When I saw the tagline ‘Beowulf meets The Lord of the Rings,’ I knew immediately this would be a tale suited to my tastes. Historical/fantasy novels are a favourite of mine, especially when I learn a little about past cultures and traditions in amongst the fiction. A Gathering of Ravens lived up to these high expectations.
Synopsis:
To the Danes, he is skraelingr; to the English, he is orcnéas; to the Irish, he is fomoraig. He is Corpse-maker and Life-quencher, the Bringer of Night, the Son of the Wolf and Brother of the Serpent. He is Grimnir, and he is the last of his kind―the last in a long line of monsters who have plagued humanity since the Elder Days.
Drawn from his lair by a thirst for vengeance against the Dane who slew his brother, Grimnir emerges into a world that’s changed. A new faith has arisen. The Old Ways are dying, and their followers retreating into the shadows; even still, Grimnir’s vengeance cannot be denied.Taking a young Christian hostage to be his guide, Grimnir embarks on a journey that takes him from the hinterlands of Denmark, where the wisdom of the ancient dwarves has given way to madness, to the war-torn heart of southern England, where the spirits of the land make violence on one another. And thence to the green shores of Ireland and the Viking stronghold of Dubhlinn, where his enemy awaits.
A Gathering of Ravens hits you with an orc protagonist, an androgynous female companion, witches, celtic folklore and norse mythology in a neat little package, tied up tightly with an invigorating plot, thrilling twists and pacing that left my heart soaring (I’m a huge fan of short, snappy chapters, so Oden’s style immediately clicked with me). It’s also a quick read at 350 pages, but by no means does it feel rushed.
It seems that the biggest talking point about this book so far is Grimnir. Essentially an Orc (known by many other names in this novel, which I thought added a real depth to the world) and a morally ambiguous one at that (obviously). It’s fascinating having a narrative focused on a creature featured in Fantasy novels as almost entirely, inherently ‘bad’. Sure, he’s a little prone to violence, possessiveness and manipulation, but Grimnir’s journey is full of fascinating character development and relationships that makes for a complex study. IIRC, it was said that A Gathering of Ravens is the first of three books strung together by Grimnir and if so then I look forward to seeing more of this intriguing character.
I got through most of my proof copy in one sunny, summery day!
I absolutely loved Étaín, the chapters focusing on her perspective quickly becoming a favourite. Accurate representation is important to me, and so I am always wary of main female protagonists written by male authors. But Oden avoids any problematic instances and Étaín’s character didn’t contain less depth because she is a woman.
Overall, if you’re looking for a gritty fantasy fix I can’t recommend this highly enough.
A Gathering of Ravens can be bought here, and check out the rest of the blog tour over the next few weeks:
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