I chose Loki's Deceit for review, as I'm fascinated by the era. The interweaving politics between Franks and Danes are really interesting, especially when religion enters the fray. And then there are the intrigues against other rulers...

And I was not to be disappointed. Although I hadn't read the first book in the series (something I'll have to remedy!), I quickly learned about the characters, and what their purposes and motivations were.

There's young Charles, currently safe at his Dane grandfather Sven's hall in Ribe. The story centres around him, as he has in his possession a cross which the Franks desperately want as individual Frankish kings are struggling to hold their own small kingdoms.

Then there's Sven, old jarl of Ribe after he'd killed his own brother, Bjarni. He's not popular with the locals as constant raids threaten their lives and livelihoods.

Then we have Gerold, who appeared in book 1, and who – early on in the novel – learns about Frankish political intrigues, and discovers who Charles’ mother is.

There are other characters, too, who fill the pages, and their stories run parallel. There's Sven's right-hand men, Rollo and Asgar, and Thora – a former shield maiden who teaches Charles, bullied by the other boys for his small stature and disinterest in weapons, how to fight.

Each has their own ambitions, and they often interweave, but the essence of the story is about Charles and his cross.

When Sven is challenged by Danish King Horik's ambitious nephew, Guttrom, he must decide whether it will be worth challenging Horik's rule (and thereby likely losing men in battles). And then there's the boy, Charles, to protect...

Loki's Deceit is a gripping tale full of fascinating intrigues. I loved Thora and Rollo – two down-to-earth and fair characters. She is a feisty woman who knows how to survive in a man's world. He is tall, strong, and a solid presence in the story.

Charles is highly religious, and he struggles at his Pagan grandfather's hall. His calling would be the Church, but here, in Ribe, he's not allowed to practice, and boys make fun of him. He's still a weak character to begin with, but grows slowly as the story progresses.

Sven is an old warrior, tricked into an alliance with Guttrom. But he's unhappy as it is, so why should he not try get rid of the bane of his life, King Horik! But with scheming Guttrom, would Sven just swap one enemy to another?

The narrative is at times over-descriptive and repetitive, also with a few modernisms, so I skipped a few paragraphs here and there as to not lose the actual thread. A little less explaining (especially early on) would have helped maintain the fast pace that we see throughout much of the novel. The ideological differences between the Danes and the Franks are very well researched, and they certainly enrich the plot.

Cook brought this often overlooked early medieval conflict cleverly to life, in a riveting tale of how these intrigues would have been spun. The story felt authentic and realistic, and the characters were acting well within their time. A real treat.

Loki's Deceit is a fascinating read for fans of early medieval fiction.

After reading Odin’s Betrayal, book 1 in The Charlemagne’s Cross Series and quite frankly falling in love with it, you can imagine my excitement to read book 2.

I would recommend reading the fist instalment to really understand the characters but felt the author did a really good job of throwing little titbits of info in just when needed so even a new reader would understand the emotions and motivations behind the characters. For me it reminded me of those past events and credit to the authors ability it easily transported me back and I can remember those events vividly.

With Charles now under his grandfather’s care, Sven the Boar it’s going to be a rough ride. It’s been a difficult time for both, and the trouble isn’t going to go away any time soon.

Charles is still young, and a Christian living in a town of heathens. His religion is important to him and it’s an internal battle for him to understand why anyone wouldn’t believe in the one true god. As time passes you can see him start to grow, he learns religion and mans urges aren’t always linked.. just because you pray to god doesn’t make you good.. and similarly, just because you pray to another god doesn’t make you inherently evil.. there’s more to peoples motivations and sometimes you need to look deep to find the deception.

Sven has his own issues too after avenging his wife’s death by killing his brother no less! He and Charles find it tough to connect since they have been brought up in very different worlds and Sven really doesn’t know how to be there for the boy but does things the only way he knows how and has the boy start training.. Charles needs to learn to protect himself.

We quickly learn that there’s a lot of secrecy and deception afoot..but are the motivations good or bad? And what will happen to Charles? He’s already lost his father after all.

I don’t want to spoil the secrecy of the tale but I was engrossed reading as the different players show their hands in the tale, you learn so much more about Charles family history and what led to the events surrounding his fathers death.. there’s love and political motivations and at times it’s hard to see how Charles will recover if he ever learns the full extent of his origins.

While these events are playing out behind the scenes, Sven is dealing with a much closer threat. After becoming Jarl again he’s made the King look weak… and a blast from the past shows up with war on his mind.. but he wants Sven’s help… and actually Sven needs his too. Things aren’t going well for him.. the people are still angry after Sven murdered their previous Jarl so there’s an interesting chance for both of them to get what they want.

For me this instalment was all about the development. Don’t get me wrong the plot is unparalleled but the development of the characters just outshines anything I’ve read before. There’s so much depth added to the main characters but at the same time we are introduced to new ones, and again the detail added really helps you imagine their look, mannerisms, motivations.

The book is paced very well, plot is just gobsmackingly good plus detail and development added with precision to give you a captivating story.

I’m very much glad I found this author and their work and can’t fault it. 5*

Received from Boldwood Books and Netgalley for honest read and review,this review is my own.
I read the blurb on this and it sounded really interesting, it was, but I haven't read the first in series, so I don't know if I missed a lot.
This turned out be a really good read, if a little bit slow at times, but enjoyable all the same.
There are a great amount of characters in the story and at times became quite confusing.
It was a good read and thoroughly enjoyable.

We are currently building a new mythology section in our Library based on student request and this is going to be a huge new addition to it. The reserve list for this title is already 2 pages long!

