The Valkyrie The Saga of EddaEarth Book 1 eBook Deborah Davitt
Download As PDF : The Valkyrie The Saga of EddaEarth Book 1 eBook Deborah Davitt 
Ex nihilo nihil fit From nothing, nothing comes.
Enter the world of Edda-Earth, in which Rome never fell, science and magic coexist, all the gods are real . . . and war is coming
Everyone must serve. Everyone must sacrifice.
The god-born Sigrun Caetia, valkyrie of Tyr, born in Nova Germania, across the sea
The summoner Trennus Matrugena, son of a petty king, native of Caledonia
The archmage Kanmi Eshmunazar, a former wharf-rat of Tyre, Carthage
The godslayer Adam ben Maor, special forces, of Judea
The prophetess Sophia, Pythia of Delphi
The truthsayer Minori Sasaki, scientist and sorcerer, native of Hokkaido
And the man who brings them together in Rome's service Propraetor Antonius Valerius Livorus.
Together, they pursue a great mystery Some believe that the world is about to end. Certainly, prophecy indicates so. Some of the gods are making provisions for that day, including reviving the long-prohibited custom of human sacrifice.
How do they stop this, and how deep does the mystery go? Why does a dying man taunt Livorus, asking him if he knows where his gods are? And why does prophecy suggest that Sigrun will be the sole survivor of Ragnarok?
This is alternate history that goes beyond merely filing the serial numbers off world events. A wholly-re-imagined world awaits, blending fantasy, science-fiction, history, and other genres at will.
REVIEWS
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"More than a mere adventure, the story succeeds in tapping into deeper ideas of religious tolerance and pluralism. Though some may find themselves lost in the vast sea of gods, rituals, violence, and beliefs, readers excited by a tour of
this highly imaginative world will thoroughly enjoy the ride. --Kirkus Reviews
https//www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/deborah-l-davitt/valkyrie-davitt/
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"The Valkyrie . . . is a long, epic fantasy, suitable for readers who like their stories sweeping, their protagonists believable and compelling, and their fantasy worlds well-detailed and intricate. . . . Readers who look for sweeping sagas embracing political, historical and social change will welcome Davitt's approach to creating a more complex set of scenarios than the usual fantasy story offers. Think 'Tolkien' when placing her works into a similar category; because her attention to details of place, time, and the politics behind confrontations is just as well-wrought."
D. Donovan, Senior eBooks Reviewer at the Midwest Book Review
MWBR, December 2014 http//www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/dec_14.htm#donovan.
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The Valkyrie The Saga of EddaEarth Book 1 eBook Deborah Davitt
The field of authors who get their start by freely sharing their works before moving to paid publication is growing, and I approve wholeheartedly. I was introduced to Davitt's work in the 'Spirit of Redemption' series, which was both satisfying and massive, an astonishing nearly 3.5 million words, published in chapter form over several years. In other words, Davitt has been practicing her chops. And they're good ones. "Adventure, history, combat, science, philosophy, romance, friendship, and humor" indeed.The world created in Edda-Earth is deeply researched, plausible, and fascinating as many 'alternate Earth' narratives try, but fewer succeed in being. The depth of immersion and thoroughness with which the world is made remind me of David Brin's work, in which a handful of novel ideas are all developed through the entirety of their ramifications, to the reader's enrichment. The characters, as well, are plausible and fascinating, and even lovable, in their unique ways, and often subject to our rueful sympathy, as we see aspects of ourselves, good and bad, reflected from the pages.
I did notice one holdover from Davett's previous writing--the serial form, in which a story arc is created, resolved, and completed, and stands self-contained within the larger context of the series--occurs a handful of times in The Valkyrie. This style is not unpleasant, and lends itself well to the kind of reader who doesn't have the time to devour an entire novel in one sitting (which is most of us, these days). But whether it be in one big bite or a lot of nibbles, this first course is worth it. I'm already peckish for the next one.
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The Valkyrie The Saga of EddaEarth Book 1 eBook Deborah Davitt Reviews
Wow! I don't think I've been this excited about a new fantasy series since reading "Kushiel's Dart"! "The Valkyrie" is a rich, dense, and complex story about an alternate world in which magic exists and Rome never fell. There is a large cast of characters from all parts of the empire--Rome, Judea, Britannia, the Americas (which have a different name), Carthage, and so on. The main action revolves around the bodyguards of a high-level Roman functionary charged with investigating and dealing with sensitive issues. The point of view moves from character to character as they find themselves investigating a series of bizarre human sacrifices in the Americas, which turn out to have much bigger implications than a mere rebellion against Rome...
The world is presented in great detail, with each section begun with an excerpt from a textbook, for example, and all the characters speaking their own languages. There are also detailed descriptions of the different forms of technology and magic, with discussions of things like the pros and cons of ley power versus electricity and ornithopters versus fixed-wing aircraft. For readers looking for a quick read this may be a little too much detail, but for those looking for a fully-realized and complex world in which to immerse themselves, the level of detail is incredibly satisfying. The characters are also complex human beings, even when they're not entirely human, and their attempts to build or hold together their families are just as compelling as the investigation and action sequences. Lovers of high fantasy should enjoy this book tremendously, and fans of sci-fi may find enough technology and physics to enthrall them as well.
