End Game by Liz Mistry

 

"Nikki's throat clogged up with unshed tears as she read more and more flower names. Never again would she be able to appreciate flowers in the same way. Flowers should be free - in gardens, in forests, in the wild. Not viciously plucked from the hearts of their families and trapped in a life of hell."

End Game by Liz Mistry is a compelling and heart-wrenching crime novel.

This is the latest book in the DS Nikki Parekh series. It reads as a standalone, but you would understand the dynamics in the police unit and Nikki's family better, if you've read some of the previous books.

Blurb:

Four dead bodies. One missing person. Let the game begin.

When an anonymous tip-off leads Detective Nikki Parekh and DS Sajid Malik to the sprawling Salinger estate, Nikki's senses are on high alert. The brutal murder of all four members of the Salinger family has shocked the sleepy Bradford village to the core.

A mother, father, daughter, and son... all killed in exactly the same way - whilst sat around the coffee table, playing a game of monopoly. 

But Nikki notices that there are five pieces on the board. One of the players is missing... Did they manage to escape the killer, or was the killer part of the game?

When DI Nikki Parekh arrives at the crime scene in the rural Bradford village, she is warned that it is not one of the easiest scenes to view. Victims are the Salinger family: mother, father and two children. The whole family is annihilated in their own home. The idea seems inconceivable.

"However, Nikki had seen so many soul-destroying things during murder investigations that she realised that sometimes the inconceivable became a harsh reality".

The victims are left sitting around the coffee table with the Monopoly board, set for five players. There are four bodies, and no sight of the weapon.

"A fifth person had been in this room at the time of the attack on the Salingers, which made that person either a killer or a witness. Who was this mysterious person?"

The Salingers must have had their share of secrets, and some of them might hold a clue as to who and why had committed this atrocity.

This is Nikki's first official case as detective inspector and senior investigating officer, and she has no intention of messing it up.

As the investigation progresses slowly, Nikki's nemesis, journalist Lisa Kane publishes a slanderous and provocative article in the local paper, accusing the police, and Nikki's team in particular, in incompetence. The attacks on the police are personal and vicious.

Along the murder investigation plotline, we follow a first person narrative by a young girl Marnie, who's been kidnapped from her garden several years previously. To cope with the trauma of her life in captivity, Marnie chooses to stay silent. Being silent is the only power she can wield. It is her way of protesting against her abusers, and also a coping mechanism to escape the darkest reality.

Marnie's narrative is poignant and affecting. Your heart will ache for her and the other victims. For Nikki and her team the abduction and abuse of children will prove to be the toughest challenge yet.

Nikki is an appealing lead character. She is strong and vulnerable at the same time, and very likeable. Her team also make a terrific supporting cast of characters.

Like the other books in the series, End Game is a dark thriller, with a strong police procedural element. The storylines are typically gritty and tense. I found this book (and Broken Silence) very grim and sinister, to the point that I had to give myself some mental breaks and read it in instalments. It's not an easy read.

The narrative is split into different voices, including that of the voiceless victim. There is also a point of view of the ghastly perpetrator, which I struggled with as it felt too voyeuristic.

So a trigger warning is only fair. The themes of child abuse and murder could be very triggering.

Tense, twisty and poignant, End Game is utterly engrossing. The narrative is powerful and gripping, with superb characterisation, and a kick-ass good detective.

This post is part of the blog tour for End Game.

Many thanks to Liz Mistry and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Game-absolutely-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BSWNHX66/

US - https://www.amazon.com/End-Game-absolutely-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BSWNHX66/

Author Bio –

Born in Scotland made in Bradford sums up LIZ MISTRY’s life. Over thirty-five years ago she moved from a small village in West Lothian to Yorkshire to get her teaching degree. Once here, Liz fell in love with three things: curries, the rich cultural diversity of the city… and her Indian husband (not necessarily in this order). Now thirty years, three children, Scumpy, the cat, and a huge extended family later, Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’, whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath.

