The Valkyrie

ISBN-13: 9780986091636 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 824 str.

Deborah L. Davitt

Opis

Ex nihilo nihil fit: From nothing, nothing comes.
Enter the world of Edda-Earth, in which Rome never fell, science and magic coexist, all the gods are real . . . and war is coming.
Everyone must serve. Everyone must sacrifice.
The god-born: Sigrun Caetia, valkyrie of Tyr
The summoner: Trennus Matrugena, son of a petty king, native of Caledonia
The archmage: Kanmi Eshmunazar, a former wharf-rat of Tyre, Carthage
The godslayer: Adam ben Maor, special forces, of Judea
The prophetess: Sophia, Pythia of Delphi
The truthsayer: Minori Sasaki, scientist and sorcerer, native of Hokkaido
And the man who brings them together in Rome's service: Propraetor Antonius Valerius Livorus.
Together, they pursue a great mystery: Some believe that the world is about to end. Certainly, prophecy indicates so. Some of the gods are making provisions for that day, including reviving the long-prohibited custom of human sacrifice.
How do they stop this, and how deep does the mystery go? Why does a dying man taunt Livorus, asking him if he knows where his gods are? And why does prophecy suggest that Sigrun will be the sole survivor of Ragnarok?
This is alternate history that goes beyond merely filing the serial numbers off world events. A wholly-re-imagined world awaits, blending fantasy, science-fiction, history, and other genres at will.
REVIEWS:
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"More than a mere adventure, the story succeeds in tapping into deeper ideas of religious tolerance and pluralism. Though some may find themselves lost in the vast sea of gods, rituals, violence, and beliefs, readers excited by a tour of this highly imaginative world will thoroughly enjoy the ride."
--Kirkus Reviews
"The Valkyrie . . . is a long, epic fantasy, suitable for readers who like their stories sweeping, their protagonists believable and compelling, and their fantasy worlds well-detailed and intricate. . . . Readers who look for sweeping sagas embracing political, historical and social change will welcome Davitt's approach to creating a more complex set of scenarios than the usual fantasy story offers. Think 'Tolkien' when placing her works into a similar category; because her attention to details of place, time, and the politics behind confrontations is just as well-wrought."
D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review