Author Hartsuyker transports readers to the ancient world of legendary Vikings with vivid storytelling. The multiple characters are fully developed and engaging, particularly the young teen mother Freydis, who courageously rises from tragic events to profoundly impact the lives of her family. Each of the characters’ stories seamlessly weave together to create a rich narrative culminating in a heartfelt and poignant ending. The masterfully written epic tale has elements of political intrigue, romance, sacrifice, betrayal, and adventure ... a compelling conclusion to the trilogy. The rich tapestry of characters and their interweaving stories capture the mystique and heart of Norse and Icelandic legends. It is highly recommended for readers who enjoy in-depth layers of historical epics in the Middle Ages.
Hartsuyker is an amazing storyteller ... This is a wonderful story of family, relationships, and how the world gives and takes no matter how much we try to change its course ... I fell in love with this story early on thanks to the characters and a deep appreciation of all things Viking, set in a ninth-century world of adversity. It has not disappointed, and while I’m sad to see the end of the series, what a great ride it’s been ... Hartsuyker tells an outstanding tale that is so much more than the Viking ships that roam through her books. The family bonds and oaths that tie everyone in this story together are the real threads here. You can alternately love and hate all of the characters and still come back to them because you want them to do better and be better, even as they suffer and cause suffering. It’s an extraordinary story, and I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed following this family saga.
With expertly described settings spanning late-ninth-century Norway, Iceland, and the Orkney Islands, this satisfying finale to Hartsuyker’s Golden Wolf trilogy expands into the next generation ... The number of characters and subplots threaten to affect the novel’s cohesion initially, but Hartsuyker’s smart storytelling soon takes over as the threads overlap and come together in a fitting conclusion.
