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The Whale Road (Oathsworn 1) (Hardcover)

by Robert Low (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (5 Mar 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007215282
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007215287
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.2 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 323,254 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review

'A company of warriors, desperate battles, an enthralling read' BERNARD CORNWELL 'A fantastic book, one of the best I have read for years. There's a wonderful earthiness to proceedings and he creates a tangible sense of being there. There's a sturdy, lyrical and epic quality about the writing which makes it feel like the kind of saga a Viking would recount in his old age.' SIMON SCARROW 'A stirring Viking series of blockbuster battles and religious intrigue.' Publishing News


Product Description

The first in a brand new series charting the adventures of the Oathsworn, a band of Vikings on the chase for the secret hoard of Attila the Hun. Life is savage aboard a Viking raider. When young Orm Rurikson is plucked from the snows of Norway to join his estranged father on the Fjord Elk, he becomes an unlikely member of a notorious crew. They are the Oathsworn -- so named after the spoken bond that ties them in brotherhood -- and they ply a casual trade on the ocean wave, selling their swords to the highest bidder. But times are changing. Loyalty to the old Norse Gods is fading, and the followers of the mysterious 'White Christ' are gaining power across Europe. Hired as relic-hunters by the merchant rulers of a bustling city, the Oathsworn are sent in search of a legendary sword of untold value to the new religion. With only a young girl as guide, their quest will lead them onto the deep and treacherous waters of the 'whale road', toward the cursed treasure of Attila the Hun. And to a challenge that will test the very bond that holds them together. A significant new voice in historical fiction, Robert Low has created a startlingly modern tale in the style of the great Viking sagas. A heady mix of powerful suspense, blockbuster battles and religious intrigue, 'The Whale Road' is a must for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Tim Severin. It heralds a major new series sure to hook old and new readers alike.
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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (12)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (5)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A norse 'Dirty Dozen', 17 Mar 2009
This review is from: The Whale Road (Oathsworn 1) (Paperback)
I have picked this book up a few times, but was put off by the dodgy title! In the end some Amazon reviews convinced me to give it a go, and I was pleasantly suprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a little slow in starting (and slightly disorienting using 'flashbacks' a little clumsily) but once it got going it didn't let up, feeling a little like a 'Boys Own' adventure set in the Dark Ages, something like Beowulf crossed with Indiana Jones. The combining of relic quest (the Spear of Destiny this time, rather than the oft used Holy Grail) with norse myth - the Volsung Saga - and hazy history - Attila the Hun's death, all adds to this feel.
The Viking crew feel like a kind of 'Dirty Dozen' with axes, and are well written and likeable, although quite expendable!
The writing on the whole is eloquent, with a nice style comming through about a third of the way in. Also little historical details like 'soup wounds' add an extra touch which raises this book a notch, although at times you get the definite feeling the author is trying a little too hard to fill his pages with these details.
All in all a successful debut, managing to capture a real 'sense of norse' whether it be in the campfire banter and camaraderie, the freezing, soaking ship journey's or the bloodthirsty battles. Looking forward to part two!
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38 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars New Authors takes you A Viking, 15 Mar 2007
By Gareth Wilson "drosdelnoch2" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
Brand new author for a brand new year and one to watch, however I had read the forthcoming Conn Iggulden Wolf on the Plain prior to starting this so perhaps my views may be a little judgemental comparing the two pieces.

Whilst setting itself as a Viking novel it started off pretty well giving the reader a tale to be unfurled that would drive them into the Steppes in order to retrieve a whispered about treasure. However that said it felt the novel was a little bit rushed. Now this may seem a bit of an odd complaint as its action, action, action all the way, and whilst I do love that, I also love the lull that the sea gives into the piece, especially when you're submerged into the depths of the tale. Likewise I also felt that the novel seemed to have been mapped out and followed section by section a to b, b to c etc. However this is a first novel and as such these early errors can be forgiven.

