I'm not really sure I have a lot of good things to say about this novel. I'm unsure how HarperCollins thought this was a well rounded novel for publication.... there are so many phrases or idioms that are too modern for the era of this novel, the main character is weak and underdeveloped... she doesn't ever really act on anything for herself, just allows others to make decisions for her... her husband is abusive and I don't think it was well written or handled delicately enough... a lot of chapters didn't make sense or weren't fully thought through. I just can't recommend this book to anyone. It 100% fell so so short.

This is an historical story set in the Viking age and follows the legendary character of Freydis Eiriksdóttir (daughter of Erik the Red and the half-sister of Leif Eriksson). Married to an abusive man, she makes arrangements to escape on a ship bound for North America. If, like me, you loved the TV show Vikings, then this book will definitely hold a certain appeal for you.

“I am Freydis Eiriksdöttir! I am the goði’s döttir. I am a warrior. By the gods, the next time I have a chance, I’ll kill you with this fearsome blade.”

There are many interesting aspects to this tale, particularly surrounding Norse and Beothuk (‘skraelings’: the Viking term for Indigenous Americans) cultures. For me, this held the greatest attraction. However, rather than an action adventure, it tends more towards the emotional journey and the treatment of women.

“Taking a vyking expedition is a perfect way to keep you safe from your husband’s fists,”

Unfortunately for me it was a difficult read because of the degree of abuse, in its many forms, occurring. I understand this is a Viking tale and therefore is not all flowers and chocolates. Yet the depth and breadth of the abuse - domestic violence, sexual assaults, emotional abuse, racism and more - was not balanced out with an accompanying engaging story.

‘I am standing on the brink, pounded down like sand but willing to go in search of peace. I have found a way to trick him and now I am about to soar.’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I really struggled with this book to be honest and I had to DNF it eventually. From the synopsis I expected an empowering, feminist read but it felt the opposite in a way that was pretty suffocating and gratuitous.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this. Some people may be able to handle this book but for Mei just wasn’t able to take any comfort or insight from this book

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I like historical fiction, but this one was just too sad. It felt like one sad thing after the other, so I never got really invested in the book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I love all kinds of mythology and history so I was excited to read something with a Norse theme. Freydis is the sister of Leif Erikson, and perhaps a bit of a mythology figure herself. This book extrapolates on the vague picture in Norse writings of Freydis as a fierce woman, every bit as tough as her brother. I have to admit, I stopped and started this one a number of times. Maybe it’s just my frame of mind currently, but I found this book too intense. Of course, the subject matter itself isn’t exactly lighthearted, but there’s only so much violence and misogyny you can take before a book becomes exhausting. A lot of it was very entertaining, but just not my cup of tea.

It's hard to tell a true to history type of tale about the Vikings without the brutality of it all. That alone makes alot of these stories difficult to stomach; there are several books that have been in that vein that I've had to put down. This may have been solved with slightly different prose and editing, but the writing while decent can't really make up for choosing to spend so much time on that subject. But an interesting take and I'll be interested to see more from this author as I think the problem may have been with the treatment and not the premise.

I really enjoyed this one! Awesome premise and great character and world building! Some of the character descriptions were somewhat repetitive, but the story seemed to really follow the mythology, but with a twist.

Highly recommend for fans of Viking mythology.

TW: abuse, miscarriage, violence, sexual violence

This book set my hopes so high, but sadly didn't deliver.

One of the things I struggled with the most was the writing. It was very repetitive, like the author was just trying to fill the pages without adding any plot. And that repetitive writing shimmers through in the overall arc of the book. The story doesn't progress, it just keeps on going round in the same circles.


Freydis the main character of this book should be a strong woman with an incredible sad tale to tell. But as a reader you never get a connection with her. She is incredible detached from the story and there is no spark that might trigger your feelings towards her as the main protagonist.

This book just lacked everything. A good plot, a likable character and a decent writer.

I enjoyed this novel, based on the brief accounts of a Freydis from the Eddas. Freydis is a complex and interesting character, and her world is richly created. The ending is a bit abrupt, and overall the novel could benefit from a little bit more editing and definitely a sensitivity read in relation to the indigenous characters and plot.

DNF at 61%
I’m sure the actual story of Freydis Eiriksdottir is a good one but this retelling is so depressing I just couldn’t put myself through it anymore.

The author writes beautifully but the subject matter is just too much for me.

content warning:
miscarriage, still birth, spousal abuse, spousal rape, implied rape, violence, xenophobia

I really didn't like this book and had a hard time pushing through due to many things, ie: things being repeated throughout a page/section.

TW:
Violence, Domestic/spousal abuse, gaslighting, maiming, misogyny, infertility, death (animal & human), miscarriage, stillbirth, slavery, sexual assault, attempted rape, rape, racism, starvation, attempted murder, murder

TW: spouse abuse, violence, miscarriage, stillbirth, animal/pet death, gaslighting, starvation, racism, rape, mental abuse and bullying... and more. This is not a YA book.

This book wasn't anything special. Nothing outstanding. There were good passages that I read quickly because it draw me in the story. But there were so many boring parts too.

I didn't like the main character Freydis at all. I don't think she was written well and she annoyed me so much. I felt like her inner monologues and her actions didn't match. And also her personality contradicted a lot which was confusing.

The first part of the book was only her suffering. There was no moral in the story, it didn't bring any value. It felt like the author just wanted to shock and bring disgust. But it didn't feel organic in the story. The second part was a bit more enjoyable but the open ending was such disappointment. It ended the way it started so I am asking; what was the point of this story? It doesn't bring any value. It doesn't move character anywhere forward. It didn't change anything for Freydis.

This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for mu honest opinion.

#reviewpillar

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I very much enjoyed the idea of this book - a feminist retelling of the time when Vikings sailed to North America. Goranson also doesn't shy away from telling a story of domestic abuse - the descriptions are very graphic and might even be triggering for anyone who has been through it. The story itself I did find interesting - however for me the writing let it down slightly, as it was quite stilted and I found it difficult to get into the novel. Freydis is an intriguing character though and I'm glad a novel has been written exploring her legacy.

Thanks to the publisher for this e-ARC!

I enjoyed ‘The Voyage of Freydis’ which was not quite as expected. I am somewhat familiar with Viking mythology and terminology which I think helped but is certainly not essential. However, I had not heard of the character of Freydis Eiríksdóttir (I doubt many people have which is of course the point) and really enjoyed seeing the Viking world through her eyes. Often this meant for grim reading, especially with regards to her relationship with her abusive husband Thorvard and her utter despair at attempting to escape him.

There were quite a few moments which highlighted the plight and inequality of women. Even though Freydis is daughter of a powerful man and inherits her own lands, as well as being a proficient fighter and hunter, she seems no less secure or powerful at times than any of the other women, or even animals.

I was engrossed by the story but I have to say a bit disappointed by the ending. Without giving too much away, I felt the pacing was a bit off and the end seemed very rushed with a fair few plot holes and questions remaining. I was also just rooting for more justice for Freydis and her story was left feeling unfinished.

I have mixed feelings about this book as it wasn’t quite what I expected. I went in with high hopes and was left feeling disappointed.

This book was described as a tale about a strong woman and role model who led a Viking voyage across the Atlantic. However, the first half of the book dealt with a woman who was constantly being abused by her husband. I wasn’t expecting this book to be as dark as it was in this sense and even when it picked up in the second half, I was left disappointed by the ending.

‘I am a warrior. By the God’s, the next time I have a chance, I’ll kill you with this fearsome blade.’

Freydis plans a journey to escape her abusive husband by sailing across the Atlantic, but she is unlucky in attempting to escape him. The author encourages those in the same situation to seek help and escape, but I think this book would be extremely triggering to those who have suffered from domestic abuse and if you do plan on reading this book, I would suggest checking the trigger warnings beforehand.

I am sad that I didn’t enjoy this book and found it a chore to read as the premise sounded really interesting, but hopefully others will connect with it, in a way that I didn’t!

I dnf'd this early on. I really really wanted to like this. I have always found the story of Freydis, a strong viking warrior, very interesting.
I struggled to read this every time I picked it up over the course of a month. It actually turned into a big reading slump. I enjoyed the writing but I did not like the way the author took the story. I wanted a warrior tale and not a domestic abuse story.

I hate rating something I didn't finish. This just wasn't what I thought it was going to be and I couldn't invest in the story.
If you like historical fiction, viking settings and family drama you will like this. I enjoyed the writing and may pick up another book by the author some day.

This book contents a lot of mature and possibly upsetting content (i.e. rape and various forms of abuse). I recommend looking up content and trigger warnings before reading.

I’m all for the strong female MC defining the odds. It was certainly suspenseful.

I don’t know that this book was for me. The writing felt very repetitive. The plot, nor it’s progression felt like it for very far. It’s incredibly sad of course given the nature of content, but there also never felt like there’d be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thank you Netgalley and One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings: Spousal abuse, miscarriage, stillbirth, racism, spousal rape, mentions of possible rape, death of pet, gaslighting, infertility, murder, attempted murder.

This is not the love letter to spousal abuse victims that Goranson thinks they have created. In the authors note at the end of the book Goranson states that Freydis is the voice of spousal abuse and while yes in this tale Freydis endures some of the worst spousal abuse there is, her story ends terribly. I'm a victim of spousal abuse and I went through the ordeal of family not believing me and trying and fighting to get out, I'm still healing from it but am stronger and able to confront it and talk about it. To go through all the trouble to make Freydis have the courage to leave and embark out into the unknown to get away from the abuse she has had to endure only to completely undermine it by throwing her right back into it at the end and taking away the happiness she finally found only made me think "wow I guess those of us who have endured this kind of life will never escape it" that's the message I got from this book. This doesn't give me hope that I have left my abuser for good and no longer have to deal with it. This ending is terrible, and as I have seen there is suppose to be 2 more in this series, I can only assume Goranson plans on dragging out Fredyis's potential to fully escape and finally finding happiness, and I won't be sticking around for that.

