Lord of the Runes

Sabrina Jarema

Oct 2016 · The Viking Lords Book 1 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

In this exciting new series, the dramatic world of the Vikings is brought to life in vivid, historical detail. As brave warriors fight to defend family honor and tradition, they discover unexpected passion with memorable women who only further their resolve for justice . . .

Following his father’s murder, Eirik Ivarson plunges into a maelstrom of brutal warfare. As outsiders threaten his homeland and all he holds dear, Eirik vows to maintain his focus and avenge the jarl’s death. In his quest for revenge, he will leave everything behind, all he knows, and all he loves.

Asa Sigrundsdottir, a spirited shieldmaiden with warm brown eyes, is wary of the golden-haired warrior discovered half-frozen in a storm. It is clear Eirik is a man of valor, bestowed with the gift of reading runes and destined for greatness. And despite the shadows in her past, he chooses her to help him on his journey. But when their bond is tested, it will take the strength of a hero to keep their love alive . . .

“Lord of the Mountains will mesmerize you from the first page . . . Jarema’s in-depth knowledge of Norwegian customs makes this story believable.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

Ratings and reviews

Lord of the Runes by Sabrina Jarema is a thrilling Medieval Viking Romance. # 1 in the new and exciting "The Viking Lords" series. WOW! This certainly promises to be a thrill ride of an adventurous series. Well written with well-developed, engaging and captivating characters. The storyline is somewhat unique, masterfully written, with intrigue, treachery, brutal warfare, betrayal and the promise of vengeance and love. The secondary characters definitely help carry the story to completion. So many twists and turns, some, the reader will not see coming. Eirik Ivarson is plunged into a brutal maelstrom of retribution and vengeance when his father, the Jarl, is murdered. He vows revenge, and seeks his cousins assistance for retribution. But, he gets lost in a blizzard, on his way to his cousin, where he is found, frozen and near death, by the beautiful shieldmaiden, Asa. Eirik is a man of valor, has the gift of reading runes,(rune caster) and is destined for greatness. Asa Sigrundsdottir, is a spirited, feisty, young woman, whose brother is a Jarl. Due to a tragic event in her past, Asa becomes a shieldmaiden. Which is why her brother's teach her how to fight, and protect herself to never be vulnerable again. Together, Eirik and Asa find love, friendship, comfort, acceptance and make powerful alliances. But will they be able to accept their fates, destiny and find their HEA? Or will the shadows of their past defeat them? Can Eirik prove to Asa she can trust him with her body and her heart? The journey ahead of them will be treacherous, dangerous and they will need each other's strength to survive. A fast paced tale with many facets, dangerous intrigue, grief, and learning to let go of the past to find a HEA. A well thought out story, where the reader can see how Eirik and Asa grow, become close and fight for what they want. Powerful, emotionally charged, compelling and captivating. I absolutely enjoyed, "Lord of the Runes"! A page turner and a keeper! Viking Romance and danger, never a dull moment within these pages. Fans of Viking Romance, Historical fiction, warfare, treachery and love, will definitely enjoy "Lord of the Runes". What a spell-binding adventure! I can hardly wait for the next installment. Which, I hope will be Magnus, Asa's oldest brother, and Jarl and Silvia, Eirik's sister, who feels she she is fated to be alone and given to the church. Will the rInes change her heart? Received for an honest review from Net Galley. Rating: 5 Heat rating: Mild Reviewed by: AprilR

The thing that struck me most about this novel was the detail, in description, setting, world building, and history. It was fantastic. From the moment that I was introduced to this world Jarema had me hooked simply with her attention to detail that doesn't detract from or slow down the plot. The novel holds a quick pace throughout without rushing, allowing you to enjoy the various plot twists as they come up. The characters in this novel were engaging and fun to get to know. I love how their pasts played an important role in who they are today. I also enjoyed how Jarema used the characters' actions and reactions to reinforce the culture in this time period. All in all, this was an engaging, exciting novel that was a lot of fun to read. Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

Sabrina Jarema lives near Ocala, Florida, the Horse Capital of the World. She has a herd of fat, lazy Arabians on 40 beautiful acres. She also breeds and shows white German Shepherd Dogs and currently has several Grand Victrixes taking over her house. She’s joined by a menagerie of tortoises, turtles, birds, fish and cats. To avoid farm work as much as possible, she loses herself in the worlds she creates through the novels she writes, her art, music, dollhouses, and jewelry. She has worked as a professional fantasy illustrator and has written fantasy romance for many years. Recently, she has branched out into historical romances set in the early Viking era. She is currently writing the Viking Lords series, a family saga set in Norway during the ninth century. She is an active member of the Tampa Area Romance Authors chapter of the Romance Writers of America. Please visit her website at www.sabrinajarema.com to enjoy her art, music, writing, jewelry, and all the other visions the night brings to her.