UNDER YGGDRASIL & THE LAND OF NIGHT
by Vilborg Davidsdottir
The Saga of Thorgerd the Seeress starts out in A.D. 901, in Iceland, newly settled by Nordic Vikings. From there, Thorgerd sets sail to Norway and eventually travels to the Baltic and onwards along the so-called Route of the Varangians, sailing on the rivers and lakes of today's Russia and Ukraine, and across the Black Sea, all the way to Constantinople.
Under Yggdrasil
Thorgerd Thorsteinsdottir gave birth to twins barely a grown-up herself, but she had to wait a long time to have the child she had most yearned for, Thorkatla. All the more tragic are the events following the Assembly, when the little girl is seven years old - events no one can understand. Thorgerd chooses to seek support from the Norns who decide the fates of men under Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, rather than from the White Christ of her grandmother, Aud the Deep-Minded, and the quest for truth leads her to setting sail from Iceland, east across the ocean, and eventually, on a seeress‘s journey into the Underworld and the Realms of the Dead.
The first novel about Thorgerd the Seeress was nominated for the Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize 2021. This gripping novel is inspired by the Icelandic Sagas, as was Vilborg Davidsdottir’s acclaimed trilogy of novels on Aud the Deep-Minded, the first of which was nominated for the Icelandic Prize for Literature. Her historical novels have been tremendously popular, especially as they throw a new and unexpected light on the lives of women in the Viking Age.
The Land of Night
This second novel about Thorgerd the Seeress is nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize. After tragedy at home in Iceland, Thorgerd set sail to Norway where fate lead her into the arms of hunter and trader Herjolf Eyvindarson. Together, they journey to the princedom of the Kievan Rus.
There, Varangian Vikings sail down the Dnieper River and across the Black Sea, taking furs and captive women to be sold in the Valley of Lamentations in Constantinople, the greatest city in Christendom. In the land of night, treachery and peril await. Why are the slave girls so frightened of the Seeress of Holmgard that they call her Baba Yaga? In an instant, Thorgerd is on her own, surrounded by enemies, and discovers that sometimes it takes more courage to live than die.
Under Yggdrasil
Thorgerd Thorsteinsdottir gave birth to twins barely a grown-up herself, but she had to wait a long time to have the child she had most yearned for, Thorkatla. All the more tragic are the events following the Assembly, when the little girl is seven years old - events no one can understand. Thorgerd chooses to seek support from the Norns who decide the fates of men under Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, rather than from the White Christ of her grandmother, Aud the Deep-Minded, and the quest for truth leads her to setting sail from Iceland, east across the ocean, and eventually, on a seeress‘s journey into the Underworld and the Realms of the Dead.
The first novel about Thorgerd the Seeress was nominated for the Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize 2021. This gripping novel is inspired by the Icelandic Sagas, as was Vilborg Davidsdottir’s acclaimed trilogy of novels on Aud the Deep-Minded, the first of which was nominated for the Icelandic Prize for Literature. Her historical novels have been tremendously popular, especially as they throw a new and unexpected light on the lives of women in the Viking Age.
The Land of Night
This second novel about Thorgerd the Seeress is nominated for the Icelandic Literary Prize. After tragedy at home in Iceland, Thorgerd set sail to Norway where fate lead her into the arms of hunter and trader Herjolf Eyvindarson. Together, they journey to the princedom of the Kievan Rus.
There, Varangian Vikings sail down the Dnieper River and across the Black Sea, taking furs and captive women to be sold in the Valley of Lamentations in Constantinople, the greatest city in Christendom. In the land of night, treachery and peril await. Why are the slave girls so frightened of the Seeress of Holmgard that they call her Baba Yaga? In an instant, Thorgerd is on her own, surrounded by enemies, and discovers that sometimes it takes more courage to live than die.
Vilborg Davíðsdóttir is an Icelandic writer with background in journalism and ethnology. She has written ten novels, as well as a compelling memoir, critically acclaimed for her thorough research of historical sources, crisp and clear language, a flowing narrative style and fast-paced and intricately woven plots.
For information about foreign rights contact Reykjavik Literary Agency or vilborg.davids(at)gmail.com.
Publisher: Forlagið, Bræðraborgarstíg 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
TV series option rights to the AUD trilogy sold to Deepminded 3 AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
Filming rights to The Raven (Hrafninn) sold to Köggull kvikmyndagerð, Reykjavík, Iceland.
For information about foreign rights contact Reykjavik Literary Agency or vilborg.davids(at)gmail.com.
Publisher: Forlagið, Bræðraborgarstíg 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.
TV series option rights to the AUD trilogy sold to Deepminded 3 AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
Filming rights to The Raven (Hrafninn) sold to Köggull kvikmyndagerð, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Translated works
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Novels by Vilborg Davíðsdóttir have been translated into Faroese, German, English and Arabic.
2014 على السواحل الباردة (Galdur). Publisher: Animar, Egypt.
2012 On the Cold Coasts (Galdur). Publisher: Amazon Crossing, U.S.A. (Over 130 reviews on Amazon.com)
2011 Die Winterfrau (Hrafninn). Publisher: btb Verlag, Germany. (Buchbesprechungen auf Deutsch bei Amazon.de)
2004 Der Liebeszauber (Galdur). Publisher: btb Verlag, Germany.
2004 Nornadómur (Nornadómur) Publisher: Bókadeild Føroyja Lærarafelags. Faroe Islands.
2003 Das Feueropfer (Eldfórnin). Publisher: btb Verlag, Germany.
2003 Við Urðarbrunn (Við Urðarbrunn). Publisher: Bókadeild Føroyja Lærarafelags. Faroe Islands.
2014 على السواحل الباردة (Galdur). Publisher: Animar, Egypt.
2012 On the Cold Coasts (Galdur). Publisher: Amazon Crossing, U.S.A. (Over 130 reviews on Amazon.com)
2011 Die Winterfrau (Hrafninn). Publisher: btb Verlag, Germany. (Buchbesprechungen auf Deutsch bei Amazon.de)
2004 Der Liebeszauber (Galdur). Publisher: btb Verlag, Germany.
2004 Nornadómur (Nornadómur) Publisher: Bókadeild Føroyja Lærarafelags. Faroe Islands.
2003 Das Feueropfer (Eldfórnin). Publisher: btb Verlag, Germany.
2003 Við Urðarbrunn (Við Urðarbrunn). Publisher: Bókadeild Føroyja Lærarafelags. Faroe Islands.