by Anonymous
First published 2002
Gunnar of Hlidarendi possesses the strength of a great warrior but hates to kill. He lives in thirteenth-century Iceland, where honor demands blood payment and the law cannot contain human rage. When violence erupts around him, Gunnar finds himself caught between his peaceful nature and the brutal code that governs his world. Mord Valgardsson schemes in the shadows, not entirely evil but dangerous nonetheless. Dreams foretell disaster while fragile treaties crumble under the weight of old grudges. Marriages collapse and loyalties split as decent people get pulled into a cycle of revenge that spans fifty years. The blood feud grows beyond anyone's control, consuming families and communities. Men and women who want peace discover that violence has its own momentum. What begins as personal conflict becomes a generational curse that tests every relationship and moral conviction.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, generational-curse
Setting: Iceland
Period: 13th century
384 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books
Content warnings: violence