14 Dec C J ADRIEN THE LORDS OF THE WIND COFFEE POT BOOK CLUB BLOG TOUR #HistoricalFiction #Vikings #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @authorcjadrien @maryanneyarde

FEATURED AUTHOR: C. J. ADRIEN

It is my pleasure to introduce C. J. Adrien as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on October 13th  – December 15th, 2021. C. J. Adrien is the author of the Historical Fiction, The Lords of the Wind (The Saga of Hasting the Avenger Book 1), which was released by Runestone Books on 4th July 2019 (337 pages).

Below are highlights of The Lords of the Wind, C. J. Adrien’s author bio, and my review of his book.

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HIGHLIGHTS: THE LORDS OF THE WIND

The Lords of the Wind

(The Saga of Hasting the Avenger Book 1)

by C.J. Adrien

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Orphaned as a child by a blood-feud, and sold as a slave to an exiled chieftain in Ireland, the boy Hasting had little hope of surviving to adulthood. The gods had other plans. A ship arrived at his master’s longphort carrying a man who would alter the course of his destiny, and take him under his wing to teach him the ways of the Vikings. His is a story of a boy who was a slave, who became a warlord, and who helped topple an empire.

A supposed son of Ragnar Lodbrok, and referred to in the Gesta Normannorum as the Scourge of the Somme and Loire, his life exemplified the qualities of the ideal Viking. Join author and historian C.J. Adrien on an adventure that explores the coming of age of the Viking Hasting, his first love, his first great trials, and his first betrayal.

 “The Lords of the Wind” by C.J. Adrien is a gold medal winner in the 2020 Reader’s Favorite annual international book award contest.

Trigger Warnings:

Violence

Praise

“If you want to sit down with an extremely well-researched tale involving heroic battles, first loves, and the making of a legend, this book is for you.”

The Historical Novel Society

 Buy Links:

This series is available on #KindleUnlimited

The Lords of the Wind (Book 1)

In the Shadow of the Beast (Book 2)

The Kings of the Sea (Book 3)

AUTHOR BIO: C. J. ADRIEN

C.J. Adrien is a bestselling and award-winning author of Viking historical fiction novels with a passion for Viking history. His Saga of Hasting the Avenger series was inspired by research conducted in preparation for a doctoral program in early medieval history as well as his admiration for historical fiction writers such as Ken Follett and Bernard Cornwell. He is also a published historian on the subject of Vikings, with articles featured in historical journals such as L’Association des Amis de Noirmoutier, in France. His novels and expertise have earned him invitations to speak at several international events, including the International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), conferences on Viking history in France, among others.

Social Media Links:

Website  ♠  Twitter  ♠  Facebook  ♠   LinkedIn  ♠  Instagram  ♠   BookBub  ♠  Amazon Author Page  ♠  Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: THE LORDS OF THE WIND

The Lords of the Wind by C.J. Adrien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lords of the Wind by C. J. Adrien is an action-packed, high sea adventure and a coming-of-age Nordic saga about the early life of Hasting considered one of the most notorious Vikings in the Dark Ages. The story is told through the perspective of Hasting, who describes himself as the Scourge of the Somme and Loire; Christian priests believe he is the Devil sent to punish them for their sins.

As a child, Hasting is enslaved during a blood feud and must endure unspeakable brutality in Ireland until a captain of a warship recruits him to “go a-Viking.” His legend grows after he nearly drowns during a storm but is saved by the mythic, monstrous wolf Eilif. Abandoned by the ship’s crew during a raid in the Britanny region of France, Hasting spends his formative years learning the culture of the Celts and becomes embroiled in their politics. When he discovers that a young woman he loves may have been captured and enslaved by Vikings during a raid, he sets off to rescue her and seek revenge. On his quest to find her, he travels as far north as Norway and transforms into a cunning captain of his own warship.

Author C J Adrien captures the essence of various cultures in the Dark Ages, including the Viking pagans and Celtic and Frankish Christians. The Nordic saga explores the themes of love, betrayal, and political intrigue. The story is most engaging when we learn more about how diverse cultures impact Hasting. He uses broad knowledge from his training, education, and experiences to communicate and negotiate effectively with various factions. Also of interest is the importance of trade during this time, particularly the slave and salt markets.

Mythology seamlessly weaves into the story and captures the beliefs and superstitions of the pagans and Christians. The vivid narrative detailing the landscape, sailing a ship, or processing salt is evidence of the author’s meticulous research. Tragic love and political intrigue drive Hasting’s decisions in the epic adventure on the high seas. However, the last half of the novel felt more rushed with some inconsistencies in the plot and characters which resulted in an unsatisfying ending for me.

I highly recommended The Lords of the Wind to readers who embrace action-packed, epic Viking adventure with a splash of romance and political intrigue on the high seas.

View all my review

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