Night Wolf (The Norsemen Saga, #5) by James L. Nelson

Night Wolf (The Norsemen Saga, #5) Reviews

• 
  Mark

  Oh, Thorgrim. You'll never make it back to Norway.
  
  This latest installment of the tale of ol' Thorgrim Night Wolf has left me with some mixed feelings. I struggled through the first two thirds of this book but the ending was so exceptional that it may have all been with it.
  
  We find Thorgrim with what's left of his men after the disaster at Glendalough and he's only got one thing on his mind: DOUBLE REVENGE. Sounds good, right? Maybe.
  
  The chapters that included Thorgrim and the Irish warriors who opposed him were great. There was one POV that wasn't so great. Aghen is a shipwright left in Vik-lo and through him we experience one of Thorgrim's enemies take over his turf. Though this was necessary to the plot and ending, these chapters were rough. I started to skim those chapters pretty quickly and that heightened my reading experience.
  
  On the bright side, Starri Deathless is back in all his berserker glory. And a story about a Viking werewolf? Please, how could I not RECOMMENDED it?
  
  RECOMMENDED.
• 
  Benjamin Thomas

  Another good entry in this series featuring the Vikings, led by Thorgrim Night Wolf, and their adventures in what is now Ireland. The previous volume,
  Glendalough Fair, ended in a cliffhanger, with Thorgrim and his followers all but destroyed by an array of forces against them. Now it is time to pull off some sort of miracle, build an army of some sort, reverse his fortunes, and try to re-take the village of Vik-Lo.
  
  Lots of good viking-style tactics are on display here but this time around, rumors of Thorgrim's mystical Night Wolf persona make an impact and the Vikings are able to take full advantage of the myth that has grown and spread among the Irish. The novel's ending is as powerful as it is fun to read.
  
  As always, with a James L. Nelson book, I am greatly looking forward to the next in the series.
• 
  Alan

  Great story and book. Hated for the book to end. Can't wait for the next one. Kudos to Mr. Nelson.
• 
  antony

  I have read and reviewed all the books in this series so far. I have run out of hyperbole. I can only say this, if you ike this kind of thing you will love this. Read this book or start at the beginning, the purchase price is cheap for hours of entertainment in the movie of your mind. You will not regret it.
• 
  Steven Toby

  Thorgrim Continues his Irish Adventure
  
  This continues the story of Thorgrim and his band of survivors of Vik-Lo after the disastrous raid on Glendalough (?) Fair. And while this episode takes place mostly on land it continues the tradition of the previous books: nonstop action, intrigue, and new characters — Irish outlaws this time — joining Thorgrim’s decimated crew. Thorgrim has revenge on his mind for his betrayal by Irish warrior Kevin and Viking rival . The book’s climax is a holmgang— a duel that seemed a bit more stylized than I expected judging from what I’d read in the sagas. But, it is a perfect opportunity for vengeance to take its bloody course.
  
  Thorgrim still has problems to solve before he can sail for Norway, but that’s for subsequent books in the series.
• 
  Colin Darby

  I'm conflicted about this one.
  
  On one hand, Nelson's stories are getting formulaic - the Irish can't be trusted! the other Vikings are psychotic! - and his characters are whipsaws - Louis is glad for this chance to escape, oh wait, I mean he hates the heathens! - but at the same time it's an adventure story, not "Moby-Dick." At least now we have an Irishman who is something other than a conniving backstabber and a female character that didn't throw herself at Thorgrim or Harald the moment she saw them. I'm giving it four because while it's a formulaic adventure story, it's a well-executed, competent formulaic adventure story.
• 
  dianne beck

  Hope to hear more of Harold and Night Wolf
  
  Loved this series and the complexity that ruled Ireland. The characters are well developed and I found myself routing for people on each side! The ease with which people met death at this time is so well portrayed. Oh and I love Starri. What a great character!
• 
  Michelle Van Berkom

  The best Viking series
  
  James L. Nelson transports us to Viking age Ireland, where we experience battle and adventure through characters who become our brothers in arms. I can't put these books down!
• 
  Becky

  I think that this one has been my favorite of this series so far. Excellent ending.
• 
  Tyler Tarter

  Best book of the series
• 
  Sharon Osburn

  Fantastic adventures and characters!
• 
  gwen graves

  Another great str
  
  I' m Irish, but I love the the stories of Thorgrim, the night wolf. This was as good as all the other four I've read.
• 
  James O'Brien

