I didn't finish this book. The synopsis sounded great and I was expecting to enjoy this one a lot but it wasn't so. I don't know what exactly didn't work for me, but I have read around 60 pages and I wasn't interested in it. I cannot say that the characters were bad, or the worldbuilding was boring (the worldbuilding, as far as I have read, was really well done) but I couldn't find the motivation to continue reading, I was just no interested. I am sorry

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 3.5/5

Northern Wrath is an epic Norse fantasy, filled with magic, mythology and sprawling battles. We follow several different characters as they pursue their goals, with the overarching goal being for the people of Ash-hill to reclaim the honor of their family who had passed on after a vicious slaughter. With several diverting viewpoints, crossing paths, glimpses into the Nine Worlds, and intricatley woven mythological elements, Northern Wrath was a unique read from start to finish.

I enjoy a story where you can really understand each of the authors intentions after finishing the novel. Though, because it is the first in a trilogy, we are left with many questions, the author does a good job of weaving meaning, foreshadowing and connective elements throughout the story, giving me as a reader many "aha" moments when realizing certain things. The ending of the novel bumped up the 0.5 stars for me, because it was a hook that I didn't expect, and left me with only one thought in my mind: I have to read the next book!

Northern Wrath sprawls it sixty plus chapters over several character points of view. There is a lot of necessary switching that happens, to which I found interesting and compelling, especially as we cover so much of this world and what's happening. However, I did not feel like each character that got a chapter, needed one. Although the characters are interesting and developed, there is no real tonal change for each chapter. There is only one, consistent voice for the entirety of the story, and even though character's have their own ways of acting and reacting, it doesn't come through with the prose in regard to POV shifts as one might expect. And in that vein, there were certain characters who got a chapter for reasons I don't understand at all (a certain priest comes to mind...), but overall I felt like the main cast provided interesting perspectives to read from.

Speaking of a certain priest character, Pontius' arc (and Pontius is specifically who I was mentioning about needing a chapter because he really didn't) brings up a point that I felt was both really interesting, but also somewhat incomplete as the novel ends. A point is brought up during the battle of Ash-hill, where the southerners are achieving overwhelming victory, in which he says to Hilda that "this is the same [as] your raids". This isn't brought up again, though to me it was the most interesting point of the book and, potentially, of the entire Viking culture, excluding the mythos. We see a reference to this at the end of the book, during the battle in Magadoborg, in which Einer and Hilda are brought to tears as they kill the Southern civilians. I think it would have been very interesting and moving to examine the reasoning behind killing the civilians in each case - during the raids, the battle at Ash-hill, and the battle at Magadoborg - and would have given a lot of interesting discussion about this Viking era of morality.

The battles are another element of the novel that was interesting, though to me, they were often too long, and the POV switches sometimes lead to confusion. I think that they weren't necessarily a bad length for this type of story, however I personally found myself not enjoying them as much as I might have if they were more concise. That being said, the prose during the battle scenes was efficient and had just enough detail, to where the actions of the cast felt realistic, as if this might have been a real battle being recounted in a non-fiction. Some of the elements are more fantastical (the fylgjur, the forefathers, and berserking as a few examples) but I feel like they were well integrated.

Lastly, with regard to the writing overall, I enjoyed Holdt's style of writing to a point, and I think it fit the world and the story really well. Holdt took a simplistic approach, describing things with just enough detail that it felt real (eg. Hilda's eyes), and the pacing felt (aside from my comments about the battles) like a perfect fit. There were some times where I felt confused by certain choices, or that some things weren't really explained that I would have liked (more details about the runes would have been great), I think it's a great style for the story. Not against the author, but there were some minor grammar, spelling and word rep errors that occurred throughout, likely a result of this being an advanced copy.

Northern Wrath was a great debut from Holdt that struck a lot of the most interesting parts of Norse culture and mythology, and wove it into a story that connected human and giant alike. The ending left me wanting more as soon as I finished it, and I'm looking forward to the eventual release of the rest of the series. If you enjoy epic battles, a large cast of characters and well-researched mythological elements, this would be a great read to pick up!

hank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Norse village of Ash Hill is attacked and burned, the villagers put up a good fight, but most are killed. The warriors return home and find their village in ruins, they begin to plot their revenge.

