A Flame in the North
Books | Fiction / Fantasy / Epic
Lilith Saintcrow
From New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow comes the first book in a thrilling Norse-inspired epic trilogy about ancient myth and magical destiny. The Black Land is a myth: Centuries have passed since that Great Enemy was slain. Yet old fears linger, and on the longest night of the year, people in the South still light ritual bonfires to banish the dark. In her village, this duty falls to Solveig, a girl favored by the gods with powerful fire magic. But when her brother kills a Northern lord’s son during the ritual, it is Sol who faces punishment, by being weregild—part hostage, part guest—in the North for a year and a day. As she journeys to her captivity, Sol starts to realize that the Black Land is no myth. The forests teem with foul beasts. Her travel companions are not what they seem, and their plans for her magic are shrouded in secrecy. With only her loyal shieldmaiden and her own wits to rely upon, Sol must learn to master her powers and wrest control of her fate. For the Black Land’s army stirs, ready to cover the world in darkness—unless Sol can find the courage to stop it. The story continues in THE FALL OF WATERSTONE, available July 2024, and in the incredible conclusion DOOM OF THE ELDER, coming soon.
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Author
Lilith Saintcrow
Pages
448
Publisher
Orbit
Published Date
2024-02-13
ISBN
0316440434 9780316440431
Community ReviewsSee all
"I gave it a really strong effort but I just could not get through this book. It very well may be a case of 'it's not you it's me." I knew it was a Vikings story going in but I must have underrated the amount of vikings terms and traditions I didn't understand. I felt like I was dropped right in the middle of some ritual but had no idea what was going on or the purpose. There were quite a few titles and names called out that I didnt understand and the book doesnt provide additional insight on (volva, granr, weirdling, etc.,). I was hoping once the character was on her adventure these things would matter less but it didnt work for me. There wasn't much of an explanation of the magic system. When the fmc used her power for the first time it seemed very underwhelming for all of the buildup around it. I also didnt get much of a back story on anyone from what I did read. I didnt know the history of the characters relationships and motivations besides what was apparent in present activities. I do appreciate the effort the author put into making this book feel authentic but wouldnt recommend it for someone who is not familiar with all-things Vikings.<br/><br/>Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review."
Tanira Edge