the writing felt a bit forced, particularly at the beginning. I wish that when my son was two years old he was as laid back as Hakon was during the arduous escape.
August 2, 2012
Excellent re-telling of the classic Birkebeiner legend from the point-of-view of the mother. A great read for anyone who wants to get a bit more insight on the this legend!
April 28, 2013
Great book. The beginning wasn't slow, but once the chase started, I couldn't put it down.
October 2, 2014
I liked the saga. Inga was certainly brave. We Mothers do so much for our children and Grandchildren.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews