"... we're too like to leave our bones to English crows ..."

At nearly 700 pages, it may be a little long for one reading for some - in this I would suggest taking on each volume individually. Broken down, the trilogy consists of: The Golden Horn (c. 1028 - c.1040), The Road of the Sea Horse (c.1046 - c.1060), and The Sign of the Raven (c.1060 - c.1066).

This is one of those times when fact far outstrips fiction - the larger than life Harold Hardrada looms front and centre - and its not hard to see why. This man lived a life that was both harsh, bloodthirsty, yet fantastical. His adventures are the stuff of legends ... and yet, he is, or was, real; his adventures did take place.

What Poul Anderson has done is encapsulated the essence of Harald and make him more accessible. Anderson's trilogy is set out very similar to the Norse sagas, and each chapter begins with a preposition... "of", "when" and "how". The chapters are short with not clear timeline (again, very similar to the Sagas), yet the story is easy to read. A little knowledge or interest is sufficient as the foreward of each book provides enough historical information, that each of the following books could be read as stoned-alone.

As I mentioned, Harald is the hero and a worthy one - his larger than life adventures need no embellishment. Anderson's story builds up the the climax of the final battle, before giving a nice historical wrap up of events as they occurred afterwards.

A very interesting, if long trilogy (maybe because it is all in one piece). I enjoyed reading it because it was nicely written.

The Last Viking Trilogy
by Poul Anderson
A good read. Each of the stories, were packed full of historical information. Though I found them a little dry at times, I also found them interesting and enjoyable. As each story unfolds it will excite you for the happenings, for each has an element that ties to another and to another and keeps going. Every layer of each of these three books give so much! So buy the trilogy and set aside a weekend to just be immersed in history and vikings and life! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom