Author: Heather Day Gilbert
Series: Vikings in the New World Saga #1
ISBN: 9781492880417
Publisher: Aspendawn Books
Published Date: Nov 20, 2013
Genre: Christian historical fiction
Buy It Link: Amazon
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America.
In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. Clinging to her faith, she joins her husband, Finn, on a voyage to North America.
But even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself—and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart.
Almost five centuries before Columbus, Viking women sailed to North America with their husbands. God's Daughter, Book One in the Vikings of the New World Saga, offers an expansive yet intimate look into the world of Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir—daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America.
Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
I have never read any books or study at all about this time period, so I can't say how realistic the writing or storyline was. The writing itself was very descriptive and enjoyable to read. I do know that pyres were used in funeral ceremonies, their religious women were called Volvas, and historically they sailed. All these elements were in the book as well as how difficult it was to be living in a harsh new land without friends or family.
As for the characters: I loved Freydis, it was easy to fall into her character and empathize with her, even her craziness. I wanted to slap her a few times, her along with her husband, but that's a good sign.
Gudrid was a whole different matter. I did not like her. I couldn't look up to her, I couldn't admire her, I couldn't even empathize with her. She was whiny, and attention-seeking, and a man-chaser. She couldn't understand why all the men loved her if she was married, but she she had no boundaries with any man. She kept encouraging them, and then shoving them away, typical flirtatious methods.
As a woman who supposedly followed Christ and his teachings, she was an awful role-model.
I have never heard of this and like you don't really read books set in that time. This one sounds interesting though. I may have to give it a try.
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