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Rating: 
Summary: A great book, very believable and well constructed.
Review: This book is a sequel to The Hammer and the Cross. I have not read the earlier book, but people speak very highly of it, and this sequel deserves just as much praise. It's an alternate history with supernatural elements involving Viking, Christian, and other religions. It is carefully and intricately constructed with interesting technology developments (for the so-called Dark Ages) and different cultures.
I do have a problem with the description on the back jacket of the book (also repeated as the Amazon.Com description), because I think it's not at all accurate. The jacket identifies the Knights of the Lance as Shef's chief enemies, but in most of the book his chief enemies are Sigurth Snake-Eye and his brothers. The Knights of the Lance don't play much of a role in this book, though it looks like they will in the next one
Rating:
Summary: Killer follow-up to an awesome start
Review: After reading "The Hammer and the Cross" I couldn't wait for the second installment. The wait was well worth it. Harrison followed up his truly excellent beginning with an equally impressive and exciting novel. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters develop and change over the course of the story. Harrison once again delves into history and presents an exciting "what if" story line. Definate thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Saga Continues
Review: I am not usually interested in alternate-history stories, but this one intrigued me -- and paid off. This book looks at the efforts of Shef, who has risen from slave-status to become one of the two most powerful kings in England (and an ally of the other). What does a driven man do when he reaches the top? Shef builds a mighty fleet and goes after his enemies abroad. Without intending to, he completes the legendary circuit of the Norse lands and establishes himself, after tremendous adventures and battles, as the King of the North. A new factor is introduced along the way, as the Holy Roman Church establishes an order of knights on a quest for the spear of Longinus that bears the Blood of Christ. Who has it? Shef, by accident or by destiny. This makes him an enemy of the knights and their fearsome Germanic leader, Bruno. Another "alternate" factor thrown in to the mix is a new religion, called "The Way", which is a more organized and civilized version of old Norse mythology. As in standard Norse mythology, there is a set of gods, with each representing different aspects of life and with internal strife between the gods. What "The Way" adds is the idea that Man's role in life is to find his greatest talents and to dedicate himself to his patron god by mastering the talent that god represents, adding something to it, and teaching others. This new religion also does not see itself as being necessarily in conflict with any other religion, and follows a belief in freedom of choice. Shef follows a little-known god, who is the patron of knowledge and invention. All of this might sound somewhat dry and esoteric to some. However, the religious factors is woven into a rousing, well-written adventure tale featuring lots of battles, alliances, treachery, a little romance, and very interesting settings. I have read this book several times, and expect to read it again.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Old Favorites
Review: I love this trilogy, from the start of book one to the end of book three, the historical aspects are pointed out in a way that fits as part of the story and they don't overthrow the plot, lending the books a very authoritative tone. The Characters are great, (Brand is one of my favorites) and there's plenty of action. What I like best about these books is that Harrison really makes you feel inside the story, the way he handles the characters attitudes towards each other and their surroundings really makes you feel like you're right with them weather it's Anglo-Saxon England, Scandinavia, The Frankish Empire, Muslum Spain or what's left of Rome. As for character development, Harrison has a great way of using the third-person point of view in a way that can convey things unknown to the characters yet at the same time the tone of the narrative is flavored with the particular character's personality, culture and view of their surroundings, helping the reader understand more fully the motives and inhibitions of the people he describes. I read these back in high school and loved them then as much I still do now.
Rating:
Summary: The king makes the great journey
Review: Shef is now co-king of england, and has brought peace and prosperity to his land. He is summoned to go north, and to make a great journey around the northlands. The plot thickens in this book, and builds on the first. The charachters develop even more in this book, and continue to do so in the final book of the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: The king makes the great journey
Review: Shef is now co-king of england, and has brought peace and prosperity to his land. He is summoned to go north, and to make a great journey around the northlands. The plot thickens in this book, and builds on the first. The charachters develop even more in this book, and continue to do so in the final book of the trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: On the searching road.
Review: This alternate history is a sequel of "The hammer and the Cross", starts with Shef going on a two level quest. The explicit one is to deter the Ragnarsons raids onto the British coasts. The second quest is more or less imposed to him, by Gods or fate or destiny, Shef alternatively complies or resist to it. In this quest new characters come to his help and tie their destiny to his. Shef's journey touches all Norse's world, their myths, legends and beliefs are shown in a thrilling story. The first book of the saga shows an accurate picture of early Middle Ages, this one starts to create a different alternate reality, evolving distinctly from new facts introduced by Harrison. The Lance Order appears in this volume and will grow step by step as an important element in the saga. Finally, the confrontation with the Ragnarsons, comes to an end somewhat abruptly without freeing all the previous mounting tension. A valuable continuation of the saga, I keep looking forward for the next and final step.
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