The Bear of Byzantium

Wolves of Odin, Book 2

By: S. J. A. Turney

Narrated by: Malk Williams

The wolves of Odin sail to the centre of the world: Constantinople.

AD 1041. After successfully avenging the death of his father, Halfdan and the crew of the Sea Wolf seek adventure in strange new lands, far from their Scandinavian home.

They join the fleet of Harald Hardrada, the legendary Viking commander, sailing back to Constantinople from the battlefields of Georgia. There they join the Varangians, the personal bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperors populated almost exclusively by Viking warriors. But Constantinople has changed during Hardrada's long absence.

The Emperor, Michael IV, is ailing visibly, and powerful factions in his court are setting their plans in motion ahead of his inevitable demise. While courtiers scheme, elements even within the Varangian Guard are picking sides.

Gunnhild, the seer among the Sea Wolf crew, has struck out on her own in the big city. Unable to join the all-male Guard alongside her friends, she establishes herself in a small side-street near the port as a healer and soothsayer, offering cures to the sick and glimpses of the future to the desperate, or the conspiratorial. But in all her visions she sees a wolf, a boar and a golden bear fighting together to support the Byzantine throne. The Norns aren't finished with them yet…

The epic second instalment in the Wolves of Odin series, taking us to the heart of power in Constantinople and the desperate machinations of the Byzantine emperors. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian and Angus Donald.

©2022 S.J.A. Turney (P)2022 W. F. Howes Ltd

great book 😊

it was a great book to read.
characters are good, and story line well thought out.
And the reader, does a great job reading the book.

Well done!!

I liked Turney’s decision to take an eastern route in his telling of the Viking story. There are lots of stories told about Viking exploits in England and France. Not many talk about their expansion down the Dnieper River to the Black and Byzantium. For anyone who likes historical fiction, particularly the Viking era, you will enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of Hafdan and the crew.