Starred Review:

The Ring Breaker

1139 Orkneyjar

In Jean Gill’s gripping historical novel The Ring Breaker, a young man comes of age in the Viking-era Orkney Islands, navigating court intrigue, his own survival, and his confusing feelings about the jarl’s cursed ward.

The book strikes the right balance between its beautiful descriptions, its character-driven plot, and its authentic, vivified period and setting. Its story opens with Skarfr as a baby who’s seen as too weak to survive and is left in the open by his father, but is saved by a cormorant. The bird becomes an important symbol throughout the story.

Skarfr’s rescue marks him as a boy about whom sagas will one day be written. Orphaned and raised by a cruel skald (a bard/troubadour), he comes to work for the jarl who rules Orkney and develops a friendship with Hilf, a girl who’s wise beyond her years but is considered an outcast because of the actions of her forebears. Skarfr also witnesses growing tensions between two powerful rivals who hold power within the jarl’s circle and makes fateful decisions that affect his relationships.

All these characters are compelling and nuanced, and Skarfr’s attitudes toward them shift throughout the book. Twelfth-century Orkney is rendered in great detail, from the interplay between Norse religion and the jarl’s adopted Christianity to the seafaring voyages to deal with troubles in Scotland to the power dynamics at play. The Ring Breaker includes a touch of mythology and prophecy, too—elements that further enhance its complicated human story. While the book has a satisfying ending that allows it to stand alone, its epilogue also introduces a reveal that sets up an earned sequel.

With its strong grasp of history and place and a cast that defies easy categorization, The Ring Breaker is a thrilling adventure novel.

Reviewed by Jeff Fleischer

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Load Next Review