Very, very interesting novel - readers are very unlikely to find themselves bored while reading The Book of I. I enjoyed this ride of a novel!

This book contained too much explicit violence for my taste - so discount this review if you like, as I'm clearly not the right target audience. I was also put off by the point of view constantly shifting from paragraph to paragraph. As soon as I started to empathise with a character, I was jerked away, and so failed to connect with any of them. It made the story feel distant and clinical.

I wanted a change of pace, and that's exactly what I got. I did not, however, find it enjoyable. I did not find any pleasure in this book, nor could I find its point. Aside from not meeting my expectations—I expected more eco-fiction, but that's on me—I could not fathom what the author wanted with this. It's not a character study (it's too short), and it's not a proper historical novel (it's riddled with anachronisms - did they really call the continent Europe in 825?). It's not much of anything, I'm afraid.

A hauntingly lyrical and deeply introspective novel that explores identity, memory, and the edges of consciousness. Greig’s prose is both intimate and disorienting in the best way, pulling the reader into a dreamlike world where the boundaries of self begin to blur. It’s a bold, imaginative work that lingers long after the final page.

"A brilliant Scottish debut, shortlisted for the Highland Book Prize and the Bookmark Book Festival Book of the Year.

The year is 825 CE. In the aftermath of a vicious attack by raiders from the north, an unlikely trio finds themselves the lone survivors on a remote Scottish isle. Still breathing are young Brother Martin, the only resident of the local monastery to escape martyrdom; Una, a beekeeper and mead maker who has been relieved of her violent husband during the slaughter; and Grimur, an aging Norseman who claws his way out of the hasty grave his fellow raiders left him in, thinking him dead.

As the seasons pass in this wild and lonely setting, their inherent distrust of each other melts into a complex meditation on the distances and bonds between them. Told with humor and alive with sharply exquisite dialogue, David Greig deftly lifts the curtain between our world and the past. The Book of I is an entirely unique novel that serves as a philosophical commentary on guilt and redemption, but also humanity, love, and the things we choose to believe in."

Because these three people seem like those I'd want to hang with for awhile.

This is a quick and entertaining read, with some lovely language choices and clear sense of setting. It’s nicely told from a variety of perspectives and will keep you turning the pages

Unexpectedly humorous at times, unhesitantly and even shamelessly harsh and violent at other points, poignant and thoughtful in some parts, even a little poignantly sweet here and there - "The Book of I" managed to packed all of this, plus some wonderfully memorable characters into a compact but engrossing little read that can fly by in the span of a single afternoon (or at least such ended up being my own fate the moment I started it).

An extremely cool little book; I read it in one sitting. I loved how it felt both medieval and modern, and how it makes those distinctly medieval ideas foreign and familiar at the same time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europa Editions for the free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Grimur is an older Viking who joins a raid on a small Scottish isle that leaves only a few survivors: Una, the talented beekeeper who makes mead with enough flavor to distract those with even the worst of intentions, and Brother Martin, a tenaciously devoted young man who managed to cheat death in the grossest of ways.

Who knew a story about a Viking raid could be sweet and funny, with tender moments and relatable pieces about aging amongst all the horror and carnage? I wasn't expecting to laugh out loud or murmur "aww" to myself, but it happened. There were a few parts that described graphic child death, which I'll never willingly read about, but despite that it was a compelling and beautifully written book. The only complaint I have is that I wanted more of it and more time with it.

3.75/5
This was my first time reading a book featuring Vikings, and it was very enjoyable. I especially loved the writing style - it's unlike anything I've read before. It feels almost cosy but definitely isn't and is quite violent at times. This portrays a 'slice of life' for a few months on an island after it is attacked. I loved the characters, but I wish a bit more emotion had been written in so I could connect with them more. I feel like it could have been longer! I went into this pretty much blind, and I would say that's a good way of approaching it. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author as I would be interested to read more.

Also, this book is not formatted well for Kindles, just as a heads up! There were line breaks mid-sentence and sometimes mid-word. It threw me off a bit, but it wasn't too bad once I got used to it.

Savage and humorous, THE BOOK OF I is a fantastic read! The unusual time period is expertly conveyed, and I thoroughly enjoyed the diverse cast of characters. There is both violence and humor within these pages. A remarkable achievement. And I love the shorter length, which fits the story perfectlly!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europa Editions for the ARC!

