David Freer, A Mankind Witch

A Mankind Witch

David Freer

Baen, Mar 2007, $26.00

ISBN: 0743499131

Scandinavia is home to pagan worship that disturbs their neighbor to the south, the true believers of the Holy Roman Empire. Barbary sailor Cair Aidin ,shipwrecked on the Scandinavian coast, has become a thrall to despised Princess Signy, stepsister of King Vortenbras. She is accused of stealing a magical relic that no human should have been able to touch; thus everyone except the technologically-minded Cair assumes Signy is a witch. If the relic is not returned to its proper place, Vortenbras and his horde will turn into berserker Vikings destroying Europe.

Cair loves his mistress Signy and knows she is no thief, let alone a killer as proscribed by many. He plans to prove her innocence by rescuing her, finding the lost token and carrying it back to its designated locale. To succeed he needs the help of Brittany Prince Manfred and the royal bodyguard and guide Erik, also seeking the relic. Cair begins his quest, entering a realm filled with murdering dwarves, trolls, hags, and other supernatural cretins that Cair refuses to believe exist even as they try to kill him while also eluding the even more lethal agents of the Holy Roman Empire.

The third Heirs of Alexandria alternate history tale (see THIS ROUGH MAGIC and THE SHADOW OF THE LION) is a terrific fantasy thriller that can stand alone though the previous tales co-written with Mercedes Lackey and Eric Flint are fun to read. The exhilarating mid-sixteenth-century storyline contains a fully developed cast (human and others) who enable readers to accept that the Library of Alexandria did not burn and unlike the hero's skepticism, magic being genuine. Cair is terrific as he loves Signy; the reason he sets forth on his task while saving an empire or two from berserker Vikings is not his mission. Fans will enjoy the latest tale as Dave Freer keeps the series top quality without the collaboration.

Harriet Klausner