Review: Good Story, Bad Editing, Not Enough Info About Vikings
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 07 14, 2014
When his father is killed in battle, young Hrafn, a boy blessed by ravens, is chosen to lead his Viking clan.Let me start out by saying there is an interesting story here. There are old legends and magic at work here, and this story is quite inventive. There is a lot of potential to this tale, but the writing itself does not match up to what the author was trying to accomplish. I kept hoping for it to improve because there is clearly a well thought out story here, but sadly, it just isn't crafted well.I think I could identify most with Turid. I got a better look inside her mind than any other character, and her concern for her children is believable. Not only has she been forced to choose between them, but she struggles inside with the fact that it is her younger son who will lead her people.Though there are a few spots that are written nicely, there is at least one paragraph on each page that felt awkward and clumsy. Lines such as "he will be a very good viking" and "a couple of minutes of birth-time were making a big difference" and "big black raven" need to be reworded entirely. They have an awkward feel to them, and it doesn't flow well. It is too choppy and dumbed down when it shouldn't be.Some of the dialogue is quite interesting, and a few characters actually can spin a good tale. However, there is a lot of trailing off of dialogue as the characters can't think of anything else to say. I found that frustrating. Also, using words repeatedly like "raven bird" is silly. I know a raven is a bird, so why say it like that? I really wanted to like this story, but the writing held me back.With historical fiction, I want to feel immersed in the time and place I'm reading about. That's true of any book, really. But I never got the feeling I was actually among the Vikings. Either the author did not know enough about Vikings to bring their culture to life, or she did not share it with her readers. There is very little description of the world around. We are told "she rode there" without a single line of how she got there. Was it cloudy? Cold? Raining? I'll never know.There is a lot of potential in this book, but the abundance of grammar errors and poorly chosen words doesn't do it justice. An author's job is to create art, which I believe this author has done. All she needs is more time to refine her craft and an editor who can help her along the way.I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.