The Golden Wolf audiobook

The Golden Wolf is the third of Linnea Hartsuyker’s Half-Drowned King trilogy (I’ve also seen it listed as The Golden Wolf Saga). If you are reading this I’m hoping you read the first and second books (The Half-Drowned King / The Sea Queen) If you haven’t, there are some minor spoilers ahead regarding details from each of those.In between the first and second books 6 years had elapsed. During that time there was sort of a Viking baby boom (mostly from Harald - I hope for his wives’ sakes that he bathes frequently... still no haircut 💇‍♂️). By the start of The Golden Wolf another dozen years had gone by since the end of The Sea Queen. This allowed the children from the second book to mature and develop their own storylines. This to me made the plot richer than either of the other of the two books. I mentioned in one of my updates that the children hadn’t learned much from their parents mistakes... They get into a variety of bad situations making foolish choices- often stemming from trying to prove themselves to their parents (or the Gods). Other conflicts arise from the ... unusual ... beginnings of many of them - meaning they were step siblings with different mothers. These mothers might be different wives (and often simultaneous), concubines, step-mothers... and so on. There probably wasn’t much family counseling back then - and even if there was it wasn’t likely covered in the Viking health plan (which was basically... don’t die and don’t get injured... or you will probably die). So basically they just had to sort this out via other means. The parents don’t help much btw - rather than help their kids out they seem to do more harm than good in their parenting. Much like the first book, the conflicts start right away... by more of an accident (in this case) than a bad choice. This sets off an interesting chain of events that kept me engaged the whole story. The trilogy is The Half Drowned King - which of course... is Ragnvald. Another one of his names (to go along with Ragnvald the Mighty) is Ragnvald the Wise... Ok - from an outsider he probably appears to be wise. He is certainly clever- and gets Harald out of several ill advised situations. By this point he’s basically running Norway for Harald. Nevertheless, Ragnvald continues to sacrifice so much for Harald and has become very bitter from past decisions- and can’t seem to make any good ones w/r to his own family... as he continues to let Harald push him around. Svanhild is back - defiant as ever - and tries to steer Ragnvald to his senses. Solvi is back as well - although he has confined himself to Iceland per his pledge to Svanhild. To me, Solvi is this story’s Jaime Lannister. From the very beginning he does something that makes you dislike him, but as you learn more about him he shows to be a much more complex character. Despite his faults I find him more likable than Ragnvald most of the time. At least I understand his decisions. I would probably consider Ragnvald to be Lawful-Neutral whereas Solvi is more of a Chaotic-Neutral. (Ragnvald would be Lawful-Good if he didn’t do so many horrible things for Harald!)There are several characters that surprised me in this book. I remember Einar (Ragnvald’s illegitimate son) seemed like he was going to be trouble from what little there was of him from the second book. He turned out to be an honorable young man (don’t worry - he’s not immune from bad choices). The squirmy Sigurd (Ragnvald’s half brother) from the first book also turns into an honorable and very likable character. You saw hints of this transformation in the second book... he just needed a little encouragement. One of my favorite minor characters was Harald’s son Dagfinn. Not that he had much of a storyline- or was at all pivotal to the plot - but rather that most scenes with him he wanted to regale folks around him with songs and tales of bravery to rally them. More than once the reaction was “Stop that - Stop that - No More Singing”. It reminded me of the scenes from Swamp Castle in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Overall this story had more characters, with deeper character development, more battles, more locations, and more triumphs and tragedies than either of the first two. The three books as a whole represent quite an epic storyline. At the end of the book Linnea adds a short section with references to the history of this saga and her process to create the characters- which I thought was a nice addition. On a personal note I learned a lot about early Norway. Not just the people, but the geography. Prior to this my knowledge was a culmination of the following - rated from most accurate to least accurate... - A few semesters of college world history which spent a minor amount of time in this part of the world - The History Channel show Vikings... which is around the same time period (I’m still in Season 1 though) - The (dry humor) very well done sitcom Norsemen - Mel Brooks History of the World - Part II (A Viking Funeral) - never actually made but a preview/snippet from the first movie - Robbie the Reindeer and the Legend of the Lost Tribe (As you can see - my references decay in accuracy rather quickly 😃)As I was reading I looked things up and tried to gain a better understanding of people and places. It was quite a journey for me.

That is the problem with really good trilogies, you do not want it to end. Linnea Hartsuyker has used various Myths and Legends about Norway first King, Harald the Fairhair to fill 3 great books. By using as Brother and Sister main protagonists to spin the tale along with a slew of great minor character, this is an excellent Historical Fiction series. If you are a fan of Viking tales, a fan of backstabbing relatives, a fan of political double dealings, this is the series for you.