Hilda, Siv ad Tyra are the only ones who survive the battle of Ash Hill. Hilda sets off on her own, Tyra leaves with Siv. They find themselves on different paths with the same objective, to protect the old ways and save the nine worlds from falling apart.

What I liked about this book

The Norse mythology - the author clearly done their research when writing this book. Reading this book sparked an interest and had me reading up about Norse mythology on the internet.
World building - the scene is set perfectly. It's really easy to picture what's going on.
The story - this book is written from several different perspectives. All the individual stories weave together into a story that's full of action, gods and magic.

What I didn't like
There was a bit of repetitiveness from one page to the next, but it's possible that this is just because I was reading an arc copy.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Game of Thrones or who like books where the theme is Norse mythology.

4 Stars
✮✮✮✮

I found this hard to get into and I'm afraid I didn't stick with it. It was described as like Joanna Harris and Neil Gaiman, both of whom I love reading, but it was like neither. It just didn't light a spark for me, I'm afraid.

Viking historical fantasy novel - quite good with loads of action

The Norse gods worshipping Jutes and the Christian southerners are in conflict and the story revolves around various key characters manipulated by the Norse gods, particularly Einer, a chieftain's son, and the love of his life, Hilda. There's a strong supernatural element to the plot but also a huge amount of fighting and therefore death and bloodshed. The characters are well-developed and interesting and the whole story flows along nicely. Part of a series, it works as a one-off and many fantasy lovers will enjoy it - as long as lots of fighting action is for you!

A promising start to an exciting Viking fantasy adventure saga.

Northern Wrath is the exciting debut of Thilde Kold Holdt and the first book in the Hanged God Trilogy. I am a fan of series names as they tend to give the reader a good idea of what they are getting themselves into. For those who may not be as obsessed with Norse mythology as I am, the Hanged God refers to the Allfather himself, Odin, who hung himself from a branch of the World Tree, Yggdrasil, in order to obtain knowledge. The series name, therefore, immediately grabbed my attention (as much as the beautiful cover) and suggested that this was going to be more than a historical Viking novel, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how much of a fantasy novel it is.

Set in the tenth century, during what is often considered to be the golden age of Vikings, Northern Wrath is a tale of revenge and consequence. As the Norse people continue to expand, their connection to the old gods fades. For some, such as the people of Ash-Hill, this connection is stronger than others, but this is threatened by the coming of Christianity, which offers two choices: submission or death. As you would expect, Ash-Hill spits in the face of the former and meets the latter with steel and blood. When a Christian army attacks while most of its warriors are gone raiding, the people of Ash-Hill are left scattered in the wind. What follows is a multi-POV story that delves deep into Norse magic like never before.

Northern Wrath boasts a large cast of characters. There is Einer, a young warrior fighting two battles: the one against the Christians and the one against the berserker that rages within him. There is Hilde, a shieldmaiden in the making, who wishes for nothing more than to go raiding with the other warriors, but must walk a dark path plagued by demons to get there. Then there is Ragnar, Ash-Hill's skald (storyteller / lorekeeper), who finds himself closer to the gods than ever before when faced with death. There are a host of others, including Siv, Ash-Hill's greatest shieldmaiden who hides a magical secret, and Sigismund, a warrior of renown, known for his loyalty to the old ways. My personal favourite is Buntrugg, whose story I found to be the most fun and magical, and serves as a great contrast to the grim tone of the others.

I found myself invested in most of the characters and was impressed by how Holdt connected their stories in some truly heart-breaking ways. However, considering the length of the novel and the many POVs, I was a little disappointed with how little time we spend with some. Einer, Hilde and Ragnar are without doubt the main characters as they get the most page time. That is not a bad thing either, as each of their stories are compelling, filled with growth, heartache and tension. It is just that I would love to have spent more time with some of the less (albeit just as important and interesting) characters such as Siv and Buntrugg.

Throughout the events of the story, Holdt takes us to some fantastically-imagined places across the nine realms, from the vast wilderness of Jutland and the hidden cracks between worlds to the roots of Yggdrasil and the fiery pits of Muspelheim. There are many more places, each vividly brought to life and used to great effect in pushing the plot forwards. Holdt has a wonderful imagination and demonstrates a great knowledge of Norse culture, while striking a fine balance between respecting the original mythology and weaving in her own take.