As Sven and Charles settle back into there lives, it isn't long before enemies attack and Charles is battling his own demons. I loved this book so much I can't describe how good it is so you should read it for yourself and find out. I don't know how the author does it but the books get better and better each time. A historical fiction of a Norse tale with action, family deception, blood thirsty battles and so much more. I loved all the gory details described and Charles is fast becoming someone I admire but there are plenty of other characters to either love or loathe. Loki's Deceit took me on a thrilling adventure ride!

This was a great sequel in the Charlemagne series, it had everything that I was looking for in this world. The plot worked wonders and had everything that I enjoyed from the first book. The characters were what I was hoping for and thought it worked. It left me wanting to read more from the author and series.

Loki's Deceit by Donovan Cook is an enthralling and accomplished historical novel, set in Denmark and Francia, AD 854.
This is the second book in the Charlemagne's Cross series, following Odin's Betrayal. This book reads as a standalone, as the events of the first book are recounted here, though it would help reading the previous novel to better understand the dynamics between the main protagonists, and also the political intrigues that set the actions.
The main characters are masterfully developed, and are multi-dimensional.

The pace of the story doesn't slow down. The intricate plot is full of twists and intrigues. The battle scenes feel realistic, with all the gore, sounds and smells.
If you're a fan of historical fiction set in the Dark Ages, you will not be disappointed.

Donovan Cook blends authentic period background with a cinematographic penchant for dramatic. You can easily see these novels adapted as a TV series.

Loki's Deceit is very enjoyable, intriguing and dramatic. A gripping page turner.

#BlogTour with Rachel's random resources

If Oden blessed young Charlie’s journey to his grandfather, Loki is definitely playing games with his stay with the Danes. I have two favorite warrior Siri‘s that I am reading right now in the Charlemaine series is definitely my absolute favorite I do love the other but OMG if this series isn’t heart pounding fun! Since the death of torical back in Francia everyone it seems has heard the rhyme on where and what young Charles was doing and win the people who rule the different parts of west and east Francia lost track of him they were desperate to find him again and then Lokeys the seat that is definitely the rain. It will cause a friend of fins to turn on him with an army behind him and an ulterior motive things will come to battle another friend of friends is injured and may die in that I mentioned that young Charles mom is also looking for him. Everyone wants the cross that he possesses and oh yeah and how could I forget Finn is the new Gerald of Ride and although it’s because he has defeated jerkin well now Jerkins son’s want revenge and their village back. Poor fin may be sober but he’s still old and it seems there’s always a battle to fight not to mention the people in Ride have no respect for their new Gerald Finn and they will even pronounce their opinion while drinking his ale. I’m sorry about this review that is all over the place but this book has me so excited and I cannot wait for the third installment from the Charlemagne series by Donovan Cook I love Loki‘s deceit and they can definitely be read as a standalone because they retell the story as you go but if you read both books it is a fuller and much bigger story. This is a book I highly recommend because I absolutely loved it a definite five star read! I want to thank Boldwood books and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Loki's Deceit begins almost immediately after the catastrophic events of Odin's Betrayal. Charles and his grandfather, Sven, are still uncomfortable around one another, and neither of them is happy to find themselves in Ribe - Sven because he doesn't relish being jarl once more, and Charles because he's far from home and with no fellow Christians for friends.
We also have a few new points of view for Loki's Deceit, that of Hildegard and that of Gerold. They add some of the richer background elements to the story, filling in the gaps for how the events of book 1 came about, for this is really a tale of impending war amongst the Danish jarls and their king, even while Charles and Sven battle their inner turmoils. Not only is their war, but conspiracy abounds wherever Sven and Charles turn. There are many characters that we shouldn't trust and which Sven and Charles should also be mindful of, all bound up with their combined unease anyway. The settlement of Ribe is filled with men, women, and children who don't like Charles at all or, indeed, his grandfather, the mighty Sven the Boar. There are many keen to take Sven's position, and there are many who would welcome that.
For me, this felt very much as though this was more Sven's story than Charles'. Not that we don't get just as much Charles as Sven, but Sven is the warrior who will be forced to fight for his survival and that of his fellow warriors, while Charles is still not sure what he's fighting for, although he is prepared to fight.
As with Odin's Betrayal, the action continues until the last page, and I am looking forward to book 3.
Loki's Deceit is a tale of loyalty, ambition, family, politics and religious divide, sure to appeal to fans of the era and historical fiction in general. It's fabulous to read a series set (almost) entirely in Denmark.
My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my review copy.

I loved this book lots of blood and guts and really well described fight scenes
If you like books by Bernard Cornwell, Matthew Harffy and Dan Jones this series will be right up your street.
Thank you to netgalley and Boldwood for giving me the chance to read this

Though Loki’s Deceit is the second in a series, I was able to get the gist of things without any problems. It relates Norse history just after the time of Charlemagne. Sven the Boar seeks revenge against those who turned his son over to the French. His son is killed, and Sven takes charge of his grandson, Charles, who carries a cross that once belonged to Charlemagne himself. Sven and Charles go back to Ribe and try to fit in there. But betrayal after betrayal remains part of their existence, partly because Charles is a Christian living among those who follow the ancient Norse gods. This is something of a young adult novel, particularly with Charles as one of the protagonists. It didn’t give any new insights into that time of history and the prose lacked the gravitas I’d expect in a retelling of ancient history; i.e. it doesn’t rise to the level of Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom series. The book also ends on a whopper of a cliff hanger. That alone is enough to keep me from reading either the preceding book, Odious Betrayal or #3 in the series (which is clearly planned).