{"id":28391,"date":"2015-09-10T22:58:57","date_gmt":"2015-09-11T02:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28391"},"modified":"2015-09-10T23:07:21","modified_gmt":"2015-09-11T03:07:21","slug":"review-of-wolfskin-by-juliet-marillier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=28391","title":{"rendered":"Review of Wolfskin, by Juliet Marillier"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"wolfskin_large\"<\/a>Wolfskin<\/em><\/p>\n

by Juliet Marillier<\/p>\n

Tor, New York, 2002. 493 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

I was in the mood to read an outstanding book and wanted something that would really absorb me, so I reflected that there are still some books by Juliet Marillier which I haven\u2019t read. I chose Wolfskin<\/em> because it was a first-in-a-series title that was on our shelves at my library branch.<\/p>\n

At first, I admit, I was a little dismayed. There\u2019s some foreshadowing that goes on which didn\u2019t sound good. Our hero, Eyvind, a Viking, wants nothing more than to be a Wolfskin, a berserker soldier who hears Thor\u2019s voice. When he is young, he hears a tale about two men with a blood oath of brotherhood. Later, because of that blood oath, one of the men ends up killing his beloved, who is in the family of the enemies of the blood brother. The story is held up as an example of wonderful loyalty. And soon after, Eyvind is asked to swear a blood oath to a nobleman\u2019s brother who is staying with them, Somerled. The reader knows this can\u2019t end well.<\/p>\n

Well, it slowed me down. It turns out Somerled isn\u2019t a tremendously likable character. And Eyvind is not as clever as Somerled, and gets taken advantage of.<\/p>\n

But I knew I could expect deeper things from Juliet Marillier, and I was definitely not disappointed. Many years later, Eyvind travels across the sea to the Orkney Islands under the command of Somerled\u2019s brother. Events that happen there require Eyvind to trust his own instincts and stand for the truth.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a section from the beginning of the book, where Eyvind\u2019s older brother Eirik comes home for a visit.<\/p>\n

Eirik was his hero. Eirik was a Wolfskin. That was the most glorious calling in the whole world, for surely nothing could surpass the moment when you heard Thor\u2019s call to battle ringing in your ears, pulsing in your blood, filling every corner of your being with a red rage that shut out any thought of fear. To charge forward in pure courage, inspired by the god himself \u2013 that bold vision tugged at Eyvind\u2019s thoughts by day and filled his dreams by night. What matter if a Wolfskin\u2019s life were short? Such a warrior, once fallen, would be carried straight to Thor\u2019s right hand. One day he himself would pass the test, and become one of that band to which Eirik and Hakon belonged, as had many of Eyvind\u2019s kin in times past. The men of Hammarsby had a noble tradition in the Warfather\u2019s service. So Eyvind practiced with the bow and with the axe. He ran and climbed, he skated and swam. He shoveled snow and hunted and grew strong, awaiting that day. Eirik\u2019s tales kept his dreams alive. Later, perhaps his brother would tell of the autumn Viking, the riches plundered, the battles won.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Once they get to the Orkneys, the story of Nessa is told alongside Eyvind\u2019s. Nessa is the king\u2019s daughter, training to be the priestess of her people. But then Somerled\u2019s brother dies, and Somerled insists that the folk of the Orkneys are responsible, and there is trouble between their peoples.<\/p>\n

This book includes the detailed creation of a world as it may have been, with adventure and bravery, romance and passion, right and wrong, justice and treachery, loyalty and betrayal, and a touch of magic.<\/p>\n

Juliet Marillier has done it again. (Or I should say, \u201cdid\u201d it again. I just preordered her next book to be published in America!)<\/p>\n

julietmarillier.com<\/a>
\ntor.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Fiction\/wolfskin.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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