The Empress and Her Wolf : A Historical Novel of Vikings in Byzantium - C.J. Adrien

From the award winning author of The Lords of The Wind (Gold Medal Winner - Readers' Favorite International Book Awards) Power is never offered without a price. When Hasting reaches the gates of Constantinople, he knows the city cannot be taken by force. The walls are too strong. The empire too vast. What begins as a failed raid instead draws him into the service of Empress Theodora, a ruler who trusts neither her generals nor the men who surround her. As sword-for-hire to the Byzantine throne, Hasting proves himself indispensable. Victories come not through open battle alone, but through precision, discipline, and the careful application of fear. Yet the imperial court is a dangerous place, ruled by whispers and rivalries rather than steel. When violence reaches beyond the battlefield and strikes close to home, Hasting's purpose shifts from service to vengeance. In a city where enemies wear silk and loyalty is never certain, revenge is not easily claimed. As Hasting is drawn deeper into the empress's confidence, alliance turns to intimacy, and ambition becomes tangled with desire. Each choice he makes tightens the snare around him, threatening not only his life, but everything he has fought to become. Inspired by the true exploits of the Viking warlord Hasting, The Empress and Her Wolf is the fifth novel in The Saga of Hasting the Avenger, a sweeping historical epic of power, intrigue, and love forged in the shadows of empire. C.J. Adrien's historical novel is intriguing, featuring pulse-pounding action that makes the book difficult to put down. The worldbuilding mirrors a meticulous attention to military action and the cultural clash between the Byzantine statecraft and Viking fatalism. The story delivers adventure and explores the cost of power and what it means to serve with loyalty. Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite __________________________________________________________________Praise for The Saga of Hasting the Avenger Series? ? ? ? ? Descriptions so vivid you can see them in your mind. ? ? ? ? ? World building is impeccable. ? ? ? ? ? Fast-paced brutal battles. ? ? ? ? ? Spellbinding. ? ? ? ? ? Twists and turns that draw you deeper into the story.