Pirates & Privateers: James L. Nelson's Books

Thorgim Night Wolf yearns to go home. He’s had his fill of Dubh-Linn (Old Norse name for Dublin) and the Irish, but his father-in-law has no desire to return to Norway and Thorgrim lacks a longship. The only way for him and his son, Harald, to make the journey is to join another raid, but Arinbjorn White-tooth is envious of Night Wolf’s abilities and influence over the other warriors. This jealousy worsens after his suggestion to sneak inside Cloyne and attack the Irish from within. With the help of Starri Deathless and other berserkers, as well as Harald, Thorgrim disregards Arinbjorn’s denial to attack. That decision gains the Vikings their target and earns Night Wolf an enemy.

Morrigan wants to wield the power, to rule her people, but first she must solidify her brother’s claim to the throne of Tara. One problem: Brigit, the daughter of the former king, still lives and has her own designs on the throne. To that end, she marries a lesser lord, one whom she can easily manipulate to do her will. To prevent her from gaining the upper hand, Morrigan informs the bridegroom that Brigit is pregnant and the child isn’t his. In the ensuing fury, Brigit kills her husband and enlists the help of a priest, who takes her to Dubh-Linn to find the real father of her child, Harald. Perhaps with his help, and that of the other Vikings, she can regain the throne of Tara.

Uneasy alliances between enemies make for strange bedfellows and, aside from Harald, who is besotted with Brigit and unknowledgeable about the manipulations of women, no one truly trusts anyone else. Morrigan employs an ingenious, outside-of-the-box idea to help her brother defeat the Vikings. Arinbjorn intends to use the forthcoming battle to slay Thorgrim, and thus rid himself of a potential threat to his power, as well as retain the prize money he owes Night Wolf. Thorgrim distrusts Brigit, Morrigan, and Arinbjorn sufficiently to throw a wrench into all their plans.

The story may sound simple, but all the serpentine twists and turns make a deceptively complex tale that slowly builds to a stunning climax that won’t easily be deciphered during the journey. In spite of his flaws, Night Wolf wends his way beneath the reader’s skin until you want to cheer him on through all the strife, danger, and heartache he endures. Similar feelings abound for Starri Deathless – a new character in this second tale of The Norsemen Saga – who, like other “sidekicks,” sometimes takes center stage. He is the least likely ally, because he is a berserker, and yet the qualities that make him an all-too-human, maniacal warrior are exactly what breathes life into him. What I particularly enjoyed about Dubh-Linn is the complexity of Nelson’s characters and the depth of intrigue as the two story threads – Viking and Irish – slowly entwine until they become as intricate as the artistic designs of the Celts and the Norse.

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Fin Gall
By James L. Nelson
CreateSpace, 2013, ISBN 978-1481028691, $12.99
Also available as an e-Book

In the midst of a fierce storm, the Norsemen attack an Irish curraugh. They expect to fight fishermen, but the Celts aboard the vessel are all warriors. When the fighting ends, only Thorgrim Night Wolf has any treasure – a crown of gold mounted with jewels and pieces of amber. A sixth sense warns him not to share the prize with the others, so he hides it. Late at night, while moored near the Irish coast, he and Ornolf the Restless, his jarl and father-in-law, bury the crown in a secret place. There is a story behind this crown and, until they discover its worth, they dare not reveal any knowledge of it.

The Norsemen arrive in Dubh-linn to sell the rest of their plundered goods, but the longphort is no longer under the control of the Norse. Orm Ulfsson, a Dane, reigns and, with his henchman, Magnus Magnusson, he intends to gain even greater power – particularly if he can intercept the Crown of the Three Kingdoms before it’s delivered to the high king of Tara. Magnus also craves command, and if he secures the crown first, he will no longer need bend a knee to Orm. When the Norsemen arrive, Orm’s men discover the longship is crammed with Danish treasures and before the night is out, Thorgrim, Ornolf, and the other Norsemen find themselves imprisoned and tortured.

The one who holds the key to their release is a thrall named Morrigan, a healer who tends the Norsemen’s wounds. When her brother discovers they waylaid the curraugh bringing the crown to Tara, she senses Thorgrim knows where to find it. She helps them escape, but once free, her brother takes the wounded Norsemen, including Thorgrim’s son, to Tara. Harald and the others will be released once Morrigan returns to Tara with the crown. Escaping the stronghold proves the easiest part of their journey. With Orm’s men close on their trail, Thorgrim must use all his intelligence and skills to gain the hidden crown, rescue Harald, and find a way back to Norway. Others within Ireland also want the crown, plus a traitor walks among the Danes, and a member within the high king of Tara’s household disagrees with how he treats the wounded Norsemen. And someone else realizes the crown might prove valuable if given into another’s hands rather than those of the high kigh of Tara.

Like the seanchaí of yore, Nelson deftly spins a tale that intricately weaves the lore and culture of the Norse with the history of Ireland. He breathes life into the men who went a-viking, so they step off the page as they travel the sea and traverse a strange land, forever destroying the stereotype given us by those who fell victim to their raids. Readers will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats, biting their nails, or holding their breath as the Norse, Danes, and Irish intrigue, betray, support, and survive in a brutal world where hope yet lives.

