Prophetic Dreams
by Alfreða Jonsdottir
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GENRE: Fantasy
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BLURB:
Gudrun
Osvifsdottir, Prophetic Dreams' willful protagonist, is not only renowned for
her beauty and intelligence, she is also thought to be the best catch in the
district. Headstrong and spoiled by her adoring parents, she yearns for female
friendship. Growing up on a tenth-century farm in an isolated region in
Iceland, she cannot understand why the few girls living in her district have
persistently avoided her. On the other hand, all eligible males compete for her
recognition. Basking under their high-spirited attentiveness, she soon
convinces herself the only reason she is ignored by her peers is because they
are jealous of all the attention bestowed on her by the male population. This
protective shield may guard her growing ego, but it soon sets her further apart
from the other females that live in her area.
Pagan Icelanders
believed dreams foretold the future. Haunted by nightmares, her parents enlist
the nation's most famous seer to translate them for her. A melodramatic young
girl, her emotions are soon stirred into a frenzy by his interpretation.
As foreshadowed,
tragedies do occur. One death is even rumoured to be the result of black magic.
Later, a misunderstanding and silent accusations create a slow pyroclastic flow
of vengeance. Will the stakes be too high for our protagonist? Will she lose
the one man she admires and respects more than any other?
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EXCERPT:
Suddenly, they hear voices approaching and before they know
it, they hear Gestur talking just outside the cloth flap used as a door for the
booth. Gudrun quickly removed her hand from his. As if caught red-handed, Thord
immediately stood up as if to leave. The two men meet at the entrance, but
before saying anything, he turns to Gudrun with a wry smile, then quickly bids
them both a good night. Gudrun is crestfallen, thinking she has broached this
subject too late in the evening. I have failed. Why was I so slow? Now he
will not go through with it. She felt such disappointment, for she now knew
that this was the man she wanted to marry, wanted to spend her life with. Aud
does not deserve him.
Gestur looked as if puzzled over his swift exit but says
nothing.
The next morning, Thord arrived at the usual time and said
he would escort her to the day of divorces as planned so she could witness her
kinsman, Snorri the Law-speaker, at work. He looked terrible. Once in the fresh
morning air, Gudrun asked if he was okay. “I did not sleep well. I sat up and
drank most of the night with a friend.” Gudrun remained silent as they searched
for a free stone to sit upon. As she sat down, he whispered into her ear, “I’m
sorry, Gudrun. I fear I am too much of a coward to do as you wish but I, too,
do wish we were together.” She remained silent and stared straight ahead.
“Please be patient. We can wait until next year. I must speak with Aud first.”
That final comment prompted Gudrun to turn her head. She
looked directly at him with her steely blue eyes. Then, she replied under her
breath, “You have broken my heart, Thord.” Her words were laced with anger and
regret. “I am not sure if I can face life without you by my side to share my
prosperity. Soon I will know just how wealthy I will become. This is your last
chance, for I will go home a broken, dejected woman.” Then she pointed her
finger in his face and said, “I will not wait for you, that I promise.”
Thord stood up without looking back at Gudrun as he
disappeared into the crowd. My threat must have been the last straw. I have
pushed him too hard; he has left me for good. Just as well!
REVIEW
So if you love a good fantasy this is the book for you. I felt the author did an amazing job with providing a glossary of sorts. It definitely helps understand the story if you didn't know the language. However, you have to go back and forth to understand the story. This made is a little boring at times. All in all a great story. I really enjpyed it!
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Alfreda’s
ancestry is 100% Icelandic. A resident of Calgary, she has one son who is
married and two granddaughters. As an amma, Alfreda says her granddaughters are
her biggest incentive to write. She grew up in Lundar, an Icelandic community
in the Interlake area of Manitoba. Her pioneer ancestors were drawn to the area
for its free land and ample fishing opportunities.
To date,
Alfreda has written three novels: Melkorka, The Thrall Princessa’s Saga, published
in June 2019, The Viking Queen’s Legacy, released in November 2020 and in
November 2022 Prophetic Dreams: A Curse or a Legacy. Icelandic sagas were and
continue to be her inspiration for writing. Laxdæla saga is her favorite, as it
focuses on three empowered women who lived during the 9th to the mid 11th C,
and whose lives were honoured through the telling of their stories: Auður
Ketilsdóttir set in the 9th C was an original settler, the Irish slave Melkorka
set in the 10th C, and Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir set in the late 10th to the mid
11th C whose exploits begin to unravel Auður's dynastic dreams. Each woman is a
different character, each story is unique, yet their stories remain as relevant
today as they were 1000 years ago. From a female perspective not normally told,
together they complete a tapestry of the Viking Age. The attacks and pillaging
are still there but they are not the main focus. A common thread runs through
each tale, a family connection, that weaves their stories together. Motivated to
retell their adventures, Alfreda began writing fictionalized versions.
Primarily to introduce these women to her granddaughters, but also to anyone
with an interest in Icelandic culture. She writes under the pseudonym Alfreða
Jonsdottir.
https://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Dreams-Legacy-Alfre%C3%B0a-Jonsdottir-ebook/dp/B0BMVXS53H
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prophetic-dreams-alfre-a-jonsdottir/1142720681
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ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book.
ReplyDelete