Hartsuyker launched an ambitious retelling of Norse history with The Half-Drowned King, which recounted the adventures, betrayals, and battles of ninth-century Vikings, most prominently, Ragnvald Eysteinsson. In this eagerly-awaited sequel, Ragnvald is now King of Sogn and is still fighting battles for Harald of Vestfold, whose quest to become king of a unified Norway is imperiled by growing rebellions. Meanwhile, Ragnvald’s sister, Svanhild, is torn between wanting to join Solvi Hunthiofsson on his expeditions and wanting to give her son a stable home. Then she finds herself caught in a scheme Ragnvald sets in motion to trap suspected traitors. Hartsuyker, who traces her lineage back to Harald Halfdansson, vividly evokes a world of fjords and drinking halls, prophecy and vengeance.