 

Having struggled with severe clinical depression and anxiety for many years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. She credits the MA in Creative Writing she took at Leeds Trinity University with helping her find a way of using her writing to navigate her ongoing mental health struggles. Liz’s PhD research contributes significantly to debates concerning issues of inclusion and diversity of representation within the most socially engaged genre of contemporary crime fiction Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real.

 

You can contact Liz via her website https://www.lizmistry.com/

 

 

Social Media Links –

Twitter @LizMistryAuthor https://twitter.com/LizMistryAuthor

Facebook @LizMistrybooks https://www.facebook.com/LizMistrybooks  

Website https://www.lizmistry.com/

Have you seen the reviews of the previous books in the Nikki Parekh series?

Broken Silence  (Book no.2)

Dark Memories (3)

Blood Games (4)

Promises of the Runes by Christina Courtenay (book extract)

 

Promises Of The Runes

He travelled through time to capture her heart.

 

The amulet was still in the palm of his hand. Was it some sort of conduit to the past? The image of the anguished woman in his vision was seared into his mind. Perhaps it could help him find her?

 

Ivar Thoresson is desperate for adventure. As an archaeologist specialising in Viking times, he wants nothing more than to travel back to the ninth century as his loved ones have done, to learn everything he can about the era which fascinates him. And whilst his adopted family have always made him feel loved, the chance to meet a true ancestor, the warrior Thorald, is a temptation he cannot resist.

 

But while Ivar is preparing to go, he uncovers an amulet which shows him a vision of an arresting woman with red-gold hair. Clearly in distress, she is pleading for help. Convinced of the power of the charm and its message, Ivar’s journey takes on a new purpose. He steps back in time determined to follow his destiny – and find the woman who has called to his heart.

 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Promises-Runes-enthralling-timeslip-beloved-ebook/dp/B0B63MPC24/

https://www.amazon.com/Promises-Runes-enthralling-timeslip-beloved-ebook/dp/B0B63MPC24/

Author Bio –

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014) and the RNA Fantasy Romantic Novel of the year 2021 with Echoes of the Runes.  Promises of the Runes (time travel romance published by Headline Review 13th April 2023) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).

Social Media Links –

http://www.christinacourtenay.com

https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay

https://www.instagram.com/ChristinaCourtenayAuthor/

 

PROMISES OF THE RUNES – book extract

 

 (This scene takes place the morning after Ivar offers Ellisif protection in his tent for the night)

 

Ivar knew he should move. Go and find Álrik to try and persuade him to lend Ellisif some of his clothes. But he was very comfortable, with a warm, pliant woman snuggled up against him. He was happy to do nothing more than hold her for now. Last night she’d seemed frightened when he’d told her he wanted her to stay. He didn’t want her to be scared of him; he wanted to win her over.

 

That thought brought him up short. Win her over? As in courting her, as the Vikings would say? That was ridiculous. He hardly knew anything about her. Besides, this was the ninth century. You couldn’t just have a casual relationship with a woman without marriage being involved. Not unless she was a whore, and he was quite sure Ellisif was far from that. It was obvious that she was high-born, if she was an heiress. Did he really want to start something with a woman like that? It would be madness, and yet . . .

 

No, he absolutely shouldn’t.

 

She stirred, breaking into his thoughts. As she became aware of her surroundings and exactly where she was – no doubt registering every inch of him pressed up against her – her whole body went rigid. As his hand was near her ribcage, the sudden fluttering of her heart was very noticeable, and her chest rose and fell with an indrawn breath.

 

‘Shh, it’s only me, Ivar,’ he whispered, keeping very still so as not to frighten her. ‘You’re safe for now. Remember?’

 

She turned within his arms and glanced up at him, her eyes large and luminous in the half-gloom, squinting slightly. ‘I remember.’