I can't say I've read many books set in the 9th century. Those were "simpler" and more violent times, especially when it comes to this island in the path of pillaging Vikings. This novella is a great palate cleanser - short, unflinching, and set on a beautiful island.

Unfortunately, due to its length, I didn't feel like we ever really got to know our characters that much. Their past felt like a backdrop that should have informed their characters, but felt like irrelevant bits -- they all claim to have made peace with whatever happened to them in the past, so it did not seem to matter in the present.

Trigger: be prepared for some very graphic violence.

My thanks to NetGalley and Europa Editions for an advance copy of this novel about a group of survivors who find comfort in different things, religion, bees, and fixing things, while dealing with their life, their past, and their possibly violent future.

In entertainment I love big books and long movies and music. I feel a song only gets really gets going at the nine minute mark. Long movies seem to have a more visual impact on me, making me reflect more on their meaning. And long books, well nothing needs to be said. Recently though I have discovered novellas, and have to admit that I am really impressed. To be able to introduce characters, explore a world, and set up future actions in less than 200 pages to me is impressive. Add in characters that grow, great dialogue and a story that moves right from the beginning, well one has something special. Like this story. The Book of I by David Greig is a story of love, loss, loneliness, finding one's voice, and following a higher better path.

The time is 825 during the Viking raiding season. These sea rovers new target, one thought easy is a small Scottish Isle with a monastery, a small village, and a lot of seals. The vikings attack killing all the priests and the villagers, losing only one of their own. Or so they think. Brother Martin survives by hiding where no would look. Uma, a mead maker and bee keeper survives by getting the man who kills her husband completely drunk. Grimur the Viking who is thought dead by his colleagues, rises from the dead to find himself forgotten by his comrades but free to live as he wants. Grimur pushes young Martin to finish writing a religious book the monestary had been working on. Uma who has dealt with an abusive husband by not talking for years, finds her voice with Grimur, sharing her good mead and honey from the bees she loved more than anything. Until Grimur. Raiding season though is coming, and soon everything that they have built might soon be taken away.

A really good story. One can tell that David Greig is a playwright. The dialogue is so good, advancing the story without needing extra words, characters growing and becoming interesting, especially Uma and Grimur's relationship. The writing is descriptive, yet sounds like how a conversation with these characters would go. The jokes, the depiction of life on this barren rock. For a book under 200 pages, this is a very rich tell with much to commend it. Again the relationships between the characters seems so real. The mix of religion, and well Viking sense is quite good. Yes the story could be longer, but this is more selfishness on my part. The story really doesn't need to be.

This is David Greig's debut, which I found hard to believe. Greig has a stong writing style, and one that seems to have been honed over time. I assume it must be being a playwright. The writing is very strong, and compelling, with characters I really enjoyed being around. I really can't wait to read more by David Greig.

interesting work. i did like the characterization, and i find that since the book was so short it made sense to have such a short list of people. the setting was also fun and interesting. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

The Book of I by David Greig

3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Grieg’s historical tale teleports readers to an island simply known as “I,” located in the frigid waters west of Scotland.

I am the bell, or rather the bell is me, and I am a part of the island of “I.” My hard exterior had seen better times, as my shell had several cracks lining my body. The weather’s harshness remained constant as I looked out across the waves. In the distance, I spotted a red flag hanging murderously above the mast of a Scandinavian raider’s ship, looking for an island ripe to pillage. My hanging rope would soon be pulled by Abbot Blathmac, head of the local abbey, signaling the danger afoot. At the helm stood Helgi, the feared leader of this langskip, which was currently unloading its passengers on our beach. My lips swung violently from left to right, my clapper violently slapping against my soundbow. I could feel the vibrations through my shoulders as I resonated my voice in fearful excitement to warn everyone in the area. Difficult as it was, I saw to my right a stout Viking enter the smithy. What no one could know is how this one action would have a ripple effect on everyone involved in this siege.

Grimur, just another Viking, had a propensity for mead. The raid had commenced and left Grimur to his vice. Una, the wife of the “now” deceased blacksmith, began ladling her scrumptious honey mead into Grimur’s drikkehorn to pacify his thirst.

