Wow wow wow!!! This was such a ride. The character development and world building was top notch. This is a must read!!

I missed the first 2 books in the series, but Harald being a many times great uncle, I knew enough to pick up Eric's tale of the Varangian Guard. Emperor's Axe is not only told in a unique way, but it is full of intrigue, action, and adventure. This is the first book I've read from this author and I wasn't disappointed, in fact, I'll be chomping at the bit waiting for the next installment.

This was a strong installment in this series and enjoyed the overall historical element to this book. It had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed about both the genre and the way JC Duncan writes. The characters felt like they belonged in this time-period and glad I got to read this.