Blog Archives
An Unexpectedly Tender Heart
Wolf of the Nordic Seas follows a fierce shield maiden and heir to the coastal Viking stronghold of Étretat, who, after her father is captured by a ruthless Frankish count who demands her hand in marriage, finds herself caught between political alliances and personal vengeance. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In Wolf of the Nordic Seas (book 2 of the Valiant Vikings trilogy), I wanted to have the story take place within the same setting that I introduced in Dragon of Denmark– the alabaster coast of Normandy known as the Pays de Caux (the Land of the White Chalk Cliffs). I wanted to continue the political tension between the Franks and the Vikings of Normandy, by creating a shield maiden who seeks to avenge her brother’s death through powerful alliances with Richard the Fearless (the Viking Duke of Normandy in the tenth century) and my fictional character–the Danish Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.
What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
Political alliances between Viking rulers were often secured through arranged marriages, so I used that historical premise as the basis for the interaction between my main characters. Since Richard the Fearless was a political ally of Harald Bluetooth (the Viking King of Denmark and Norway), I created an arranged marriage between the daughter of the Norman Count of Étretat and the powerful Danish Jarl of Ribe to solidify Viking power in Normandy against the Franks.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was essential that for me to create a fiery, rebellious Viking shield maiden for a strong female lead character. I also wanted to create a fierce Danish warlord with an unexpectedly tender heart beneath his brutal exterior.
In Dragon of Denmark (book 1 of the Valiant Vikings trilogy), I introduced some intriguing characters and plot developments based on Viking myths and legends. For Wolf of the Nordic Seas, I wanted to delve much more deeply into Norse mythology by creating such characters as the Úlfhéðnar wolf warriors, a Viking völva with malevolent seiðr magic, and the magical realm of Álfheim.
I also chose to incorporate Celtic and Nordic legends, such as the Druid priestesses of the Gallizenae– the shape-shifting mermaids who transform into mammoth sea dragon warriors of the Norse Goddess Rán.
When will book three be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I am currently writing book 3, Falcon of the Faroe Islands, the thrilling conclusion of the Valiant Vikings trilogy, which I expect to be published in late summer of 2025.
It will take readers into the mystical realm of the Lofoten Islands in the wild, rugged north of Norway, where we meet the prophesied Son of the Dragon. We’ll venture into the fiery, frosty world of medieval Iceland, and to the remote Faroe Islands, home of Haldor Falk– the shape-shifting vitki who transforms into a falcon, first introduced in Dragon of Denmark.
I hope my readers will enjoy the sizzling blend of historical fiction, paranormal fantasy, Norse mythology, and the steamy Viking romance between the völva Úlvhild and the Falcon of the Faroe Islands, Haldor Falk!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | Amazon
Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir is a skilled shieldmaiden who seeks vengeance against the ruthless Frankish count who killed her brother and abducted her father in an attempt to seize her clifftop castle. But rather that submit to the count’s relentless demand for her hand in marriage, Elfi allies with Richard the Fearless—the Viking Duke of Normandy— and the Danish Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.
As Elfi and Njörd discover startling secrets about their respective pasts, they find that the three Norns have entwined the threads of their fates not just as political allies, but as mates destined to fulfill a divine prophecy.
Wolf of the Nordic Seas— book 2 of the Valiant Vikings series set in tenth century Normandy— is a sizzling, scintillating blend of historical fiction, Norse mythology, paranormal fantasy, and steamy Viking romance!
Wolf of the Nordic Seas
Wolf of the Nordic Seas is a high-stakes romantic fantasy steeped in Norse mythology, Viking lore, and a smoldering enemies-to-lovers storyline. It follows Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir, a fierce shield maiden and heir to the coastal Viking stronghold of Étretat. After her father is captured by a ruthless Frankish count who demands her hand in marriage, Elfi finds herself caught between political alliances and personal vengeance. Enter Njörd Ívarrsson, the massive and mysterious Viking jarl sent by King Harald Bluetooth as a potential suitor and military savior, known ominously as the “Wolf of the Nordic Seas.”
I went in expecting a standard historical romance with Viking window-dressing, but Walker does not play it safe. She throws you straight into Elfi’s blood-soaked world with battle cries echoing off castle walls and an emotional punch that hits early. The writing is raw and cinematic, and the grief Elfi feels over her brother’s death is gutting, and her frustration at being locked away during a siege really sets the tone. I could almost feel the chill of the tower stones under her hands. That kind of visceral writing pulls you in fast and deep.
What stood out most for me, though, was the sharp contrast between Elfi’s strength and the emotional vulnerability Walker lets slip through the cracks. She’s not your typical damsel or stoic heroine; she’s fiery and flawed. When she meets Njörd, there’s this magnetic tension that you feel before either of them says a word. That scene where she sees him from her tower window with white wolfskin, wild hair, and hulking presence is pure electricity. Walker’s prose here is lush and full of heat, and I was hooked. The way Njörd calls her “mine” during their first dance is swoon material.
The pacing occasionally bordered on indulgent. Certain passages adopted a highly poetic tone, which, while contributing to the rich world-building, at times hindered narrative momentum. The skaldic verse battle midway through the novel, though an engaging cultural element, felt somewhat tangential to the central tension. I admire Walker’s willingness to dwell in the details; her descriptions of feasts, sea cliffs, and silk wedding gowns are rendered with a vividness that nearly lifts them off the page.
Wolf of the Nordic Seas is a sweeping, sensual tale of love and loyalty that wears its heart (and sword) on its sleeve. If you’re into Viking mythology, strong heroines, brooding warrior-lovers, and a story soaked in lore and longing, you’ll have a blast with this one. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves historical fantasy with romance turned all the way up. I’m already craving the next book in the Valiant Vikings series.
Pages: 357 | ASIN : B0F22JS3CM
LITERARY TITAN 