1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Merge of Mythology and History!, June 21, 2010
This review is from: Freya's Child (Paperback)
It was 1939 and most of the world was watching as Nazi Germany invaded and took over countries. Would the US become involved? Alvin Franzmeier sets his book, Freya's Child, during this time; however, within the background, the novel presents an alternative history that will fascinate readers in its potential...
Dr. Hulda Schwarz was a sergeant in the SS when she was told to meet with Nazi Schutzstaffel Reich's Fuhrer Heinrich Himmler. Nervous at first, she was thrilled when she was asked to discuss a runestone that had been found in Minnesota. Many believed that the stone could have great significance for the future of the Reich. She shared a part that she had already been able to translate:
Shine Freya Moon gold bright and clear
Your day of rest draws near
Valhalla calls her maiden home...
For the German Nazis, they believe that the stone would lead to gold...
But for Dr. Schwarz, it was far more important. She tried to explain to Himmler about the true discoverers of the Americas when the Scandinavian countries had traveled into Canada and down into America in areas now included in the state of Minnesota. Finding a Runestone seemed to prove this to be true.
And to Dr. Schwarz and other believers, it was believed that the poem was foretelling the return of the goddess Freya and it would be her race, the Aryan race, that would now rule the world. Dr. Schwarz was willing to ride the Hitler wagon, though she knew that most Nazis were atheists.
When Dr. Schwarz arrived, it seemed that a strange number of coincidences had led her there and were supporting her beliefs. She was a Volva and practiced Seidh. Indeed it was her extensive research and study of her faith that allowed her to translate the words (runes) on the stone. She believed the prophecy pointed to their destiny as the leaders of the Aryan peoples and that blessed Freya, becoming incarnate in a promised child, would guide them.
That child, however, happened to have been born to Albert Freitag's family. He was a Dakota County deputy sheriff; however, because he spoke German, he had been requested to work with the FBI on occasion... Because it was known that there were Nazi soldiers and sympathizers in the United States.
Tillie, his wife, was pregnant and was afraid for Al to go undercover. Especially when she met the beautiful Hulda Schwarz and saw her interest in her husband! But it was more than jealousy, she was afraid of Hulda and later for her child...
Al tried to reassure Tillie, but within himself, he worried and wondered. He seemed to be under a spell whenever Hulda was around. What was worse, his job demanded that he travel with her to try to find out what plans were underway by the Germans...
Alvin Franzmeier's merge of the legends of Valhalla with the political power and takeover by Germany is a wonderful blend of history that results in an adventure both suspenseful and fantastical in its possibilities. I thoroughly enjoyed this and lovers of both history and mystery and suspense will find this tale well worth reading!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't Put It Down, April 9, 2010
This review is from: Freya's Child (Paperback)
Best of the three written by Dr. Franzemeier. Although it was a bit PG-13, he kept my attention without having to over describe intimate scenes. A great work of history especially since I had seen Glenn Beck's piece on how much Nazi influence there was in the US as Hitler worked to take over the world. Detective Frietag's struggle with what he is being told by the cult priestess and what he knows from the revealed Word of God reminds us that even today our struggles are not simply against flesh and blood but are with demons and unseen forces. Also, as we see similar demonic, political and social political forces at work in our world today, we are reminded that unless we know our history we are doomed to repeat it. Although this is a fictional book, it is definitely a book worthy reading, study and contemplation! (Submitted by husband of TexasMomOf4)
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Freya's Child, Review by Jessa Larsen, September 29, 2010
This review is from: Freya's Child (Paperback)
Albert Frietag lives in a quiet little town in Minnesota and as the deputy sheriff, it's his job to keep it that way. Unfortunately, his past work as an undercover agent for the FBI has kept him a person of interest to both the FBI and the group of local Nazis he'd previously infiltrated. The FBI simply wants to keep an eye on him and recruit him as a field agent once he finishes his schooling, the Nazis have more dangerous work in mind. The local Nazi leader brings Albert back into the fold and gives him the task of working as a double agent for the FBI in order to rid the Nazis of competition as well as regain an artifact of interest. With war on the horizon for the United States, Albert now has to leave very pregnant wife and travel to northern Minnesota with an attractive German woman and try to keep the Nazis happy to keep his family safe as well as do what he should as an officer of the law.
Albert soon finds that things are not quite as clear cut as he had previously been thinking. It turns out that the woman he is to meet is named Hulda and she, as well as some of the German Nazis, believe in the Old Norse Gods. Albert finds himself feeling more and more unclear about the tasks at hand and whether or not it is all real when Hulda spins tale after tale of the Old Gods as well as the agenda of the Aryan nation. The job takes a dangerous turn when Hulda reveals that she believes the goddess Freya will manifest herself in human form and the form she has chosen is none other than Albert's soon to be born daughter. Albert must makes some quick decisions and try his best to outsmart the witch-like Hulda to keep him and his family safe before it's too late.
Freya's Child is the third book in The Spiral Bridge Mystery Series and I would suggest reading the first two before picking up Freya's Child. You can pick up the story just fine, but I found myself wondering about past events and wishing I'd read them so I would know a little more about how the characters got where they were. The story is fairly interesting, but it doesn't have as nice of a flow as I would prefer. Hulda goes on a lot of tangents about Norse mythology and the Old Gods as to explain her beliefs and actions to Albert. She believes herself to be a high priestess and believes that the Gods speak with her and have give her tasks to carry oit personally. The background information is helpful, but I felt it just went on and on and disrupted the flow of the main story. The story also ended a bit abruptly for my taste.
I did enjoy Freya's Child, but as I mentioned before, I would recommend reading the previous books in the series before picking up this one. I am also curious as to whether or not a fourth book will be published. It would be interesting to see how the events in this book play out and what happens to Albert and his family. Is he going to join the FBI full time? Is Hulda going to be captured? Will the Nazis realize Albert's true goals and be angry about it? What will happen when the United States join the war? I guess I'll have to hold my breath and wait for the next book.
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