The Half-Drowned King
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Matthew Lloyd Davies
About this listen
An exhilarating saga of the Vikings that conjures a brutal, superstitious, and thrilling ninth-century world and the birth of a kingdom - the debut installment in a historical literary trilogy that combines the bold imagination and sweeping narrative power of Game of Thrones, Vikings, and Outlander.
Centuries ago, in a blood-soaked land ruled by legendary gods and warring men, a prophecy foretold of a high king who would come to reign over all of the north....
Ragnvald Eysteinsson, the son and grandson of kings, grew up believing that he would one day take his dead father's place as chief of his family's lands. But, sailing home from a raiding trip to Ireland, the young warrior is betrayed and left for dead by men in the pay of his greedy stepfather, Olaf. Rescued by a fisherman, Ragnvald is determined to have revenge for his stepfather's betrayal, claim his birthright and the woman he loves, and rescue his beloved sister, Svanhild. Opportunity may lie with Harald of Vestfold, the strong young Norse warrior rumored to be the prophesied king. Ragnvald pledges his sword to King Harald, a choice that will hold enormous consequence in the years to come.
While Ragnvald's duty is to fight - and even die - for his honor, Svanhild must make an advantageous marriage, though her adventurous spirit yearns to see the world. Her stepfather, Olaf, has arranged a husband for her - a hard old man she neither loves nor desires. When the chance to escape Olaf's cruelty comes at the hands of her brother's arch rival, the shrewd young woman is forced to make a heartbreaking choice: family or freedom.
Set in a mystical and violent world defined by honor, loyalty, deceit, passion, and courage, The Half-Drowned King is an electrifying adventure that breathtakingly illuminates the Viking world and the birth of Scandinavia.
©2017 Linnea Hartsuyker (P)2017 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
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- Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Gwenhwyfar moves in a world where gods walk among their pagan worshipers, where nebulous visions warn of future perils, and where there are two paths for a woman: the path of the Blessing or the rarer path of the Warrior. Gwenhwyfar chooses the latter, giving up the power that she is born into. Yet the daughter of a king is never truly free to follow her own calling.
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Good Book, Distracting Narrator
- By P. Stover on 12-14-09
By: Mercedes Lackey
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Season of the Sun
- Viking Era, Book 1
- By: Catherine Coulter
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Dear Listener: Season of the Sun first appeared in 1991. Zarabeth, with hair as red as an Irish sunset, is chosen by Magnus Haraldsson, a Viking on a trading visit to York, to be his wife. She is both stunned and fascinated by this man’s bluntness, his arrogance, his absolute belief that she is meant to belong to him. He also makes her laugh and ultimately she gives him her trust, not only with her future but with that of her little sister, Lotti. But Zarabeth’s stepfather, Olav the Vain, has no intention of setting a bride price on Zarabeth.
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Sad, violent, depressing, abusive
- By MaineOne on 05-08-14
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The Bone Doll's Twin
- Tamir Triad, Book 1
- By: Lynn Flewelling
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine, Lynn Flewelling
- Length: 16 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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As people start to recall the Oracle's prophecy, Erius begins to quietly kill off his female relatives who pose the only threat to his monarchy. Constantly in fear for her life, Princess Ariani the King's sister, gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. But Ariani is married to Lord Rhius, the patron of the powerful wizard Iya, and Iya has sinister plans for the babes.
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Not a bad beginning, but . . .
- By bluestatereader on 12-29-10
By: Lynn Flewelling
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The Axe and the Throne
- Bounds of Redemption, Volume 1
- By: M. D. Ireman
- Narrated by: Matt Cowlrick
- Length: 22 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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It is a fool's errand, and Tallos knows it, but against his own better judgment and the pleading of his wife, Tallos has committed himself to a voyage north. His lifelong friend's eldest sons are said to have been taken by Northmen, a raiding people ill-reputed for their savagery. The boys are already dead, Tallos knows, and in that dark place of grim reasoning he wishes only to find their corpses quickly so he can fulfill his promise and return to his wife. Instead, he finds something far worse.
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A book of Good & Horrible things.
- By Amazon Customer on 11-28-18
By: M. D. Ireman
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The Serpent Sword
- The Bernicia Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Matthew Harffy
- Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Beobrand is compelled by his brother's almost-certain murder to embark on a quest for revenge in the war-ravaged kingdoms of Northumbria. The land is rife with danger, as warlords vie for supremacy and dominion. In the battles for control of the region, new oaths are made and broken, and loyalties are tested to the limits. With no patronage and no experience, Beobrand must form his own allegiances and learn to fight with sword and shield. Relentless in pursuit of his enemies, he faces challenges which transform him from a boy to a man.