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The Lord of Vík-Ló
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1508699446, $12.99
Also available in e-book format

With a longship of his own, Thorgrim Night Wolf finally sets sail for Norway with Harald, his son, and Ornolf, his father-in-law. But the Norse sail at the whims of the gods, and the vessel collides with a log. Forced to put into shore, but determined not to return to Dubh-linn, Thorgrim and his men land in Vík-Ló, a Danish longphort on the eastern coast of Ireland. After the Danes grudgingly allow them to make repairs, Thorgrim – much to his regret – soon finds himself entangled in the struggle between the Irish and the Danes.

Lord of Vík-Ló Grimarr Giant needs to find the plundered treasure that his trusted friend buried before being attacked by Lorcan, an Irish leader who wishes to rid Ireland of all Norsemen. Only one person, a slave girl, survived the attack, and no one among the Danes can communicate in the Irish tongue. Harald can so Grimarr enlists his help as a translator. Grimarr also needs Thorgrim’s assistance in recovering the treasure, but the struggle between the Danes and these Irish are not Thorgrim’s affair and he declines the request. Making an end run around him, Grimarr sends a man to spread the word of the treasure quest. This news excites the Norse, especially when told they will share in the wealth. Without these men Thorgrim won’t be able to sail home, so he acquiesces to Grimarr’s request. This manipulation is but the first trick up Grimarr’s sleeve and, as the days pass, it becomes harder to tell who is friend and who is foe.

Lorcan thirsts for power and, with his overlord absent, he is determined to wrest control of the area. To that end he has three goals: gain the treasure for himself, steal or destroy a Viking longship, and destroy the longphort and its inhabitants so no more Northmen will ever dare to set foot there again. His spies in and around Vík-Ló keep him apprised of the goings-on there and, with the help of a turncoat among Grimarr’s men, Lorcan sets his plans in motion. The only thorns in gaining all he desires are Thorgrim Night Wolf and Starri the beserker.

The third book in The Norsemen Saga, The Lord of Vík-Ló is an intricately woven web of intrigue and betrayal. The occasional missing or misspelled word may distract some readers, but only momentarily. Action abounds and much of it takes place in and around the water, where readers are treated to battles between Viking ships and Irish currachs. The characters bring to life Norse lore and tradition, including their traditional boat burials. The story starts off slow – although not so the action – but once Thorgrim and his men enter the tale, the pace picks up and builds until a single crack unleashes an avalanche of cause and effect until the reader dare not put down the book.

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The Only Life That Mattered
by James L Nelson
McBooks Press, 2004, ISBN 1-59013-060-X, $16.95

When conversation turns to female pirates, two names perhaps are most often mentioned: Mary Read and Anne Bonny. Historians know only the bare bones of these two women’s lives, but the facts are sufficient to form the basis of a novel. Within the pages of The Only Life That Mattered, the story of Mary Read and Anne Bonny, and their captain, Calico Jack Rackham, unfolds.

Imprisoned in a Jamaican jail, awaiting trial for piracy, Mary ponders the circumstances that bring her to this point in time. Raised as a boy to gain financial support from her father’s family, she eventually fights with distinction in a British cavalry regiment until the War of the Spanish Succession ends. A brief marriage to her tent mate ends in tragedy and, eventually, a destitute Mary returns to her life as Michael Read and signs aboard a Dutch merchantman bound for the Caribbean where pirates attack the ship. Anne Bonny, on the other hand, is the daughter of a wealthy and influential South Carolina businessman, but her rebelliousness and yearning for adventure compel her to elope with a poor sailor to New Providence, a favorite haunt of pirates. There she meets a dashing pirate named Jack Rackham, and together they carry on a torrid love affair in front of her husband. Since adultery is against the law and her husband contrives with the governor’s help to punish the couple, Anne convinces Jack that he must give up his king’s pardon and return to piracy once again. Once Read joins their crew, jealousy, vindictiveness, and fear meld with plundering, fighting, and love to eventually bring about the pirates’ capture.

Survival and isolation make Mary a pragmatist who knows how to survive and, while she dreams of a different life, she accepts what fate has dealt her. Anne lives for the moment, wishing only for adventure, with little desire for close interaction with others. Jack achieves the daring success and reputation of a pirate captain, but fear gnaws at him. How three such disparate individuals form an unlikely partnership is what makes these historical individuals come alive in this book. Nelson’s knowledge of pirates, combined with his experience as a sailor, provides a credible and enthralling glimpse into pirate life during the Golden Age of Piracy. Although readers know the outcome before they open the book, Nelson’s masterful storytelling compels them to read until the last page to find the nuances and surprises that make this an unforgettable and alluring tale of piracy and women who choose to follow a path different than the one society contrives.

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Review Copyright ©2005 Cindy Vallar

(Note: This book was originally published as The Sweet Trade by Elizabeth Garrett. Substantial revisions were made to that edition prior to this current publication.)

The Pirate Round
By James L. Nelson
William Morrow, 2002, ISBN 0-380-80454-9, $24.95

The planters of Tidewater Virginia worry about the shrinking market for the tobacco that brings them wealth. They must ship the crop to England in a convoy because pirates prey upon their ships. If the vessels arrive in London, the planters receive less money for their tobacco since more of it is available on the market at one time. The financial toll on Thomas and Elizabeth Marlowe has brought them to the brink of ruin. Elizabeth devises a plan that might save them, as well as some of the neighboring plantations, but it requires Thomas to sail to London. Surely no one there will recognize him! For if someone does, Thomas will face the hangman's noose because he was once a pirate.