Like any good Viking saga worth its weight in mead, Northern Wrath has plenty of action. There is everything from small skirmishes to epic sieges and Holdt does a fine job of throwing the reader right in the thick of things. I am one of those readers that will happily read pages worth of battles without feeling a need to skim and I was impressed by Holdt's writing, especially when you considered that this is her debut. If this is any indication of things to come, I very much look forward to seeing how much she develops her battlecraft in subsequent books.

Overall, this is a great read and a promising start to an exciting Viking fantasy adventure saga. If you want a blend of fantasy and historical fiction and are to some extent or another a fan of Norse mythology and culture, then I recommend this book for you when it comes out at the end of October this year. I look forward to seeing where Holdt will take her characters and plot in the rest of the trilogy. But, for now, I would like to raise a cup to Northern Wrath. Skol!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion for the approved ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was gifted this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It's finally time! I am ready to talk about this beauty! Northern Wrath!

For any of you who don't know I am mad about norse mythology, actually most mythology but the norse pantheon has a special place in my apparently bloodthirsty heart, and when I saw this cover! And then read the synopsis: I was sure I would adore this story and by the Gods I did !

We follow a bunch of characters who are weaved together by the thread of fate to try stop Muspelhiem's children from raging across Midgard, and potentially bringing along the end of the worlds known as Ragnerok. This book! THIS! BOOK!

If there is one thing I love it is a story steeped in authentic norse mythology, the tales and folklore in this book were perfection and I was here for it ! Not only that but the strength in these characters, the flaws, the consequences of their actions! Phew I might need to sit down a minute! I stan this book hard. It is everything I need and wanted in a book. The female characters in this book had me wanting clash an axe against a damn shield! They are strong independent, and ferocious! Even in the moments when they are most vulnerable, most exposed, and most scared they face their fate and circumstance with bravery and defiance, and this was what really connected with me. I honestly can say that this book was a firm fave of the year and it sang to my soul.

If this book’s cover doesn’t grapple you, drag you into this pit of old Viking lore tweaked with fantasy goodness, no cover ever will. It is absolutely stunning, an Ulfberht-made cover if there ever was one.

The opening chapters scream effortless story-telling; the pieces that are thrown down fit like an old glove. The same voice that weaves through old Viking sagas is the one that ripples through this novel. As if a story-teller with the campfire flickering in his eyes tells it, this novel invites you to sit and enjoy, for you’ll need your seat for this ride.

This story follows multiple POVs that coalesce into an action-packed story, pulling no punches and certainly swings a few axes. Einer and Hilda seem to take centre-stage, a couple destined for each other, destined to spend their lives on the battlefield; one, a Berserker that we meet surrounded by blood-stained snow and the other, a woman destined to take her place in the shield-wall, shrouded in the mystery of the gods, and accompanied by a snow fox that warns her away from death. There’s a plethora of characters, creatures of lore to support these two, and many more intriguing POVs, but these two are the ones that really stood out for me – coated in such an authentic, striking voice. Set out in a journey of revenge that mounts into a war, every path this story takes are covered in blood. There’s a great war to come, but the small battles along the way are just as heart-breaking. Just as meaningful.

It’s fun to see the known tales of the Viking gods woven into this piece; the world-building borrows a lot from Viking lore but has barrels and barrels of its own, original facets. It reads so well that it at times seems like a historical fiction, fully-embellishing Viking magic, which sometimes didn’t offer quite the escape into a new world that I’m use to, but certainly makes up for it with the clear, fluid, vibrant action scenes.

Being a big fan of the Vikings tv show, and a reader of the old tales of the Viking gods, this ticks all the boxes for me. My favourite thing about this was the way the story comes together, Holdt knows how to handle a large cast of characters, but still tie the story closely so the plot storms through choppy waters into a fantastic end. It has all a fantasy fan could want: gods, magic, large-scale battles, duels and magical creatures. This is a great debut and is certain to be the start of an amazing trilogy! I am already looking forward to the next one in the series and I’m sure Holdt will be a name to look out for in the genre for years to come.

Rating: 8/10

“The midsummer song was loud outside. The smoke-heavy house smelled of burnt oak and wet sheep.”

If this book’s cover doesn’t grapple you, drag you into this pit of old Viking lore tweaked with fantasy goodness, no cover ever will. It is absolutely stunning, an Ulfberht-made cover if there ever was one.

