Day of the Vikings, ARKANE #5, Novella, Ebook

This novella is a gripping blend of action, history, and mythology. The story follows ARKANE agent Dr. Morgan Sierra as she faces Neo-Viking terrorists who invade the British Museum to reclaim the staff of Skara Brae, an artifact with the power to summon Ragnarok—the Viking apocalypse. Alongside psychic Blake Daniel, Morgan must uncover the truth behind the staff's history and prevent the catastrophic events that could follow. The novella is set in iconic locations like the British Museum, the British Library, and the islands of Orkney, Lindisfarne, and Iona, weaving together present-day action with Viking history and myth.

Another great thriller from J.F. Penn. I love Morgan and Blake and the little details about these characters. The historical details and the descriptions of the interior of the British museum were spectacular. The writing was explicit and the novel was good although I wish the end was a but more longer. If you are looking for a supernatural thriller this one is for you!

Brilliant, vivid, prologue.

Museums, Vikings, explosions and mystical artefacts – what’s not to love?

“She itched to hit something, craving the rush that only violence could soothe.” Isn’t Morgan awesome?

The language – especially the use of Old Norse and Latin – enriches the story’s world.

An action-packed adventure through the British Museum and Library – not to mention the Neo-Vikings and their Valkyrie causing chaos everywhere.

A quick read (or perhaps I just read really fast!) that won’t disappoint.

I have forgotten about this book that I have downloaded in 2014, when just released. I suppose this is what happens when you are over zealous to read but the time simply runs away that you forget. Now that I had the time I was happy to pick up this book again and what a wonderful read. Although this is the first book that I read in the series I could catch up quickly the thread of the story and what's it about. And soon I was so involved in the book that everything around me could have erupted in chaos and I would not have known. The characters are wonderfully developed and I cannot wait to read more about Blake and his extraordinary gift. But the strong character of Morgan captured my imagination. This woman seems to enjoy her work so much that coincidences to her actions are secondary to save the day. But then she is equipped to act in such an events with the skill, grace and knowledge to save herself and the world around her. The story itself was well researched and written to give you a superb thriller. It is extremely descriptive and takes you right to the heart of the action as it unfolds. Truly a excellent book I can recommend as a standalone.

A very interesting and novel topic that grabs you from the first chapter. Loved the suspense and quick pace. Short book with a full story

I really liked the quick no nonsense pace. It was a delightful read full of real historical facts that made it so interesting. I will be reading Ms. Penny's other stories!

Wow! What a fast and thrilling read this was. From Homer to Aristotle to Chaucer, the dictate of fine storytelling has been to entertain and inform. Both are here in abundance. On the winds called up by the Valkyrie and whirling through the book on a chase for the Eye Of Odin (this Scandinavian got a real thrill out of that), the adventure was so much fun I didn't want it to end. J.F. Penn has a way of taking ancient mysteries and turning them into easy to follow thrills with magic and mysticism that is plausible. Sierra Morgan, the protagonist of this series, is believable in every portion of her creation. My daughter went to school with a dainty young woman who had been an officer in the Israeli army, and every bit of training Sierra displays rings as true as the day that little blonde cracked an offender's pelvis with one kick. I just love Sierra and her thirst for adventure few of us would dare undertake. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially if you're missing Sierra in between the larger books. Oh, and Blake makes an appearance here. Hunky, vulnerable Blake. Have mercy.

Morgan and Blake seem to be a good team. Wish the book was longer, fasted paced and exciting book keeps you turning the pages!

This is the first of Penn's work that I've read. I know she travels a lot for research, and her descriptions reflect the richness of having actually been there. Since this is the fifth book in her ARKANE series, she knows her characters well, and she gives the reader enough info about them to bring us up to speed. This is a novella, so it's a pretty straight forward story. The ending felt a little abrupt, but I often find that to be the case with novellas. I felt like this is a good introduction to Penn's work, and I'll be reading more in the future.

