I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
In this alternative history story, a Viking King and his band of broken warriors head to new lands in search of something more than a kingdom in author Brent Olson’s “Between the Helpless and the Darkness”.
The Synopsis
HARALD SIGURDSSON, King Harald Hardrada of Norway, King of the Vikings, was born to rule. He embraced that birthright, dominating his world with the strength in his arm and the power of his will. In an instant, one brutal mistake and a shattering wound took all he valued from him.But what if . . .Harald Sigurdsson fled his disgrace with a band of equally broken warriors still holding tight to his leadership. They ventured West, to Iceland, Greenland, into the darkness, to a land known only through legends and lies. A land with no need of a king, no room fora ruler. A land where a king could hope to become something more.This enthralling, thought-provoking story begins a thousand years ago on a battlefield outside York, England, and then moves across the North Atlantic to Iceland and beyond. Brent Olson’s biggest, boldest, and best book yet is a stunning work of alternative history. By moving the path of one arrow one inch, Olson has achieved an entire new script for the world.
The Review
This was a vibrant and captivating historical fiction novel. The exploration of Norse culture and the history of King Harald was fascinating to read, as the novel explored a time and alternate history that shows what the man behind the legend would have done had he survived his final battle. The atmosphere and pacing of the novel were captivating, as the story showcased this unique culture both in victory and defeat.
The character development of this book was incredible. The complexity of Harald as a character, both the legendary warrior others viewed him as and the flawed man beneath the legend, made this an in-depth and memorable story. The concept of Norse warriors and people arriving in what would later be North America and encountering the continent’s indigenous people was thought-provoking and kept the reader engaged in this book’s more creative and personal storytelling.
The Verdict
Adrenaline fueled, thoughtful, and entertaining, author Brent Olsons “Between the Helpless and the Darkness” is a must-read historical fiction and alternate history read. The wealth of world-building and imagery in the writing and the twists and turns in the epic story made this a great novel. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Brent Olson has lived 64 of his 66 years on a small farm
in Big Stone County, on the edge of the prairie in western
Minnesota.
But in his life as a working journalist he’s filed articles
from 20 countries on six continents. This has led him
to want to change the world he lives in, through his
work as a county commissioner, and create new worlds
in his two recent novels, “Angr”
and “Between the Helpless and the Darkness.”
In this time of news and information tailored so everyone
can hear only what they want to hear, he presents
information that will leave everyone just a little unsettled.
Working with a warm heart and a cold eye, he dissects
what works from what doesn’t in our individual lives, our
institutions, and our country.
He has served on dozens of boards and committees—as
varied as the Big Stone County Pork Producers, and the
Minnesota United Methodist Board of Ordained Ministry.
In his time as a short order cook at his very own Inadvertent
Café he has learned to make fluffy scrambled eggs,
and the best omelets on Main Street in Clinton, Minnesota
(Population 453).
Olson is a Big Stone County Commissioner and a 2012
Bush Foundation Fellow.
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