Blood Eye (Raven: Book 1) - Historical Viking Fiction Novel - Perfect for Fans of Norse Mythology & Adventure Stories

I've spent a lifetime studying the Viking Age from a scholarly viewpoint, and know the period about as well as anyone alive today. I also thoroughly enjoy well-written historical fiction that takes place in this period. I say, "well-written", because sadly enough, most books on this period are sadly lacking in anything approaching realism from a historical standpoint. Most of what I have read have been tossed in the trash, given away, or sold to be rid if them. Very few books on this period have reached a level of excellence that I want to keep them in my permanent collection. One writer whom I am a big fan of is Robert Low, and his Oathsworn series is part of my permanent collection. Robert understands the time period and it shows in his books. It was through Robert that I first became aware of Giles Kristian and his Raven: Blood Eye. I ordered a imported hardcover copy of the book through Amazon, and groaned at the high price I had to pay. I read the book almost in one sitting, letting my responsibilities in life sit on hold as I became absorbed in this enthralling tale of a Norse-Englishman and the Wolf pack of Norsemen who adopted him as their own. The book has everything you might want in a good tale told by a Norse skald (story-teller), from battles, to intrigue, to romance and adventure. The only complaint I had with this book, and it was a minor one, was the cliff-hanger ending being a bit too abrupt for my tastes. I understood why the author did it that way, with the second book coming out so quickly on the heels of the first, and he wanted to give readers a good reason to get the second book. I don't fault him for that. I just don't like cliff-hangers, and if they are used, would prefer that most of the loose ends are mostly tied up. Other than that, I absolutely loved this book, and as soon as it was finished, I found a UK seller who offered the second book on pre-order, and reserved myself a copy. Giles Kristian is a great new writer. This book is now part of my permanent collection, and I now don't mind that I had to pay so much to get my hands on it. I've just finished reading his second book, Sons of Thunder: The Second Raven Adventure, but you'll need to read my review of it elsewhere. If you like historical fiction related to the Viking Age, you'll love Giles Kristian's work. If you've never read anything in this genre, then this would be a good place to start. Personally, I hope Mr. Kristian has a long career filled with many such great tales! This man is a great talent!