Tattoos
in bluish black covered his rugged face, corded neck, and sinewy
forearms. For the past two weeks, Skjöld had undergone the
transformative ritual of fasting, isolation, and pain, as the images
were carved into his skin. Blackened with ash, bone, and blood, each
symbol embodied Skjöld’s ancestral heritage and Sámi spiritual
power.
On
his scarred, bearded face, a trio of droplets beneath his left eye
marked the Veil of Vision with which Skjöld would attempt to wield
the otherworldly gift of sight through water that he had inherited
from his mother Ylva, his grandmother Lova, and his great-grandmother
Sprota, a trinity of gifted Celtic priestesses from Bretagne in
northwestern Francia.
An
enormous dark blue dragon—emblem of Skjöld’s heritage as the
prophesied son of the Dragon of Denmark and the Celtic priestess
mother with otherworldly sight through water—covered his left
shoulder and coiled around his thick neck. The fanged maw of the
mammoth serpentine beast displayed a trio of Nordic runes. Uruz, for
strength; Tiwaz, for honor and valor; and Dagaz, for the
transformation of Skjöld the Viking warrior into a Sámi spirit
sorcerer with second sight through water.
Upon
Skjöld’s sculpted forearms flowed long, fluid patterns of the
Nordic rune Laguz, the Norse symbol for water, representing his
Viking heritage. Amidst the river of runes, Celtic triple spirals—
symbolic of the trio of female ancestors who had passed their
otherworldly gift of sight to Skjöld— covered his burnished skin,
bronzed by the strong summer sun. Beneath the waves of runes and
spirals were a trio of eyes beneath the water, evoking the Áhkká—the
ancestral spirits and deities who would grant Skjöld the ability to
wield his gift of sight through water.
After
two weeks of isolation, fasting, pushing his body to the physical
limits of pain and endurance, Skjöld would now face his final
test—to enter the spirit world of water and wield his inherited
gift to see beyond the human realm.
The
rhythmic beat of Jaskka’s drum and the cadence of his slow, deep
chant called Haldor’s attention back to the spirit leader of the
Láhpi tribe. Haldor rose to his feet in solemn silence and strode
toward Skjöld, who waited at the edge of the assembled tribe
gathered around the fire.
A
contradictory blend of courage and fear blazed in his fierce blue
gaze.
Haldor
led his acolyte toward the frosty shore of the starlit fjord where
the long, narrow boat that he and Skjöld had skillfully crafted from
pine was waiting upon the smooth white sand. As part of Skjöld’s
preparation for tonight’s ritual, the two of them had felled the
tall tree, hollowing and smoothing the sturdy wood. Skjöld himself
had shaped the vessel for tonight’s voyage to the spirit world by
carving soft curves along the sides, like the protective waves of the
sacred fjord. He’d etched Sámi sigils, Celtic symbols, and Nordic
runes into the hewn wood, carving a mermaid at the prow, to symbolize
his female ancestors—the Áhkká—guiding him on the monumental
spiritual journey.
As
Haldor now helped Skjöld into the vessel, he glimpsed the mermaid
shimmering in the moonlight. Her long, flowing hair and slender arms
blended with the curved waves along the sides of the vessel.
Intricate Celtic spirals and the Nordic rune Laguz wrapped around her
limbs and elaborate tailfin, connecting her to the essence of the
fjord and to Skjöld’s heritage as a spirit walker into the sacred
realm of water.
My
Review:
Falcon
of the Faroe Islands is the concluding installment in the Valiant
Vikings trilogy authored by Jennifer Ivy Walker. From the very first
page, Falcon of the Faroe Islands immersed me in its captivating
universe. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down until I
reached the final page.
The
world-building is among the finest I have ever encountered. I felt as
though I was part of that realm, almost like a character myself. I
could vividly visualize the scenes unfolding in my mind as though I
was experiencing them firsthand.
I
adored Falcon of the Faroe Islands because I have a passion for
Viking tales filled with epic battles. The enchantment of being able
to transform into a falcon left me in awe. I cherished the moments
when the warriors returned home after months of combat, scavenging,
and rescuing maidens, reuniting with their loved ones for a night
filled with passion.
I
thoroughly appreciated the fusion of magic, combat, deities, and
romance. The Valiant Vikings trilogy is a compelling narrative that
is guaranteed to keep your interest from beginning to end without any
dull intervals.
I
wholeheartedly suggest picking up a copy of Falcon of the Faroe
Islands for a remarkable finale to the Valiant Vikings trilogy today!
