Knowing of my interest in the Vikings, my sister gifted me a copy of The Half-Drowned King. My interest in the tale piqued when my husband told me he was related to one character, King Harald, who was the first king to rule all of Norway.
The main character in the book, Ragvald Eysteinsson, pledges his sword to Harald Fairhair after he has a vision while nearly drowning. The vision is of a great wolf with golden fur and blue eyes with sparks flying from its fur. Ragvald understands the wolf is symbolic of the legendary king Harald.
Ragvald’s father died when he was a child. His mother remarried with the understanding that his stepfather Olaf would hold the family land until Ragvald grew up. Instead his stepfather betrays Ragvald and he’s nearly killed by Solvi.
Ragvald wants revenge on his stepfather, in order to reclaim his family land and marry the woman he loves, but hasn’t the means. He signs up to serve King Hakon in hopes of eventually being able to achieve his goals.
Ragvald also wants to find a good husband for his beloved sister, Svanhild. She stays with the family of the woman he wants to marry when he leaves with King Hakon.
When King Hakon joins forces with young King Harald, Ragvald’s fate becomes swept up with the prophesied King of all Norway.
Meanwhile back home, Svanhild runs away rather than marry an old man she’s pledged to by her stepfather. She ends up falling into the hands of Solvi, the man who tried to kill her brother.
Both Ragvald and Svanhild must make many hard decisions as they navigate the violent world of the Vikings.
Grab a copy of The Half-Drowned King and prepare to read an exciting Viking saga set in ninth-century Norway during the birth of the nation.
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