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Why Vikings Make Great Heroes
Vikings get a bad rap. History is usually written by the victors, but in the Vikings’ case, it was written by their victims—the monks in the monasteries that were the Norse raiders’ first targets. Of course, they were portrayed as mindless barbarians bent on raping and pillaging. There was even a medieval prayer intoned every Sunday in the churches of Europe: “Deliver us, O Lord, from the fury of the Northmen.”
But come with me for a minute to look at the world from the Vikings’ point of view. They were the last European people to come to Christianity, so they had no strictures against raiding, which to their minds was different from theft. In fact, they were probably amazed that the monks didn’t fight to protect their gold chalices and gem-encrusted manuscripts. In Nordic culture, what a man has, he must hold or he deserves to lose it.
That protective instinct and projected strength makes a Viking a great hero.
Because the world’s temperature rose in the 9th century (Yes, global warming has happened before!), crops were more plentiful in northern climes and more people were living in the fjords than ever. Younger sons, who didn’t stand to inherit the limited amount of arable land, had no choice but to venture into the wide world to seek their fortune. They might have come to raid, but many of them stayed to settle in the British Isles, Ireland and Normandy.
They needed wives, so they went courting among the locals.
English chroniclers had something to say about that as well. They bemoaned the way the Northmen sought “to undermine the chastity of our English women with their foreign wiles.” Wonder what those wiles were? Combing their hair and wearing clean undergarments.
I can’t blame the English women for being taken in by those wily Northmen. I’m a sucker for a guy in clean boxers. How about you? The truth is while the rest of Europe was bathing once a year whether they needed it or not, the Northmen were inventing the sauna. They enjoyed a tub bath once a week and took great pride in their appearance.
Cleanliness isn’t only next to godliness; it’s a great trait for a hero.
When the Vikings weren’t raiding, they were pushing the boundaries of the known world exploring and trading. They sailed down the wild rivers of Europe to the Black Sea and Constantinople. Some even ventured as far as Baghdad. They discovered the remote islands dotting the North Atlantic and there is strong archeological evidence of a Norse settlement in Newfoundland at L’anse aux Meadows.
Any man who sails across the Atlantic without a compass has courage to spare. That makes him a hero in my book.
Brandr the Far-Traveled, my hero in Lord of Fire and Ice isn’t a raider. He’s just returned from a five year sojourn to Constantinople where he served in the prestigious, all-Northmen Varangian Guard—the Byzantine Emperor’s elite mercenary force. He’s a fighting man with a unique gift. He’s a fire mage who can call fire from thin air and control flames with a thought. Through trickery, he’s taken captive and fitted with the iron collar of a thrall. While he was in the south, he knew plenty of women, but none compared to Katla the Black, the woman who holds him as her thrall. He’s given his oath to obey her every order, but the power struggle between the two of them is far from over. Hope you’ll enjoy the sparks that fly in Lord of Fire and Ice.
I’d be happy to take any questions you might have about Vikings, but be aware that I’m a fiction writer. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make something up. 😉
One lucky commenter will win a print copy of Lord of Fire and Ice. US and Canada only. Winner will be selected using random.org on 7/16.
Lord of Fire and Ice Description:
His Duty is to Fulfill Her Every Desire…
Brandr the Far–Traveled has seen the world and a good many of the beautiful women in it. His bed skills are the stuff of steamy legend, his sword sings death, and he can call up fire from thin air. No one in a hundred years ever thought he could be enslaved through trickery and forced to wear the iron collar of a thrall—least of all him.
Until All She Desires is Him…
Katla the Black isn’t just called so for her dark, silky hair. His new mistress has a temper as fierce as a warrior’s and a heart as icy as the frozen North. But inch by delicious inch, Brandr means to make her melt.
About Mia Marlowe
High Notes…
Mia learned much of what she knows about storytelling from singing. A classically trained 
soprano, she won the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions and has shared a stage with Placido Domingo. As she prepared for operatic roles, she devised back stories for her characters. Since she’s worn a real corset, and had to sing high C’s in one, she empathizes with the trials of her fictional heroines. But in Mia’s stories, they don’t die in a Parisian garret. They get to live and keep the hero!
Now an award-winning author, Mia Marlowe writes historical romance for multiple publishing houses. Her debut title received advance ovations from romance luminaries. #1 New York Times bestseller Victoria Alexander says Mia’s Touch of a Thief has “adventure and heat and everything I want in a great story!” UK’s BooksMonthly has crowned Mia Marlowe “the queen of saucy historical romance.”
