Night Wolf: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland (The Norsemen Saga)
Night Wolf: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland (The Norsemen Saga) book cover

Night Wolf: A Novel of Viking Age Ireland (The Norsemen Saga)

Price
$12.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
320
Publisher
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1534879683
Dimensions
6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Weight
1.04 pounds

Description

Jim Nelson was born and raised in Maine and graduated from UCLA with a degree in motion picture/television production. Finding that despite being in Southern California, it was a damp, drizzly November in his soul, Jim took the cure Melville recommended and decided to sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. For six years he worked on board traditional sailing ships before launching a writing career as in 1994. He has since written more than twenty works of maritime fiction and history. He is the winner or the American Library Association/William Young Boyd Award and the Naval Order's Samuel Eliot Morison Award. Nelson has lectured all over the country and appeared on the Discovery Channel, History Channel and BookTV. He currently lives in Harpswell, Maine, with his former shipmate, now wife Lisa and three of their four children.

Features & Highlights

  • With their ill-fated raid on the monastary at Glendalough torn apart by betrayal and defeat, Thorgrim Night Wolf and his handful of survivors from the crew of Sea Hammer find themselves in desperate and tenuous straights. Stranded far from the safety of Vík-ló, surrounded by enemies, and with barely enough men to work the longship’s oars, the Norsemen must make their way back through a dangerous and uncertain country. Thorgrim, however, is not interested in mere survival. His one thought, his one desire, is to take revenge on those whose treachery led to the slaughter of so many of his men. Assembling an ad hoc army of unlikely allies, Thorgrim leads his warriors to a final showdown that can end only in his enemies’ death or his own.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(817)
★★★★
25%
(341)
★★★
15%
(204)
★★
7%
(95)
-7%
(-95)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres and as someone who loves historical fiction and ...

Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres and as someone who loves historical fiction and Old Norse history, the Norsemen Saga by James L. Nelson was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I downloaded a free Kindle sample of the first novel Fin Gall and couldn’t put it down! I read all five novels which clock in at about 300 pages each in about 3 weeks.

All five novels flow easily from one to the next and do not get bogged down in excessive details or require a PhD is history to follow! I have read several novels based on Scandinavian history and Norse Mythology that required much more effort to follow! There is also a glossary of Scandinavian and Maritime terms for those of us who are land-lubbers and are unfamiliar with the details of sailing ships!

Also, I would feel remiss if I did not mention that there are several passages in this book that discuss rape. There are few actual rape scenes and they are short and I don’t consider them graphic. However, for those who are sensitive regarding this subject, you may want to avoid this book. Personally, I feel the author handles the topic within the context of the Medieval worldview and societal norms of the period. In fact, the main characters denounce rape and do not tolerate it among their brethren.

As a reader, the most important aspect of a novel for me is Voice and Character Development. Regardless of Genre, if a novel can fool me into thinking the character(s) are real and their voice speaks to my soul, then I am hooked! While I do detest predictable plotlines, well written characters can make up for occasional predictability. I thoroughly enjoyed James L. Nelson’s characters in all their flaws and glory! There were some plot twists I saw coming and a few I did not! Overall it was an enjoyable experience.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend the novels in this series, and will likely read James L. Nelson’s other works as well.
2 people found this helpful
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Best in the series so far

So far this is the best in the series. The previous four books were really good, but they tended to lose their momentum when finishing a chapter and switching between characters. It seemed to take a while to get back into the read when starting new chapters and it made me want to put the books down. This book doesn't do that. The story flows better, and I find myself not wanting to put it down
1 people found this helpful
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Sometimes you're the windshield...

Sometimes, the bug.

In book 5 of this wonderful series, hero Thorgrim Night Wolf has his buggy moments. But, even the worst disasters still make for a compelling read in James L. Nelson's well-crafted novel. There's humor, great characterization, intricate but believable plotting, and marvelously realistic battle scenes. Other reviewers have compared him favorably to Bernard Cornwell, and I'll do the same. I also agree that this is the best of the series so far. Eagerly awaiting the next episode!
1 people found this helpful
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good

Good
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Fun Story

Very much enjoyed this book about Ireland
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The best so far of the series. Love Nightwolf.

I am a 64 year old grandma but I adore these Viking stories. I stay up bbn late reading them. I am on #6 and I am buying the whole series. Talented author. Keep on writing these wondwrful books Mr. NELSON.
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Five Stars

Good read
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Five Stars

great reed
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Five Stars

Brilliant series
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This book is a series. Important to start with first book

My husband loves this series. I’ve never read them. He loves adventure. One of his favorite authors is Bernard Cornwell. He says this writer is almost as good.