Thus begins the third installment of James L. Nelson's The Brethren of the Coast series. Although Marlowe understands the risks involved with his wife's daring venture, he never expects to meet his arch nemesis, a man Marlowe thought had died long ago. Each time he thinks he's bested Roger Press, the man has the nasty habit of returning from the dead and, this time, he possesses a royal commission to hunt his own brethren, the pirates.

From Virginia to London to the pirate utopia of Madagascar, The Pirate Round prods the reader to turn the pages of this maritime adventure that brings to life all the horrors and pleasures associated with piracy. The story unfolds in 1706, a time between the Age of the Buccaneers and the rise of the Golden Age of Piracy. Unlike many writers who incorporate pirates into their stories, Nelson vividly portrays his with refreshing realism and brutal honesty. His knowledge of sailing aboard wooden ships transports the reader back to the days of those vessels. The reader swelters under the heat of a tropical sun or prays for wind to end the boredom of being becalmed. The reader urges Marlowe on as he dares to rescue stranded seamen aboard a foundering ship during a fierce storm at sea. The reader craves the vast riches that draw honest seamen to the Indian Ocean to pillage the treasure-laden ships of the moguls.

Nelson is a gifted seanchaidh, a master storyteller who weaves a captivating story through his magical use of words. The Pirate Round will inspire and haunt the reader long after he or she turns the last page, for dreams do come true, but sometimes at great cost. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the real pirates of yore.

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The French Prize
By James L. Nelson
Thomas Dunne, 2015, ISBN 978-1-250-04661-1, US $26.99 / CAN $31.50
e-book ISBN 978-1-4668-4702-6, US $12.99

Born into a seafaring family, Jack Biddlecomb has spent much of his young life trying to escape from his father’s shadow. He wants to be known for himself, rather than Isaac Biddlecomb’s achievements during the War of Independence and as a congressman acquainted with the young nation’s presidents. That opportunity seems finally at hand after Jack is instrumental in saving his merchant ship from French privateers. At only nineteen he becomes captain of the Abigail.

Being master means Jack must grow up and rein in his temper, which tends to get him into trouble. His best intentions are waylaid by his nemesis, who happens to be in port at the same time. Jonah Bolingbroke challenges Jack to a duel, but Robert Oxnard, Abigail’s owner, arrives just in the nick of time to stop the duel. The whole affair, which is out of character for Bolingbroke, bothers Jack’s ‘uncle,’ Ezra Rumstick, who fears Jack may be headed for trouble. Before Ezra unearths the truth, Jack sails for Barbados to deliver his cargo. What neither knows is that the machinations behind the duel are only the tip of the iceberg.

Before they depart, Oxnard installs several cannon aboard Abigail. This irks Jack, even though he understands how they might be useful since relations with revolutionary France are strained and French privateers are attacking American vessels even though no war has been officially declared. Still, he and his men are merchant seamen not navy sailors, and their business is trade not fighting. Since his knowledge of these weapons is scant, Oxnard’s friend accompanies them to train the crew. When a French man-of-war is sighted, the presence of the guns seems fortuitous until Jack realizes the French ship is better armed. It will take all his seamanship, some providential luck, and a sharpshooter from an unexpected quarter to get Abigail and her crew out of this predicament.

Set during the Quasi-War with France (1798-1800), The French Prize is the first in a new nautical adventure series. The frequent use of back flashes to reveal episodes in Jack’s early life slows the action at first, while they also orient the reader to the characters and their associations with each other. Nelson does a wonderful job showing the impact of the French Revolution on their navy, and his sailing experience aboard wooden tall ships adds such realism that the reader is transported to Abigail's decks be it during a vicious storm or while fighting for her life against a more powerful foe. Once the voyage to Barbados begins, the characters spring to life and the action increases, sometimes to a heart-racing speed that compels readers to turn the pages until a brief respite permits them to catch their breath.

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Glendalough Fair
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2016, ISBN 978-0692585450, US $12.99
Also available in e-book format

The last vestiges of winter blanket Vik-Ló at the opening of the fourth book in the Norsemen Saga. Thorgrim Night Wolf is lord and, soon, he and his men will launch their new longships. But some of his cooped-up men spoil for action. Chief amongst them is Kjartan Thorolfson, who stages a fight with the intention of killing Thorgrim. The timely arrival of Kevin mac Lugaed interrupts Kjartan’s plans, but Thorgrim intends to deal with the traitor just as soon as the Irishman leaves.

The uneasy alliance Kevin has forged with Thorgrim allows the two peoples to coexist, but Kevin wants to be rid of all Norsemen. In doing so, he will gain more land and greater power. To initiate his plan, he proposes that Thorgrim and his men join with the Irish to raid Glendalough Fair, an annual gathering of merchants and villagers near a monastery. Both offer rich, tempting targets that are ill-defended.

Louis de Roumois chafes at being a novitiate in the monastery. He’s a soldier, who spent the past four years fighting the Danes, but his popularity with his men made his elder brother wary and jealous. Although Louis had no desire to rule Frankia, his brother exiled him to Glendalough to take holy vows. Instead, he spends more time bedding the wife of Colman mac Breanclan, the wealthiest man in town. Colman knows of the dalliance and, when a priest tasks Louis with leading the Irish in defending the village and monastery against the Norsemen (under the nominal command of Colman), problems ensue. Further complicating Louis’s life is the fact that someone wants him dead.

