Overview.

An exciting read. I read it in one session.

Story.

Morgan works for ARCANE, an organisation that is more than it seems. She is sent to the British Museum to investigate the staff of Skara Brae. It is a small staff believed to be able to summon Ragnarok, the Viking Apocalypse.

While in the museum, a group of neo-Vikings arrives with a group being shown the Viking collection. When the staff is not there, their leader, an ancient woman, apparently summons the bones of the dead to rise up. The group then takes the visitors as hostages before escaping via a helicopter.

This leads Morgan, following the neo-Vikings, to the Isle of Iona where she finally finds the answers she seeks.

I don’t want to go into further details as I don’t want to spoil the story for you.

Blurb

She has been called many things: murderer, madwoman, monster. She will become only one thing: a god.

The Crone. A woman of legend, a creature of blood. A Valkyrie. She has tortured, murdered, maimed — performing all the rituals needed to call forth the power of Odin himself and summon Ragnarok. She just needs one more thing: the staff of Skara Brae, and her plans will be fulfilled.

But the staff is already in the hands of Morgan Sierra. An agent of ARKANE, the British agency tasked with protecting the world from supernatural crises, Morgan knows that giving up the staff could spell the end of all things.

Now the Crone has taken dozens of staff members, visitors — even children — hostage at the British Museum, demanding that Morgan turn over the staff. Willing to kill, possessor of powers beyond anything ARKANE has yet encountered, the Crone seems unstoppable.

Morgan’s only advantages are her wit, her skill… and Blake Daniel (of the best-selling Brooke and Daniel crime thriller series). Cursed with clairvoyance, Blake’s powers may be just enough to help Morgan turn back the Crone and stop the end of the world.

But the Crone has her own secrets. Able to weave illusions, to wield fear, even to call forth the dead Vikings of old. She is the most powerful adversary Morgan has ever faced. But will she be the last?

The Crone beckons. Ragnarok looms. And it is up to Morgan and Blake to deny them both.

Day of the Vikings is the fifth thrilling story in the bestselling ARKANE series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.F. Penn, with an epic crossover to the Brooke and Daniel stories. Tap the link, get your copy, and discover why so many readers love the ARKANE.

Characters.

The main character, Morgan, is fully relatable. She is enthusiastic about her work.

I liked the character of Blake, who is clairvoyant, and can ‘read’ objects. He is a great help to Morgan in finding more about the staff. I discovered he appears in another series by Ms Penn, and so I am going to read those books, too.

Writing.

An excellently written book. Although short, I don’t think that was a problem. In fact, it might even be an advantage as you don’t need to put it down, but can finish it on one session.

The story grips you throughout and thanks to the excellent scene setting, you can see the surroundings and action.

There were no typos or other errors that I noticed.

I give this novella 5*.

Have you read this book, or any of J.F Penn’s other work? While I have read much writing help by Ms Penn, this is the first book of her’s I’ve read, but I will certainly be giving others priority to read. Let us know in the comments.

If you would like to receive an exclusive, free short story by me, called The Haunted Table, simply click the link. This will take you to the page where you can download it.

Maria and Tom have bought an antique table for the old cottage they have bought. When they hear strange noises in the night that sound like crying, they worry their house is haunted, but the sounds seem to come from the table.

They set about trying to find what is causing the disturbances. The answer is stranger than either of them had thought.

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