The opening chapters scream effortless story-telling; the pieces that are thrown down fit like an old glove. The same voice that weaves through old Viking sagas is the one that ripples through this novel. As if a story-teller with the campfire flickering in his eyes tells it, this novel invites you to sit and enjoy, for you’ll need your seat for this ride.

This story follows multiple POVs that coalesce into an action-packed story, pulling no punches and certainly swings a few axes. Einer and Hilda seem to take centre-stage, a couple destined for each other, destined to spend their lives on the battlefield; one, a Berserker that we meet surrounded by blood-stained snow and the other, a woman destined to take her place in the shield-wall, shrouded in the mystery of the gods, and accompanied by a snow fox that warns her away from death. There’s a plethora of characters, creatures of lore to support these two, and many more intriguing POVs, but these two are the ones that really stood out for me – coated in such an authentic, striking voice. Set out in a journey of revenge that mounts into a war, every path this story takes are covered in blood. There’s a great war to come, but the small battles along the way are just as heart-breaking. Just as meaningful.

It’s fun to see the known tales of the Viking gods woven into this piece; the world-building borrows a lot from Viking lore but has barrels and barrels of its own, original facets. It reads so well that it at times seems like a historical fiction, fully-embellishing Viking magic, which sometimes didn’t offer quite the escape into a new world that I’m use to, but certainly makes up for it with the clear, fluid, vibrant action scenes.

Being a big fan of the Vikings tv show, and a reader of the old tales of the Viking gods, this ticks all the boxes for me. My favourite thing about this was the way the story comes together, Holdt knows how to handle a large cast of characters, but still tie the story closely so the plot storms through choppy waters into a fantastic end. It has all a fantasy fan could want: gods, magic, large-scale battles, duels and magical creatures. This is a great debut and is certain to be the start of an amazing trilogy! I am already looking forward to the next one in the series and I’m sure Holdt will be a name to look out for in the genre for years to come.

An absolutely brilliant bit of story telling, based on Norse myths, we follow a small group of characters- Einer our our and our hero. Finn, complex fallen hero and Hilda shield maiden and rune master.
I won’t summarise the plot , but it is excellent. I remained eagerly interested and fascinated. Great start to a brand new story.

‘Northern Wrath’ everything that you could want from a Viking novel – dark, gritty, visceral, and firmly rooted in Norse mythology. The characters are intriguing, the plot even more so, but it’s the atmosphere that makes this – at every turn, you feel like you’ve been enveloped in the harsh, unyielding world of the Vikings.

There are many point of view characters – possibly too many, although it’s always very clear which character is being followed – but the most important seem to be Hilda, Einer, and Siv. Hilda is the daughter of Ragnar, the storyteller of Ash-hill, who cannot raid with the other Vikings due to a leg wound suffered in his youth. Hilda wants nothing more than to be a warrior, going on raids and fighting so she can ascend to Valhalla – but her father wants her safe, and the chief has promised that Hilda will never be allowed to raid. Determined not to let that stop her, Hilda takes control of her own fate – with huge consequences. Her ending of this book was incredible and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Einer is the son of the chief, and everyone expects him to be chief after his father. A strong but fair man, he loves Hilda and can’t understand why she keeps refusing to be with him. He also has a secret – a secret which would damage his future forever that must be kept. Thilde Kold Holdt does a great job making you care for her characters, and no-one shows this better than Einer – he comes across as a lovely, gentle giant, despite being a Viking who regularly kills people.

Siv is Einer’s mother. She has lived in Ash-hill for some time, but it is not her place of origin. If Einer has a secret, Siv has a large box full of particularly angry secrets all desperate to get free and be heard. Her road is very different to Einer and Hilda’s, and she provided a very different perspective. Her relationship with Tyra was heartwarming – Siv was another caring yet deadly character, with deadly somewhat of an understatement.

The other major characters I expect will play a larger role in sequels. Buntrugg is intriguing, especially in the latter half of the book, and I’m interested to see the repercussions of his actions in the sequel. Ragnar has an entirely separate character arc, the meaning of which was not revealed here. His parts are enjoyable, but without any sort of conclusion they almost seem like side notes. Finn is an unlikeable character, but his perspectives spark pity – likely the intent. Sigismund is very wise, and whilst his perspectives add little, he has a lovely relationship with Einer – he’s another character who I think has bigger things to come.

