The Whale Road

Book excerpt: A band of brothers, committed only to each other, rides the waves, fighting for the highest bidder, treading the whale road in search of legendary relics. Life is savage aboard a Viking raiding ship. When Orm Rurikson is plucked from the snows of Norway to brave the seas on the Fjord Elk, he becomes an unlikely member of the notorious crew. Although young, Orm must quickly become a warrior if he is to survive. His fellow crew are the Oathsworn---named after the spoken bond that ties them in brotherhood. They fight hard, they drink hard, and they always defend their own. But times are changing. Loyalty to the old Norse Gods is fading, and the followers of the mysterious "White Christ" are gaining power across Europe. Hired as relic hunters, the Oathsworn are sent in search of a sword believed to have killed the White Christ. Their quest will lead them onto the deep and treacherous waters of the whale road, toward the cursed treasure of Attila the Hun and to a challenge that presents the ultimate threat. Robert Low has written a stunning epic, a remarkable debut novel. Not only a compelling narrative, The Whale Road also brings a new Viking landscape stretching from Scotland through the Baltic and on to Istanbul. International Praise for The Whale Road: "A company of warriors, desperate battles, an enthralling read." ---Bernard Cornwell "A fantastic book, one of the best I have read for years. There's a wonderful earthiness to the proceedings and he creates a tangible sense of being there. There's a sturdy, lyrical, and epic quality about the writing that makes it feel like the kind of saga a Viking would recount in his old age." ---Simon Scarrow "A stirring Viking series of blockbuster battles and religious intrigue." ---Publishing News "Action-packed and evocative." ---Herald (Glasgow)