God's Daughter (Vikings of the New World Saga, Book 1) by Heather Day Gilbert

Book Description:

One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America. 

In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. Clinging to her faith, she joins her husband, Finn, on a journey to North America. 

But even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself--and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart. 

Almost five centuries before Columbus, Viking women sailed to North America with their husbands. God's Daughter, Book One in the Vikings of the New World Saga, offers an expansive yet intimate look into the world of Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir--daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America.

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An amazing, insightful, engaging and well written debut novel by Heather Day Gilbert! Although this is a work of fiction, it is based off of real historical figures and places. Not only was I being thoroughly captivated by this tale but I was learning along the way. Glibert had me from the beginning and she never lost my interest. Even when I HAD to put the book down, I was still thinking about it.

Gilbert's characters are well fleshed out and so well written, it is as if you are in the room with them. Gudrid was an early Christian in a very pagan culture, and a woman admired by many. Though there is much to applaud her for, she is human and is constantly battling internally. She battles with feelings of neediness, loneliness, feelings for a man who is not her husband, and so on. Early on I wanted to shake her and say look at this wonderful man you are married too, stop all these dreams for another! I won't spoil the story for you, but just hang in there with Gudrid, Glibert knows what she is doing. In truth Gilbert shows a depth of insight into the mind, heart and struggle that many can identify with. Keep in mind this is a woman who has heard the message of the good news of Christ, but is without the benefit of Scripture to read or a Church family/Spiritual Leader. Even without these benefits, she seeks to honor God. Sure she messes up, but her heart is for God.

I will warn you, that at times the names make it hard to keep all the characters straight. As there are several men with names that start with Thor in it. However, these were the real names of the people they portray, so the author was being true to their story in that way.

God's Daughter, is a story I am not soon to forget and one I am very glad that I read. One that if you pick it up you will find it hard to put down (warning).  I look forward to reading more of Gilbert's work in the future. All in all, very well done!  Enlightening, entertaining and educational!