My Five Word TL:DR Review : An Old Norse Poem Reimagined

The Waking of Angantyr is based on a very old Norse poem that the author came across during her academic years.  This reimagining clearly uses much of the original material but the author has taken a different path breathing new life into the story and delivering plenty of ‘blood and guts and vengeance’.

Now, firstly, I would say that this isn’t a soft and fluffy tale.  The author promised blood and guts and she delivers on this aplenty.  This is a saga set in a time and place that was harsh.  Where Gods roamed amongst the common people and men and women longed to become heroes.

As the story begins we meet Hervor, a bondmaid on a less than prosperous homestead.  Hervor isn’t the same as the other women she works alongside, she’s tall, strong and frequently given the heavy tasks, she’s not treated very well and has slowly come to the realisation that she will never be allowed to work off her ‘bond’ as is the custom.  Hervor is cursed.  She hears the voices of the dead and they’re frankly driving her crazy.  When the opportunity to escape arises Hervor takes a chance, she needs to find a ‘blood’ witch to advise her how to help these ghosts to pass on.  Without giving too much away, this will eventually become a tale involving vikings, witches, Gods, ghosts and treachery.  Hervor will be tasked by her ancestors to avenge their deaths and more than that will be tasked by the Gods to help rid them of a vile sorcerer.

I will say that I love the way that Brennan writes such strong female characters who are frequently out of step with the period they have been born into.  I mean, to be fair, I wouldn’t call Hervor an easy character to really fall in love with, but, this is a reflection of the period and her own determination to prove herself.  She’s never been taught to fight or survive, she frequently feels fear but she doesn’t give up.  I loved her persistence, she makes plenty of mistakes and this is her tragic story, tragic because her family suffered from deceit and treachery and were further burdened by a cursed sword – a sword that Hervor is about to take up.

What I really liked about this.  The sense of place, the harshness of the environment and the general characteristics of the people.  The period is really brought to life.  The cold, the struggle to survive, the rush to weapons, violence is frequently the first response, life is cheap.  Then we have the ghosts, the superstitions, the witches.  And did I mention the vikings and the fact that Hervor manages to join them?

In some respects this is also a frustrating story.  I did mention that Hervor’s family is cursed and this frequently works itself out in the form of death. So, becoming attached to people can be a fruitless endeavour.  But this is a Norse saga.  You have to pick this book up expecting tragedy and death -but also relentless heroics and strong willed characters determined to do the right thing.  So, yes, frustrating, but in a way that feels relevant and natural to this particular story.

In reimagining this saga, Brennan has breathed new life into Hervor, making her story one of unbelievable courage.  The writing is wonderful and there’s an almost cinematic quality to the descriptions of place and the events that unfold.  I had just the easiest time imagining everything.  I confess, I would like more tales from this period, I really enjoy the interactions with the Gods, the religion, the customs and the overall way of life with the relentless longing for deeds worthy of tall tales.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 stars