This story is depressing with a capital D, you're given this false set up in the prologue that Freydis has escaped her abuser and is finally going to make a life for herself and be happy. But no, for 10 chapters you have to sit through her constantly being abused, beaten, belitted, and so much more. It's one thing to set up the background and have the reader understand Freydis's life its another to make us go through this amount of agonizing pain and torture for chapters on end. The worst part is you are thrown into her abuse, so you never get the chance to get to know Freydis before the abuse, and because it was so heavy handed it was hard to feel any emotion for what was going on. Now don't get me wrong I feel for Freydis, I understand her situation and I hurt for her, but this did not make me weep, or gasp, or feel heartbroken, the emotion behind everything she was going through felt nonexistent because it was just thrown at us repeatedly and every time it felt like something was going to make it better it got ripped out from under her so it created a repetition in the storytelling that made it hard to believe things would eventually look up.

Also the portrayal of Freydis was frustrating to be honest, I understand her wanting her freedom and to not be controlled anymore, I have been there like I said, but all to many times she was written as being ungrateful for those who put their necks on the line to help her, She was constantly refusing to understand the difference between a man genuinely looking out for her safety and a man trying to control her. All to many times she went off on Finnbogi who was generally looking out for her welfare and safety. She wouldn't see reason and I know in situations like hers it can be hard to see past the trauma you have been through but when you find that person or group of people who are willing to help you and risk their own lives you can see the difference.

I thought I was going to get this epic tale of the Freydis the first and only Women to lead a Viking voyage but instead I got spousal abuse and depression, like how was this a better choice than what we already know about Freydis. Sure she was spot lighted as a murderer, thief, and back stabbing liar, but I frankly would have enjoyed that tale so much more than....this...

This story is an interesting retelling of a villain through another perspective. The historical figure the main character Freydis is based upon is widely regarded as a villain who betrayed her family and killed innocents. In this story, a new version of Freydis is created in which Freydis endures an abusive and loveless marriage, and tells her story of her journey to create a new life for herself.

I was intrigued by the title, and during the beginning of the book I was drawn in by Freydis's predicament. She was placed in a position of power, but in reality was trapped in an awful marriage to a man who treated her like dirt and abused her almost daily. However, she seemed to endure, and after the first half of the book, I had thought that Freydis would become a strong and respected ruler after freeing herself, especially considering how she is set up, as Leif Erikkson's sister.

However, it seemed like the second half seemed to lose momentum. Freydis is set up to be a ruler in truth, but she doesn't seem to use her full potential, acting not as a leader, but just wanting to do as she pleases. While she does show some signs of responsibility, she is still haunted by her estranged husband, and is ruled by her desire to just be free. To me, she had lost so many chances to confront her fears, and while she was being taken back against her will, it felt like nothing was accomplished, and I was disappointed in Freydis. This book was a fairly quick read, and I would be interested to see if she redeems herself in the sequel.

The Voyage of Freydis is a story about a woman's journey to escape her abusive husband. Due to the mature and upsetting elements of the book I would recommend this for a reader over the age of 18. I requested to read this book because I saw another review which compared it to Circe by Madeline Miller but after reading The Voyage of Freydis I think this comparison does no favours for the book or the author. The are both feminist novels about a downtrodden woman who goes on a journey, and the books flesh out a previously silent titular character, but that is where the similarities stop.

You may be interested in reading this book because you enjoyed the TV show Vikings, which did a brilliant job of representing women in a variety of roles. Freydis in the show was a master manipulator. In this novel, Freydis is more like Torvi: they're both stuck in loveless marriages and train to develop their skills in weaponary and go on voyages. I did a little bit of reading before I started the book: Freydis was apparently the first female viking to lead an expedition to Vinland (North America). I had never heard of her but this sounded really promising - a strong female character with leadership qualities, etc. However Freydis's strength subverted my expectations somewhat. Yes, she is viking and she is trained in hunting and has skill with weapons but the story focuses more on her emotional journey rather than action or combat. We get to see a little of how viking culture worked, in particular the rules about marriage rights and land ownership, etc, which was nice.

Here are the positives about The Voyage of Freydis: the cover design is beautiful. The character of Freydis is established as someone to root for very early on in the book because of her vulnerability and her horrific mistreatment at the hands of her husband. Once the plot got going (i.e. after the voyage began, which admittedly was very late in the book) it kept my interest because I wanted to see Freydis succeed and I'm always intrigued by stories about the earliest encounters with Native Americans. There were some lovely passages of description, which is always nice.

However, I found Freydis's sufferance of domestic violence, sexual assault, emotional abuse & manipulation, as well as all of the content about her pregnancies extremely depressing. I understand that the point is that she's downtrodden and has a lot to overcome by the end of the book but it felt like overkill. If my interest hadn't been piqued by the mention of the skraelings (the viking term for Native Americans) I might have stopped reading because of the fact that nothing nice ever seemed to happen to our main character. After such a long build up, I also found the end of the book too quickly resolved, with a disappointing outcome and a number of irritatingly repetitive phrases, but this is probably more down to personal taste.

So it's a mixed review, which hopefully helps potential readers make an informed decision. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.