Book Review: The Doomsong Voyage by J. G. Harlond

 

The Doomsong Voyage
By J. G. Harlond

Publication Date: 9th January 2025

Publisher: Penmore Press

Page Length: 250 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Long ago in the Cold North, Finn, a young tale-maker, encounters the Wanderer, Master Odo in a Baltic island tavern. Master Odo tells Finn there will soon be a terrible climate catastrophe and tasks him with sailing to the Middle Sea to locate the absent Volsung clan leader, Goran Ice-heart. Ice-heart must return to the North to lead his people to a warmer land before an imminent volcanic eruption. Master Odo gives Finn the legendary Doomsong sword, which he must hand to Ice-heart as the rightful clan leader. Finn also receives a grave warning: he will meet obstacles and dangers on his voyage, and a powerful, fire-loving enemy will try to prevent his success. Finn’s voyage is hindered by a sell-sword named Beorn Wolfman, who leads Finn to Heorot of the Grendel legend. Finn’s life is in jeopardy, but he has help from a Katranina, a strange girl with ginger hair and amber-green eyes, who is often nearby in times of danger. Their voyage continues to Hispania, where Finn comes into conflict with Viking raiders and is then captured in the Barbalus emirate and used to bait a trap to catch Ice-heart.

The land has grown infertile. The winter seems to stretch on indefinitely. The sun ceases to fight for its share of the sky. A dire prophecy predicts that a mountain will erupt, leading to the destruction of all who remain on the island. There is one man who may lead the island’s inhabitants to a new land, who might convince them of the incoming danger, and find them somewhere new to settle, somewhere that the sun might shine down on plentiful crops.

Finn may not be the right man for the job, but his heritage places him in a crucial position to embark on a quest to find the one who can save his people. His white hair marks him as a descendant of the Volsung lineage. When an old Wanderer known as Master Odo approaches him with the mission to locate Goran Ice-Heart and compel him to return to lead their people to safety, Finn has no choice but to accept the task.

Doomsong and Truthteller might be a sword of stories, a fantastical item heard of only in tales of old, but Finn is presented with the sword itself and sent along his way. “The Doomsong Voyage” by J.G. Harlond follows Finn as he navigates his quest to save the people of his homeland, sword in hand.

An unlikely hero, Finn is not eager to jump into the task. He has never been one to put in the effort needed to make himself useful. His cousins see him as a burden, and he sees no issue with allowing them to do all the work on the farm while he moves about telling stories for a few coins or a drink here and there. Determined to avoid being pulled onto a ship as an oarsman, Finn finds himself reluctant to venture near the harbour, but with the future of his clan strapped to his back in a shoulder-sheath, and a quest to find Goran Ice-Heart, the true Volsung Clan leader, he has little choice but to face his fears and start moving. Finn is a protagonist who undergoes vigorous character development throughout this novel. As he begins to take control of his life, rather than sitting back and allowing it to run its own course, he starts to take his task seriously, and finds himself more and more willing to put in the effort required to help the friends he makes along the way.

From a storyteller recounting others’ tales of valour and bravery to a bard with his own adventures to weave stories about, Finn uses his journey to his advantage, taking the opportunity to find out the truth behind the tales that have twisted and turned as they have moved from one storyteller to the next. Aboard Guillemot, a merchant knarr sailing for the Middle Sea, Finn finds himself sailing to places he has heard stories about, even told stories about, but has not seen for himself. He takes the opportunities to explore, to learn just how much of the stories told are true, and how much has been exaggerated for the sake of a good yarn. The fantasy aspects of this novel have been skilfully woven into the storyline, and as Finn slowly comes across the real-life versions of the stories he has heard, there are many times the reader fears for his safety. Finn is naïve to the world around him, and with little to no survival instincts, he easily finds himself in trouble. Without weapons training, or the knowledge of when continuing to talk will put him in danger, Finn does cause a lot of tense moments in this novel, when the reader is not sure just how he will manage to escape the situation. He is, though, a generally likeable character, for he learns from his mistakes, and slowly grows from a scared and childlike boy into a brave young man who would fight for what he believes in.

There are several supporting characters in this novel who provide an interesting backdrop for Finn’s adventures. Aboard Guillemot is a motley crew, most of whom appear to have Finn’s safety at the forefront of their minds. Under the careful gaze of Hebden Seavogel, the shipmaster, Finn boards the ship alongside people such as Norma Silveryarn, an old, haggard woman, but one who seems to hold power, hidden beneath her guise, Katranina, a young woman of great mystical intrigue, and Beorn Wolfman, a Viking warrior brought onboard to protect the cargo. With such a vast range of characters throughout the story, the ship itself easily comes to life within the pages, encouraged on by the mythical undertones delicately thread into the story. 

Katranina, or Kat, is a person Finn struggles to fully understand. She speaks in riddles, and her appearance seems to change constantly. Finn wonders whether she is merely a young woman travelling aboard the Guillemot or if there’s something more to her than meets the eye. As he journeys through various challenges, both human and mythical, the diverse and magical elements of the world within the pages begin to reveal themselves. From dragons to Loki’s trickster influences, danger permeates this novel. Finn’s quest marks just the beginning of his story.

This novel is expertly crafted to capture the attention of readers, both young and old. While it is primarily aimed at a younger audience, the fast-paced and exciting story is sure to engage older readers as well. Set against a historical backdrop of life at sea and the trading harbours of various mainland and islands, the author has created the perfect setting for Finn’s quest. The inclusion of fantastical creatures, along with myths and legends that come to life within its pages, makes this novel truly captivating and enthralling. It is the kind of story that is hard to put down, drawing you in as if you were sitting in an alehouse, listening to a bard narrating tales of old with the eyes of everyone in the room focused on him.

Rich in myth and brimming with intrigue, “The Doomsong Voyage” by J.G. Harlond weaves an unforgettable legend that embarks on a daring quest for safety and freedom. This enthralling adventure is designed to captivate readers from the very first page to the last, ensuring that every moment spent in its world is a thrilling experience.

Review by Ellie Yarde

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J. G. Harlond

Secret agents, skulduggery, sea voyages and a touch of romance . . . 

Creator of the infamous Ludo da Portovenere, J.G. Harlond (Jane) writes page-turning historical crime novels set during the 17th Century and World War II. Each story weaves fictional characters into real events. 

Jane also writes Viking-age historical fantasy drawing on Norse myths and legends.

Prior to becoming a full-time fiction author, Jane was involved in international education and wrote a number of school textbooks. 

After travelling widely – she has visited or lived in most of the locations in her novels – Jane is now settled in her husband’s home province of Andalucía, Spain.

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