Rivals of Rollo

Where Oaths Outweigh Axes, Rollo Lives OnBorn Hrólfr in the stormy fjords of Møre, a second son too large for a horse and too proud for silence, Rollo of Normandy carved his name into the bones of Europe. The Rivals of Rollo is a sweeping, blood-rich journey from the windswept islands of Scotland to the gilded courts of Frankish kings. Cast into exile after the murder of his brother, Rollo forges a path through raiding, rebellion, uneasy alliances, and reluctant crowns.From the siege of Paris to the forging of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, this vivid tale explores Rollo's defiance, the fire-forged relationships with Poppa and Gisela, his dream-haunted baptism, and the uneasy birth of a new people—the Normans. As Duke, warrior, father, and symbol of uneasy peace, Rollo walked between gods and kings, shadow and state.Drawing from near-contemporary chronicles, this novel unearths the raw humanity behind the myth. The Rivals of Rollo is not just the story of how a Viking became a duke—but how a man became a legacy.Includes a detailed historical timeline at the end to help separate fact from legend."e;A stunning and muscular work of historical fiction. You feel the axe in your hands and the weight of a crown on your brow."e; Sherman Hutchinson, Literary Critic