Paths of the Norseman (The Norseman Chronicles) Paperback – June 3, 2012

Let me say this first - I love this book and others in the series! I love how Jason Born weaves Halldorr's tale through the actually history of the Greenland and Icelandic Saga's. Sure, he may be a fictional character, but Halldorr's narrative of this book and others in the series really makes him seem to be an actual person of history. That being said, my issue with this book and others in the series (the entire genre of Viking historical-fiction for that matter,) is the main character's conversion to Christianity. This is a VERY disturbingly common thread among EVERY book written in this genre. I know, conversion to Christianity was going on at this point in history, but not everyone converted so absolutely. It would have been much more dramatic and interesting to have Halldorr be so bound to Olaf as his third father, but so opposed to his strategy of brutal conversion to a God that he didn't except for himself. The character should grow, not stagnate in the whims of others. It is the underlying theme of this series that Halldorr feels to be at the mercy of fate, but he refers always to the Norns, a belief of his thrown-away religion. Where is the conflict then? He accepts the new god so willingly, but clings to some of the old beliefs without ANY internal struggle what-so-ever? If the author would've thought about how he would feel being forced into converting to a new religion out of fear, he would have a better grasp on what this character SHOULD be going through. I want to read about the Vikings, not a Christian-fiction book set during Viking times. Move outside your comfortably small world of Christianity - it clouds your perception of reality.

I'm so glad I found this series, it has been so enjoyable, the author's ability to immerse me in the story has lead to many late nights that I try and fail to regret the next morning! this series has driven me to do my own research and learn more about the Viking era and I can't wait to continue into the next book!

This is an excellent novel, which is the second novel in "the Norseman" series. As such it features excellent writing and a more or less linear plot that holds the reader's interest throughout. Here, the protagonist joins Leif Erikson on the voyage to the new word, which they name "Vinland" after the many grape vines that they find in what is now the area around Newfoundland. Without giving anything away, our protagonist again shows himself to be unlucky in love, and perhaps less interested in women, home, and hearth than most of us. By now, his adventuring has seen our protagonist into his late middle age, and this undercurrent also makes for an interesting if not melancholy story. No spoilers here. I will say that I found the actions of Leif Erikson to be selfish and inexplicable. This made for a good story, however.This is an excellent story and readers are looking forward with anticipation to the third novel in the series. RJB.

After giving a top review to the first book in this series, The Norseman, I am hard pressed to give even a three star ("It's OK") to this second book in the series. Nothing but bad happens to the protagonist, Halldorr, throughout. Why he blindly does whatever his pal, Lief, tells him to do is beyond me. Halldorr wants to settle down with a good wife and raise children. Lief tells him he must go with him a-viking. After establishing a settlement on Vinland, Lief goes back home to enjoy the good life (we won't see him anymore in the book) and leaves Halldorr, not in charge but just a non authority in the settlement. Other people are given charge of the settlement and do everything in their power to ignore Halldorr's good advice, create animosity not only with the skraelings, native people, but amongst the settlers themselves leading to the abandonment of what could be a viable and prosperous settlement.I just got tired of Halldorr's constant bouts of moody introspection and the ignorant and/or evil people in charge who constantly bring nothing but disaster to Halldorr's plans and hopes for the betterment of the community. And then, the book ends in a cliff hanger situation so the reader must purchase the next book in the series to find out what happens. No thank you. I really don't care.

I'm giving 3 stars but it could be as easily be 2. After a thrilling 1st book, the second book started to get boring on the second half. Out "hero" Halldorf was left alone in Vinland and the history from this part lost lots of the characteristics that make it interesting.And the end of the book is quite disappointing. I will not tell what happen to avoid spoiling the book for the ones that did not read, but it was not like an ending, It was like the story was cut in a half. Similar to the way be 1st movie "Lord of the Rings" ended. He could as well have written "to be continued...".For me personally it did not make much of a difference as I had already purchased book 3 and just continued reading. But people that did not have the other book and would wait couple of weeks to by the next would probably get frustrated.The good news is that Book 3 is starting better than the Book 2 ended, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The Saga of Halldor and the Norsemen exploring and settling new territories in North America is just a flat out good story. What makes it good reading is that the narrator of the story, Halldor, becomes exposed as a person, dealing with the physical, mental and emotional artifacts that living, in any era, exposes us to. In this second part of the story of Norsemen coming to America, Halldor becomes the person you get to know and like. The story is very interesting, not only for the historical context, but the characters who navigate thru it. This is an author who, in my opinion, should be encouraged by us all to continue writing stories. His love of the material is quite evident. It shows in the depth and quality of his work. Keep going Jason Born.

There are three books in this ‘saga’ (The Norseman Chronicles) - The Norseman, Paths of the Norseman and Norseman Chief. They chart the life and loves of the hero - Halldorr who is nearly 100 when he writes his story (I hate it when authors do that). That said, they are well written and researched giving vivid detail of life in these times and locations (no detail so no spoiler) and the battles that are spread through the series. However there is just enough for 3 books, rather one really good one so I have done the same review for all. Unfortunately for me I'm a bit OCD about finishing books so I will get there, in the end.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series and was looking forward to the second. I did find this one rather staid however. Basically it covers aspects of the Norse colonisation of Vinland against a background of the gradual acceptance of Christianity into their culture. All this interspersed with a few action scenes - minor skirmishes compared to the battles in the first book. All interesting enough but if you're looking for lots of action you'll be disappointed. also if you are interested in this period you might find 'God's Daughter' by Heather Gilbert gives, in my opinion, a better and more insightful account. I find the main character, Halldorr, interesting but the overall pace of the narrative is slowed in this book compared to the first one. A good read nevertheless.

The first of this was an okay way to fill a train ride, but you'd be better off looking out the window than reading this. The characters are repetitive, although that may be argued to be realistic but then again a day in the life of a Norse village is not that interesting, even if the local native American's drop by occasionally.

I started reading this series and was hooked after chapter one. The story is fast moving with a great lead character and the writer shows a lot of skill and shows his knowledge on life, customs and historic events during this period. I can thoroughly recommend this book and the next two instalments and will look for more from Jason Born.

As my title says I loved the first in the series and the second did not disappoint. In fact I have almost finished the third(also good). I am always a bit sad when I finish a good book as it can be hard to find another that is why it is always a pleasure when there is a series.