Drink of the Raven-God

About the Book

In the genre popularized by such TV shows as Vikings and The Last Kingdom, the novel Drink of the Raven-God is set in the 10th century during the peak of Viking power and tells the story of the Norse poet Eyvind Skald-player. Eyvind is not a warrior and blood-letting is not his talent. He is a gifted skald (poet), a singer and musician, and his songs fill the mead halls of great kings. But he is no ordinary skald; Eyvind is something of a rock star of his day, turning women’s heads and giving performances that leave his audiences spellbound. Woven together with ancient verses and praise poems, Drink of the Raven-God follows the arc of Eyvind’s life, from brash teenager to celebrated skald to a wandering beggar in search of refuge in his old age. Extensively researched, Drink of the Raven-God paints a detailed picture of life in 10th century Norway, from the warm confines of the mead hall to the brisk salt spray on board a dragon ship. There is the history of famous kings, the spectrum of Norse culture, along with the growing conflict between Christianity and paganism—all of it woven together with the rich poetry of the talented skalds who once plied their trade in an ancient land.

About the Author

Guy Franks was born in Minnesota but grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a graduate of Cal Berkeley. He is married with two children and five grandchildren. A writer most of his life, he is the author of four historical fiction novels Beggar King, Railhead, A Midsummer Madness, and The Heights of Mountains, as well as a collection of short stories entitled A Smell of Time. He and his wife currently live in Oregon.