 

They studied each other wordlessly. It was her! There was no mistaking it. Ivar’s gaze travelled over the heart-shaped face he’d seen in his visions. It was still pale and drawn, but starkly beautiful to him in that fey way he’d glimpsed before. In the morning light, her eyes were the green of a mossy forest pool, surrounded by long dark-brown lashes and topped with bird’s-wing eyebrows. Her nose and mouth weren’t perfect, but they were eminently attractive nonetheless; the nose dotted with a few freckles and the mouth luscious with a pronounced Cupid’s bow. The freckles continued across her cheeks and he found them enticing. But this was not the time to think about that.

 

‘I should go.’ She made a move as if to rise, but she was still trapped by his arm and didn’t get anywhere.

 

‘Please don’t. I want to help you.’ He waited for her reaction and watched her eyebrows lowering.

 

‘You’ve already done enough. I must fend for myself now.’

 

‘Ellisif.’ He whispered her name and liked the feel of it on his tongue. It was a beautiful name and suited its owner. ‘I’m offering you assistance. Refusing would be churlish, don’t you think?’

 

‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked quietly, her eyes not leaving his, as if she was trying to discern what manner of man he was. She looked to be having trouble focusing, but he figured she was probably exhausted from everything that had happened.

 

He nodded. ‘I am. Do you trust me to get you away from here?’

 

She didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes. I do.’

 

For some reason, he felt as though her words held a deeper meaning. There was a definite connection between them – chemistry unlike anything he’d ever experienced before – but it could wait. There would be time enough later to pursue that thought; for now, he needed to ensure her safety.

 

‘Good. Then please stay here while I go in search of a disguise for you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ With that, he reluctantly disentangled himself from her and ducked out of the tent. He was very much hoping he’d be allowed to wake up next to Ellisif again in the near future.

The Collaborator's Daughter by Eva Glyn

 

The Collaborator’s Daughter

In 1944 in war-torn Dubrovnik Branko Milisic holds his newborn daughter Safranka and wishes her a better future. But while the Nazis are finally retreating, the arrival of the partisans brings new dangers for Branko, his wife Dragica and their baby…

As older sister to two half-siblings, Fran has always known she has to fit in. But now, at sixty-five years old and finally free of caring responsibilities, for the first time in her life Fran is facing questions about who she is and where she comes from.

All Fran knows about her real father is that he was a hero, and her mother had to flee Dubrovnik after the war. But when she travels to the city of her birth to uncover the truth, she is devastated to discover her father was executed by the partisans in 1944, accused of being a collaborator. But the past isn’t always what it seems… And neither is the future.

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/CollaboratorsDaughter

For Amazon it's https://mybook.to/CollaboratorsDaughter

And for all other retailers it's https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-collaborators-daughter-eva-glyn

Author Bio –

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Her last holiday before lockdown was a trip to Croatia, and the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground, driven by her friendship with a tour guide she met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life has proved invaluable. Her second novel set in the country, An Island of Secrets is a dual timeline looking back to World War 2, and although a contemporary romance featuring mature main characters her third, The Collaborator’s Daughter, has its roots in that conflict too.

Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and has been lucky enough to have been married to the love of her life for more than twenty-five years. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Social Media Links –
Twitter @JaneCable
Instagram @evaglynauthor
Bookbub @EvaGlyn  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-glyn
Facebook @EvaGlynAuthor https://www.facebook.com/EvaGlynAuthor

 

Murder in Florence by T.A. Williams

 

"Not for the first time, I envied the sleuths of the black and white crime noir movies their broad-brimmed hats. I'm sure Philip Marlowe never had water soaking his underpants".

Murder in Florence by T.A. Williams is the third instalment of the entertaining Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series set in Tuscany. I have read all three, and this is my favourite book so far. 

Murder in Florence reads as a standalone, but do treat yourself and read all three books, if you haven't started this series yet.

Blurb:

Murder in Florence

A brand new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany... It's murder in paradise!

A glamorous film star...

