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Personal and Societal Upheaval
Danethrall follows an Anglo-Saxon child who is taken captive and raised as a Dane on her journey of love, loss, and the harrowing ordeals she must endure to survive. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Like most, my interest in Vikings was sparked in school where the history of terrifying Vikings cutting across the seas on their dragon ships to raid and plunder villages and cities across the world has entertained and enamoured children in classrooms across the UK. The city I grew up in boasts a personal link to the 9th-century Viking attack; it is reported in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle to have been attacked by Ivar the Boneless and the Great Heathen Army who destroyed the monastery that was situated where the current cathedral is standing today. Inspired by history, Danethrall stemmed from wondering what it would be like as an Anglo-Saxon during the times of the Great Heathen Army’s attack, flourishing into the trilogy it is today.
I enjoyed the depth of the main character, Aveline. What was your process to bring that character to life?
I wanted Aveline to be a relatable character, a realistic response to a lot of what ifs while keeping the world around her as dark and accurate as possible. She acts as a guide through 9th-century Denmark, letting readers see the world through her eyes. I didn’t want Aveline to be some superhero or modern woman on a medieval backdrop, I wanted her responses to be as period-appropriate as possible while growing and finding herself in this harsh and bloody environment.
As cliché as it sounds, Aveline came into her own as I wrote Danethrall. Aveline originated from the idea of a kidnapped Anglo-Saxon forcibly taken to the land of the Danes, but rather than suffering thraldom, she is given a new home. Due to this circumstance, Aveline is an intricate character with a lot of emotional conflict, wrestling with her grudge against the people who slaughtered her family, her guilt for finding a home alongside those very same people, and everything in between, while giving an insight into the world of the Vikings through the eyes of a foreigner.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The core themes of Danethrall are survival, adaptability, and resilience in the face of personal and societal upheaval. Other themes include the patience and strategy needed to survive in this violent environment, sacrifice, power dynamics, cultural identity as Aveline juggles between her identity as an Anglo-Saxon and an adopted Dane while trying to survive in this war-torn world, and of course, love and loss.
Can you tell us more about where the story and characters go after book one?
Aveline enjoys a couple of quiet years before book two (Rise to Fall) and book three (Ashes Remain) in the Danethrall Trilogy see her caught up in blood feuds and mystical shaman rituals, battling in the Siege of Paris, travelling across the world to the shining city of Constantinople, and fighting both new enemies and ghosts of her past.
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Pillaging. Violence. That is what the Norsemen were infamous for, and when they invaded the Kingdom of the East Angles in autumn 865, that is exactly what they did. Aveline, an Anglo-Saxon child, is taken captive by Birger Bloody Sword and stolen away to Roskilde, Denmark, where she finds herself alone, abandoned by her God.
Five years have passed. Adopted by her captor, Aveline is an outsider to the Danes and perceived as a traitor by the Anglo-Saxon thralls enslaved by them. When Birger sets sail to raid once again, he leaves Aveline in the care of the jarl’s son, Vidar, for her own protection.
Aveline begins to find her place in Roskilde, but even the few Danes she has come to favour are dark, blood-thirsty warriors. When Roskilde is besieged by its bitter rival Aros, Aveline finds herself fighting fearsome enemies alongside the very people who slaughtered her family.
The compelling and bloody tale of an Anglo-Saxon’s life in the land of the Danes. With human sacrifice, rape and murder, Aveline is thrust into a world more dangerous than she could imagine. Follow Aveline’s journey of love and loss and the harrowing ordeals she must endure to survive.
This novel contains graphic violence, sexual content and inappropriate language. Reader discretion is advised.
Danethrall
Danethrall by Gwendoline SK Terry is a captivating historical romance that follows the tumultuous life of Aveline, a woman whose fate takes unexpected twists. Set in Denmark between the winter of 870 and the spring of 880, the novel begins when Aveline’s homeland, the “Kingdom of East Angles,” falls to a Danish invasion. Among the captured, she escapes a life of slavery due to her uncanny resemblance to the deceased daughter of Birger, a Danish warrior. Instead of becoming a thrall, Aveline is adopted by Birger and raised as a Danish woman, with Birger fiercely advocating for her acceptance in their society. As Aveline grows into womanhood, she falls in love with a high-ranking Dane in Roskilde, and to her delight, the love is reciprocated. Yet, the promise of happiness is tragically short-lived. When Roskilde is attacked and her beloved is away, Aveline is married off as a peace offering to the very man responsible for the raid. This unexpected turn sets the stage for a story of survival, adaptation, and the sacrifices demanded by a life caught in the crossfire of love and war.
While Danethrall primarily falls within the romance genre, it’s much more than a love story. Terry crafts a vivid tale about survival through adaptability. The characters are defined by their ability to adjust to the harsh realities they face rather than fighting against them. Aveline exemplifies this as she navigates her new life, first accepting her adoption by Birger and later adapting to the brutality of her marriage to Jarl Erhardt. By becoming more agreeable and finding ways to survive the violence she endures, she demonstrates resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
Similarly, the novel touches on how other characters survive through patience and strategy. For example, Vidar, the man Aveline was initially betrothed to, is devastated when she is married off to another. Though his anger and jealousy are palpable, he restrains himself from acting impulsively, knowing that rash actions would lead to his and his loved ones’ deaths. Instead, Vidar bides his time, preparing for the right moment to strike, and ultimately, his patience pays off in victory.
Terry expertly weaves unexpected plot twists and dramatic developments that keep readers hooked. The changing dynamics within Aveline’s love triangle, particularly the introduction of new players, add complexity and intrigue to the story, making each chapter a page-turner. The vivid descriptions bring the setting to life, immersing readers in the world of ninth-century Denmark.
Danethrall is a gripping tale of love, resilience, and survival in a world where adaptability is key. Gwendoline SK Terry delivers an engrossing narrative with twists that will keep readers engaged, while her vivid writing transports them back to a time of warriors, survival, and tragic love.
Pages: 356 | ASIN : B07BLLW7LK
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