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Amazing story, needs a warning in the description.
- By Lisa Schilling on 04-12-17
By: Matthew Harffy
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Fire from Heaven
- A Novel of Alexander the Great
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Roger May
- Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Alexander's beauty, strength and defiance were apparent from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the makings of a king. His mother, Olympias, and his father, King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their son's loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the cradle. His love for the youth Hephaistion taught him trust, while Aristotle's tutoring provoked his mind and Homer's Iliad fuelled his aspirations.
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Renewed Pleasure
- By James on 01-28-15
By: Mary Renault
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The Dark Mirror
- Bridei Trilogy #1
- By: Juliet Marillier
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 24 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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One bitter Midwinter's Eve, everything changes when Bridei finds a child on their doorstep - a child abandoned by the Fair Folk. It is the height of ill fortune to have truck with the Fair Folk, and all in the area counsel the babe's death. But Bridei sees an old and precious magic at work and, heedless of the danger, fights to save the child. Broichan is wary but relents, for Bridei must grow to be his own man and make his own decisions.
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disappointing
- By Binia on 11-18-08
By: Juliet Marillier
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Dragon's Child
- The King Arthur Trilogy, Book 1
- By: M. K. Hume
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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The future of Britain is at stake. In the turbulent times of the Dark Ages, the despotic Uther Pendragon, High King of Celtic Britain, is nearing death, and his kingdom is being torn apart by the squabbling of minor kings. But only one man can bring the Celts together as a nation and restore peace - King Arthur. Artorex (Arthur) doesn't yet seem like the great man he will grow into. We meet him as a shy, subservient twelve-year-old living in the foster home of Lord Ector, who took in Artorex as a babe to protect him from murderous kin.
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A Dry, Dull Tale, Marred in "Realism"
- By Steven on 09-21-15
By: M. K. Hume
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The Tiger's Daughter
- By: K Arsenault Rivera
- Narrated by: Caroline McLaughlin
- Length: 14 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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The Hokkaran Empire has conquered every land within their bold reach - but failed to notice a lurking darkness festering within the people. Now their border walls begin to crumble, and villages fall to demons swarming out of the forests. Away on the silver steppes, the remaining tribes of nomadic Qorin retreat and protect their own, having bartered a treaty with the empire, exchanging inheritance through the dynasties. It is up to two young warriors, raised together across borders since their prophesied birth, to save the world from the encroaching demons.
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Writing format that didn't work for this book
- By kara-karina on 02-24-18
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Oath of Fealty
- Paladin's Legacy, Book 1
- By: Elizabeth Moon
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck
- Length: 17 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter follows her dream of becoming a hero out of legend by running away to join the army. Military life and warfare aren't anything like she imagined - yet she holds to both her duty and her dreams. Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance, and Oath of Gold tell of her rise to become the paladin who saves a kingdom. In this new trilogy, Paks's former comrades in Duke Phelan's Company assume new roles and the story turns to follow their adventures.
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More Moon Magic
- By James on 04-20-10
By: Elizabeth Moon
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Lady Macbeth
- A Novel
- By: Susan Fraser King
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady Macbeth takes listeners into the heart of 11th-century Scotland, painting a vivid picture of Gruadh, the last female descendent of the country's most royal line. Married, pregnant, then quickly widowed, she is forced to wed her husband's murderer, the warlord Macbeth. Determined to protect her interests and those of her infant son, she vows to preserve her family's legacy at any cost.
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boring
- By Lanlady on 11-27-09
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Wars of the Roses
- Stormbird
- By: Conn Iggulden
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1437, the Lancaster king Henry VI ascends the throne of England after years of semi-peaceful regency. Named "The Lamb," Henry is famed more for his gentle and pious nature than his father's famous battlefield exploits; already, his dependence on his closest men has stirred whispers of weakness at court. A secret truce negotiated with France to trade British territories for a royal bride - Margaret of Anjou - sparks revolts across English territory.
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100% Fiction and 0% Real History
- By Mary Elizabeth Reynolds on 04-25-18
By: Conn Iggulden
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The Greener Shore
- A Novel of the Druids of Hibernia
- By: Morgan Llywelyn
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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After Julius Caesar triumphs over Gaul, the druid Ainvar and his three wives sail west to the brilliant green island of Hibernia. Here, Ainvar and his clan try to reestablish themselves.
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Captivating
- By PhoenixMark on 02-22-07
By: Morgan Llywelyn
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The Skystone
- Camulod Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Jack Whyte
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 21 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Everyone knows the story-how Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, how Camelot came to be, and about the power struggles that ultimately destroyed Arthur's dreams. But what of the time before Arthur and the forces that created him?