  Correct Irish history
  
  I also would say besides knowledge of middle age Ireland the author knows his sailing!!!! I appreciate his descriptive emotions of his characters
• 
  Cindy Vallar

  Two hundred men dead. One betrayer. One deserter. A lone longship. Guilt gnaws at Thorgrim Night Wolf, for leading his men into the bloody slaughter, and honor demands satisfaction. But revenge must wait until the ten remaining survivors of the battle at Glendalough have repaired themselves and Sea Hammer. The sheltered sandbar is a good spot to do both, even though it is far from a secure place to stay with Irish men-at-arms still hunting them. And what should be done with their two prisoners– the Frank named Louis de Roumois and an Irish woman named Failend – who asked to go with them? Why do they flee their own kind? And what’s in the small chest they hide?
  
  Rage, confusion, and fear swirl within Lochlánn mac Ainmire. The man he most admired and trusted, Louis de Roumois, has abandoned him. Plus Louis murdered one of their soldiers, possibly killed another man, and has run away with the second man’s wife. Justice demands satisfaction, and Lochlánn is determined to see Louis doesn’t escape. If he encounters more Northmen, so much the better, so with twenty men-at-arms, he hunts them all.
  
  After twenty-five, ragtag Irishmen step from the woods near Thorgrim, he knows his men are outnumbered and in no condition to fight again. Two men step forward – one a giant with more brawn than brains, and the other a shorter, red-haired man who whispers to his companion as if giving him advice. With only one way to win this confrontation, Thorgrim challenges the giant to a duel. Hardened by many battles and more intelligent than his opponent, he toys with the Irishman before slaying him.
  
  Without consulting the remaining Irishmen, Cónán assumes command and prepares to depart because he’s savvy enough to abide by the rules of the challenge. But Thorgrim offers him a tempting proposition. If the Irish stay and help Thorgrim sack the monastery at Glendalough, Thorgrim will provide them with weapons and armor, as well as a share of the plunder. He might not trust these Irish bandits, but he needs them.
  
  When Aghen Ormsson of Vik-ló first spots the returning longships, he senses no trouble. But Thorgrim isn’t with the Northmen who alight. Ottar Bloodax claims the former lord of Vik-ló is dead and declares himself the new ruler of the Viking longphort. He trusts only a handful of his men and rules by terrorizing those under him. The more Aghen learns, the more he believes Thorgrim isn’t dead and that belief is strengthened when a lone wolf appears inside the walls one night. Knowing Ottar is a superstitious man, Aghen acts on that fear. One by one Ottar’s elite corps is killed and the evidence points to the lone wolf – the shape changer Thorgrim who stalks at night.
  
  Night Wolf, the fifth book in The Norsemen Saga, is an intricately woven tale of betrayal and revenge. Violence remains a key element of this story and the time period, yet Thorgrim, Cónán, and Aghen rely more on ingenuity and knowledge than their fighting expertise in the encounters with their enemies. This adds depth to the characters and shatters the stereotypical portrayals of Norse and Irish alike. Readers who haven’t read the previous volume, Glendalough Fair, won’t have any trouble following what happens in the aftermath of that disaster, but reading that title first may enrich the experience of Night Wolf. Like the tales of old told by an Irish seanachaidh or a Norse skald, Night Wolf lures readers into its web and holds them spellbound until the story ends.
  
• 
  Pat

  I'm getting very fond of these characters. At the end of the first in this series I really didn't think I'd still be enjoying the saga another 4 books down the track and I'm looking forward to the next installment. I particularly enjoy the series because I have spent a little time here and had the very best Guinness ever in Wicklow town (Vik'lo) where this tale is partially set.
• 
  Matt schmm

  This was well done
  
  Excellent story. Well written , great characters and development. It was cool to see all the sides of the story meet up for the final conflict. I recommend reading the whole series, I've enjoyed every book so far and can't wait for the next
• 
  Helen Hollick

  This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
  'Like the tales of old told by an Irish seanachaidh or a Norse skald, Night Wolf lures readers into its web and holds them spellbound until the story ends.'
  
  Helen Hollick
  founder #DDRevs
• 
  alan crowe

  Night Wolf saga book 5
  
  Again an exciting and as far as I know accurate tale of viking life even the Irish elements seem accurate thanks and please write more of these characters