Viking warrior. Dauntless leader. Protective mother.
Determined to rise above her rank as the illegitimate "forest child" of Eirik the Red, Freydis launches a second voyage to Vinland to solidify her power and to demand the respect she deserves. She will return home with enough plunder to force her brother, Leif, to sell her the family farm in Greenland.
But nothing can prepare her for the horrors she must confront in Vinland...and nothing can stand in her way when her family is threatened.
In her race to outrun the truths that might destroy her, Freydis ultimately collides with the only enemy she cannot silence—her own heart.
Historically based on the Icelandic Sagas, Forest Child brings the memorable, conflicted persona of Freydis Eiriksdottir to life. This immersive tale is Book Two in the bestselling Vikings of the New World Saga.
In the second and final installment of her Vikings of the New World Saga, Gilbert focuses on Freydis, daughter of Eirik the Red, and the expedition she led with two Icelandic traders to Vinland (presumed to be an area near Newfoundland). Based primarily on the Saga of the Greenlanders, Gilbert deftly fleshes out Freydis’s story while remaining true to the bones of the historical record. Freydis is treacherous and deceitful, certainly not afraid to goad her devoted, albeit flawed, husband into putting her opponents to death. However, the fictionalized elements produce a protagonist motivated by maternal protectiveness and a desire for righteous punishment—her brutality justified, and her fearless determination respectable. Her brother Leif and best friend, Gudrid, are Christians; Freydis’s conversion comes later in this story. Ultimately, they must balance Viking laws and traditions against their adopted Christianity and its monotheistic tenets of truth and forgiveness. A glossary is provided, but Gilbert skillfully limits her use of Norse vocabulary to enhance the experience without bogging down the reader. Gilbert crafts an engaging story depicting timeless human struggles with faith, love, loyalty, and leadership. (BookLife)
"The Vikings of the New World Saga contains some of the most profound characterization I have ever read. Inlaid with both tension and turmoil, romance and redemption, like its predecessor God’s Daughter, Forest Child takes the reader on a journey that is anything but gentle—yet unrivaled in its poignancy. With each turn of the page, hearts are searched and the love of a mighty God has the power to triumph. By illuminating the lives of a pagan culture, we readers are given a profound reminder that our souls are of the same make as the Vikings’. The weapons we wield may not be of iron or steel, but they are just as powerful, and though our choices may not affect a village of loved ones, to seek goodness and wisdom is a call that stretches across even centuries of time. Set within a most stunning landscape, and filled with a genuine cast of characters, Forest Child is a heart-wrenching portrayal of love and humanity and one that will hold a special place in my heart."
“Forest Child is one of the bravest works of fiction I’ve ever read. Brimming with tension, yet laced with tenderness, this powerful saga is sure to keep you turning the pages far into the night. An ingenious blend of Viking history and timeless issues of the heart still relevant today.”
"Forest Child is a well written story of survival and hope, betrayal and forgiveness. Deep characters as rich and savage as Viking history, this novel is a testament that love, courage, and faith are timeless. A must read for historical fiction fans."
"Forest Child. An enthralling Viking tale coupled with the heart-rending journey of a troubled soul.
Fierce, inscrutable Freydis Eiriksdottir grabbed my heart and didn't let go. I loved her even as I deplored her actions, mourned for her brokenness, and ultimately rejoiced in her transformation. Heather Gilbert has once again brought the Vikings to larger-than-life in the pages of Forest Child with authentic historical detail, a captivating story, and an unforgettable heroine."
"It's the rare book that draws me in so fully that I respond with gasps and tears and a quickened heart rate. It's the best kind of book that makes me forget about the dishes in the sink and the meals that need to be made. It's my favorite kind of book which keeps me up late into the night with a strong desire to find out what happens next.
Forest Child by Heather Day Gilbert is such a book.
It's no exaggeration to say that I've waited two years for this book. My patience paid off. Freydis is well rounded, complex, her character so very real in her fierceness and vulnerability. The plot moves, keeping the reader turning page after page, unable to abandon the story. From the first page to the last, the reader is engaged with the characters.
Whatever you do, don't miss this book."
