Ulf is like a storm, slowly building up its power, he grows more dangerous with each passing moment. And like all storms, he will eventually break. When he does, he will destroy everything in his path.
Ulf is one of a long line of famous Norse warriors. His ancestor Tyr was no ordinary man, but the Norse God of War. Ulf, however, knows nothing about being a warrior.
Everything changes when a stranger arrives on Ulf’s small farm in Vikenfjord. The only family he’s ever known are slaughtered and the one reminder of his father is stolen -- Ulf’s father’s sword, Ormstunga. Ulf’s destiny is decided.
Are the gods punishing him? All Ulf knows is that he has to avenge his family. He sets off on an adventure that will take him across oceans, into the eye of danger, on a quest to reclaim his family’s honour.
The gods are roused. One warrior can answer to them. The Son of Anger.
Review
I have always enjoyed Norse fiction, although I don’t get to read it nearly as much as I would like. When I became aware of this book, I just knew I had to read it.
Ulf may come from a long line of warriors, but he is not one. He grew up on a farm with his aunt, uncle and cousins, and what little fighting he can do is only because he has practiced with his uncle. The arrival of a stranger at the farm destroys everything Ulf has ever known when he bests Ulf’s uncle, and murders the entire family. Ulf miraculously survives with only an injury to his side, and swears that he will avenge his family.
Ulf’s revenge takes him on quite the journey, and he meets many people along the way. Although he never intended to return, he finds himself back in Thorgilsstad, the place he left with his family after his father was killed. And yet, although he never wanted to return, he becomes friends with Snorri, the son of the jarl, and begins to fight alongside him.
Ulf is not a character without issues. He has been angry since his father’s death when he was just a boy, and the deaths of the rest of his family simply give him a purpose to channel that anger into. These were violent times, and the friends he makes don’t try and quell his anger, but encourage it, building him into a warrior so he will be ready when he faces the man he has sworn to kill.
This is not a book with just good world-building, but one that has brought the past back to life. The characters live and breathe within the pages, and I was completely drawn in. This is the kind of book you don’t want to stop reading, and makes you happy to sacrifice sleep in order to continue turning the pages.
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Donovan Cook
Donovan Cook was born in South Africa but raised in England, and currently works as an English tutor. He is the author of the Ormstunga Saga, which includes his debut novel Son of Anger and the follow up, Raid of the Wolves. His novels come from his fascination with the Viking world and Norse Mythology and he hopes that you will enjoy exploring this world as much as he did writing about it.
When Donovan is not teaching or writing, he can be found reading, watching rugby, or working on DIY projects. Being born in South Africa, he is a massive Springboks fan and rarely misses a match.
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