Mo Daoust
Sestra has been a thrall, a slave, a servant all her life, and she is now a serving wench in an inn in Uppsala. She has been sold yet to another, and she will be leaving on the morrow, as will Brandr, it turns out; he to Gotland. There is much political unrest in the kingdom of Svea in the year 1022: King Olof has been driven away from the throne by his son Anund Jakob, but worse, the vile Dane Gorm is set on usurping the throne. The Viking Brandr has been having a bit of fun since the summer teasing Sestra, but unlike other patrons has not touched her. That particular night, Sestra learns that Gorm has hidden a treasure on an island, and she knows where. Getting her hands on some money could buy her the freedom she secretly years for. Brandr, who is a scout for Lord Hakan, needs that treasure to stop Gorm from making his dastardly intentions a reality. Sestra takes one step on her path to freedom: she will accompany Brandr, and he cannot refuse; time is of the essence for Uppsala. What magnificence from the amazing Gina Conkle! I am a Scandinavian history buff, and TO FIND A VIKING TREASURE fills me with joy, awe, and complete happiness! Ms. Conkle’s incandescent, vivid, and eloquent prose brings everything, and I mean everything, for Medieval Sweden to life, down to the tiniest details with startling historical accuracy: food, clothing; TO FIND A VIKING TREASURE is a Medieval Swedish feast for the eyes and the soul. I saw every gesture, every tree, and Brandr and Sestra became real people in my mind for a few hours. The chemistry and interactions between Sestra and Brandr sizzle and sparkle, the dialogues are just perfect, and here I must praise Ms. Conkle’s lack of pretension at simulating Norse speech or peppering the text with accurate or pseudo Old Norse; she kept everything simple and it works beautifully. TO FIND A VIKING TREASURE is a majestic tale story filled with life-threatening adventures that left me gasping, and a love of such depth that tears filled my eyes on more than one occasion. The sex scenes are honest, filled with unbridled passion and happened exactly as they should have, and Sestra and Brandr are unforgettable and splendid characters. I cannot wait for the next instalment already! TO FIND A VIKING TREASURE is a resounding success on all fronts: if you are craving to experience what historical accuracy means for a novel set in Medieval Sweden, this is your book! Mycket bra! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Margaret Watkins
An excellent medieval romance in an authentic setting. I have visited Uppsala on a number of occasions and have emerged myself in the history and the culture of the area, and the site where pagan sacrifices took place, still stands today in Gamla Uppsala. The story of Brandr and Sestra takes place at a tempestuous time in history. Brandr has earned his freedom from slavery, and Sestra dreams of being free. When it is discovered that Sestra has unwittingly observed the burial of treasure, Brandr is sent to protect her while they retrieve it in order to pay off their attackers. In reliance upon one another, Brandr and Sestra face a number of difficulties in obtaining the treasure, thereby setting free their latent emotions and feelings for one another. The descriptions of slavery are horrendous, but in light of era they are relevant to the story. A well written book, however it is not one for sensitive readers, given the descriptions of brutality and scenes of intimacy. This is the first book I have read by Ms Conkle and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.