SWAN ROAD By Rebecca Brandewyne Lovespell Historical Romance May 2001, re-issue from 1994 ISBN# 0-505-52420-1 {Click here to buy this book} Rhowenna, the Princess of Usk, has been betrothed by her father to Prince Cerdic in hopes of stopping the constant wars between

Wulfgar is the bastard son of the Northland's most feared Vikingr, Ragnar Lodbrók. He has three sons, the mightiest of them Ivar the Boneless, known for his abilities as a contortionist of sorts. Ragnar has no use for a bastard son when he has three legitimate ones so he subjects Wulfgar to life as a lowly bóndi, that place between freeman and slave. He's at the mercy of his half-brothers whims and acts as a servant to them, and is continually the butt of all their taunts. But it's one day while on hunt with his father, brothers and other thegns that Ivar is set upon by a "were-wolf" of legendary proportions. Wulfgar's life is to change when he kills the wolf, his brother spirit and from whom he was named, saving Ivar's life and earning Wulfgar true freedom, much to his father's disgust.

It is Yelkei's prophesy as an Eastland spaewife that foretells Wulfgar's future as one of Northland's most powerful jarls, leaders. First he must learn the ways of respect and leadership and prove himself, so it's through careful and strategic planning that Wulfgar finds his way in life, beginning with the attack on the Kingdom of Usk in Walas and kidnapping the Princess Rhowenna. It's his intention to hold her for ransom so he sends word to both her father and betrothed. A reply is received almost immediately from Prince Cerdic that he will not pay the ransom as Rhowenna's dowry had not been paid and he considers the betrothal void. It's Ivar who informs Wulfgar that Rhowenna's parents are dead, at his own hands, essentially leaving Rhowenna at the mercy of the mighty warrior. Of all the possible outcomes in her life, Rhowenna doesn't imagine that she could ever come to love Wulfgar. He is now simply her protector and his servant. Time will prove her previous feelings for Wulfgar wrong and finds a love so deep and powerful that it almost can't be called love but something more euphoric.

Wulfgar never thought that Yelkei's prophesy included loving a Southlands woman. She was to be used for ransom, the gold being used to buy his way to respect and leadership, and nothing more. Or so he thought. It's the sudden and deeply intense love for Rhowenna that drives him forward to not only become a mighty Vikingr and warrior but to also become the greatest threat to his jealous brother Ivar and much hated by his own father Ragnar. It's love so great that the greatest successes will be had.

There's little doubt that Rebecca Brandewyne is a magician. Armed with a pen as her wand she can pull magnificent tales out of a hat effortlessly. "Swan Road" is an amazing story drawn out of Scandinavian and English history, set between 865AD and 867AD at a time when Vikings ruled the seas and took whatever they wanted. The characters of Rhowenna and Wulfgar are intricately developed and tightly meshed with factual history. The life and lifestyle of Northmen of the 9th century is so well illustrated that the great Danish marklands come to life in the readers mind.

Out of Brandewyne's magic hat she pulls equally remarkable secondary characters in Yelkei the Eastland spaewife, Flóki the Raven and Morgen, the serving made from Usk with whom Rhowenna trades identities to keep her safe from Ivar and in Wulfgar's arms. From this magic hat also comes the fictional telling of the lives of historical figures Ivar the Boneless, his brothers Halfdan and Ubbi, and their father Ragnar. Author notes in the back of the book pull this story together perfectly, giving the reader optional reading suggestions to learn more about Viking history. At the same time Brandewyne explains the great impact that Northmen had on the history of not only Europe but also the world.