Hammer of the Gods

Sometimes to make a history book more interesting to the average reader, writers will write it in a fictional style of writing. They’ll include a good amount of history and sources and references, but with the style of reading a fiction book with quotes to appeal to readers who might struggle with the subject. This is what we get when we learn about the life of Viking Olaf Tryggvason who lived in the 900s and led many raids on mainland Europe and islands around Norway. His story is one of conquest, plunder, raids and many battles, but the actual facts that have survived are not as well known compared to leaders in other parts of Europe of this time. One of the parts that is most frustrating about the so-called “Dark Ages” is that it is called that because many of the sources about it no longer exist.

While many people might find this style of writing interesting and engaging, I don’t, and the entire work feels more like historical fiction than a true history book.