The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr

 Last of the Völsung line of kings descended from Odin, Sigurd is one of the elite Sjórúlfar—the fearsome Sea Wolves of southern Norway. Endowed with the divine blood of the wolf, he seeks glory at the Sólhjarta Summer Solstice Tournament to avenge his father’s death.

Brynhildr, daughter of the Raven King, is the Sun Falcon shieldmaiden and gifted seeress who has glimpsed her fate as a Valkyrie in a seiðr vision. When her father decrees she must wed the tournament’s champion, she summons Freyja for guidance—only to learn her future is bound to Sigurd.

As the Norns tighten the intricate threads of fate, Brynhildr must guide Sigurd toward his destiny as a dragonslayer—by defying the web of wyrd and incurring the wrath of Odin.

My Review...

Mythology at its finest. Walker immediately pulls you into a world of Vikings and Kings and the survival of the fittest.

This is a strong story with vivid characters. There are a lot of strong emotional moments in this story, both of hate and of love. Since this exists, I’m sure you can imagine there are some romantic scenes in the story. Romance is not one of my favorite genres, but what was here was done tastefully, and I will admit it did fit with the flow of the story.

I could break this down to say it's boy meets girl and boy fights for girl's hand, but there is so much more here. There’s intrigue, deception, caring, hate, a little of every emotion you can feel, and it is all portrayed well by the author.  This is a long read, not a slow read, but long, and well worth every page.

 

Read an Excerpt...

The Sea Wolf

The wind tore at his sodden hair as Sigurd lay sprawled across the frosted gorse, chest heaving, muscles twitching from cold and exertion. Under the clear night sky, the roar of the waterfall crashed into the fjord far below. Spray hissed as it rose against the craggy cliff, amidst the crackle of the bonfire within the stone-enclosed hearth and the flickering torches which encircled the tall standing stone.

The monolith jutted skyward like a sentinel, its rough surface carved with the snarling face of a savage wolf whose eyes glinted in the moonlight, dark pits daring him to venture close. Suspended on a black leather cord from its carved maw, Úlfkló—the Wolfclaw talisman— rocked in the howling wind. 

Sigurd slowly rose on badly shaking legs, staggering across the icy clearing and placing his numb fingers on the sacred rock. He reached up and claimed the enchanted amulet, tying it behind his neck under his long braided hair. While the wind tore across the clifftop, whipping his bearded face, a rush of power surged through his limbs as the spirit of the wolf seeped into his veins.

The Sea Wolf warriors closed in around him, low growls of approval and acceptance rising into a feral, unified howl that echoed across the cliff and rolled over the moonlit fjord.

When the howl subsided, Hróðvarr Ironfang, the leader of the pack, approached Sigurd, lupine eyes glinting in the torchlight. “Three brutal days, three tortured nights… nine agonizing trials. You have proven yourself worthy. You are one of us now.”

about Jennifer Ivy Walker...

Jennifer Ivy Walker is an award-winning author of medieval Celtic, Nordic, and paranormal romance, as well as contemporary romance, historical fantasy, and WWII romantic suspense.

A former high school teacher and college professor of French with an MA in French literature, her novels encompass a love for French language, literature, history, and culture, including Celtic myths and legends, Norse mythology, Viking sagas, and Nordic lore.

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List of Books by Jennifer Ivy Walker

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven

The Lady of the Mirrored Lake

The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight

Winter Solstice in the Crystal Castle

A Celtic Yuletide Carol

The Witch of the Breton Woods

Flames of Flamenco

Amour in Avignon

Dragon of Denmark

Wolf of the Nordic Seas

Falcon of the Faroe Islands

Dragonslayer’s Valkyrie: The Legend of Sigurd and Brynhildr