Personal Notes…
Mia didn’t plan on making things up for a living.
Like a lot of the best things in her life, she stumbled into writing. She’s had a rather checkered past, you see. After deciding not to lay her family on the altar of her singing career, Mia dabbled in lots of different things. She’s been–hold on!–a teacher, a choir director, a director of children’s ministry, a homeschooling mom, a real estate agent, a banker, and now an author.
Her dear husband and children supported her completely when she decided to try her hand at writing. She overheard one of her daughters tell a friend, “Well, of course, my mom can do it. She’s a Renaissance Woman. She can do anything!”
After that, Mia didn’t dare fail.
Relationships fascinate her. She loves the delicate dance between two souls and the steamy possibilities along the way. Other times and places call to her, so writing historical romance was a natural choice.
Mia would rather have an adventure than a new sofa. She loves history, art, music and travel. Especially travel. Good thing, since she’s lived in 9 different states. She regards her frequent moves as vacations on which she drags along all her stuff. Currently, she and her family call New England home.
One more thing she loves is connecting with other readers and writers. You can find her online almost every day on the social media sites and of course here on her blog! Mia’s online buddies are dear to her. She hopes to hear from you and would love for you to join her circle of cyber-friends.
Mia, thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us today! Great post!!
Yes, I can see why the Englishwomen would be impressed by the Vikings’s clean clothes! So funny!
Lol Mia! You really made me laugh with parts of this post. Yes, I can see why a man who bathed at least once a week, took care in his appearance and combed his hair, and was muscular and manly would have such great appeal compared to a dirty, stinky, person who god knows when they had their last bath! Not entering the contest since I have this book – just couldn’t wait for it:) Now I just have to find the time to read it.
Loved the post – are there going to be more Viking books?
Thanks for that, it was fun to read ^.^ I’m an Icelander, so we learn about the vikings from an early age. I’ve always been very interested in them and I’m currently working on a viking book. It’s an m/m book…because that’s what I write and, like everywhere in the world from the beginning of mankind, there were gay people back then too 😉
I love reading about theories why the vikings raided. Some say that they stretched out because the areas in the north were overpopulated around the year 900, so farmers sailed with livestock to Iceland and others sailed south. You’re right about the ones who had nothing to inherit, they either went raiding, discovering, or settled in other places to build farms of their owns (contrary to most beliefs, vikings were mostly farmers). Some say that they also raided to get revenge on Christians (which is why they targeted monasteries – according to the theories. Personally, I think they raided the monasteries because they contained actual cold). There have also been theories of the settlers being “refugees”, because there was no one king in Scandinavia, there were many small villages with a king and those kings battled each other and chased each other off.
Why they were so ruthless was because of their own religion. You could only get a place in Valhalla – the “heaven” where Odin ruled – if you died in battle, so the boys were taught early to be brave and fearless. As for the rapes, they were done to humiliate the ones who were conquered (at least if it was a man), and I personally also believe they did it because they’d been at sea for weeks and months without getting any.
Anyway, you probably already know all this, I’m just adding for those who are interested ^.^
Oh I just love Vickings….Great post Mia…
I love Vikings, to me they have ALPHA stamped all over them.
Gotta love original Alpha Men (and the women that aren’t squeamish about falling in love with them)!!! Fantastic post and fun to read – thanks so much Mia!!!!
Mia thanks so much for stopping by! I loved your post and I have a big love for Vikings! There is just something about a hot guy in a kilt with a sharp sword that makes this girl happy. I can’t wait to get a chance to read more of your work, I have a couple in my TBR pile just need my job to understand the need to read more than work.
I’ll have to admit I’ve never read a Viking based novels, but do enjoy all the othe branches of historical novels. I can’t wait to try them out!!
Ohh but Vikings are our ultimate Alphas!! Yummmm!! 🙂
I read my first Viking novel a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Personally, I will take a hunky Viking or an an Englishman anyday. All I picture is those striking looks, that dominant personality and (ok I must stop because I am getting flushed just thinking about it).
Vikings just scream ALPHA don’t they? Thanks so much for sharing here at Guilty Pleasures!
lol. very funny post, there’re always two sides to every story.
Cant wait to read Lord of Fire and Ice, sounds like a book you cant put down. thx for sharing.
Why am I so drawn to covers of books? They draw me into the story I guess. And this cover definitely promises to be a tongue wagger.
Thank you all for stopping by! Congrats to Lona you have won a copy of The Lord of Fire and Ice!