Thorgrim doesn’t trust the Irish, but he agrees to Kevin’s proposal. On the morrow when they are to depart, Thorgrim discovers Kjartan and his men have taken one longship and disappeared during the night. He intends to have his day of reckoning with Kjartan, but it must wait until after the raid. On the way to where they are to meet Kevin and his men, they come across a burning village where everyone has been slain. The killing seems senseless and doesn’t set well with Thorgrim because the villagers had nothing to steal. Then Kjartan reappears and he is afraid. He claims not to know who slaughtered the Irish, but Thorgrim knows he’s lying. He learns why when they reach Kevin’s camp and discover the Irishman has also allied with another group of Norsemen. They are led by Ottar Bloodax, who likes killing. It soon becomes evident that Ottar is untrustworthy and Kevin can’t control him. When the men of Glendalough launch a surprise attack on the encampment, Thorgrim begins to rue ever getting involved with Kevin’s scheme, but it’s too late to turn back.

Glendalough Fair is a novel of deception, betrayal, and honor. The various story lines are intricately woven and, while how they will intersect isn’t initially obvious, they come together seamlessly to realistically depict life in Ireland during the Viking Era. The water scenes are minimal, but the raid is portrayed with ingenuity that shows how much Thorgrim’s son has matured during the course of this series. Readers will gloss over the occasional misspellings or missing words*, because this riveting and gritty tale is told so vividly it unfolds in the mind’s eye like a movie playing on the big screen. Fans of Thorgrim and his men will relish this latest saga and eagerly await their fifth adventure.

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Review Copyright ©2016 Cindy Vallar

* According to the author, these errors have been corrected from the early edition that I read.

Night Wolf
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2016, ISBN 978-1534879683, $12.99
Also available in e-book and audio formats

Two hundred men dead. One betrayer. One deserter. A lone longship. Guilt gnaws at Thorgrim Night Wolf, for leading his men into the bloody slaughter, and honor demands satisfaction. Revenge must wait until the ten remaining survivors of the battle at Glendalough have repaired themselves and Sea Hammer. The sheltered sandbar is a good spot to do both, even though it is far from a secure place to stay with Irish men-at-arms still hunting them. And what should be done with their two prisoners – the Frank named Louis de Roumois and an Irish woman named Failend – who asked to go with them? Why do they flee their own kind? What’s in the small chest they hide?

Rage, confusion, and fear swirl within Lochlánn mac Ainmire. The man he most admired and trusted, Louis de Roumois, has abandoned him. Plus Louis murdered one of their soldiers, possibly killed another man, and has run away with the second man’s wife. Justice demands satisfaction, and Lochlánn is determined to see Louis doesn’t escape. If he encounters more Northmen, so much the better. With twenty men-at-arms, he hunts them all.

After twenty-five ragtag Irishmen step from the woods near Thorgrim, he knows his men are outnumbered and in no condition to fight again. Two men step forward: one a giant with more brawn than brains, and the other a shorter, red-haired man who whispers to his companion as if giving him advice. With only one way to win this confrontation, Thorgrim challenges the giant to a duel. Hardened by many battles and more intelligent than his opponent, he toys with the Irishman before slaying him.

Without consulting the remaining Irishmen, Cónán assumes command and prepares to depart because he’s savvy enough to abide by the rules of the challenge. But Thorgrim offers him a tempting proposition. If the Irish stay and help Thorgrim sack the monastery at Glendalough, Thorgrim will provide them with weapons and armor, as well as a share of the plunder. He might not trust these Irish bandits, but he needs them.

When Aghen Ormsson of Vik-ló first spots the returning longships, he senses no trouble. But Thorgrim isn’t with the Northmen who alight. Ottar Bloodax claims the former lord of Vik-ló is dead and declares himself the new ruler of the Viking longphort. He trusts only a handful of his men and rules by terrorizing those under him. The more Aghen learns, the more he believes Thorgrim isn’t dead and that belief is strengthened when a lone wolf appears inside the walls one night. Knowing Ottar is a superstitious man, Aghen acts on that fear. One by one Ottar’s elite corps is killed and the evidence points to the lone wolf, the shape changer Thorgrim who stalks at night.

Night Wolf, the fifth book in The Norsemen Saga, is an intricately woven tale of betrayal and revenge. Violence remains a key element of this story and the time period, yet Thorgrim, Cónán, and Aghen rely more on ingenuity and knowledge than their fighting expertise in the encounters with their enemies. This adds depth to the characters and shatters the stereotypical portrayals of Norse and Irish alike. Readers who haven’t read the previous volume, Glendalough Fair, won’t have any trouble following what happens in the aftermath of that disaster, but reading that title first may enrich the experience of Night Wolf. Like the tales of old told by an Irish seanchaidh or a Norse skald, Night Wolf lures readers into its web and holds them spellbound until the story ends.

