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A review by yanailedit
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga by Matthew J. Kirby
3.5 rounded up. Expect graphic descriptions of wounds.
A story that successfully draws upon its inspiration, sources, and obligatory references. It can’t be an easy job to write for a giant franchise, but Kirby pulls it off very well and with a commendable amount of writing craft finesse. I would have loved this as a teenager.
If you know your Norse mythology, viking culture (the real historical and hotly debated deal, not the weird bullshit macho culture gets off on), skaldic traditions, and Tolkien, then this will be an enjoyable read that reminds you of all these inspirations often. I read it side by side with Crossley-Holland’s Norse Myths: great pair. Now I’m looking forward to rereading LoTR and digging into Children of Ash and Elm by N. Price, The Far Traveler and The Real Valkyrie by N. M. Brown.
Kirby’s pacing is steady (to the point where I wish he would stretch the suspenseful lulls more for some needed drama) and his characters are likable. Still, I wish a bit more of Geirmund had been dug into, but that’s ok.
It was cool to see Eivor and she was characterized well; perhaps the only time she didn’t come across the way you would have expected her to was the last time she is seen in the novel, but I can appreciate why that had to be that way.
Overall my expectations were way lower and I ended up having a wee trip down reading nostalgia lane.
A story that successfully draws upon its inspiration, sources, and obligatory references. It can’t be an easy job to write for a giant franchise, but Kirby pulls it off very well and with a commendable amount of writing craft finesse. I would have loved this as a teenager.
If you know your Norse mythology, viking culture (the real historical and hotly debated deal, not the weird bullshit macho culture gets off on), skaldic traditions, and Tolkien, then this will be an enjoyable read that reminds you of all these inspirations often. I read it side by side with Crossley-Holland’s Norse Myths: great pair. Now I’m looking forward to rereading LoTR and digging into Children of Ash and Elm by N. Price, The Far Traveler and The Real Valkyrie by N. M. Brown.
Kirby’s pacing is steady (to the point where I wish he would stretch the suspenseful lulls more for some needed drama) and his characters are likable. Still, I wish a bit more of Geirmund had been dug into, but that’s ok.
It was cool to see Eivor and she was characterized well; perhaps the only time she didn’t come across the way you would have expected her to was the last time she is seen in the novel, but I can appreciate why that had to be that way.
Overall my expectations were way lower and I ended up having a wee trip down reading nostalgia lane.