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by Hilmarj Torgrim (Author)
Where Oaths Outweigh Axes, Rollo Lives On
Born Hrólfr in the stormy fjords of M re, a second son too large for a horse and too proud for silence, Rollo of Normandy carved his name into the bones of Europe. The Rivals of Rollo is a sweeping, blood-rich journey from the windswept islands of Scotland to the gilded courts of Frankish kings. Cast into exile after the murder of his brother, Rollo forges a path through raiding, rebellion, uneasy alliances, and reluctant crowns.
From the siege of Paris to the forging of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, this vivid tale explores Rollo's defiance, the fire-forged relationships with Poppa and Gisela, his dream-haunted baptism, and the uneasy birth of a new people-the Normans. As Duke, warrior, father, and symbol of uneasy peace, Rollo walked between gods and kings, shadow and state.
Drawing from near-contemporary chronicles, this novel unearths the raw humanity behind the myth. The Rivals of Rollo is not just the story of how a Viking became a duke-but how a man became a legacy.
Includes a detailed historical timeline at the end to help separate fact from legend.
"A stunning and muscular work of historical fiction. You feel the axe in your hands and the weight of a crown on your brow." Sherman Hutchinson, Literary Critic