Life as a private investigator in the suburbs ofFlorence isn't always as glamorous as Dan Armstrong imagined it to be, until he is asked to investigate a recent spate of violent attacks on a Hollywood movie set in Florence. The star of the show, movie-star royalty Selena Gardner, fears her life is in imminent danger.

Foul play on set...

As Dan investigates, he discovers secrets and scandals are rife within the cast and crew. But with no actual murder, Dan belives these attacks could simply be warnings to someone... until the first body is found.

A dangerous killer on the loose.

Now Dan and his trusty sidekick Oscar are in a race against time to catch the murderer. But the more Dan uncovers, the more killer strikes and Dan finds himself caught in the line of fire too! Is this one case Dan and Oscar will regret?

A gripping new murder mystery series by bestselling author T.A. Williams, perfect for fans of Lee Strauss and Beth Byers.

It's been three months since Dan Armstring started his new career in Florence as a Private Investigator. His new job is far from glamorous, "it isn't all beautiful heiresses, diamond necklaces and bottles of bourbon". As it happens, the jobs are very mundane: unfaithful spouses, pilfering home helps, nasty neighbours and missing persons.

Dan is excited to hear from his friend Virgilio Pisano of the Florence Murder Squad, who calls to tell him of a business sent his way. Not just any old job, but one that involves the movie royalty, Selena Gardner. The film star is in Florence with the film crew, and they've been getting death threats.

The movie they are making is set in the Medici times. As if staying in character, the mysterious hostile messenger is sending threatening notes, attached to an arrow.

Dan and Oscar arrive on the set, and begin asking questions. Is someone from the crew involved? The questioning indicates there's a lot of tension between the senior members of the crew.

"Whatever the full truth of it, it was clear that there was a lot bubbling away in the background to the set of Lust for Power. The thing I couldn't get my head around was why any of these internal feuds could have escalated to murder threats and expressed themselves in such a primitive, if cinematographic, way".

At first it appears as if it could be a nasty game of threats and warnings, but when a murder is committed, the sinister game moves onto the next, evil level. "I no longer had any doubts as to whether or not this whole bow-and-arrow story was a hoax. Whoever had done this had intended to kill".

The film producers are reluctant to stop filming and go back to Hollywood, and every day brings a new danger. Even Dan and Oscar could become potential targets if they stay on the set.

Apart from the escalating danger at the film production, the police is looking into an abduction of a young woman. 

It is a race against time to apprehend the ruthless killer who is taunting the film crew with the arrow-delivered messages, and rescue the missing woman.

The plot throbs with passions, rivalries and suspicions. The story is well-written and absorbs you completely.

There is a lot of mild humour, provided by the hapless hoover of a dog, Oscar, who loves food and ladies. Oscar is a lovely companion, though not exactly a guard dog. "The doorbell rang and Oscar opened one eye. He wasn't a natural guard dog, and he didn't bother getting up from his bed by the window".

Dan's musings are often self-deprecating. 

There is a great cast of characters, some have already made their appearance in the previous books, some are completely new. And there is a new romantic interest in Dan's life, who will hopefully move into the further books in the series.

The locations chosen for the film production make you want pack your suitcase and jump on the plane to Tuscany. It's been many years since I visited Florence, but reading this book brought back some lovely memories. I dug out the old photo album (remember those?), and showed some of the pictures to my younger son. 

I enjoyed reading all the historical facts, especially the references to the Pazzi conspiracy, that are presented in an entertaining and informative way, which adds to the plot rather than distracts from it.

My only, very mild, niggle is related to the mention of the mafia.

"The Mafia?... The fact that we were in Florence, which is almost a thousand kilometres from the Mafia heartland of Sicily, made this unlikely but it had to be borne in mind." While true about the Sicilian mafia, there could have been a much closer organised crime group involved, Ndrangheta. Based in Calabria, they have moved up North. There was recently the biggest mafia trial in decades in Emilia Romagna. They are also present in Liguria (Imperia Ventimiglia). Mafia is not just in Sicily, and the Italian police would have known that, while not based in Florence, there could have been a possibility of money laundering or some other organised crime, so potentially it is not too far fetched to consider it.

