Today is publication day for Woden’s Storm by Donovan Cook!
Let’s celebrate by kicking off the blog tour!!
Here’s the blurb
A storm is coming.
A storm that will banish the old and deliver the new.
450AD Britain
Octa has the spear of Woden, but the redemption he sought is out of his grasp. With his banishment and the death of his father, he can no longer return to his Saxon homelands. His only salvation is to join forces with Hengist and Horsa, and their Jutish army that beaches itself on Brittania’s shores. But can he trust their motivation or are there greater plans afoot?
The Gods have their own plans, though, and Octa’s fate is not his own to control as Friga, the mother of the Saxon gods, battles to avoid a war with the gods of the Britons and Saxons using Octa as her weapon.
Prince Vortimer, the son of High King Vortigern, is angered by his father’s agreement with Hengist and Horsa as they remain unchecked and their numbers swell. He suspects treachery and encouraged by some well-placed words of a stranger, he rebels against his father and gathers his army to attack the unwelcome visitors.
War is coming to Britannia and as Octa struggles to understand his role and fate, he knows he has one question to answer. Will he run or will he stand and fight?
Review
Woden’s Storm by Donovan Cook is book 2 in The First Kingdom series.. The first book really set the scene for a new and fresh series and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Octa is burdened with the spear of Woden, and the weight of shame he’s brought upon his family.
He thought finding the spear who bring him redemption.. would set things right for his family.. but nothing is ever easy is it… the pain he feels around his family follows him like a shadow and is pivotal in his decision making.
In the last book we saw Octa bring shame upon himself and his family be fleeing during battle so I thunk it even shocks himself when Octa aligns himself with Hengist and Horsa and their Jutish army.
Hengist and Horsa are a fascinating pair who can’t be trusted.. you never quite know their true motivation.. even when things come to fruition you never know if that’s really it… or is their going to be some sort of twist.
Can Octa trust them? Does he have a choice?
This Jute army isnt exactly welcome Brittania.. there’s a power struggle.. they can’t remain unchecked allowed to do as they please can they?
I really loved the plot and the betrayal.. the deceptions at play.. who is really guiding Prince Vortimer to war and why?
I think the most fascinating part of this series is the supernatural edge.. the gods are real not just someone to be prayed too.. but the gods are tricky..and have their own internal battles to face..are their motivations going to end up align with Octa’s goal of redemption or will this add more fire to the flames already taking hold in the world?
I think the best way to describe Woden’s Storm is “Strengthening”. The author already laid the starting foundations but continues to weave a wonderful and exciting world.. there’s detail to allow you to imagine the land, the people and where they live but ultimately that plot shines through and Cook builds on the foundations set.
We see characters develop and have a chance to glimpse the the plot develop from different perspectives.. we see that supernatural end continue and how finding the spear will leave a trail of destruction no matter what..
Woden’s Storm has the excitement I need for the genre but for me the plot is just fun.. fresh.. fascinating…I guess it’s because you never really know what will happen next and the author has created such a standout story that really allows their imagination to shine.
Pace for me is always important and Woden’s Storm does exactly what I need, it’s paced well but balanced between perfectly, no forced development the flow just felt natural and effortless which is a credit to the author given the multifaceted world they’ve created.
Ticks all the boxes and some!
5/5 stars
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour!
Why not check out the rest of the stops on the tour?
Tempted yet?
Purchase Link – https://bit.ly/wodensstorm
Author Bio –
Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology. He was born in South Africa and currently lives in Lancashire, UK.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @DonovanCookAuthor
Twitter: @DonovanCook20
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DonovanCookNews
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