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Raider’s Wake
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2017, ISBN 978-0692880265, $12.99
Also available in e-book format

Book six of The Norsemen Saga begins with the return of Conandil, who appears in an earlier volume. No longer a thrall, she is married to an Irish chieftain’s son. When Irish raiders attack their ringfort, she and her husband, as well as others, are driven to the beach where they are beset from the sea by Norsemen. Rather than become a slave again, she fights with her husband. One of the Vikings thwarts her desire for a quick death and she is once again bound for the slave pens in Dubh-linn. There she, her husband, and the other captives are sold to a Frisian merchant who plans to sell them at a slave market in his homeland.

Lord of Vík-ló Thorgrim Ulfsson is sick of Ireland, the Irish, and the eternal rain that plagues the country. Most of his men, including his son Harald Broadarm and beserker Starri Deathless, imbibe liberally when confined, so once the sun finally deigns to shine, Thorgrim announces it’s time to go a-viking. As his four longships prepare to set sail, he makes the unconscious decision to take their hoard with them. He has no intention of returning. Their first capture goes precisely as planned, but the victim is known to Thorgrim and is permitted to continue on his journey. First, he imparts knowledge of a Frisian merchant with three ships rumored to be heavily laden with treasure. Expecting these to be easy prey, Thorgrim and his men decide to lie in wait, but no one knows better than he that the gods can be fickle and one should never tempt fate.

Irish brigands ambush a traveling friar on his way to Dubh-linn, but they soon learn the error of their ways when he turns out to be adept with a sword. Once Louis de Roumois, the Frank who betrayed Thorgrim, dispatches the trio, he discards his disguise and continues on to the Norse longphort. He seeks passage home to bring his brother to account for banishing him to Ireland and sending assassins to kill him. Louis knows nothing about ships and the sea, but he quickly discovers the vessel’s captain is a brutal madman whose thirst for wealth includes acquiring the silver Louis hides in his belongings.

A wealthy slave trader and master of a small, but fast, fleet of ships, Brunhard of Frisia loves to hear himself talk. He’s always thinking of ways to gain the most while losing the least. Such wily thinking and a no-holds-barred approach to dealing with his cargo are why he survives in an otherwise violent and often unpredictable world.

When the Norsemen spot the Frisian ships, the chase begins. Brunhard’s out-of-the-box maneuvers earn Thorgrim’s respect because the merchant is a savvy seaman. But one trick nearly destroys Sea Hammer, earning Thorgrim’s wrath and vow to make the man pay. The pursuit becomes a heart-pumping, careening-out-of-control thrill ride that leaves readers breathless and refuses to release them from its grip until the story ends.

Raider’s Wake is a welcome return to the sea, where Thorgrim once again demonstrates why Norsemen are remembered for their expert seamanship. What makes this an unforgettable and believable tale are Nelson’s knowledge of and experience in sailing wooden ships. The nautical language adds a healthy dose of realism, but Nelson writes in a way that readers unfamiliar with the terminology still get the gist of what the sailors are doing. For those who wish to better understand, he provides a diagram of a longship and a glossary.

Although Harald Broadarm has played important roles in previous titles, he finally comes into his own in this one. He has matured over the series and has ably demonstrated both his bravery and skill at fighting. Now he finds himself in a command situation where his decisions and knowledge play a vital role in determining the fates of those aboard all the vessels.

Another crucial story element is the inclusion of two Irish women, Conandil and Failend. Rather than being mere window dressing, they are well-drawn characters who play critical warrior roles, and they possess the determination to influence their own fates. As a result, Thorgrim makes some keen observations about women – ones that all men could learn from.

Front first page to last, Raider’s Wake is written by a master weaver who keeps readers spellbound and places them on the longship in the midst of the Vikings. This adventure is one treasure to savor and as memorable as, or even more so, than the Norsemen’s previous stories.

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Loch Garman
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2017, ISBN 978-0692976708, US $12.99
Also available in e-book & audio formats

Thorgrim Night Wolf has one desire – to return home to Norway – but again the gods demonstrate that the time has not yet arrived. Such is definitely the case in this seventh book in The Norsemen Saga, for he and his men have three damaged longboats with no sails. Rather than fight and pillage to gain what they need, Thorgrim barters with the Irish. His decision is of no import to Starri Deathless, the berserker, “[b]cause every time you say such a thing, there ends up being more fighting than a man could wish for, so I’m not concerned.” (21)

Treasure attracts more than the heathens who plague Ireland. One among the many rí tuath wishes to gain the rumored Treasure of St. Aiden for himself, which is why Airtre mac Domhnall and a hundred men have gathered outside the gates of the monastery at Ferns. Failure to return home without it will just result in censure from his wife, and Airtre would much rather confront an army of Northmen than face her empty-handed. Abbot Column denies that such a treasure exists, for he will protect the secret of Ferns any way he can. He succeeds in thwarting Airtre this time, but knows his success is temporary. Sooner or later, Airtre will return and, when he does, the lord who came to his aid this time won’t be present.

While some of the Northmen begin repairing the ships and setting up a temporary camp on the shores of Loch Garman, Thorgrim sends his son to retrieve the two longships he lent to the enslaved Irish whom Harald helped free. The plan is to row the two vessels back to their camp, but once Harald and his contingent locate them, they discover they aren’t the only ones to find the boats. Airtre isn’t quite certain what to do with the ships, but they are important to the heathens and, therefore, there must be some advantage to possessing them. A surprise attack allows Harald and his men to reclaim the longships until they discover that the Irish took all the oars and without those or sails, the boats are useless. When Airtre comes under a flag of truce and offers a compromise, Harald sees no workable options than to accept. In exchange for the oars, the Northmen will help Airtre “reclaim” the Treasure of St. Aidan and to insure that both sides keep their pledges, they exchange hostages. The Northmen return to Loch Garman with a promise to rendezvous with Airtre at a prearranged spot not far from Ferns.