Murder in Florence is a deeply satisfying cozy mystery. It is soaked in the Tuscan atmosphere, its magnificent sights and sounds. Dan and Oscar are a team made in heaven. 

This book review is part of the blog tour for Murder in Florence.

Many thanks to T.A. Williams, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - 

https://amzn.to/3YyhANi

Author Bio – 

T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, will be published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAWilliamsBooks 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews

From the Ashes by Melissa Addey

 

"I can't help but feel a thrill. It is a vast undertaking and the spectacles that will be put on here will be the greatest in the Empire, that much I can be sure of."

From the Ashes by Melissa Addey is a historical novel, set in Rome, 80AD.

Blurb:

They called it the Flavian Amphitheatre. We call it the Colosseum. Let the Games begin.

Rome, 80AD. A gigantic new amphitheatre is being built. The Emperor has plans for gladiatorial Games on a scale no-one has ever seen before. But the Games don't just happen by themselves. They must be made. And Marcus, the man in charge of creating them, has just lost everything he held dear when Pompeii disappeared under the searing wrath of Vesuvius.

Now it will fall to Althea, the slave woman who serves as his scribe, to ensure the Colosseum is inaugurated on time - and that Marcus makes his way out of the darkness that calls to him.

Can a motely crew comprising a retired centurion, slaves, a prostitute and an ex Vestal Virgin pull off the greatest gladiatorial Games ever seen? Or will they fail and find themselves in the arena as punishment? Time is running out to deliver an unforgettable spectacle.

From the Ashes is the first, fast-paced novel in the gripping new Colosseum series. Follow the quick-witted and fiercely loyal backstage team of the Colosseum through the devastation of Pompeii, plague and fire. This is historical fiction at its most captivating: both action-packed and tender.

We meet Althea as she gasps at the vulgar images, in a newly redecorated triclinium, as her master Lucius prepares to host an important banquet. Lucius is a wealthy import-exporter from the equestrian class. The forthcoming banquet which is staged as a debauched orgy is "an ingratiating attempt to be part of a class he knows secretly look down on him".

Althea is an intelligent, educated woman. She is also a slave, and has to endure everything that her lowly status entails. Her brains are her asset to be displayed, as an object of curiosity.

"He likes to boast that I'm Greek and can read and write better than his wife... He likes having an educated slave, most of his household's aren't, you see. So, he makes a fuss as though I'm some sort of expensive trinket. It annoys the mistress..."

Lucius is delighted with the banquet. He has a cunning plan of inviting Marcus, the organiser of the Games in Pompeii, to be his man in Rome and become an official manager of the gladiatorial Games in Rome, when the Colosseum is going to be open. There is no time to lose, as the stadium will be ready to welcome its first guests in less than a year.

Marcus agrees.

And at the snap of her master's fingers, Althea's fate changes. She is given as gift to Marcus without any warning. Althea is hesitant, she doesn't know what to expect from her new master.

Marcus dreams of restoring his family fortunes and buying back a farm that used to belong to his grandfather. He believes he will be a happy farmer. But for now he is working with "the best team a man could wish for, all of them mad, all of them fiercely loyal..."

Marcus might not want to do his current job forever, but he is also quietly proud of what he is doing. "It turned out I was good at it. I kept the peace in the audience, I put on shows everyone remembered. I find ways to manage things that I think are right. Mostly".

He expects a total loyalty from Althea as well, promising that he will set her free, once the hundred days of the inaugural Games are over.

And then the tragedy strikes. While Marcus and Althea get to Rome, the eruption of Vesuvius buries Pompeii under a thick layer of ash.

How do you re-build your lives from the ashes, when those that you love have perished? Marcus loses everything, and the darkness calls to him.

Althea has to convince him that life is still worth living. Clever, resourceful and ingenius, she swears to stand by his side and keep him safe.