The Golden Wolf is the final book in The Half-Drowned King trilogy, and I can officially say the entire trilogy is fantastic! It’s a new favorite of mine, and I’m going to force all of my friends to read it now.This trilogy retells the Viking-age history of Norway. King Harald and his greatest and closest advisor, Ragnvald, are securing his kingdom: defeating anyone who opposes the crown and making alliances where they can. Ragnvald is sworn to serve Harald and will sacrifice everything to keep Harald in power. Ragnvald and Harald rise to be these great legends in history, and the reader sees all it takes to get to the spotlight and how it affects the people who support and oppose them.There’s so much to be said about this trilogy and why it is now a favorite of mine, but what it really comes down to is the author’s ability to tie me into these families, connecting me to all of the characters’ perspectives, and through that, leaving the reader with life lessons and new thoughts about the journey of life.I specifically loved the power of women these novels conveyed. Women who take hold of their destiny amidst being mothers, warriors, and healers. Women who are often forced to play their parts in the background of battles, but still have the full power to change the course of the future by their actions.These books have it all. Love and betrayal. The glory of battle and the the loss it brings. People who trust the gods and people who only trust themselves. And so on.I loved it and would reread them again. I’m now craving more adventure and need some more books on Norse mythology in my life. Obviously, I’m a big fan over here

The Golden Wolf is a 9th-century Viking saga spanning across the regions of Norway to Iceland. This is the final book in The Golden Wolf Saga trilogy centered on King Harald and his trusted advisor, Ragnvald, and can be read as a stand-alone novel. Ragnvald and his sister, Svanhild, work tirelessly to preserve peace in Norway under King Harald’s sovereignty. The harmony of the kingdom is threatened with insurrection and the reckless actions of King Harald’s and Ragnvald’s sons seeking to forge their own legacies. After Svanhild’s estranged daughter, Freydis, is taken hostage, the uneasy peace ignites into warfare, pitting brother against brother and father against son on brutal battlefields. Ragnvald and his family suffer great losses to fulfill the prophecy that King Harald will unite Norway. But the next generation finds new loyalties, love, and healing in the tragic aftermath as they embrace their own fates.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.The Golden Wolf is 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.I voluntarily reviewed this book for the Historical Novel Society, and the review is also posted in the Historical Newsletter HNR Issue 89 (August 2019) which was selected as an Editor’s Choice.

Well, this series is over, and I definitely feel the weight of such a thing, under the circumstances. This was an epic, pure and simple -- covering both a large geographical scope and a long span of time, and with the weight of both history and mythology, truly heroic in a way no other non-mythological fiction I've ever read has felt. It's not my usual fare, but I'm very glad I read it, because it's just such an accomplishment. It's always hard to rate the last book in a series on its own merits rather than also taking into account how it closes out the whole thing, but on both fronts, this book very much succeeds.In and of itself, it faces the same problems I had with the others in the series -- time skips not telegraphed particularly well, a cast of characters so wide and sweeping it's almost impossible to keep track of everyone, a plot that jumps and ranges so far it's difficult to remember what's happening where and when -- but only to the extent that they appear in the other books, no more. And it features the next generation, which is one of my absolute favorite fictional things! I LOVE seeing everyone's kids and how they've grown up and how different they are from their parents and how they relate to them; I would absolutely and without question die for Einar and Freydis, my KIDS (especially Einar, a bi king!!!). I loved seeing Svanhild and Solvi together again, and the ways in which they make one another better people, even now -- I loved seeing how Ragnvald has been both tempered and hindered by age, the ways in which both his wisdom and his stubbornness have increased. I have to admit that some of the plot points near the end were intensely confusing to me -- like, did these things logically follow and I've somehow missed how, or are events being twisted just to fit the historical mold? But on the whole, I found everyone's arcs satisfying and emotional, and I'm happy with how everyone ended up and how things concluded. I'm not sure if I'll ever revisit these books -- they were a lot even the first time around! -- but I'm definitely always going to have a special place for them in my heart.

Honestly! HONESTLY!!!! I did not want this series to end! It has quickly become one of my favorite and WOW at this historical fiction! It was so vivid and vibrant and such a pleasing dive into 9th century Norway! I cannot say loud enough how much I LOVE the female characters in this! They are all so well rounded and fierce with their own ambitions and characters!What a glorious third installment! What a moving end to a tale spun in legend! I laughed, I cried, I wept and I mourned. I still mourn though. I mourn the characters and I grieve my good-bye to such a book. I wish it never ended.Of course I have my grievance with many of the characters, especially Harald and Ragnvald but still I appreciate their complexity (though Harald can choke and I loved how Einar behaved to him towards the end). I truly enjoyed the characters and those arcs they had (even if some, like Freydis's seemed forced or historically inaccurate, but this is fiction, so... heh!). To me this felt like a story about strained lives, strained loves and strained families. I felt the weariness of war. I felt the grief. I felt everything in between and most of all the women's rage. I heard it and I treasure it.It was a joy to meet those characters again, and a wound to leave them. I wish I had seen more of Rolli and his mentors because he is and forever will be my fave and if Einar was annoying at times, I still enjoyed him. Svanhild was as fierce as ever and so was Freydis. So was Gyda, so was Hilda, so was Unna, so was Runa and Sigga. I also wished we had seen Bakur and Einar in bed together, but still that was good. Gosh I have so many grievances and so much love!!!I don't wantthis series to leave me. I don't want it to be the end. But I love it still. It was a satisfying (and painful) end to a great saga! A tale woven so intricately that I now crave a screen adaptation!What a joy those three books have been!

