Warrior Prince

Name: Warrior Prince
Rating: 4.58 (1625 reviews)

by J. C. Duncan Book 1 in the Last Viking series.

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In 1030, the young Harald Sigurdsson is driven into exile after the death of his half-brother, King Olaf. Carrying a claim to Norway but possessing little beyond a loyal warband, he seeks refuge in the lands of Kievan Rus and enters the court of Yaroslav the Wise. There Harald must learn to survive foreign politics, earn wealth and reputation in battle, and decide which companions can be trusted as he begins the long journey towards kingship.

Exile becomes Harald’s education in kingship. Yaroslav’s court offers patronage but also makes clear that a landless prince survives only while he remains useful, while service abroad gives Harald the wealth and followers needed for any future return to Norway. The novel places his early career within the mobile political world linking Scandinavia, Rus and Byzantium.