Book review: God's Hammer by Eric Schumacher

Though families are central to our lives, let's face it, they can sometimes be a burden. Through the ages, countless children have lived in the shadows of their parents' expectations or fame. 

Spare a thought for Håkon Haraldsson, the son of the legendary unifier of Norway, Harald Fairhair. 

Whilst his father may be responsible for uniting the petty kingdoms of Norway from 873 under an iron grip (and indirectly causing the human settlement of Iceland), young Håkon was whisked away to be brought up in the court of Anglo-Saxon King Æthelstan. 

Not only did young Håkon have one of the most famous kings in Norwegian history as his father, but he was also brought up by a father figure who was one of the most famous kings in British history. Big boots to fill, right?

How can young Håkon live up to familial and societal expectations and forge his place in the history books? This is the burning question that Eric Schumacher attempts to answer in his book, God's Hammer. 

This historical fiction novel attempts to delve into the early life of the child who would become Håkon the Good, the ruler of Norway credited with cementing Christianity's grip on the then-pagan kingdom. 

Having been brought up in the Christian court of Athelstan, young Håkon is then forced back to his fatherland to try and consolidate power after the disastrous reign of his brother, Eric Bloodaxe. 

Along with this challenging rise to power is the spiritual turmoil that Håkon faces as a Christian ruling in a kingdom where a vast majority of his subjects still believe in the Old Gods. 

• READ MORE: A Viking history of Norway - Part 1

The central theme of the novel revolves around the challenges young Håkon faces in meeting familial and societal expectations while carving out his place in history. Illustration: The Viking Herald

Historical fiction that brings the clash of swords to life 

Schumacher skillfully details the exploits and adventures of young Håkon in God's Hammer as he leaves his old life of comfort and security in Æthelstan's court to secure power and live up to familial expectations.

Part of Schumacher's skill lies in his detailed research. He ensures that this period in Norwegian history – a historical crossroads where the supremacy of Christianity as the kingdom's religion was in its infancy – is masterfully retold. You can hear the clash of swords and experience Håkon's fears and angst firsthand. 

Schumacher devotes much detail to exploring the cultural, religious, and social differences between Håkon's former home in England and the land of his forefathers. 

Despite all the attention to historical detail and research, this is not a historical chronicle but a work of fiction. 

The arc of Håkon's rise to power is set against themes of loyalty – both to family and religion – as well as honor, religious conflict, and the age-old struggle for power. 

Håkon's inner spiritual turmoil is contrasted with the very earthy and bloody displays of martial skills and valor in the novel's many dramatic battle scenes. 

The book is set during a period of political and religious turmoil in Norway, as Christianity clashed with the Old Norse religion. Illustration: The Viking Herald

Hammer of the Christian God 

This period of Norwegian history – dubbed the "Twilight of the Old Gods" – is also a fascinating setting due to the myriad of political motives for those backing either Christianity or the Old Norse religion. 

This was an era that saw great societal division, with families and communities torn apart over religious and spiritual affairs. 

Striding both worlds is Håkon, who, though raised a Christian, has risen to power in a land that cannot yet shake off its adherence to the old ways and old gods. 

Schumacher writes with great clarity and allows the reader to be transported to this era of societal division that even tops our own! 

Christianity's spread was often seen as a "top-down" affair – having won over Norway's political and ruling elite, it was frequently enforced by the point of a sword. 

This is the reason why Håkon – whose rule solidified Christianity's grip in the realm – was seen as God's hammer. 

Whilst this is indeed a work of fiction, many of the characters and events are grounded in historical reality, and Schumacher does as much justice to them as any medieval chronicler would, writing with color, detail, and skill. 

In fact, blending fact and fiction, history and a thrilling narrative, Schumacher is a sort of modern-day skald, a writer of a thrilling saga. 

God's Hammer is the first installment of a series that focuses on the boy who would be king, who gave Christianity a nudge in Norway through a combination of power, skill, and brute force. 

God's Hammer by Eric Schumacher is available for purchase on Amazon here.