From the Ashes is a character-driven historical novel. Both Althea and Marcus are strong protagonists, who show depth and willingness to fight for what matters.

This is not the first book by Melissa Addey that I've read. The Consorts and The Fragrant Concubine are set in a different culture and historical period, but they have something in common with From the Ashes. There is a recurring theme of a woman's role in the patriarchal world. In these female character-centred stories, the main protagonists find themselves in a position of total subjugation (a slave, a concubine) but rather than staying helpless and passive, they try to find some semblance of dignity in the most undignified situation. 

From the Ashes is a captivating historical narrative. 

Powerful and evocative, it portrays the horror of the Pompeii disaster in a sympathetic tone. Almost two thousand years of history in between don't stop you feeling the pain and devastation of the survivors.

When Marcus and Althea arrive back to Pompeii buried under the metres of ash, you can feel their panic and desolation. "This is Hades. This is the land of the dead. Everywhere is grey and black. There is no other colour. I shake my head, blink my eyes, for they seem to have lost the ability to see colour. But there is no colour. The sky is grey. The broken mountain is grey and black. The whole of the land beneath the sky, no matter where I turn, is grey...".

Addey does a great job of recreating ancient Rome, its decadence and opulence, and the challenges of spectacular Inaugural games of the Colosseum

Don't miss an unforgettable journey into the extravaganza and grandeur of ancient Rome.

This post is part of the blog tour for From the Ashes.

Many thanks to Melissa Addey, Letterpress Publishing and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Trailer Link - 

https://youtu.be/CbM54gjiT20 

Purchase Link 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ashes-Colosseum-Book-1-ebook/dp/B08W1TJWXH

https://www.amazon.com/ashes-colosseum-book-1-ebook/dp/B08W1TJWXH

Author Bio – 

Melissa Addey writes historical fiction set in Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco and 18th century China. She is a fulltime self-published author and runs workshops for authors wanting to be entrepreneurial. Her books have been selected for Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society and won the inaugural Novel London award. She has been the Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library, has a PhD in Creative Writing and works with the Alliance of Independent Authors on their campaigns. 

If you’d like to try her writing, visit www.melissaaddey.com to pick up a free novella, The Cup.

Social Media Links – 

www.melissaaddey.com where readers can get a free novella that starts another series (medieval Morocco).

https://www.facebook.com/MelissaAddeyAuthor

https://twitter.com/MelissaAddey

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/melissaaddey/ 

Odin's Betrayal by Donovan Cook

 

"We like to believe that our fate is not in our hands, that the gods and the Norns decide what becomes of us. I don't know what they have in store for you, but your story is far from finished. And I think you will learn much about yourself that you didn't know before."

"He glanced at the pouch in his hands, feeling the weight of the cross and the Mjöllnir. Two symbols of different fates together in the pouch, just like the five of them."

Odin't Betrayal by Donovan Cook is a gripping historical adventure novel set in Francia and Denmark in AD854.

Blurb:

Two kingdoms destined for war, one boy caught in the eye of the storm...

Francia AD 853.

After a failed Viking raid on the Frankish coast over 20 years ago, Jarl Sven the Boar is forced to leave his only son, Torkel, as a hostage and warned never to raid Francia again or his son will die.

In Hüdelburg, a small town in East Francia, Torkel and his 9-year-old son Charles are ambushed at home.

Before dying, Torkel thrusts a package into young Charles's hands and tells him to flee Francia for Denmark in search of his grandfather Sven the Boar's protection.

But the man Charles eventually finds is not who he expects, and Charles must put his fate in the hands of a man betrayed by Odin.

Together they must uncover the significance of the package and why the Kings of Francia want Charles dead.

From the start, we are plunged abruptly into a battle scene between the Frankish army and the Danish raiders led by Sven the Boar. 

During the battle, Sven's son Torkel is taken hostage. The leader of the Franks commands, "Take your ships and what's left of your men. Leave these shores and never return. Your son will be my hostage to ensure your compliance". Parting with his son, Sven swears that he will come back for him, whatever it takes.