While his son is away and his men are busy, Thorgrim and Failend head to Ferns to purchase new cloth for the sails. Although the Irish and Abbot Column, as well as Brother Bécc, are wary of this offer of silver for cloth, the abbot agrees to the exchange with an additional stipulation. Thorgrim must also assist Brother Bécc (a former soldier who is now a monk) with putting an end to Airtre’s repeated attempts to plunder the abbey. As much as he would prefer not to fight, Thorgrim will do what he must to obtain the sails. Only after he returns to camp does he learn that his son is a hostage to this Airtre; that they are to meet Brother Bécc at the same spot where they are to await Airtre; and that the Northmen have now promised to fight on both sides. Thorgrim also understands why Starri was unconcerned about his peaceful intentions and how fickle the gods can be.

Loch Garman is an excellent example of circumstances making strange bedfellows, for such are rife throughout this wonderful tale. While the majority of it takes place on land, there are a few river scenes. Subtle shifts begin to emerge in relations between the Irish and Northmen that will eventually lead to a more peaceful coexistence. Lest you think you can guess the ending from this review, I assure you that isn’t the case. Yes, there is plenty of action as Starri foretells, but this intricately woven tapestry is far more than just adventure. It also showcases how warriors think, gauge their opponents, understand potential trickery before it unfolds, and find ways to counteract overwhelming odds to prevail without losing sight of the original goal.

Nelson possesses the gift of a true storyteller; his words easily spin visual pictures in our minds without inserting passages that allow us to stray from unfolding events. For the first time, Louis the Frank is actually likable and Starri’s interactions with Thorgrim provide insightful glimpses into two men who are no longer as young as they once were. For much of the story, Harald is apart from the rest of the Northmen and these wanderings not only allow him to discover the truth of Ferns’ secret, but also to demonstrate his inner reflections that show both the true depth of his character and how he has matured as a man and a fighter.

There are elements within this book – perhaps the best offering in the series so far – that readers will identify with no matter their ages. For me, these include sly touches of dry humor, the rationalizing of internal conflicts, and the wisdom and frailties that come with getting older. Regardless of what attracts you, you will not be disappointed. From the opening confrontation to the heart-stopping climax, Loch Garman is a riveting tale that brings to life a bygone era of Irish history.

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A Vengeful Wind
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2018, ISBN 978-0692169216, US $12.99
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When longships bearing more Northmen land on the beach on the other side of Loch Garman, Thorgrim Night Wolf knows the delicate truce with the Irish has become unbalanced. All he wishes is to finish repairs to his own longships, obtain the sails that the monastery is making, and set sail; instead, he and some of his men row across the water to offer hospitality. The offer is rebuffed because Thorgrim slew the newcomers’ leader months past over control of Vík-ló. Thorgrim and his followers return to their makeshift longphort, hoping to depart before the Irish learn of the new Vikings. The gods have other plans.

Once a man-at arms and now a monk, Brother Bécc hates the invaders and wishes to eradicate them from all of Ireland. The arrival of more such vermin provides the lynchpin necessary for him to once again take up arms, first against the newcomers and then against Thorgrim Night Wolf. Bécc and the local rí túaithe lead their men on a carefully planned night attack when the Northmen are drunk and asleep. Just as a rout is achieved, out of the darkness upon the sea come hideous monsters – longships crowded with men with Night Wolf at their head. Bécc’s anger at failing to achieve God’s will is such that he murders a man and uses Thorgrim’s intervention to attack the longphort.

In Angel-cynn (which the Norse call Engla-land) in the town of Sherborne, the people who matter gather in the cathedral to witness the marriage of the ealdorman to Cynewise, daughter of a neighboring ealdorman. Just after the couple exchange vows, a minor thegn kills the groom and calls for others to rise up with him. The assistance he seems to expect comes to naught and the murderer is slain. Nothwulf is stunned at the death of his brother, and is intent on finding out the reason for the murder. He also hopes to step into his brother’s shoes and become the new ealdorman, for surely a wife of two minutes who is as distraught as Cynewise has no desire to take over her husband’s duties. Yet Cynewise is not as meek or frail as she appears; behind Nothwulf’s back she plots, plans, and garners local support to gain King Aethelwulf’s support in naming her as ealdorman. The only one in her way is her brother-in-law, but with the help of the shire reeve who slew her husband’s murderer, Cynewise soon deals a crushing blow to Nothwulf . . . or so it seems until news of Norse ships landing give Nothwulf an unexpected advantage.

The opening of the eighth book in the Norsemen Saga is a bit slow as readers are introduced to a new story line that involves a new land, new characters, and new words. Thorgrim’s tale continues in the second chapter and, thereafter, what happens in Ireland is intertwined with events in England. Only after a riveting battle between the Northmen and the Irish does it become clear as to why this new story line has been introduced. Equally enthralling is the fearsome voyage on stormy seas that easily brings to mind the words of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, “In this year dire portents appeared . . . and sorely frightened the inhabitants. They consisted of immense whirlwinds and flashes of lightning, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air.”

