Garth Pettersen has taken great care to honor the historical realism of the Viking age.
It is difficult being the middle son of a polarizing king. Some want to honor you and others want to slit your throat. Harald ‘Harefoot’ takes this all in stride. Rather than fight for his father’s title or bribe people into submission, Harald has a different plan. He works at being a devoted husband and a humble, hardworking man. He is a good listener, a fair man, and is generally well liked. Will Harald’s charisma be enough to ward off those who seek to bring harm to his family?
It is abundantly clear that Garth Pettersen has taken great care to honor the historical realism of the Viking age as far as possible. While a delightful fictional tale, The Cold Hearth proves educational about the customs and trends of the day. For example, few readers are likely familiar with fertility treatments of some 1000 years ago in Europe, yet The Cold Hearth deals with this and many other issues in an informative and entertaining way. To lighten the mood, Pettersen adds in witty dialogue. He handles delicate situations, such as sex, death and aging, with a tone that is unusual and refreshing in our modern world.
The Cold Hearth truly is a treat for the mind and a balm for the soul.