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Fascinating new series
- By Jim R. Whitt Jr. on 08-27-13
By: Jack Whyte
What listeners say about The Half-Drowned King
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Adam
- 08-17-19
Great Realistic Fiction
This novel was well written. This novel has a realistic/historical fiction vibe to it and how the Vikings created Norway. Something I really enjoyed about this novel is how realistic many of the characters were. How battle wounds and frostbite affect people for years. The individual perspectives on situations and the overall story is a great read.
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- CarlH
- 05-08-24
Engaging story, but not a "stand-alone" book
I will listen to the rest of the trilogy, because I hope that the story will be fully developed and resolved. This book ends abruptly and without a real resolution of any of the threads of the story so far. The performance was OK, but the delivery of many conversations seems out of sync with the characters and the context of the discussion.
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- Ivy
- 05-08-18
enjoyed listening to good story
good story. great narration exciting moments with a good twist. look forward to a continuation
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- Syd Young
- 08-28-18
Great Epic
Excellent narration of a great new epic to get lost in. I love that it followed a brother and sister who had to make their own paths.
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- Sandy
- 02-13-18
C
Excellent Viking fiction! Enjoyed the way the author told the story from different character perspectives. Well done!
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- Jonnette Nielsen
- 08-20-24
The excitement
I loved it all really good book kept my attention didn't want to stop listening.
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- Leonard
- 10-06-17
Really Good First Novel
I'm a sucker for a history or novel set in the Viking era. This is one of the better Viking historical novels. This is not the typical cover-to-cover blood and gore story, but has a bit more historical accuracy and balance The story is well developed and the narration was great.
Very much looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Jesse Flores
- 10-05-22
An engaging tale of relationships
I must say this was not what I expected going into this book. I had my preconceptions on the Vikings and their culture, I was hoping for an action packed adventure of a young boy becoming a man but what I got was a story of relationships, family, love, politics and kings. Yes there were war and battles but I stayed for the play like drama and the unexpected turns that came about. This is a very good foundation for an epic tale and I’m excited to see where this ends! I recommend this for anyone wanting to sink their teeth into a culture, and time to really pay attention to the details.
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- Faunus
- 09-21-20
Wanted to love this story, but was disappointed.
I always love a good viking story and I loved that this book steered away from the pillaging, plundering, and the battles normally associated with them. This book covered more on their politics and relationships, and I loved that it even touched on their beliefs and myths. I saw other reviews and I find I am the opposite of their feelings on this book. For me Linnea Hartsuyker does a good job on this story, but I would have probably enjoyed it more physically reading it. I just found Matthew Lloyd Davies to be distracting and his narration threw me off the story with some of the voices he used for the character's. I didn't feel I was listening to a story about the Norse people, especially Viking men. I understand the Norse weren't always rough and gruff and all that, but when Davies was narrating it felt like the character's belonged in an English Court or came out of a Pride or Prejudice book. There were a few times that Davies really hit it with a few of the character's, and I did enjoy his voice, but I just feel it wasn't the right voice for this book.
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6 people found this helpful
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- TC
- 04-06-18
I was disappointed
This is a review of the Audible version.
I guess I was just expecting more from these characters; I became frustrated with Ragnavald's and Svanhild's constant second-guessing of their EVERY single decision. Other reviewers have raved about the author's nuanced portrayal of the brother and sister; I found them tedious. Ragnavald's, in the throes of self-doubt and introspection, suddenly and boldly challenges some rival of his, completely going against his own advice. It often felt like his thoughts and his actions were in direct contradiction, and as a result he comes across as bumbling.
And Svanhild! Yikes. I couldn't. I just couldn't see her as the indomitable, strong, self-possessed Viking woman that I'm sure Hartsuyker meant her to be. Instead, I saw her as a tease. On the one hand she sees her own mother as weak-willed for having taken Olaf as her second husband, yet she herself resorts to coquettish behavior of the worse sort in order to gain protection from men she thinks will be of help to her. She would rather resort to running away from her home and living in the wild than see herself trapped in a marriage not of her choosing, then she bargains herself off to become Solvi's second wife, then acts a pouting, petulant child on her wedding night. What exactly was she expecting? Instead of seeing her as self-determined woman who chooses her own path, I saw her as more of an impulsive teenager who bounces from one near-catastrophe of her own making to the next, with little concept of the real danger she puts herself and others through. The character I enjoyed the most was Solvi; he was, while by no means a romantic, actually quite charming in his own way. His treatment of Svanhild, and even Ragnavald, to an extent, could have been much harsher.
And did every single character have to be a descendant of kings? How many kings does one kingdom need?
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13 people found this helpful