The carnage of the monks’ bodies littered the beach, Helgi's anger boiling. The combatants filed up onto the ship with a sense of loss. They were here for bigger treasure and came away empty-handed. I remained still for fear they might cut me down and take me with them. I watched as the remaining men carried Grimur, who had succumbed to a war injury; Valhalla came calling. Quickly buried by his fellow raiders, Grimur was laid to rest as his warship sailed off into the horizon.

Is that Brother Martin? How had he feigned death? As the winds battered against the beach, I watched as Brother Martin lent a hand to Grimur’s resting place. Rising through the dirt, I watched Grimur’s corpse stand tall once again. Life is quite uneventful for a bell, you see; I hang for centuries at a time, with nothing much to see. Yes, of course, looking out onto the shoreline, the seafoam crashes, and the seals swim, but not often do corpses arise from the dead. And yet….

Brother Martin and Grimur strike up an unusual friendship. Grimur’s sympathy towards the blacksmith’s wife, Una, had shown a compassion not often found in the normal description befitting of a Viking. Una was alive, thank the heavens. The story inspires these three individuals with vastly different life experiences to work as a cohesive unit. Grimur was often found reconstructing the buildings, Una providing food and mead, and Brother Martin devoting his time to paying back God, which entails him finishing a sacred book started by his perished brethren.

David Grieg's story is one of strength and resolve under trying conditions. Allowing the readers a deeper understanding than our premonitions would have us believe. Not everything is as it seems. So dear reader, as my voice rings, cutting through the sounds of local puffins and the crashing of the surf, and the warmth of the sun dissipates, stand by this magical tale, and I encourage you to take time to visit the island known as I.

Many thanks to Europa Editions for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

An offbeat but sweet story of three unlikely souls finding their way after a Viking raid. I was interested in this book because I don’t see much fiction based in this time period. The writing was a modern take, so this story is not for someone wanting hardcore immersion. Still, I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read. Prepare yourself for a violent opening scene— everything beyond that is quite cozy.

This book is charming. A Viking, a monk, and a beekeeper all come together in the aftermath of a bloody raid on the Isle of I. The story is pretty swift and full of heart and humor while still being a bit bloody.

(I do suggest fixing some of the formatting issues— there was some odd spacing and other issues throughout out the book, which made it difficult to read in some sections.)

The plot of this story is very dark and gruesome with a lot of gory deaths which isn't something I would usually enjoy. However, the writing style is so humorous and beautiful that any preferences that I would usually have no longer mattered. The setting of the island of I is described so viscerally, some touches of really great nature writing. The humour is often quite classic, arguably immature, rude humour but it added so much to this reading experience. I thought that the views of each the characters were accurate to the period and really brought them to life. I love historical fiction which doesn't focus on the kings, queens and famous figures but the normal people and how they would have been impacted by historical events. I loved this, it is probably one of my favourites of the year so far.

What a lovely little gem of a book. Funny, touching and exquisitely written, the book of I is a delight to read. As a Scandinavian who has lived in Scotland, it makes me extra happy to see how Grimur, Una and brother Martin manage to make a life together at I despite a grim start (apologies on behalf of my forefathers).

The book starts with Vikings stationed on Shetland invading the island I, basically eradicating the entire population. Somewhere in the midst of the battle, Grimur gets left behind in a hilarious scene while Martin survives in a clever and disgusting way. This sets the entire tone of the book going forward, and a gang of three try to survive the year.

I’m quite fond of sturdy characters who will work and survive. I am Scandinavian, after all, and a northern Scandinavian to boot. All of these characters were people of my heart. And the island, which is its own little character, sounds like a lovely place to live, despite its conditions. But what I love the most about the book of I is that it just tells a story of people, surviving, and making the best of it.

Thanks to Europa Editions and NetGalley for letting me read and provide my honest opinions on this eARC.

This is a quick and entertaining read, with some lovely language choices and clear sense of setting. It’s nicely told from a variety of perspectives and will keep you turning the pages, whilst you follow the stories of Viking warrior Grimur, mead maker Una, and the faithful monk Brother Martin. There is a fair amount of humour and thought-provoking religious/spiritual ideas, though the ending is a little disappointing. Overall, it’s worth a read and will take you nicely into 9th century Scotland/Viking raids.