The Viking Age, full of exploration, warfare, and mythology, still fascinates us today. These Norse seafarers weren’t just raiders, they were also traders, explorers, and skilled craftspeople who shaped history.
If you’re looking for an exciting journey into this era, historical fiction about Vikings brings the past to life with a mix of fact and storytelling.
Here are 10 novels that transport you to the heart of the Viking world.
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This is the first book in the Saxon Chronicles, the basis for the Netflix series The Last Kingdom.
This novel tells the story of King Alfred the Great’s fight against Danish invaders in 9th-10th century England.
It’s a unique perspective, seen through the eyes of Uhtred, a Saxon nobleman raised by the Vikings.
Torn between his loyalty to his captors and his Saxon heritage, Uhtred must choose a side as the conflict intensifies. All the while, he dreams of reclaiming his ancestral home, Bebbanburg.
This is the first book in the The Circle of Ceridwen Saga.
In 871 AD, as Viking invasions ravage England, 15-year-old Ceridwen finds herself living with the conquerors. Taken in by a young Viking woman, Ceridwen navigates a new life while supporting her friend, who is forced to marry a Viking leader.
As Ceridwen grapples with her own Saxon heritage and growing affection for the Vikings, war threatens to engulf them once more.
To save a stranger, she embarks on a daring adventure defying both sides in this brutal conflict.
This is the first book in the The Road to Valhalla series.
Tormented by dreams of wielding a legendary sword and whispers from Odin, Hervor, an unwanted girl ostracized by her jarl grandfather, seeks answers.
With the help of a thrall with magic and a handsome Viking, she unravels the secrets of her birth and embraces a destiny greater than anyone could have imagined.
This is the first book in the The Viking Blood and Blade Saga.
Fuelled by vengeance for Ragnar Lothbrok, Viking warriors led by Ivar the Boneless descend upon Saxon England in 865 AD.
Young Hundr, a newcomer with a thirst for glory, joins the fray. He must prove himself under the shadow of Ivar and his brothers while battling not only the Saxons but also treachery within the Viking ranks.
This is the first book in the Rise of Sigurd series.
Betrayed and left for dead, Sigurd, a young Viking in 8th century Norway, vows revenge on the king who slaughtered his family.
Gathering a band of loyal warriors, including a fierce shieldmaiden, Sigurd embarks on a quest for vengeance, seeking both justice and the favor of the Norse god Odin.
Drawing from the Icelandic Sagas, The Half-Drowned King takes inspiration from the true story of Ragnvald of Maer, the right hand man of King Harald Fairhair, first king of all Norway, and his sister, Svanhild, as she tries to find freedom in a society where the higher her brother rises, the greater her worth as a political pawn.
The Long Ships follows Red Orm, a young Viking kidnapped from his Danish home.
Thrown into a life of adventure, Orm finds himself rowing on Viking ships, captured by the Moors in Spain, and even encountering Christian monks in Ireland.
He navigates the political schemes of Scandinavian kings before returning home a wealthy man, albeit a newfound Christian. But his adventures aren’t over – new challenges await his cunning and determination.
Odinn’s Child, the first book in a Viking trilogy, follows Thorgils Leiffson, son of the famous Leif Eriksson.
Sent to Greenland as a toddler, Thorgils is raised by various mentors who teach him Viking traditions and warn of Christianity’s encroachment.
Gifted with second sight and a thirst for adventure, Thorgils embarks on a perilous journey across Viking lands, facing battles, shipwrecks, and brushes with death, all while driven by the spirit of the Norse god Odin.
The Sea Road delves into the Viking exploration of the North Atlantic through the eyes of Gudrid, an exceptional woman living on the harsh but beautiful edge of Iceland in the 11th century.
Her story unfolds amidst a clash of old Norse gods and rising Christianity, while Viking explorers venture out, plundering foreign shores and encountering restless spirits.
