The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson

This is not the edition I found and read, but it is the edition that you can buy right now. I discovered Fran G, Bengtsson while going thru the sale table at my favorite book shop in Bangkok, Thailand,  Besides a Viking ship on the cover, it also had a blurb by my favorite authors on it. Joe Abercrombie wrote " A rip-roaring saga that's vivid and authentic... No one should go a-viking without it."  So, of course I had to buy it despite the rather worn condition. 

  So thank you Joe, This book was written in 1954 by Mr. Bengtsson who first came into the publishing world as a Swedish Poet who later on wrote a couple Swedish histories, This tale of Red Ohm is his first foray into historical fiction and I found it brilliant,

    The novel historical setting is 980 to 1010 C. Vikings  for decades set sail to gain fortune in England, Ireland and France. The books main character is called Ohm. who was captured in a raid and brought upon the Viking ship, where he quickly became a favorite among the crew and found his best friend. The tale followed his journey as Ohm went from captive to a Viking raider to galley slave to a bodyguard to Prince to a theft of a holy relic to the household of King Harald. 

    It is a book you must read if you love all thing Vikings. The pacing was perfect. The plot took enough turns to keep you glued to the page wondering what was to happens next.  

Outlaw Planet by M.R, Carey

     I still have not found an M.R. Carey book I did not love, its no surprise that his newest ended up as another love, bit it did not start out that way. As I first read the tale, I thought at first this may be better as a Mike Carey tale, the name M.R. Carey uses in real life and as a Graphic Novelist. And I kept thinking perhaps this started as a Graphic novel. I thought that because 2/3rd of this book is a Western set in a planet of Dog-like population, But then I hit the other 1/3rd that was part of the Panominion Series. a quantum timeline series, And how M.R. tied the whole book together was just amazing. 

     As I stated earlier, this tale is a Western/Science Fiction smashup. A young lady travels to a frontier town to claim the school teacher job, a border war then a civil war and the start of a complete change in her life, It is a fantastic tale. Oh, and a sentient gun, 

    The second story arc which connects this novel to the Panominion series (which begins with book *The Infinity Gate*)  In truth, this is really book three in the series, though you wouldn’t know it since it’s not mentioned anywhere on or in the physical book. I’m not sure how well readers who haven’t read the first two books will grasp that part of the story or just be more confused.  But reading any M.R. Carey tale is never a bad thing in my humble opinion. 

Daughter of the Otherworld by Shauna Lawless

         I have loved the way Shauna Lawless has smashed up Ancient Irish History with Irish Mythology from the very first book in the series,  Children of Gods and Fighting Men.  This book can be either book 4 of the Gael Song series or Gael Song Era 2 BK1. Either way, it was a great read and i was glad to be back in Shauna world.       

       150 years have passed since the event in the Gael Song Trilogy. But since the Fomorians and Tuath De Danann are ancient Irish mythical beings, we have some of the same characters we have met in he first trilogy.  Gromflaith, one of the main POV in the Gael Song, is hiding out in Europe. An actual historical figure who married three Kings, but little is know of Gromflaith in the beside that. Shauna has added to the tale a meticulously crafted character I have not read since George R.R, Martin's Cersei Lannister.         . 

       Structure of this novel has multiple POVs.  Isolde is, at the end of the first trilogy the mere babe of a King and a Tuath De Danann, is now a young lady hidden on an island. Foretold to be the one who will destroy the Fomorians, enemies of the Tuath De Danann,  Isolde thinks the Gods got it all wrong. This strong start to a new trilogy has me excited for book 2.  Shauna will also release novella to add to the tale.