The Lords of the Wind

The Saga of Hasting the Avenger, Book 1

By: C.J. Adrien

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

"For indeed the Frankish nation, which was crushed by the avenger Hasting, was full of filthy uncleanness. Treasonous and oath-breaking, they were deservedly condemned; unbelievers and faithless, they were justly punished." (Dudo of St. Quentin, Gesta Normannorum)

Orphaned as a child by a blood feud and sold as a slave to an exiled chieftain in Ireland, the boy Hasting had little hope of surviving to adulthood. The gods had other plans. A ship arrived at his master's longphort carrying a man who would alter the course of his destiny and take him under his wing to teach him the ways of the Vikings. His is a story of a boy who was a slave, who became a warlord, and who helped topple an empire.  

A supposed son of Ragnar Lodbrok, and referred to in the Gesta Normannorum as the Scourge of the Somme and Loire, his life exemplified the qualities of the ideal Viking. Join author and historian C. J. Adrien on an adventure that explores the coming of age of the Viking Hasting, his first love, his first great trials, and his first betrayal.

©2019 Christopher Jonathan Adrien (P)2020 Tantor

Heading is said to be both optional & required!

A long tale of betrayal, deceit, revenge & war. The wrll-constructrd plot drags at times but is, overall, entertaining. The narrator is talented but tells the story without oral characterization of the key players.

Boring, will not,get,the next edition

I am not interested in getting g the next book in the series...very dull...
Listening, although the narrator did his best.nothing exciting here.

my first Adrien book

I very much enjoyed this audiobook. The story is most.interesting well written and very well read.

Awesome book

Loved the story. Anyone who didnt or couldnt listen obviously sucks. Great voices for the book too.

A referral from a friend that didn't let me down.

This book was full of adventure and had me on the edge at every chapter. Can't wait for the continuation.

Historical fiction

I enjoy first person narratives. Looking forward to future books in the series. Please have them available in audio.

A descent story Well worth a credit!

This is the first book I have listened to from this author. I was impressed with the well rounded storyline. The only thing that was a little too unbelievable was how many times the main character survives life and death situations. He is like a cat with nine lives. I should say Wolf and not cat. This is a good listen and I will be moving on to the next installment.

Great Story

Outstanding characters that you can not help but connect with and see what happens next

Excellent.

Looks like I've added a new series to my TBR list. It's well worth it.

hidden Jemima for me.

I knew nothing about this book or the story. I like more action than is in this book, but the story and the narrator more than made up for the lack of action. I liked it and will get the rest of the series.

great story

I'm very impressed with this author and the narration. i hope book 2 as good.

Great Historical Fiction

So good to find a historical fiction novel that isn't obsessed and bloated with constant battles and more focused on the reasons for conflict and the cultures involved. Narrator was also excellent

adventures for love

the book got better as it went further into his adventure. he struggled to find his love after his village has been ransacked by Danes and his love is taken as a slave. He (hastings) uses his wits to get from different adventures. He is young and has to learn quickly. l am looking forward to the 2nd book.

Interesting, but not compelling reading

A good basic storyline, but somehow it does not deliver. Not sure that any of the characters are likeable enough for me to care about what happens to them. The main character seems to be very unlucky for all of this to have happened to him.

Strange performance

There were two problems with this. The first was the difficult to listen to, over dramatised performance. The second was the liberal sprinkling of historical research which were thrust in wilynily. I really couldn’t finish it.

Boring

It’s a bit like an under 12 yr old version of a historical novel. All fights scenes are glossed over any tension is muted and I just found the whole story boring. Time seems to jump with no explanation and the rise of a boy in a strange land is a little unbelievable - or not even explained. It’s a shame because had the punches not been pulled it would have been much more interesting.