Review: The Last Berserker by Angus Donald

Synopsis: 771AD, Northern Europe. An epic battle for the soul of the North.

Bjarki Bloodhand and Tor Hildarsdottir are journeying south into Saxony. Their destination is the Irminsul, the One Tree that links the Nine Worlds of the Middle-Realm. In this most holy place, they hope to learn how to summon their animal spirits so they can enter the ranks of the legendary berserkir: the elite frenzied fighters of the North.

One Christian king Karolus, newly crowned King of the Franks, has a thorn in his side: the warlike Saxon tribes on his northern borders who shun the teachings of the Church, blasphemously continuing to worship their pagan gods.

The West’s greatest warlord vows to stamp out his neighbours’ superstitions and bring the light of the True Faith to the Northmen – at the point of a sword. It will fall to Bjarki, Tor and the men and women of Saxony to resist him in a struggle for the fate of all Europe.

Another in a great line up of "hero quest" historical fiction that is set in the Northern Hemisphere - particularly Scandinavia - from the 8th -11th centuries. So if you are a fan of Matthew Harffy's A Time for Swords and Tim Hodkinson's Whale Road Chronicles, this this one is for you.

Recently outlawed Bjarki Bloodhand suddenly finds himself on the road in the company of shield-maiden Torfinna Hildarsdottir and the mysterious Valtyr Far-Traveller, Their destination is not certain as they head towards the Dane-mark of King Siegfried. For war is looming with the Franks under the charismatic leader Karolus. However, as both display traits of the Rekkr, it is to the mysterious and sacred groves of Irminsul to find out if they have what takes to be a true Rekkr (or Berserker).

There are - of course - many adventures and battles along the way as our intrepid duo find themselves at odds not only with Charlemange but also the new religion - Christianity - which is establishing a firm foothold.  Throughout, both struggle to find and harness the power of their "gandr" or warrior totem spirit.  Will they find this inner strength in time to save the north from the Frankish incursions or will they be too late ...

Love the historical context that the author then treats us to at the end - I always like to know - apart from the obvious - where they draw their inspiration from and if based on real life events. And for those wishing to delve into this genre and the sagas of the Scandinavians, you may find certain parallels in the story of Beowulf or the saga of Bodvar Bjarki.

A great start to what promises to be the first in a new action-adventure series.