Release Day Review by DMac: A-Viking, by Kiernan Kelly

A-Viking, by Kiernan Kelly
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: October 19, 2016

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

2nd Edition

What’s a Viking to do when he ends up on a Florida beach, surrounded by a world he doesn’t understand, with a hyperactive stockbroker as his only guide? Go back to Chase’s hotel, naturally. Chase thinks Bjorn is eccentric at best, a lunatic at worst, or just maybe the real thing: a Viking from the days of yore. It isn’t easy for Bjorn to admit, but he needs Chase’s help to navigate the confusing modern age. While Chase is trying to clean Bjorn up and help him fit in, Bjorn’s sworn enemy also makes the trek through time. Jorund is eager to plunder this new land and finish the job of killing Bjorn’s family line, all in one blow. Bjorn and Chase will have to set aside their vast differences and work together if either of them wants to survive.

First Edition published by Torquere Press, 2007

M/M Pairing
Gay Characters
Science Fiction
Time Travel
Historical
Novella

This one is kind of hard to rate/review because it is a bit silly (on purpose, I hope…). I gave this a three on the usual scale of rating things, but it was highly enjoyable for what it is. For example, my favorite quote comes from Bjorn right after they get it on: “All hail Bjorn the Conqueror.”

If you want to enjoy the book as the ridiculous time travel fluff that it is, you need to ignore the fact that Bjorn speaks/understands modern English. I am not going to get into the whole Germanic/Old English lesson on here. You’re welcome.

All you need to do is sit back and ignore the random stuff your brain is going to want to connect to logic and facts. Just push that aside. Bjorn time traveled because of Norse Gods and an amulet, this is not Lord of the Rings levels of mythos up in here.

This book has nary a plot to it, so if you’re looking for something more than a hot shower scene and a vague time travel mention, don’t bother. However, this book is a good one if you want a light, kind of ridiculous, read that isn’t poorly written and has a sweet, happy ending.

Kiernan Kelly lives in Florida among the alligators and palmetto bugs with her husband and a Shar Pei-Labrador puppy who thinks she’s a person (the dog, not Kiernan. Kiernan knows she’s a person. At least, she is after she’s had her daily dose of caffeine). Kiernan spends most of her time writing gay erotic romance while chained to a computer in the dark recesses of her office, which her children have dubbed, “The Gay Cave.”

You can find her online here.