The Whale Road By Robert Low
Give a Prayer to Oden, the Northmen Sail Again
Apr 20, 2009 Tim Bolitho-Jones
The first chapter of Robert Low's The Whale Road is a badly written mess. Opening with lead character Orm Rurikson waking up on the deck of a longboat, it quickly devolves into a convoluted mix of flashbacks and interludes, all while Orm engages in conversation with his fellow Vikings. With no clear indication as to what is happening or has already happened, it loses focus very quickly. Low tries too hard to cram as much backstory as possible and it winds up a confusing, awkward introduction.
But don't put down The Whale Road just yet
Stick with it though, for the author recovers rapidly from his initial stumble and the novel unexpectedly turns into an impressive debut. It tells the story of the Oathsworn, a band of Viking warriors bound to each other by a code of loyalty who embark on a grisly quest to find the lost treasure of Attila the Hun.
Fans of historical fiction have been well served with Viking stories of late, but Low immediately stands out from the pack, especially for the incredible amount of research he has put into his tale. The descriptions of the old religions, the mechanics of sailing a Longboat and even the character's names have an immaculate level of detail, lending a strong air of authenticity to the proceedings. So much so that it begins to feel as though Low might even be a Viking himself, telling a story of his own ancient past.
Action, adventure and some really messy violence
Furthermore, The Whale Road is a lot more of an action-adventure than the typical war-focused fiction of the genre. The journey of the Oathsworn takes them all over Europe and into the East, meaning they get to face a myriad of foes along the way. There are skirmishes with rival Vikings, a high speed pursuit through a crowded town and clashes with plains horsemen, along with plenty of Indiana Jones-style tomb raiding to keep the pace moving.
This is no Boy's Own jaunt though and the further they travel, the darker the story becomes. Watching friends die and others betray them, the Oathsworn begin to go mad and things get increasingly tragic, none being able to escape the fate that the Norns weave for them.
Low doesn't exactly mince his words when it comes to the combat either and they pack a grimly visceral punch. His experience as a war correspondent has clearly influenced his writing and he has an undeniable skill at making the violence as dirty as possible. A siege outside a walled city for instance is shockingly brutal and his tendency to wipe out established characters with little fanfare makes war seem all the more futile.
The Fate Of Norns Awaits
Undeniably then, Low is an author to watch and at the time of writing, two sequels to The Whale Road have already been published, so his career is certainly taking off. A self-confessed Viking nut, he knows his subject inside-out and despite the early fumbles, this is an involving and highly rewarding debut. Fans of Cornwell, Scarrow and Iggulden should make some space on the bookshelves as there is much to enjoy here.
Harper, 2007, ISBN 978-0-00-721530-0
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