There’s some discrepancy between the descriptive severity of Thorgrim’s wound and the quickness of his recovery, yet this is a minor aspect. What is compelling is his maturing character arc and some of the realizations he comes to as he enters his fifth decade. Harald Broadarm, Failend, Starri Deathless, and other familiar characters help make his life more interesting, as do the reappearance of several characters from earlier titles in the series. As always, Nelson includes maps, a longship diagram, and a glossary to aid readers in their journey with unfamiliar settings and vocabulary. He also selects quotations from contemporary writings to hint at what is to come in each chapter.

A Vengeful Wind is a well-crafted blend of historical fiction and intrigue that vividly recreates a time period centuries in the past. Nelson’s gift of storytelling transports us to these strange lands to such a degree that the modern world is soon forgotten and we’re swept away just as the Northmen find themselves cast from the shores of Ireland.

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Kings and Pawns
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2019, ISBN 978-0578515106, $13.99
Also available in e-book & audio formats

No matter how hard he tries, the gods refuse to allow Thorgrim “Night Wolf” Ulfsson to return home to Norway. He and his men, numbering between three and four hundred, as well as their seven ships, are now in Engla-land, where they have captured a rich monastery and many English soldiers. Night Wolf prefers to ransom them and be on his way, but the conniving machinations of two locals vying to be proclaimed ealdorman interfere his plans. Cynwise, who would pay the Danegeld and secure her claim to the title, must contend with a father who would usurp her rights, and her brother-in-law, who feels he should inherit his brother’s position. Nothwulf, allied with the influential and wealthy thegn Leofric, has no intention of paying the ransom. He plans to decimate the Norsemen through slyness and trickery, thus proving he is the best candidate for ealdorman.

Night Wolf has two sons: Harold Broadarm, who accompanies him on this long raiding journey, and Odd Thorgrimson, who remains at home taking care of both his own farm and his father’s. In spite of being clever and good at what he does, a small part of Odd also resents being left behind, unable to prove himself as a true Norse warrior. News of unexpected visitors to Night Wolf’s farm and King Halfdan’s insistence that Night Wolf owes back taxes, even though Odd has diligently paid them, stir unwanted trouble that finally provide Odd with the chance to prove his mettle to both himself and the other hauldar, prosperous landowners like himself. They are reluctant allies until they realize that what Halfdan proposes for Odd could well be their fates as well.

Kings and Pawns is the ninth book in The Norsemen Saga and has all the hallmarks of the previous titles – intrigue, betrayal, courage and bravery, cleverness and brawn, and fickle nemeses – to guarantee that readers find themselves on a whirlwind adventure where expectations and actualities don’t necessarily coincide. Starri Deathless epitomizes the berserker of history in a way that illuminates how these warriors must have appeared as they fought their enemies. Failend’s soul-searching seems an important component at the beginning of this tale, but as it unfolds, both she and her struggle fade away unresolved. The introduction of Odd and his conflict with the power-hungry and jealous Halfdan promises a new and compelling dynamic to the saga. Odd’s surprise attack makes for interesting comparisons to those that his father endures.

Nelson’s expertise lies in his portrayal of battles, whether they take place on land or water, and this tale incorporates both. Nothwulf’s snare and Halfdan’s ambush are equally harrowing, but in different ways. Nelson interweaves the various threads of this epic tapestry of nail-biting drama in a way that leaves readers clamoring for more tales of Night Wolf and his family.

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The Midgard Serpent
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2020, ISBN 978-0-578-69642-3, $16.99
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After years of raiding, most recently in Engla-land, Thorgrim “Night Wolf” Ulfsson is finally going home. Or at least that’s the plan until his son, Harald, tries a crazy stunt. If not for the timely intervention of another group of Norsemen, Harald might well be dead. The leader of this band is an old friend, who has need of Thorgrim’s help. Together, they will have sufficient men to stage a raid on an inland town called Winchester ripe for plundering. After all, it is where King Æthelwulf lives and has a cathedral rich with treasures. Thwarted by the gods once again, Thorgrim agrees to join this venture.

His years of hard work and experience have finally garnered Harald what he wants most, command of a ship. But what is the best way to gain the crew’s respect and form them into a cohesive unit? The whale seems an excellent solution, even though he has never hunted one before and has no idea how best to slay the creature. On the one hand, he succeeds in his endeavor. On the other, he gains the wrath of his father. But Harald is no longer a boy. He is an accomplished warrior who’s ready to stand on his own two feet, which causes a rift between Thorgrim and Harald that neither is willing to bridge.

Back home, King Halfdan has left Odd Thorgrimson no choice but to fight for his rights, his land, and his father’s land. He and the other landholders concur that his plan will work, and to a large extent it does. While Halfdan is away, they’ve captured his hall and fortress. They just make one small error in judgment, one that results in a standoff between Halfdan and them. Although they decide to fight to the bitter end, Odd cannot let the others suffer for his own mistake. Plus Halfdan holds a card Odd didn’t count on, and he will do what he must in order to safeguard his younger sister.

