It’s an immersive novel, and readers will leave with a clear understanding of not only big, historical moments but also the details of everyday life and chores. Gudrid is instantly a compelling character, and Brown’s elegant, lyrical writing reflects the historical context of this novel, firmly embedding Gudrid into a time when even mildly independent thoughts were considered scandalous for a girl, let alone brazen intelligence and daring. Ignoring the fact that she is promised to one man, Gudrid chooses her own mate, travels as she wishes, and is generally a fearless woman in a place and time where most women lived a life of drudgery and acquiescence. An author’s note describes the mix of legends and true stories that Brown used to write her fictional account of Gudrid, a Viking woman who sought a world beyond the gendered expectations for women 1,000 years ago.
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