by Anonymous
First published 2000
Sigurd pulls his reforged sword from the flames and prepares to face the dragon whose death will bring him both treasure and doom. This hero's quest for magical wisdom leads him to one of Odin's Valkyries, but the cursed gold of the Rhine carries a price that will destroy kingdoms. Brothers turn against each other for power. Love becomes betrayal. The magic ring that promises strength delivers only vengeance. Set against the backdrop of Attila the Hun's wars on Rome's northern borders, Sigurd's story weaves together the mythic and the brutally human. Princes scheme for thrones while warriors die for honor. The saga moves from dragon's lair to royal hall, from battlefield to wedding feast, as characters discover that some victories cost everything. At its core lies the terrible arithmetic of heroism: how much blood the pursuit of glory demands.
Genres: mythology, historical-fiction, fantasy, epic
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, heros-journey
Setting: Rhine, Rome
Period: ancient, medieval
145 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence