The Viking Epic You Need to Read Among Historical Fiction Books
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Born a Viking: Blot might be your next unforgettable read if you love historical fiction books that blend ancient mysticism with emotional depth. Set in the harsh yet spiritually rich world of Viking Age Scandinavia, this first book in Riccardo Polacci’s epic series pulls readers into a haunting coming-of-age story. We follow young Sigurd as he embarks on a sacred pilgrimage that transforms into a brutal awakening—one filled with secret warrior societies, Norse gods, and a family legacy soaked in blood and betrayal.
Think Four Winds meets Norse legend—a raw, atmospheric historical fiction novel perfect for your book club, reading challenge, or next favorite add to your book lists. In this full review, I’m breaking down what I really enjoyed, how it compares to popular fiction books by authors like Kristin Hannah and Ruta Sepetys, and why Born a Viking: Blot deserves a spot on your Goodreads shelf.
Title: Born a Viking: Blot( Born a Viking Saga, 1)
Author: Riccardo Polacci
Publisher: Independently Published
Format: eBook
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: September 22, 2023
Pages: 273
Star Rating: 3 stars
Spice Rating: 0 chili peppers
The journey is part of the process
When author Riccardo Polacci first reached out with Born a Viking: Blot, I said yes without hesitation. A Viking saga steeped in Norse mythology, shaman warriors devoted to Odin, and spiritual awakenings across Age Scandinavia? That sounded like the kind of historical fiction book I could sink my teeth into.
The novel opens with Sigurd, a nine-year-old boy, on a spiritual pilgrimage to Uppsala. His father, Eirik, isn’t just a fierce protector—he’s a legend, shrouded in mystery, part of a secret group of outcast shaman warriors. The concept is rich. There’s something almost mystical in the way Polacci writes—his prose carries the kind of heaviness that suggests everything means something, even if you don’t know what yet.
You look like a wolf to me. You could be known as ‘The Wolf’!”
But here’s where the review turns.
While Born a Viking reads almost like a memoir, which could work in a tale of myth and memory, I found myself torn. On one hand, it’s immersive. On the other hand, it’s hard to follow. Sigurd navigates treacherous emotional and spiritual terrain, but the story itself feels like it’s still deciding what it wants to be. The plot threads—if there are any—lie scattered like runestones with no clear path to follow.
About 50% in, I found myself asking: What’s the point of it all? We’re told—over and over—that Eirik is one of Odin’s wolves, but we rarely see it. There’s one impactful moment where his power is shown, but it feels like too little, too late. For a story centered on becoming a Viking, Sigurd’s own development feels muted. His peers begin their rite of passage while he lingers in the shadows, and by the time Sigurd navigates treacherous paths to start his journey, I honestly just didn’t care anymore.
“He also struggles to understand other people’s feelings. You see, Sigurd, every person is different, and every person feels differently.”
There’s a brutal murder that unfolds, hinting at deeper conspiracies that should have shaken the earth beneath Sigurd’s feet. Instead, it felt like a slow burn that never ignited. What truths lie beneath Eirik? The book doesn’t answer that—not in a way that satisfies. With over 45% feeling like exposition, it became hard to stay invested.
I wanted this story to pulse with the classic fiction energy of an origin myth—an epic of legacy, transformation, and identity. What I got was a meditation on what could happen, not what does. While the writing style shows promise, and the author Riccardo Polacci clearly has a vision, it gets lost in the execution.
This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and maybe the payoff comes later. Though it isn’t meant to read as a standalone, it felt too much like wading through fog for me to continue the trilogy. And eventually, I had to walk away. The rhythm is steady—like a drum at a tribal gathering—but the beat lands too late. And that’s where the story loses me.
“All-father?” I asked, amazed that he would present to me once more.
Thank you so much to author Riccardo Polacci for sending me an e-copy of Born a Viking:Blot for review.
Not every book hits the same for every reader, and that’s okay. While Born a Viking: Blot didn’t fully land for me, I can absolutely see the audience this Viking historical fiction novel will resonate with.
If you love slow-burn historical fiction books that take their time building atmosphere over action…
If you’re drawn to spiritual themes, mythic undertones, and stories that feel like whispered legends passed through generations…
Or you’re intrigued by the inner lives of shaman warriors, devoted to Odin, and the psychological complexity of a boy standing in the shadow of a larger-than-life father…
Then Born a Viking: Blot may become a story that quietly captivates you.
Especially if you’re planning to commit to the full trilogy, you may appreciate the world-building and the groundwork author Riccardo Polacci lays here. This one’s for the readers who enjoy fiction that simmers, who don’t need every question answered in the first act, and who find beauty in the becoming, not just the battle.
Don’t forget to shop at your local indie bookstore when you pick up a copy of Born a Viking: Blot.
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