For some time, Failend has been troubled. She loves Thorgrim, but does he love her? Feelings aren’t something he shows or talks about. Her time with the Norsemen has taught her much and made her into a warrior, but she’s far from her homeland and her god is not their gods. When she hears that they plan to plunder another church, her disquiet resolves into a decision that has severe consequences for her as well as Thorgrim and the men he most trusts.

Felix, Æthelwulf’s gatekeeper, has spent two years preparing for the king’s pilgrimage to Rome, but on the eve of their departure, the dreaded Norsemen are sighted. They must stop the invaders and, although it will delay this noteworthy journey, he helps the king and his men see the wisdom of his plan. The enemy will expect them to stand and fight on land. What if they take to the ships and lay a trap that will finally rid them of this scourge?

Among the many tales recounted in the sagas, Odin tossed one of Loki’s children into the ocean. This serpent grew and grew until it encircled the Earth and grasped its own tail, earning it the name of the Midgard Serpent. This book in many ways resembles a serpent, twisting and turning, creeping and stinging as events unfold in what is perhaps the best of the ten entries in Nelson’s Norsemen Saga. From tangling with a whale while in a longboat, to a battle at sea, to a race on water to elude pursuers in the midst of a storm, to burning at the stake, The Midgard Serpent ensnares the reader until you are swept into the midst of the action. It is impossible to stop turning pages, to catch one’s breath. Just when you think the stakes can’t possibly become higher, Nelson shows you just how wrong that assumption is. He is a gifted raconteur and, for anyone who dreams of rousing Viking adventure, strap on your mail, grab your shield, and heft your sword. This wild ride of the mid ninth century will fulfill those dreams.

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The Buccaneer Coast: Blood, Steel, and Empire
By James L. Nelson
Fore Topsail Press, 2021, ISBN 978-0-578-98110-9, US $18.99 / CAN $23.99

As far as Spain is concerned, the New World belongs to it, not interlopers from France, the Dutch Republic, or England. To take back what is theirs, a Spanish force attacks the islands of Saint Christopher and Nevis and lanceros hunt boucaniers on the northwest coast of Hispaniola. LeBoeuf and his partner are stalking wild pigs when lanceros pursue them. Le Rongeur, a thief and abhorrent man whose only good qualities are his swiftness and his aim, flees. LeBoeuf expects this to be his last day, yet he stands his ground and lashes out against his attackers.

A fleet of Spanish galleons and warships near their destination, Santo Domingo. Among their passengers is the new lieutenant governor of Hispaniola, Don Alonso Menéndez de Aviles, and his wife. Her father has the money and power, but Don Alonso knows this will not be for long. Traveling among the other vessels is a French ship laden with a surreptitious cargo and secret papers that will allow him to acquire the wealth and influence that he so desperately craves.

Benjamin Graves is either lucky or unlucky. It has always been so and now seems to be a mix of the two. He has lost the cargo that he stole from his employer, Señor Corregidor, because the Spanish attack Nevis, but being aboard his appropriated vessel, he has eluded the invaders. However, he fails to elude Maja, Corregidor’s henchman, and is now on his way back to Santo Domingo to await a fate worse than death . . . unless he can change his luck, which often happens if given the time to talk his way out of a hopeless situation. Two such opportunities present themselves – Spanish ships in pursuit and, later, pirates – and Benjamin has a plan, if he can get Maja to listen.

Maja is a brute of mixed blood, who keeps his own counsel and follows orders. Like capturing Graves and returning him, the ship, and its cargo to Santo Domingo. The problem is he has two of the three and Señor Corregidor will not be happy. Maja is also savvy and waits for opportunities to present themselves. Like Graves’s risky schemes to elude their Spanish pursuers and to trick the pirates into making a fatal mistake. He knows that sooner or later he will no longer be just property. He will be free and more powerful than the man who owns him.

The Caribbean is a dangerous place, not only because of the various factions claiming ownership, but also because Mother Nature is an unpredictable force that unleashes her fury when it suits her. A hurricane obliterates LeBoeuf’s way of life, yet leaves behind hope for a new life. The same tempest wreaks havoc on Don Alonso’s plans, almost as much as those who are far more experienced in the ways of the New World do. The storm is the catalyst that propels these four men onto pathways that will eventually collide in wrathful ways that promise to be just as life-altering as the devastating effects of the hurricano.

This is the first book in a new series that brings to life the men who hunted wild pigs, but were forced to become the bane of Spain’s colonial empire. Nelson precisely sets the stage for the titles that follow and does so in a way that makes the reader antsy for their next rendezvous with the characters. He provides maps and a glossary to assist those unfamiliar with Hispaniola and nautical terms. Adept readers may notice some sentences with missing and wrong words, as well as a few misspellings, but the action and character depth easily overcome these. There are a few words, like prithee, that may catch the reader by surprise, but they help recreate the time period. The constant use of Don Alonso’s full name, or even those of a few other Spaniards, may become tiresome to some readers, but they help establish the necessary pompousness of a character, as well as the strict formality of Spanish society.

The Buccaneer Coast is a tale of hope, betrayal, and the brutal reality of life where the best lessons learned may involve unlikely allies and the best way to survive is to trust no one. Nelson vividly depicts life as boucaniers and skillfully demonstrates a plausible way in which these men became buccaneers. A masterful storyteller, he takes simple scenes and crafts them into spellbinding events that transport readers from the present back to the 17th century where they experience individual lives as if they stand side by side with the characters.

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