Wolfsangel, by M. D. Lachlan
The other day, I finished reading a book called Wofsangel, by M. D. Lachlan. It was truly excellent. Here's what it says on the back:
"Wolfsangel is a story of Vikings and mad gods, a story about hunger - for love, for life and for death."
(The rest of the back is taken up with quotes about how awesome the book is, which I actually find annoying: surely an actual synopsis is more important than five (positive) quotes from other authors? Or maybe I just know nothing about marketing ...)
I didn't buy the book based on the synopsis, really, although the fact that it had Vikings did sway me a little. ;) No, I bought it more because the cover is exciting, and from what I could gather (rather confusedly) from the various quotes, it had werewolves and vikings and weird magic - all of which I like.
It was the right decision.
I'm going to keep well clear of putting any spoilers in this (probably short) review, because honestly, I think everyone should go and read this book, and I don't want to spoil the dark twists and turns it takes as you get further in. So, read under the LJ cut with complete impunity, whether you intend to read the book or not. You shall not be spoiled by me!
The first thing that struck me about Wolfsangel was the style of it. I studied Old Norse at Durham, which meant reading quite a lot of 'Viking' poetry. I don't think I've ever read anything that captured the feel of that poetry as well as this book. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but it struck me from the first chapter. It just feels Norse, in the very way it's written.
There are times when it really comes out in force in the speech, usually when the characters are trying to speak finely (like rulers or poets). There's a great example in the second chapter that won't really spoil anything if I transcribe it here:
'"They already sing songs of you, Varrin. In death they will unlock a word hoard to your memory."
Varrin stood and breathed the air like a man walking on a fine morning. He peered out to sea.
"Lord, I see a sea serpent, a beast of venom and fury that could devour the world snake himself. Allow me the glory of testing my spear upon it." As death approached, it seemed Varrin was already writing himself into a saga. his language became finer, emulating the songs of the skalds. Authun joined in, to honour his friend.
"You are right, brave Varrin. Fight and win honour. You will need strong armour against such a serpent. On your I bestow this byrnie, this sheltering roof of blows."'
Of course, it's not all written like that. For the most part, people talk and go about their business without the fine language - but the fact that it's there at all, and done quite faithfully to the style of actual skaldic verses, made me smile. I have a feeling that Lachlan also uses kennings (word substitutions like 'sheltering roof of blows' for byrnie) in the main text sometimes, but I couldn't find an example in my quick flick through the first pages.
The story itself is deliciously plotty. Just as you think you've got a hold on what's happening, the rug gets pulled out from under your feet. It is delightful. The shifting loyalties you feel towards the different main characters are interesting, too, and very cleverly handled.
The Norse myth the story is based on (the story of Odin and the Fenriswolf at Ragnarok) is done incredibly well, too. If you know the story, you can second-guess what's going to happen, which is quite enjoyable - but in a way that doesn't help. :P It didn't help me, anyway! If you don't know the story, I don't think it would spoil your enjoyment; it gets explained enough in the text (without becoming boring to anyone who does know it). It's a really interesting (and heartbreaking) retelling that brings the struggles of the gods down to a human level quite literally.
There is a romance at the heart of the story, but it's never the focus. The love is there, and even though it drives the main characters on, it's almost as if the love is just a method of getting the characters to enact their fate. The story becomes more and more about what is fated and what cannot be changed as it goes on, and it's both terrifying and heartbreaking and fascinating. It was one of the things that really kept me reading!
The characters are great, and even fairly minor characters feel well-developed by the end. I think it helps that there is such a small cast - because this is, essentially, a small world. Before the adventure starts, one of the characters had never been more than two miles from her home, and it isn't expected that she ever would go further than that. Settlements are small; the largest town the characters encounter has a population of a thousand. The actual scale of the novel, in terms of locations, is vast - the characters seem to visit the far corners of the Norse world, and spend countless days journeying across the land. Yet the cast is very small, as if the population, too, is small - which fits with the time period. I like it. It feels almost like no one has been 'left behind'; not even the smallest of characters.
All that said, the book is quite violent and gory. It doesn't shy away from the realities of battles and bloodshed. In places, it's quite sickening with the blood and gore. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have a strong stomach.
However, I don't have a particularly strong stomach, and I loved it. Yes, it made me feel a bit sick, but somehow it kind of made the whole thing feel more real. More gritty and set into history. Because that is literally what would have happened: people would have had limbs cut off and bled all over the place. It added to the historical element of the story.
And I must say, it is well-researched, historically speaking. I'm no expert in the field, but Lachland captures the period really well.
All in all: a great read if you like a plot that twists and turns like a serpent and don't mind blood and a bit of gore. Remember that this is a werewolf novel - though, in almost every respect, it was unlike what I expected from a 'werewolf novel'.
I'd definitely recommend it, though not, perhaps, for reading at night. The creepy nature of the magic involved combined with the quite horror-like gory elements probably won't help you drift off into a pleasant sleep. :P
.