The main issue with this book is that it feels less like a complete novel and more like a part one. It ends with no conclusion and more questions. It would have been nice to have had a more solid ending – after seven hundred pages, the reader deserves some sort of payoff. Nonetheless, this is an excellent story and probably the best Viking or Norse mythology novel I have ever read.

Overall, I highly recommend this to fans of Norse mythology and the Vikings. If you’re looking for a gritty epic fantasy with huge scope and excellent worldbuilding, you’ll find it here. I’ll be eagerly looking forward to the next instalment – hopefully one with some answers.

I feel like there is a lot of potential here. The premise is entertaining, the characters are fleshed out and relatable, and there is a driving force to the plot.

What is lacking is some polish. As an unfinished product, I would rate this pretty strongly. As a completed product, it suffers by comparison.

Of course, I received an advanced reader copy so I am hopeful that the final version is combed over and cleaned up.

Northern Wrath is a book whose roots are firmly planted in a Norse cultural setting. It is a book which is rich in Norse myth and legends. A point to note is, whilst reading it, the subject matter never got in the way of the plot but rather complemented it. You don’t need any knowledge to understand any of this. As the author's research shines through and very quickly establishes the world.

Within this setting, the author creates some well-rounded characters, particularly Einer the chief’s son, who must overcome war and treason to become a leader. Hilda whose ambition is to become a shield-maiden or women warrior. It is these two main protagonists that ultimately move the story along and capture your heart.

Interwoven throughout this story is the exploration of how the barrier and bond between men and gods are weakening. Both Einer and Hilda are movers and shakers of what will be the final battle.

The plot is well constructed, I never felt overwhelmed by the number of characters, nor lost within the Norse world. This is down to the skill of the author, one who loves the subject matter. Everything seemed familiar but written in a fresh style, which had me hooked from start to finish.

The story had an epic feel in every way. It is packed full of tension, the characters have shortcomings, good and bad. They are characters who you can relate to as well.

This book forms part of a trilogy, so, some of the plots threads are not resolved in this book. This is a truly great book, I was hooked from start to finish, highly recommended.

My thanks to #Rebellion #NorthernWrath #NetGalley, for providing a free digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an epic norse tragedy with fantastic world building based upon norse mythology and culture that was so well researched it felt as if it could have come straight out of the Eddas (without the feeling English was not the primary langauge of the story teller). Just as important, than author appears to know just how much to change to much the world hers while at the same time keeping it familiar to anyone who has had any exposure to norse culture. Within this walk well developed characters that I can understand and even identify with (including some of the minor villians ... such a Finn. In fact, I was so invested in these characters, I was a caught a little off guard at the end: a few plot points remain open (that I assume with tie into the sequels) and, of course, it is a tragedy ... which considering the style should not have surprised me as much as it did. Thinking back on the story, I had the same reaction to the "Eaters of the Dead" by Michael Crichton ... and so they author joins a somewhat exclusive club as having provided me with one of my favorite stories. Highly recommended - looking forward to the next story.

I was given this free advance reader's copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. #NorthernWrath #NetGalley

You don’t need to be a fan of Norse mythology to enjoy this book as it fits in nicely in the “grimdark” sub genre, I however do enjoy tales of vikings and gods and this pandered to my tastes well, I did think it meandered towards the end but that may have just been my adrenaline levels being high from the tension whilst reading the book, let’s have the next book in the series soon please

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for awarding me with this ARC for Northern Wrath. I will now give my own honest opinion.

I have always appreciated Viking culture and stories so when I saw this ARC I just had to request it. The world building in this book is fantastic! The author has created such a well described world with different POV's, the whole book breathes the Viking culture and I have learned a lot just by reading. The characters are also written very well, they are well-rounded and the book is much more interesting because of the different POV's while nearly all of their personal story lines add to the plot and build the story up.

However, while I love this book I do feel as if the story gets dragged on for way longer than it should be. I really had to push through to keep reading at times. I think some bits could've been left out or edited slightly. Some scenes are just too long or add very little to the plot. Going towards the end, I at first wasn't sure if I'd read a sequel but several story lines ended in a cliffhanger so I am very curious to find out where the author is going to take the story next. All in all, this book is very intriguing and a must-read for fantasy and especially Viking fans!