Shieldwall

"I am an emotional reader. If some people have lost, or cannot, become so engrossed in the stories they read to the point of laughing or crying, well, I can, and just let me tell you this: Justin Hill is today’s Tolkien. You don’t believe me, I know, but you should and I will tell you why. I have this special little place in my head, and it looks like a Valhalla for writers. All the best authors sit at the same long table feasting and telling each other stories. Justin Hill sits at that table right next to Tolkien. Now let me tell you just how Dr. Hill won that seat. On a fine day as per usual, I was fumbling for new books on Amazon looking for more of that amazing historical fiction and I stumbled upon Justin Hill’s author page. I opened the preview for ‘Viking Fire’ (I was not yet aware it was the second book in the series), and I began reading the introduction. Next thing I know the physical world around me went, poof! “Okay,” I told myself, “This is promising… this is really promising. Let me just read on a little more…” and as I did, I also began stuffing my travel bag for the 11th century, when suddenly I read the opening line of PART 1:<br/><br/> “Harald Hardrada: Here, man, give me your hand. I will not kill you…”<br/><br/>I could be wrong but I think I physically reached out for Harald’s hand, and maybe I did because after that line I was gone (and I hardly cared I’d left my luggage behind!). Harald Hardrada was talking to me, he was summoning me, and I had no other choice but to follow him and listen. From there all I remember is reading poetry. It just flowed one word after another. I wanted to stop because I wished to enjoy that preview as slowly as possible, but I just couldn’t help myself and the preview reached its end. And so I just stood there staring at the last lines, blinking, breathless, and yearning for more. I immediately ordered Shieldwall and Viking Fire physical copies and even grabbed their digital copies. No regrets.<br/><br/>This is a review for Shieldwall, but you can find my review of book 2 on Viking Fire's page. Shieldwall is the first entry in Hill’s Viking trilogy (he is yet to release book three but he has confirmed he is writing it!). Shieldwall met all my needs and wants: historical realism, a gripping plot, characters that came alive, Anglo-Saxon poetry even! It was classy and gritty. The perfect combination of intelligent, Tolkien-like read, but not one afraid to show the grittier, romance-less side of everyday life. Shieldwall narrates the events that occurred during the 11th century Anglo-Saxon England through the life and eyes of Godwin Wulfnothson, son of Cid Wulfnoth, and right hand to the brave King Edmund Ironside. I loved how Hill started the first few chapters through Cid Wulfnoth’s eyes for he is a great character and his actions are what defined Godwin’s life story, hence putting the whole story in motion, and the moved back in time showing Godwin’s childhood in which Godwin is only a boy when he finds himself crushed by his father’s actions and is abruptly forced into manhood. Godwin’s resentment and love for his father will make him into a real-life hero and guide him throughout his life like a banner bearer carries his lord’s banner ahead. Shieldwall is a testament to his bravery and that of all the brave men of England that for better or worst found the courage to fight and dream for a better future, but also a reminder that corruption and cowardice are part of history and the real world, and more often than not are the preferred choices despite the great efforts the braves put forward. It’s a disheartening reality, but reality altogether. Through its 400 pages, Shieldwall had me crying, smiling, and laughing, yes I said smiling and laughing because Shieldwall has it all despite the dark settings. Godwin is an amazing, three-dimensional, real-life hero and an utterly compelling character, with dreams, fears, and demons. Justin Hill must have known him in a past life because I am convinced Hill’s Godwin must have been the real Godwin and I will not have it any different. The author’s prose is beautiful and evocative. The battle scenes were pure perfection, long, descriptive, realistic. Some reviewers disliked the long battle scenes, but I loved them and wouldn’t want them any shorter. I am a lover of history and battles and when I read historical fiction what I want is to feel as if I am right there with my characters. I want to see the enemy’s snarling faces, hear the swinging and clinging of their swords. I want to smell the dirt and gore of battle. I want to feel the terrain and blood dry under my fingernails. Hills does all of this and more, and I hope his writing will stay true to this in all of his books. Again, Dr. Hill is a true skald or scope, whatever you prefer, matters not, for the moment you lay your eyes on one of his pages you are called upon to gather around a fire and listen in awe as he grabs his literary harps and sings his story. Justin Hill is the new Tolkien. You still don’t agree? Suit yourself, he is the new Tolkien and I will fight you over it with my Nægling if I must! *winks* (If you wish to know more about Nægling read Shieldwall!) 5 STARS !!"