"Wolfsangel is a story of Vikings and mad gods, a story about hunger - for love, for life and for death."
(The rest of the back is taken up with quotes about how awesome the book is, which I actually find annoying: surely an actual synopsis is more important than five (positive) quotes from other authors? Or maybe I just know nothing about marketing ...)
I didn't buy the book based on the synopsis, really, although the fact that it had Vikings did sway me a little. ;) No, I bought it more because the cover is exciting, and from what I could gather (rather confusedly) from the various quotes, it had werewolves and vikings and weird magic - all of which I like.
It was the right decision.
I'm going to keep well clear of putting any spoilers in this (probably short) review, because honestly, I think everyone should go and read this book, and I don't want to spoil the dark twists and turns it takes as you get further in. So, read under the LJ cut with complete impunity, whether you intend to read the book or not. You shall not be spoiled by me!
The first thing that struck me about Wolfsangel was the style of it. I studied Old Norse at Durham, which meant reading quite a lot of 'Viking' poetry. I don't think I've ever read anything that captured the feel of that poetry as well as this book. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but it struck me from the first chapter. It just feels Norse, in the very way it's written.
There are times when it really comes out in force in the speech, usually when the characters are trying to speak finely (like rulers or poets). There's a great example in the second chapter that won't really spoil anything if I transcribe it here:
'"They already sing songs of you, Varrin. In death they will unlock a word hoard to your memory."
Varrin stood and breathed the air like a man walking on a fine morning. He peered out to sea.
"Lord, I see a sea serpent, a beast of venom and fury that could devour the world snake himself. Allow me the glory of testing my spear upon it." As death approached, it seemed Varrin was already writing himself into a saga. his language became finer, emulating the songs of the skalds. Authun joined in, to honour his friend.
"You are right, brave Varrin. Fight and win honour. You will need strong armour against such a serpent. On your I bestow this byrnie, this sheltering roof of blows."'
Of course, it's not all written like that. For the most part, people talk and go about their business without the fine language - but the fact that it's there at all, and done quite faithfully to the style of actual skaldic verses, made me smile. I have a feeling that Lachlan also uses kennings (word substitutions like 'sheltering roof of blows' for byrnie) in the main text sometimes, but I couldn't find an example in my quick flick through the first pages.
The story itself is deliciously plotty. Just as you think you've got a hold on what's happening, the rug gets pulled out from under your feet. It is delightful. The shifting loyalties you feel towards the different main characters are interesting, too, and very cleverly handled.
The Norse myth the story is based on (the story of Odin and the Fenriswolf at Ragnarok) is done incredibly well, too. If you know the story, you can second-guess what's going to happen, which is quite enjoyable - but in a way that doesn't help. :P It didn't help me, anyway! If you don't know the story, I don't think it would spoil your enjoyment; it gets explained enough in the text (without becoming boring to anyone who does know it). It's a really interesting (and heartbreaking) retelling that brings the struggles of the gods down to a human level quite literally.
There is a romance at the heart of the story, but it's never the focus. The love is there, and even though it drives the main characters on, it's almost as if the love is just a method of getting the characters to enact their fate. The story becomes more and more about what is fated and what cannot be changed as it goes on, and it's both terrifying and heartbreaking and fascinating. It was one of the things that really kept me reading!
The characters are great, and even fairly minor characters feel well-developed by the end. I think it helps that there is such a small cast - because this is, essentially, a small world. Before the adventure starts, one of the characters had never been more than two miles from her home, and it isn't expected that she ever would go further than that. Settlements are small; the largest town the characters encounter has a population of a thousand. The actual scale of the novel, in terms of locations, is vast - the characters seem to visit the far corners of the Norse world, and spend countless days journeying across the land. Yet the cast is very small, as if the population, too, is small - which fits with the time period. I like it. It feels almost like no one has been 'left behind'; not even the smallest of characters.
All that said, the book is quite violent and gory. It doesn't shy away from the realities of battles and bloodshed. In places, it's quite sickening with the blood and gore. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have a strong stomach.
However, I don't have a particularly strong stomach, and I loved it. Yes, it made me feel a bit sick, but somehow it kind of made the whole thing feel more real. More gritty and set into history. Because that is literally what would have happened: people would have had limbs cut off and bled all over the place. It added to the historical element of the story.
And I must say, it is well-researched, historically speaking. I'm no expert in the field, but Lachland captures the period really well.
All in all: a great read if you like a plot that twists and turns like a serpent and don't mind blood and a bit of gore. Remember that this is a werewolf novel - though, in almost every respect, it was unlike what I expected from a 'werewolf novel'.
I'd definitely recommend it, though not, perhaps, for reading at night. The creepy nature of the magic involved combined with the quite horror-like gory elements probably won't help you drift off into a pleasant sleep. :P
.