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Jean Gill

Best historical fiction book of 2023 - Bjørn Larssen, blogger at Queen’s Book Asylum
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'So good I read it twice,' Lesley Walters, goodreads
Shortlisted for the 2022 Selfies Award and the 2022 Chaucer Award; Quarter-Finalist in The Booklife Prize.
Loyalty has a price the children pay
 In the twilight of the old gods, when the last Vikings rule the seas, two cursed orphans meet on an Orkney beach and their fates collide.
Stripped of honour, facing bleak loneliness ahead, Skarfr and Hlif forge an unbreakable bond as they come of age in the savage Viking culture of blood debts and vengeance. To be accepted as adults, Skarfr must prove himself a warrior and Hlif must learn to use women's weapons. Can they clear their names and choose their destiny? Or are they doomed by their fathers' acts?
 The award-winning author of The Troubadours Quartet returns to the 12th century, with skalds instead of troubadours and Viking warriors instead of crusaders. Get ready for authentic medieval adventures steeped in poetry, politics and passion. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell Matthew Harffy and Madeline Miller.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A skilfully written, beautifully researched coming-of-age story set in Viking Orkney.' Lexie Conyngham, the Orkneyinga Murders series'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reads from start to finish like a saga straight from a skald's mouth.' B.A. Morton, The Favour Bank
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'All the hallmarks of a Jean Gill novel - political intrigue, action and adventure, and a love story fraught with difficulties!' Jane Davis, Small Eden

The 13th Sign

The Midwinter Dragon

The Ring Breaker: 1139 Orkneyjar

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A yarn fit for a Norse saga. Full of action, poetry and heart; a thrilling voyage through the vibrant world of the twelfth century." Matthew Harffy
1150: The Whale Road. An epic medieval adventure, set in the Viking world of 12th century Orkney. To change their doom, Skarfr and Hlif must pay the price.
Warrior-poet Skarfr embarks on a death-defying pilgrimage with his ruler, Jarl Rognvald, from the wind-whipped shores of Orkney to the Holy Land. He is one of the few men trusted by the Jarl, whether facing sea-monsters or murder.

Fifteen ships sail on the ‘whale road’ in the pilgrims’ fleet. The only woman among the ‘sea wolves’, Hlif is respected as much for her practical skills as for her mystical gifts. Yet beneath her indomitable façade lies a secret – she is handfasted to Skarfr, their love forbidden by the Jarl’s decree.

As tensions rise, Skarfr is torn between fealty to his Jarl and devotion to Hlif. One oath must be broken but which one? How can he steer a course between loyalty and love without losing his honour?

Book 2 in The Midwinter Dragon series, from an award-winning writer, Among Sea Wolves is perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's mythic storytelling, Bernard Cornwell's gritty realism, and Matthew Harffy's visceral medieval sagas.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Made me want to read on... just one more chapter... and then another, and another. Late into the night!" B A Morton
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Top quality literary historical fiction; a cracking story with action and adventure based on real events, plus a touch of magic. Highly recommended." J.G. Harlond

The Midwinter Dragon

The Midwinter Dragon

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