Ninth-century Norway -- a land shattered into thirty warring kingdoms, where a woman can seize power, if she is bold enough.
Daughter of a Norse king, fifteen-year-old Åsa prefers swordplay to needlework and dreams of becoming a shield-maiden. When she spurns a powerful warlord, he attacks, killing her father and brother and taking her captive. To save her surviving people, Åsa must wed the murderer. To wreak vengeance, she must bide her time while secretly mastering the warrior’s craft and the dark mysteries of sorcery.
Åsa has won back her father’s kingdom, but can she hold it?
The evil shapeshifter Hrolf lurks in the hinterlands, plotting revenge. The powerful Danes threaten from across the Skagerrak Sea, demanding marriage in exchange for peace, while her only ally, Olaf, presses his own suit. Though she loves Olaf, Åsa refuses to sacrifice her position and her people’s welfare to become any man’s property.
Then, across the snow-clad mountains comes Ragnhild, a runaway shield-maiden, seeking glory and gold. She seems to be the answer to Åsa’s prayers, but Ragnhild’s past catches up with her, bringing treachery and war.
King Solvi is dead at the hands of the Irish king. To gain her inheritance, Ragnhild must sail to Ireland with her brother to seek vengeance. But from the outset, the venture is beset by betrayal and bloodshed…
Raider Bride is headed to Tromøy, where Ragnhild hopes to gain Åsa's aid in gaining her birthright. But they must sail through perilous waters where enemies lie in wait, and Ragnhild carries a secret that could ruin her plans.
On Tromøy, an ancient evil awakes and a forgotten foe gains strength, threatening to destroy those Åsa loves.
Norway, AD 824. The evil Queen in the Mound is dead, the Irish necklace held fast in her ghoulish grip. Undisturbed, the queen’s curse lies dormant. But Ragnhild attempts to retrieve the necklace, unleashing a pestilence on Tromøy. As her people sicken and die, Asa must seek the cure in the Otherworld. Leaving her beloved son behind, she travels alone to the dark world deep underground, a place from which mortals never return. The realm of Hel herself.
Editor's Choice, Historical Novels Review. Norway, AD 825. An old enemy has been secretly watching Tromøy, probing for any weakness. An opportunity presents itself and he strikes, capturing Åsa. Imprisoned by a mighty king and his powerful sorceress, Åsa must survive by her wits while her allies launch a desperate rescue attempt against overwhelming odds. Cornered and outnumbered by her enemy, Åsa summons the dark power of war magic to save her people.
Like her Viking forebears, Johanna Wittenberg has sailed to the far reaches of the world. She lives on a fjord in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, whom she met on a ship bound for Antarctica.
“…Wittenberg’s thorough and detailed research paints a vivid picture of early medieval Viking life…This is a fascinating glimpse into what a strong woman’s life in Viking times might have looked like, and I eagerly anticipate more from Wittenberg’s The Norsewomen series.”
“…The characters and time period come alive within Wittenberg’s prose, casting a spell on all who enter the halls of the Norsewomen series.”
“A journey back into the heart and soul of ancient Viking realms… Step inside a Scandinavian saga in all its richness. If you love “Beowulf” you will also love “The Norse Queen.”
“The Norse Queen brims with action in a world both exhilarating and terrifying, peopled with sorceresses, warring jarls, and even shape-shifters. In its tale of one woman’s steadfast courage in the face of tragedy, it gives life and breath to a long-forgotten 9th century queen.”
The smallest details bring the setting and the characters to life. Ms Wittenberg dispenses with clichés so often found in novels featuring Vikings, but instead draws on her excellent, clearly in-depth, research in creating a world full of challenges and dangers, but also beauty, joy and glimpses of happy times. Even the tiny touch of magic feels natural in the overall context of the ancient Viking communities. The Norse Queen by Johanna Wittenberg is a wonderful novel, a saga about the challenges a young woman faces to finally fulfil her destiny. With flesh-and-blood characters, a vibrant setting, and a fast pace throughout, it really pulls you into the Viking past.
Author Johanna Wittenberg is a masterful storyteller reminiscent of the oral traditions of skalds retelling mythological tales and legends. The author vividly describes battle scenes that are riveting and cinematic in scope.
