God’s Daughter by Heather Day Gilbert
God’s
Daughter is a tale set Circa AD1000. It is a story of Vikings. It is a story of
times and days long past. The author takes the reader to this time through the
eyes of a brave and beautiful Viking woman named, Gudrid. She lives in a world
that is changing as beliefs in Thor and the Viking ways are merging with
newfound Christianity. Gudrid has come to know Christ and the atonement He made for our sins. This atonement is available to anyone who comes with a heart of faith - Men and women alike,
slave and free. She sees the error of Thor and his requirements for sacrifice
and the bondage of appeasing a god who has no capacity for loving.
Men are
drawn to Gudrid for she is beautiful and possesses great wisdom. She is married
to a brave Viking warrior, Finn. He loves her, and as the story progresses she
finds her love and respect for him deepen.
Disease,
dangers and death are always lurking for them. The need to survive and help the
struggles of others, is what drives Gudrid. She loves her child fiercely and
cares deeply for her friends.
The writer
brings us into their day to day lives in the village and what they endured returning to their previous home through a sea voyage. We experience with them the joys and challenges
of returning to their homeland where time has not stood still, as it does in
our imaginings of home and our pasts. Instead time has brought illness and bitterness. The heart of the Viking is one that understands the ever-present need
to survive. And that this quest to survive will demand its toll, for life is fragile even for the Viking.
Gudrid is
intuitive and compassionate, fiercely protective of those she holds dear. Her friend, Freydis, is fiery and dangerous. Both women are Vikings and both are strong female warriors. The
difference in their approach to life reminds me of the human heart that can be
torn in two as it struggles with how it will respond to the harshness of life -
Out of control reaction vs. responding in wisdom. The choices we make, result in consequences or blessings.
I haven’t
read a Viking novel that I can recall and the author weaves an intriguing and
captivating story. Heather Day Gilbert has found a niche that readers will love and I look forward to more from this wonderful writer.
