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In the Shadow of the Beast Vikings

Award-winning Viking historical fiction novels

“The Lords of the Wind” by C.J. Adrien is a gold medal winner in the 2020 Reader’s Favorite annual international book award contest.

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About Author C.J. Adrien

C.J. Adrien is a bestselling author of Viking historical fiction novels with a passion for Viking history. His Kindred of the Sea series was inspired by research conducted in preparation for a doctoral program in early medieval history. He is also a published historian on the subject of Vikings, with articles featured in historical journals such as L’Association des Amis de Noirmoutier, in France. His novels and expertise have earned him invitations to speak at several international events, including the International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), conferences on Viking history in France, among others. C.J. Adrien earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Oregon, a Master’s degree from Oregon State University, and is currently searching for the right university to complete his doctoral thesis.

Check out the latest from my Viking History Blog:

10 Viking Artifacts You Didn’t Know Existed
Most of the artifacts we encounter online and in history books focus on war: swords, shields, helmets, and other artifacts of warfare. Less focus is placed on everyday items, such …
Viking Vlog 14: Who Was Olaf Trygvasson? And Interview with Eric Schumacher
In this video, I sit down with bestselling author Eric Schumacher to discuss the life and significance of the historical figure Olaf Trygvasson. How do we know about Olaf? Where …
How the longship came to be
The longship was the culmination of centuries of seafaring innovation that is thought to have started as early as the third century B.C.
How Often did the Vikings Drink from Drinking Horns?
How Often did the Vikings Drink from Drinking Horns? I explore this question below.
Viking Armor: What did the Vikings Wear Into Battle?
If modern movies and TV shows were any guides, they would have us believe the Vikings were some kind of leather-clad biker gang. This begs the question: what did the …
The Swedish Vikings: Who Were the Rus?
Scandinavia at the beginning of the Viking Age appears to have shared a common culture, as shown by the archeological record, but it later diverged into several distinct groups. As I …
What Were the Vikings Thinking? New Research Seeks to ‘Get Into Their Heads’
A new research project funded by the Krogager Foundation will seek to uncover deeper insights into the Vikings' worldview
Viking Vlog 9: Women of the Viking Age
In this video, I approach the topic of Women in the Viking in a very general discussion. I discuss some of the leading works on women of the Viking Age …
Did the Vikings Wear Helmets?
That so few helmets have ever been found begs the question: did the Vikings wear helmets? If they did, where did they all go?
A Silver Ring from the Viking Age Discovered in the Netherlands
The National Museum of Antiquities of the Netherlands had added a recently found silver ring to its medieval collection. Dated to the mid-10th century, museum curators believe the new find …
Human Sacrifice in the Viking Age
Did the Vikings conduct human sacrifice? Here I examine the evidence for human sacrifice among the Vikings, and its implications.
Do You Have Viking Blood?
Do you have Viking Ancestry? See how likely you are to have a Viking ancestor based on your country of origin.
Do You Use the Word Viking Correctly?
Do you use the word Viking correctly? Language matters, and how a person uses language significantly affects their worldview and how they perceive people, objects, and concepts.
Viking Vlog 4: Who Were the Jomsvikings?
Viking Vlog 4: Who Were the Jomsvikings?   In this episode, I give a 10,000-foot view of the Jomsvikings, a warrior society from the Viking Age who have …
Newly Discovered Icelandic Saga Confirms Contact with American Bigfoot
Museum curator of ancient texts, Magnus Magnusson, spent two weeks analyzing the artifact and concluded it is a lost Icelandic Saga.
Viking Vlog 3: Dispelling 3 Myths About the Vikings
Viking Vlog 3: Dispelling 3 Myths About the Vikings While Working Our With a Viking Shield In this episode, I dispel 3 modern myths about the Vikings while …
Viking Vlog 2: Finland in the Viking Age
Viking Vlog 2: Finland in the Viking Age In this episode, I answer a question about the role of Finland in the Viking Age. In regards to the …
Viking Vlog, Episode 1: Introduction
Welcome to the first installment of my Viking Vlog! Here I set the table for what to expect in future Viking Vlogs and I introduce my area of expertise.
A Boat Within a Boat? A New Viking Age Burial Has Archeologists Scratching Their Heads
Archeologists discovered the woman’s burial had actually been placed within an older, pre-existing burial. Think Russian dolls, but with Viking ships.
Did the Greenland Norse Intermix with Native American Women?
It’s a well-known fact of history that the Vikings got around, both figuratively and literally. They reached distant lands as far as Bagdad in the Middle East and Newfoundland in …