I have put so much time and effort into these books and finishing this book (trilogy) felt incredibly satisfying. Be prepared to spend some time learning names, where everyone comes from and who their father is! I admit that I did not heed my own advice, but trust me, you'll thank yourself later. The final installment in this trilogy was my favorite and by far the easiest to read. I think that Linnea Hartsuyker has truly grown as a writer through these books and her skill is clearly translated in her texts. So let me set this review up for what I liked most about this book... You know how you read books that bounce between characters and plot lines each chapter? Well this book does that, and I don't always like it. This time around, Linnea strategically wrote her chapters to flow seamlessly, while also weaving in between story lines and characters. It is also a testament to her writing that even after 2-3 chapters I could pick up where I left off without having to go back and try to figure out what had happened last, so thank you Linnea, for that! If you're into Vikings (and even if you're not) the story of Ragnvald as told by Hartsuyker is entrancing and wickedly real.

Reading this book transported me to ninth-century Norway, bundled in a warm hall at winter, and listening to the storytellers recount their lives, history, and culture. The Golden Wolf is the stunning climax to the three-part saga that Linnea Hartsuyker has so thoroughly researched and expertly developed. The Golden Wolf is absolutely my favorite of the three books because the character development that has been building throughout the other two novels concludes in an extremely satisfying way. This book is for those who enjoyed Beowulf for the epic Norse storytelling, for those who enjoy Game of Thrones due to the intriguing political drama, and those who enjoy historical fiction due to the expertly developed narrative that is perfectly integrated with historic and cultural values.

** spoiler alert ** Well I think it would have been easier if I read the first two books first. There were so many people that I should have known before in the story. It made it hard to figure out until I knew who was who in the story. I'd say it took until probably 20 % until I had a fairly good grasp. We have the main characters in Einar as the jarl of Orkney, Gyda as Einar's first love, Sigurd as his uncle, Ragnvald as his father, Ivar as his brother and Ragnvald's heir, Rolli was also his brother who ended up as the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. Most of this was found in researching the Viking age in Norway but she also used her own judgement in other's not in any records. This part of the story kept my interest going. We also have the High King Harald, his sons Halfdan and Gudrod, many more not named. Freydis, Einar's wife, and Svanhild her mother, and Solvi's her father. These people were in this tale quite a bit. It revolves around Einar and Ivar, Einar was at the rutter and Ivar was at the far end of the ship when they were boarded by the enemy and Ivar was killed, Einar was ordered to protect him and he killed his killer, not to Ragnvald's liking for he wanted Ivar as heir. Everything revolves around this. The story has many changes and Ragnvald's dogmatic stubbornness which is his death. I liked the story once I knew the people and gave it 4 star's.

Truly 3 1/2. I'm conflicted about this final installment in The Half-Drowned King series, which lost some of its magic from the previous books. In this book, we are introduced to the children of Svanhild and Ragnvald: Freydis and Einar along with some other sons of Ragnvald. Each takes on a perspective along with other characters as we watch Harald's power over his court fray at the corners and usurpers arise from different corners of the world and even from Harald's own ranks. This story starts 15 years after The Sea Queen and Harald is king in title alone. Instead, Ragnvald shoulders most of the kingly duties and Svanhild in Solvi's absence guard the seas as Harald is enamored with his newest wife. At the start of the novel, we learn there is unrest in the kingdom and one of Harald's sons is attempting to start a rebellion. Ragnvald tours the country looking to thwart this rebellion and doubts his decision to follow Harald unwaveringly as different individuals invite him to truly become king.Interwoven through Ragnvald's story are the narratives of his children, who are attempting to establish their own identity. Included is Svanhild and Solvi's daughter, Freydis, who finds herself held ransom by Ragnvald and Harald's sons, who have accidentally killed a noble's son. Her story takes her to Iceland, where her father, Solvi, has lived in seclusion and she grapples with the legacy of both of her parents. Paralleling her story is Einar, who is the most clever of Ragnvald's children but unfortunately illegitimate. He has also sworn to never leave his brother's side, who is Ragnvald's heir and deals with this destiny throughout the story. While I am always drawn into Hartsuyker's world and I understand the decision to make this a generational story, I did not like Svanhild and Ragnvald's children as much as the original protagonists. Instead of this story being an epic goodbye to characters that we have grown to love through the series, it focused on the perspective of their children and did a disservice to the brother and sister duo. It would have been more interesting for us to read from their perspective as they grew older and watched their children grow into their roles. Instead, both Svanhild and Ragnvald slowly faded into the background as the story progressed until the story was about Einar and Freydis' legacy.

Good ending to the series. Wrapped things up nicely, but not fairy-tale-like. I rather enjoyed this series.