That said however, I now feel that its time to move on to the positive points of the novel. It was beautifully written and the characters had a wonderful depth of colour about them. Even the names have had a huge amount of time and love lavished upon them so that the reader is spoiled with a wonderful crew to sail the seas alongside. As such it's a cracking read and I sincerely hope that the characters that survive continue to grow. Another positive point that Robert went with, the fact that he plays for keeps, there is no way that when surrounded by a thousand enemies that they are walking out unscathed, and as such each death tears the readers emotions some more hoping and praying that their personal favourite lives through the battle to survive until the next event.

For me this is a piece worthy of reading and for a new author, these early errors will raise their ugly heads, how an author continues to develop past these and how they go about fixing them is key to the success of further novels. The premise however for the next instalment is cleverly crafted and will bring survivors of the adventure back to their old crewmates. A heroic epic waiting to be told.
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars engaging little Norse Odyssey, 30 Dec 2008
This review is from: The Whale Road (Oathsworn 1) (Paperback)
I have to confess to having been sat on a copy of this for a year or so. Bought it on a whim then its rather unexciting title and cover meant it sat maturing on my shelves till a recent trip to the old Viking town of York.

Suitably inspired I pulled it down from the shelf but perhaps not with the greatest of expectations. So I was very pleasantly surprised when I finally set off on my journey with 'Orm', the young lad who falls in with the 'Oathsworn' a group of mercenary veteran Vikings under the leadership of the grim 'Einer the Black'.

Low writes in quite an understated way. He's not one for the over use of superlatives or 20 page battle scenes. What he does do is include a bit more detail and authentic Norse culture and terminology than many of his peers. That is not to say the book lacks action because it does not, nor is the story lacking drama, the Oathsworn are on an ill fated mission to recover the sword of the long dead Attila and the story takes them from the coast of Scotland to the Russian steppes and many of the crew will die in the process. There are plot twists aplenty and a built in emotional roller coaster.

If I had to be hyper critical I would say the author could have given us a bit more room for charactor development and dialogue and the first chapter is a little confusing as we are introduced to the lead charactors whilst the action constantly switches between past and present due to a series of flashbacks in which we learn of the story behind Orm the bear slayers name and reputation.

But I want to stress I thoroughly enjoyed this little Norse odyssey, it differs in style with the other British big hitters of historical fiction but I see no reason why Low should not feel quite at home in their company. I have also already bought the follow up book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Having read the Bernard Cornwell "Saxon Stories" I had high hopes for this book, expecting beards, blood and battles. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jamie.W

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched and Nicely Done
I don't read a lot of viking books these days. Not because I don't like the genre, the era or the ethos though, but because I find so few that do justice to the time and place... Read more
Published 4 months ago by B. Mirsky

4.0 out of 5 stars If it feels right, it is right.
This is a very well written intelligent book that sweeps you along. For me it stands above most others of its genre due to the excellence of the characterisation, and the clear... Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. Davy

2.0 out of 5 stars Tries to be too clever
I bought this book because I'm a great fan of Bernard Cornwell,Conn Iggleden and Robyn Young,but I'm afraid I am quite disappointed with it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Zulu 24

3.0 out of 5 stars Blood, guts and mayhem on The Whale Road
This first novel in the Oathsworn series is pretty good, of course as with most first books there are some flaws. Read more
Published 8 months ago by B.K.Price

5.0 out of 5 stars Odin's Watching You!
A historical action novel with a Norse youth, Orm, as he becomes a man and joins his father aboard the Fjord Elk and the Oathsworn. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. William Oxley

4.0 out of 5 stars What is a review?
J Chippingdale is allegedly a Top 50 reviewer. How can this be when his review looks just like the blurb from a hardcover jacket? Shame on you Chippers!
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Peter L. Coleman

2.0 out of 5 stars hmmmm
to be fair to the book and Author, i usually read 18th Century Naval stories, so maybee it just wasnt for me? Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Gideon G. Beddows

2.0 out of 5 stars I hate to say it but....
...this is a dreadfully tedious book. The concept, whilst not totally unique, is intriguing enough but others do this sort of thing so much better and in the process sell much... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Big Jim

2.0 out of 5 stars Boring and poorly written by an old man
I love these kind of books but i found this boring and hard to read as it was so poorly written. The battles were non existent-well except for a couple of sentences to describe an... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr England

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