I started reading Day of the Vikings out loud to my toddler, but quickly got so caught up in the story that it simply wasn’t possible to save it only for bottle time. It was one of those stories I stayed up late at night reading and loved every moment of. The plot is fast and precise, dramatic without too many overly complicated twists, as some thrillers utilize, at the cost of storytelling. Morgan and Blake are both interesting, dynamic characters, and you get a taste of who they are during this nugget of time spent with them, and it makes you want to see more. I’ve loved The Creative Penn podcast and gotten amazing information from the website, so it’s wonderful to read fiction that is as high-quality as well. Great job, Joanna!

The novel is quite a story and it is very well written. Sometimes we think we are reading a book by Grisham or even Dan Browns Da Vinci Code, inside the Brittish Museum and all those related ancient misteries. At times the story "takes off" the real world and it goes to a dreamed up condition: but that is the good thrilling book of this moment for our young readres. Actually such surrealisms make up the real value of this book. Too much blood and killing of innocent people at times. But is not this the actual world of regional punctual revolts and even wars?

What I particularly enjoy about this series of novellas is the history lesson I receive in each story. Once again I learnt a little about the Vikings, certain key historic documents stored in the British Museum and the historical context of certain specific locations. Joanne spins a thrilling tale full of action and intrigue with her heroine Morgan Sierra caught in the thick of it all. Her fictional licence to weave a story using Viking mythology interspersed with certain historical facts is clever and very readable. Using the gift of psychometry in one of the characters was a great way of providing backstory. I'm looking forward to Morgan's next adventure. I wonder which country Joanne will take us to next.

Right off the bat, in the opening chapter, I thought I was reading a Clive Cussler novel by the way Penn beautifully took us into the past, into the ancient Vikings era. Then, we are thrust into the modern era and take an interesting tour of the British Museum by Blake Daniel and Dr. Morgan Sierra (heroine of the other ARKANE series). In a short period of time, there's an explosion, followed by a battle of good vs. evil that is reminiscent of Dan Brown, and Blake also reveals his unique psychic ability. I highly recommend this book. It's a quick, fast-paced read that will have you screaming for more--and there is more! The way Penn skillfully describes the British Museum, it's like you're walking through it yourself, examining this exhibit here and that exhibit there. Also, I've read many books with psychic powers at the center, and I must say, the power Blake possesses is very unique. You will not be disappointed.

J.F.Penn is one of my favourite authors because I always learn something interesting and new, want to visit a place she has described in the story (minus the gory bits) and makes me feel a little bit uncomfortable (the gory bits). The book is also full of fascinating history seamlessly woven into the story. What more can you ask for? Day of the Vikings is a new novella covering a single day in the exciting life of Dr. Morgan Sierra, ARKANE agent. Not that her day is anything like the average day. Even a trip to the British Museum in London turns into a fast paced action epic, with J.F.Penn's signature supernatural twist. In this case Neo-Viking terrorists need an ancient relic displayed at the British Museum. Morgan is unable to stop them taking the staff of Skara Brae but pursues them relentlessly before the staff, horrific sacrifice and the eye of Odin can be brought together to unleash an ancient Viking apocalypse. That’s a lot of action for a novella and I devoured it in one sitting. I just don’t want to talk about the sawing of the ribs for wings. You just have to read that for yourself.

I love short works and short chapters. This novella, by one of my favorite authors, scored with me on both counts. The danger, historical, religious and supernatural references in those short chapters amped up the tension and kept me turning pages like crazy. The intrepid Morgan Sierra has hard-won experience that makes her tougher, smarter, and more formidable in each story. She's a force to be reckoned with, but she has her softer side, too. It was great to see Blake Daniels appearance here as well, after meeting him in Desecration. If you enjoy high tension, fast paced thrillers with just a hint of romantic possibilities, and great writing this story is for you! Highly recommended. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers but especially to fans of James Rollins, Steve Berry and Brad Meltzer.