What did you like best about Viking Warrior? What did you like least?
The thing I liked most about the book was the authors ‘note’ at the end, where he talked about Viking history and different real life events that he fit the book around. It is very well researched. It really made me want to learn more about Vikings and their history. I might go seek out a non-fiction book on the subject now.

What I liked least? The story wasn’t overly interesting in it’s own right. the main character was too wonderful/good at everything. 14 year old slave who (despite having chores to do as a slave) has been taught latin, blacksmith skills and expert bowmanship and hunting. Then when he starts learning the sword he picks it up extremely quickly and can soon beat an expert warrior. There seems to be nothing he can’t do.

The pacing of the book is also off. So much is told by others rather than shown, And as we get to the end of the book towards a climax (which wasn’t well built up to or foreshadowed) it stalls. The ‘climax’ comes early and we are left with another story told by someone else (a new character out of nowhere). At that point I couldn’t care about that story. After that the ending just peters out.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Hays’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I’ve listened to several of Jeff Hays’ other books. He is a great narrator and I enjoy his work. He provides varied accents and voices for each character. He puts in extra effort to sound production )music and other stuff). Certainly would pick up other books he does.

My only complaint (which I have made previously) is some sound effects on top of the narration. In this book someone spits and Jeff added the sound of him spitting over/under the words. I know some people like this sort of additions. I generally don’t. So it’s more a personal preference thing and not something “wrong” per se.

He also pronounced ‘roof’ as ‘ruff’, like a fake dog bark. This is not a problem. It just amused me every single time he said the word.

Did Viking Warrior inspire you to do anything?
I might go find some Viking history books now
Any additional comments?
The book title also strikes me as extremely bland. Its about a warrior who is a viking, so “Viking Warrior”. Lots of thought went in there. But then again, as I write this “American Sniper” is going gangbusters in cinema, so maybe the “what you see is what you get” naming is what people want.