[Note This review covers the first two books of the series - the stories flow together so well, and my comments for each are essentially the same, so it didn't make sense to make two separate reviews. There are no spoilers for either book in this review.]
Let me get straight to the point - the first two volumes of "The Saga of Edda-Earth" contain some of the best epic fantasy fiction - Norse based or otherwise - I've read since Marion Zimmer-Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon," a book that has been at the top of my favorites list for many years. (At the time of this review, the remainder of the series has not yet been released.)
Like "Mists," the first two books of "Edda-Earth" dive deeply into its world's political and religious landscape during a time of change. Edda-Earth is an alternate reality in which Rome never fell. Most of the world is under Rome's banner, though the amount of control Rome exerts over the different nations varies. Some retain almost full autonomy, while others are almost fully controlled by Rome. Each nation, however, maintains its own culture, though there are prohibitions on human sacrifice and proselytizing.
The story takes place in times roughly analogous to our own, in which technology and magic exist side-by-side. Author Deborah Davitt has constructed an extensive and detailed alternate world and history for the Saga. The technology used in most of the Empire is fairly similar to our own, though there doesn't seem to be much of an emphasis on computers and some of the firearms are a bit more primitive. As for magic, there are three distinct schools - ley magic, powered by quantum strings; sorcery, which makes use of physics and the mage's will; and spirit summoning - as well as people who have inherent abilities from the divine spark of being godborn or god-touched, or who have been granted certain abilities through the use of tools like magical tattoos. I really like the way Davitt has tied science and magic together, while still allowing for some magic to be of a more wonderous nature.
Since nations retain their indigenous culture and beliefs, religion in Edda-Earth is quite diverse. The strength of any given pantheon derives largely from how many followers it has, and people who have chosen a faith - whether it was a deliberate decision or because they simply followed the faith of their culture - they essentially fade from the awareness of all other gods. Some gods have little to no direct interaction with their followers, relying on faith alone, while others choose to make their presence more tangible.
As the story opens, Propraetor Livorus - a man generally considered to be the right hand of Cesar and who is often sent to deal with delicate diplomatic situations - is being sent to a small nation in the middle of what we know as the U.S., in response to the apparent kidnapping of a young girl who they believe is to be used as a human sacrifice. Accompanying Livorus on the mission are his lictors - kind of a combination body-guard and advisory council. Foremost among his lictors is Sigrun Caesia, a godborn granddaughter of the Norse god Tyr, and the Valkyrie of the first book's title. Adam ben Maor, who is frequently the lictors commanding officer, is a Judean warrior who is quite skilled in the use of weapons. Kanmi Eshmunazar is a ascerbic but brilliant Carthaginian sorcerer, and Trennus Matrugena, is a ley-mage and spirit summoner from Gaul whose size and prowess often belie his gentle spirit. There are others who come and go or work alongside the lictors, but these are our main heroes.
The story follows them as they discover rumors that the practice of human sacrifice is being restarted in other areas as well, and as they explore the deeper mysteries of what is behind this change and the impact it's having on the world. Add in a couple of natural disasters and some long-simmering tension threatening to become open war, and Livorus' crew has their hands full. As with any story, there are a few plot points that will feel a bit familiar or even predictable, but I found myself far more often surprised or shocked by the turn of events and the changes in the characters that resulted.
Part of what makes this series so incredible is the extensive level of character development that Davitt provides. Unlike many epic tales - where we follow the characters primarily for the duration of the perilous journey they must undertake to save the world - here we stay with the characters for an extended number of years and see them not only as they handle their various missions, but also during the times when they are able to remain home. We get to know them as they deal with the full gamut of family issues, from difficult relatives, to falling in love and building their own families, and learn who they are when they have the chance to just be themselves. Rather than slowing down the pacing, however, this additional perspective gives "Edda-Earth" an added richness and the deeper understanding of the characters provides a boost to the tension when they are in danger.
Both "The Valkyrie" and "The Goddess Denied" are long books - each coming in at around 600 pages, so they do require a bit of an investment of your time, but I certainly found it to be well worth it, and I'm excited to see what Davitt has in store for our heroes next!
The field of authors who get their start by freely sharing their works before moving to paid publication is growing, and I approve wholeheartedly. I was introduced to Davitt's work in the 'Spirit of Redemption' series, which was both satisfying and massive, an astonishing nearly 3.5 million words, published in chapter form over several years. In other words, Davitt has been practicing her chops. And they're good ones. "Adventure, history, combat, science, philosophy, romance, friendship, and humor" indeed.
The world created in Edda-Earth is deeply researched, plausible, and fascinating as many 'alternate Earth' narratives try, but fewer succeed in being. The depth of immersion and thoroughness with which the world is made remind me of David Brin's work, in which a handful of novel ideas are all developed through the entirety of their ramifications, to the reader's enrichment. The characters, as well, are plausible and fascinating, and even lovable, in their unique ways, and often subject to our rueful sympathy, as we see aspects of ourselves, good and bad, reflected from the pages.
I did notice one holdover from Davett's previous writing--the serial form, in which a story arc is created, resolved, and completed, and stands self-contained within the larger context of the series--occurs a handful of times in The Valkyrie. This style is not unpleasant, and lends itself well to the kind of reader who doesn't have the time to devour an entire novel in one sitting (which is most of us, these days). But whether it be in one big bite or a lot of nibbles, this first course is worth it. I'm already peckish for the next one.
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