Twenty years later, Torkel is living among the Franks. He is a Christian now, yet he and his son Charles are treated as outcasts, because of the things his own father and kin did in the past. Charles doesn't know his mother, as his father never talks about her.

One evening, they are ambushed in their own home by the Frankish warriors, bent on revenge. 

Torkel orders Charles to flee to Denmark and try finding his grandfather, old Sven the Boar. He also entrusts him with a package, which contains two symbols of different faiths, a Mjöllnir pendant and a large golden cross, decorated with gems and an emblem. 

Charles doesn't understand the significance of these two objects. 

While fleeing to Denmark, he is helped by a sixteen-year-old slave Gerold, who accompanies him all the way to Hedeby, the trading jewel of the Danes. 

Charles is a naive and trusting boy, he is not a warrior material. Before his flight to Denmark, he was hoping to become a priest one day. Without Gerold's protection, it would have been impossible for him to survive on a long perilous journey.

Arriving to Denmark is a shock. "A few days ago, everything was still normal. Now he found himself in a land that mocked his God and believed in false idols". 

He begins to question his identity. Charles was bullied by the Franks for having the Danish father. "The Franks in his home had never really accepted his father, and neither had they accepted him. Only Bishop Bernard had been a friend to him, but now he wondered if that had always been an act".

Losing his only son to the Franks, among the other tragic events of his past, Sven feels betrayed by Odin. "The All-Father was a bastard and would kill Sven just to amuse himself".

Sven is drowning his sorrows in drink, and presents a pathetic figure, ridiculed and bullied by the citizens of Hedeby. He made an oath to Odin never to fight again. 

To keep his grandson alive and discover the secret of the golden cross, Sven has to find his inner strength and re-awaken "the old Sven". "The boy is a chance for redemption, if not from the gods, then from Eydis [his late wife]. She'd want me to do everything I can to protect our grandson... But the only way I can do that is if I become the man I used to be".

Sven is not a likeable character. He's a typical Norse raider, used to savagery, who has killed and enslaved many people during his raids. A man of his times and culture, definitely. His faith is a very personal affair. Odin is a constant presence in Sven's thoughts, a live entity, who loves chaos and enjoys tormenting him. "Odin does not want me dead. He wants me to suffer". 

Burdened with the persistent sense of guilt for failing his only son, and wife, Sven punishes himself by not fighting the bullies back, and living as a figure of ridicule. He believes he deserves this.

When Charles suddenly appears in his life - a vulnerable and sensitive child - Sven must break free from his demons and find out who and what they are up against.

Odin't Betrayal is a fast-paced adventure, both action-packed and contemplative. It makes you think of the clashing religious identities, and intolerance against the different beliefs.

The author evokes the sense of the social and political strife of the historical period. The period detail is vivid, recreating the background with its smells, sounds and sights.

Full of twists and turns, it's a heady mix of historical adventure, mystery and political intrigues of the perilous times

I enjoyed this historical adventure very much, and can't wait for the next book in the series.

This book review is part of the blog tour for Odin's Betrayal.

Many thanks to Donovan Cook and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3k4cGsh

Author Bio –

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology.  He lives in Lancashire and his first title in a new series for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonovanCookAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonovanCook20

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donovan-cook

Hello, Spring Degustabox

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the Hello, Spring Degustabox box?

Crunchy Nut Salted Caramel Flavour Twist (£2.99) is a twist on a classic cereal. You'll find crunchy peanuts and toasted flakes combined with a salted caramel flavour.

If the cereal is a bit too sweet for your morning meal, you could make Easter cornflake nests, cutting down the amount of golden syrup in the recipe.

Nutritional information: 122kcal and 9.6g of sugar per 30g portion. Contains 15% RI vitamin D which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Enjoy as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Available at ASDA, Iceland & to be rolled out to other retailers in the first half of 2023.

