A deadly war is coming to Stenvik – and in the clash between old and new, only the strongest will survive.
As punishment for disgracing his father, Ulfar Thormodsson has spent two bitterly uncomfortable years on the road, tasked with taking his highborn cousin Geiri on a tour of the kingdom. Now his journey is almost at an end – the walled town of Stenvik will be their final stop.
But Stenvik will soon become the battleground in a deadly war between the old gods and the new: King Olav is bringing the White Christ to the masses at point of sword and edge of blade, while a Viking horde led by a mysterious woman is sailing from the north.
And Ulfar is about to learn that not all enemies are outside the walls . . .
‘For Vikings done right, come to Snorri Kristjansson’ – Mark Lawrence, bestselling author of Red Sister
As punishment for disgracing his father, Ulfar Thormodsson has spent two bitterly uncomfortable years on the road, tasked with taking his highborn cousin Geiri on a tour of the kingdom. Now his journey is almost at an end – the walled town of Stenvik will be their final stop.
But Stenvik will soon become the battleground in a deadly war between the old gods and the new: King Olav is bringing the White Christ to the masses at point of sword and edge of blade, while a Viking horde led by a mysterious woman is sailing from the north.
And Ulfar is about to learn that not all enemies are outside the walls . . .
‘For Vikings done right, come to Snorri Kristjansson’ – Mark Lawrence, bestselling author of Red Sister
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Reviews
'A fabulous debut and a gripping read ... I didn't want it to end' Fantastical Librarian.
'An action-filled book with a heart stopping plot and adrenaline fuelled battle scenes. 10 stars' Fantasy Faction.
'A blistering debut novel ... the mix of Viking lore, war and sorcery very appealing' Geek Planet Online.
'It's something new both stylistically and subject-wise (fantasy-lite Vikings written by one of their descendants), and certainly if your fantasy reading is starting to feel a bit samey you should give this one a go' Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns.
'A very interesting and exciting story that was hard to put down. 5 stars!' Night Owl Sci-Fi.
'An impressive debut and an engrossing tale that really shouldn't be missed' Speculative Book Review.
There's more to Vikings than beards, blood, and axes - Snorri Kristjansson gives you the whole package.
[A] rousing Viking-themed historical fantasy . . . Kristjansson's sprawling cast of colorful characters and eye for historical detail lend this story gratifying verisimilitude
Very engaging - very vibrant and realistic . . . an action-filled book with a heart-stopping plot and adrenalin-fuelled battle scenes. 9.8/10
The world feels real and lived in . . . Kristjansson's humour is woven throughout the book in subtle, yet fantastic ways . . . just about everything you'd want in an epic fantasy novel. an almost unforgettable Viking saga . . . Kristjansson is a force in the genre to be reckoned with.
A debut novel [that] has blown me away. The writing is so self-assured, I was gripped from beginning to end. I'm a little bit in awe, but rest assured I'll be keeping an eye out for this author's next novel.Highly recommended
Very much in the vein of David Gemmell, it's a Viking fantasy with a style not unlike Joe Abercrombie. The prose is quick, accomplished and action-packed. The actual action sequences here are literally breath-taking . . . Swords of Good Men would make a brilliant action film
Fans of Gemmell will devour Kristjansson's books
The characters are so realistic and captivating - recommend it to anyone who likes to read a good Viking story.
Kristjansson's writing was very similar to Nathan Hawke's and David Gemmell's - there is no fluff. But, more like Hawke than Gemmell, Kristjansson writes the violence with gory detail, making the action very fun to read - the kind of stuff you'd see on History's new show, Vikings
A cracking yarn, (one that would make a great movie), filled with enough to satisfy any fan of Vikings and their mythology. The battle scenes are a beauty to read; chaotic, frenetic, gory, and not always with the expected outcome, they should appeal to fans of heroic fantasy . . . leaves the reader hungry for more
Sets a scorching pace, is packed with breathtaking action scenes, throws some unexpected twists in there and ends with a spectacular battle and an ending I didn't see coming. A strong debut that will please fans of Vikings, mythology, strategy and action
He keeps the action pretty tight, gruesome and bloody . . . great characterization and an interesting world . . . Snorri Kristjansson has pulled off a great feat with his writing
Kristjansson's characterisation is outstanding. If you like David Gemmell, you'll also like Kristjansson . . . He's not scared of a body count, and he's not afraid of a good old-fashioned cliff-hanger. His characterisation and world-building are hard to fault, and the clash of Gods within the novel is captivating
If you like historical fiction and if you LOVE your battles and blood - may the ending surprise you as much as it did me
A raucous and gripping adventure
There are plenty of excellently realised and memorable characters here. There are warriors and witches and where there are warriors and witches, there will be warfare. There are axes, broadswords and narrow escapes. Swords of Good Men is just about everything you could possibly want and then some, from a novel about the Vikings . . . this IS different. It's powerful, wonderfully imagined and presented and I've got to admit; it feels like the real thing
A decent, bloody, action-filled fictional Viking story. It has plenty of interesting elements: Old Gods and superstition, the White Christ and black magic, berserkers and assassins,raiders and outlaws, healers and poisoners, blood and longships . . . you get the picture
A brilliant, fast-paced début . . . Snorri Kristjansson brings something amazing to the tapestry of modern fantasy fiction - the events, characters and world will stay with you whenever you're not reading. A perfect book to pick up if all your fantasy fiction reads have started to feel like variations of the same book.
An impressive debut and an engrossing tale that really shouldn't be missed. Recommended.
A blood great Viking tale. Snorri manages to construct an amazing fantasy novel which sets up a hopefully long series. Not for those afraid of blood (or Christians).
A fabulous debut and a gripping read, which I enjoyed so much I found myself putting off reading the final pages because I didn't want it to end. More please!
A blistering debut novel. The Valhalla Saga quickly had me hooked . . . the mix of Viking lore, war and sorcery very appealing.
A terrific novel. If I had to sum it up in one word, that word would be "visceral". Kristjansson doesn't pad his book with fluff. In less than 300 pages, he manages to pack more story in than most writers. The battle scenes are choreographed with an eye to detail while still keeping the big picture in focus. You can hear the clang of iron on shield and the screams of the dying, feel the grip of the weapon slick with blood, smell the gore and offal, and experience the fear and betrayal.
There is a lot of politics, gore, religious debate, love, and much more. A complex and page-turner of a plot. It's brutal and bloody and gritty! It rules! If you like action, Vikings, a bit of blood, a slight spot of magic and complex plots, then get a hold of this.
