Publisher: Ocelot Press
Published: 8th April 2022
Page Length: 293 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
A brutal Viking raid heralds the dawn of a new, powerful dynasty – the House of Normandy
Neustria, Kingdom of the West Franks
AD 890
Fourteen-year-old Poppa’s life changes when Northmen land near Bayeux. Count Bérengar, her father, submits to them, and she is handfasted to Hrólfr, the Northmen’s heathen leader, as part of their agreement.
To her relief, Hrólfr leaves immediately in search of further conquest, only returning to claim her years later. In the face of retaliating Franks, they flee to East Anglia, where she gives birth to their son and daughter.
When Hrólfr and Poppa return to reclaim Bayeux, his new campaign strikes at the heart of Frankish power, and King Charles of the West Franks offers him a pact he cannot refuse. In exchange for vast tracts of land in Neustria, Hrólfr must convert to Christianity and accept marriage to Gisela, the king’s illegitimate daughter.
Poppa’s world shatters. She remains in Bayeux, with her daughter, Adela. When Gisela arrives one day, demanding she hand over Adela, to be raised in Rouen, Poppa’s patience is at an end. But Gisela makes for a dangerous enemy, and only one woman will survive their confrontation high up on the cliffs.
Will Poppa live to witness the dawn of a new era?
ASCENT is the first in a new series about the early women of the House of Normandy – women whose stories have been forgotten through time.
Until now!
Readers of Viking and medieval fiction will enjoy ASCENT, a fictional account of the life of Poppa of Bayeux, handfasted wife of Rollo the Viking.
Trigger warning: Loss of a child. Some battle and fighting scenes.
Holding his axe aloft, he let out a roar. It echoed across the beach as men around him raised their weapons.
He grinned as he strode up a narrow path that led to the top of the cliffs rising from the shore. Once at the top, they saw the thatched roofs of Bayeux in the distance ahead.
Ripe for the picking.
The runes told him it was his destiny to conquer Neustria. Hrólfr only had to seize it.
Easter Sunday, April 12th, AD 890, was a day Lady Poppa of Bayeux would never forget. For it was the day Hrólfr and his raiders came to Bayeux. But this was no typical raid, because once they had taken everything worth taking, they stayed.
Poppa was determined to remain aloof to Hrólfr, even when she was forced to marry him by her own father. But Hrólfr is a restless warrior and he had grander plans than Bayeux. He would leave his young wife at Bayeux and carry on with his plan. But as the years rolled on and Hrólfr stayed away, Poppa could not help but feel a little abandoned.
When Hrólfr finally returns to Bayeux he finds Poppa has grown into a beautiful woman and one he would be proud to call his wife. But as they wait for their first born to arrive, war once again comes calling Hrólfr's name...
Ascent, the first book in the House of Normandy series by Cathie Dunn, depicts the mesmerising untold tale of Lady Poppa from Bayeux.
The beauty as well as the austerity of this era has been painstakingly portrayed. The harsh landscape, where the ocean meets the land, is utterly captivating. The portrayal of the climate, illness, war, peace, love, hate, and the passage of time conveys a strong sense of realism throughout this book. The backdrop of Danish raiding parties, a king's capriciousness, and the dominant presence of the Church add depth to the characters whom the readers meet in this novel. Dunn's ability to capture historical authenticity in her novels is evident in her writing, and this book is no exception. This novel is truly captivating because of its meticulous attention to historical detail.
The reader meets Lady Poppa of Bayeux when she is just fourteen years old. As the daughter of Count Bérengar of Bayeux, she has grown up in privilege but she still has the commoner's touch. Unfortunately, her youthful days are left far behind her the day the Norsemen come calling. Her fear of what will happen to not only herself but her people is palpable. It is a fear that Dunn has cleverly exploited to make the reader share the emotion as well. Even though she is young, and is facing such insurmountable odds, Poppa is determined to protect the people of Bayeux as best she can, and if that means submitting to Hrólfr rule, then so be it. But, she is no pushover, neither does she let Hrólfr dictate to her. She accepts her situation for what it is, but she does not become bitter or angry as others in this novel do. Poppa is an exceedingly likeable character who is brave, honest and unfailingly kind.
Although much of Lady Poppa's life has been lost to history, she finally has a voice. Dunn has breathed new life into this almost forgotten heroine and she has done so in such a way that is deserving of recognition. Dunn reminds her readers that although history primarily focuses on the men of this era, the women were just as formidable, just as brave, and just as deserving of having their stories told.
Anyone who knows Viking history will recognise the name of Hrólfr, or Rollo as he is now commonly known. In life, he was a man who secured a permanent foothold on Frankish soil and went on to become a Count. In this novel, he is both of those things, but he is also a man who understands both love and hate. The brutality and lack of mercy of the Norse invaders have been well documented in both historical accounts and fiction alike, and thanks to the popularity of Michael Hirst’s Emmy Award-winning television series, Vikings, there has been a renewed interest in Hrólfr's life. Dunn’s Hrólfr is an undoubtedly brave warrior and a respected leader. He honours tradition, dividing the treasure and people taken between his men, but in Dunn's depiction, he does not condone rape. Dunn's Hrólfr is extremely likeable, much like Hirst's Ragnar. He is ambitious, he wants to make a name for himself, but he is also a kind lover and considerate father. There are moments in this novel where Hrólfr's desperation to carve his name in history seemingly overrides his common sense, but as is the way with some rash decisions, Hrólfr pays a heavy price. But, the reader cannot truly dislike him, even when he does not deserve the reader's respect!
Hrólfr's struggle with religion was an interesting side story in this novel. He is religious when it suits him, and although he holds fast to the Gods of his birth, he sees the political merit in worshipping the Christian God. He does draw on the strength of the Gods from time to time, and he does often wonder if he has upset them in some way, but then he begins to consider if perhaps the Christian God is stronger. This internal religious struggle is very telling of his character as he is often conflicted in this novel. As in life, Dunn's Hrólfr is a fascinating character and his depiction in this story is utterly sublime.
Whether a historical or legendary character, Gisela of France certainly makes her presence in this story known. Gisela may be the daughter of a king but she is very easy to dislike for Dunn has made it so. Her spoilt princess attitude, her longing for Paris, and her violence towards her servants is in stark contrast to Poppa's gentle ways. But in truth, she is but a pawn in this medieval game of thrones. Dunn has given her readers an antagonist in Gisela. She is a character that is very easy to despise as she has no redeemable qualities.
Ascent (House of Normandy Book 1) by Cathie Dunn is the type of book you must recommend to everyone you know so you can have lengthy discussions about it over coffee. This novel is perfect for book club groups and will definitely interest fans of high-quality historical fiction set in the Viking era.
Grab your copy HERE!
Cathie Dunn
Cathie is an Amazon-bestselling author of historical fiction, dual-timeline, mystery, and romance. She loves to infuse her stories with a strong sense of place and time, combined with a dark secret or mystery – and a touch of romance. Often, you can find her deep down the rabbit hole of historical research…
In addition, she is also a historical fiction book promoter with The Coffee Pot Book Club, a novel-writing tutor, and a keen reviewer on her blog, Ruins & Reading.
After having lived in Scotland for almost two decades, Cathie is now enjoying the sunshine in the south of France with her husband, and her rescued pets, Ellie Dog & Charlie Cat.
She is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Richard III Society, the Alliance of Independent Authors, and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Thank you so very much for your wonderful review. I'm delighted you enjoyed Poppa and Hrólfr's story.
ReplyDeleteCathie xx