Bounce Maple Pecan Cashew Protein Ball (£1.70) is a nut butter filled protein ball, with a creamy smooth cashew paste centre and crunchy pieces of nuts in the outer layer.

Mildly sweet, it is high in protein and fibre, and contains 160kcal and 6.9g of sugar.

It is a nutritious and convenient vegan snack, available to everyone. 

Available at Holland and Barrett, Ocado and on uk.bouncefoods.com.

Nescafe Gold Blend Nescafe Gold Blend Refill (£5.50) is a signature smooth and rich instant coffee, which is now available in a refill pack.

The pack is fully recyclable and uses 97% less packing vs the Gold Blend jars and has a resealable top to preserve the freshneess of their premium blend.

Gold Blend coffee is made with golden roasted arabica, and has a delicious aroma, inviting you to have a break and enjoy your cup.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Get More Vits Apple & Raspberry B Vits drink and Mango & Passionfruit Vitamin D drink (£1.30) are super refreshing fruity drinks, made with spring water and natural flavours.

Sugar free and low calorie, these lovely drinks support energy release (B Vits) and healthy bones and immune system (vitamin D).

Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado & on Amazon or getmorevits.com.

SXOLLIE xider SXOLLIE Golden Delicious Apple xider 330ml 4.5% (£2.99) is made purely from Golden Delicious apples grown in the sunshine.

If you like apple cider, you will enjoy this refreshing fruity flavoursome drink. If you are not a cider fan, use this drink as an ingredient, baking a lush moist apple cake, or cook chicken in cider and cream for a savoury dish.

There is zero added sugar, flavourings or other nasties. It is also B Corp certified, which means prioritising the planet and people over profit.

Available at WHSmith Travel and on Amazon Prime.

Good Earth Passionfruit & Orange tea (£2.99) is a delicious fruity infusion, packed with natural ingredients and bold flavours.

This caffeine free herbal tea is bursting with flavours, and will make a lovely cup after an evening meal. You get the burst of tropical flavours in a cup: hibiscus, rosehip, sweet blackberry leaves, orange peel, passion fruit juice granules and more.

Teabags are compostable in food waste bin.

Available on GoodEarth.co.uk, Amazon and at Ocado.

Fruitella Strawberry Multipack (£1.50) offers four sticks of Fruitella's most iconic flavour. 

Share with friends and family, or keep a stick in your handbag for whenever you're feeling peckish.

Made with real fruit juice and only natural colourings and flavours, these candies are dairy free, gluten free and nut free.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Knorr Beef Stock Pot (£1.65) will add an extra boost of beef flavour to your dishes. I always find Knorr stock pots handy to have in the kitchen pantry.

Soup, pasta dishes, one-pot meals, roasts, the choice is endless. You can either dissolve the pot in the hot water or add the pot directly to the dish.

Nutritional values: 6kcal and 1.1.g of salt per pot.

Beef stock pots are slowly simmered with carrots and parsley. They are gluten free.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Maille Dijon Mustard 215g (£2.75) is a traditional French mustard, which adds a touch of gourmet quality and flavour to many dishes, from cold meats to cheese toasties, from vinaigrette to devilled eggs. Add it to a homemade mayo, or salad dressing, ham glaze or mac'n'cheese.

Nutritional information: 15kcal and 0.5g of sugar per portion.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's & Morrisons.

And finally, the Product of the Month - Mutti Rossoro Tomato Pasta with Parmigiano Reggiano (£3.10).

This is an excellent pasta sauce, made with the highest quality, 100% Italian summer tomatoes.

For each sauce, Mutti carefully chooses the specific tomato variety that best pairs with quality ingredients from select Italian regions.

This sauce pairs fruity, intense Rossoro tomatoes with Parmiggiano Reggiano. 

Abasolutely fantastic with pasta, this sauce will bring you the authentic Italian flavours.

Available at Sainsbury's, Tesco, Ocado and Booths.

What's your favourite product from the latest box?