This is the story of Ran, a young Viking girl who learns of the death of her father and brothers while they are away on a trading voyage. She lives with her grandmother and mother on their farm. Her mother never loved her father, and cannot bear to look upon Ran as she reminds everyone in looks, of her father.

She travels with her mother and the man her mother has taken up with , Vigut, to a nearby holding in order to take part in the winter ceremony. This becomes a nightmare as Ran is chosen as the winter sacrifice and flees with a blind musician. Vigut becomes her sworn enemy and pursues her from Norway to Iceland, where she and her musician husband are trying to create a new life for themselves.

A simple story told with straight forward conviction, the author includes many details of Viking day-to-day life, including their beliefs and customs that shaped their world. A rather dark tale of doomed romance and fate. ( )

This is the third book I've read by this author. I would say definitely this is not my favorite. While it was a good story and a glimpse of the life of vikings. It just did not have the poetic feel of the other books. A caution to younger readers, some of the content is not for the conservative younger reader. ( )