The Ring of the Dark Elves [Paperback]

Victoria Barbosa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2003

In his vision Odin saw a ring, glittering and bright, a thing of great beauty and danger. And the face of a mortal man, stern and beautiful, his fair hair blowing in the wind of battle as the fire-edged sword in his hand rose and fell.So Odin, lord of the nine worlds, saw Sigurd Dragonslayer for the first time. He alone could recapture the ring of power from the cruel dragon Fafnir. In his effort to regain the ring, Odin ensnared Sigurd and the race of the Volsungs in his schemes * for if he failed, it would mean the beginning of Ragnarok, the end of all worlds.Set in the savage, beautiful world of Norse legend, this is the epic quest of romance, enchantment, adventure and treachery from which Richard Wagner created his magnificent operatic cycle, The Ring of the Nibelung. William Morris said of the tale of Sigurd, "This is the great story of the North, which should be to all our race what the tale of Troy was to the Greeks."

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . powerful drama . . .an admirably well-paced novel . . .you don't have to enjoy fantasy to like this one . . . -- Rachel A. Hyde, MyShelf.com

About the Author

Victoria Randall lives with her husband and three youngest children in Seattle, where she works in the medical field. A graduate of Oberlin College, she is the author of The Witchstone, published in 1976. She is a strong believer in the value of fantasy and epic to strengthen and enrich our lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (May 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595272355
• ISBN-13: 978-0595272358
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,651,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An epic, enthralling tale, September 21, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ring of the Dark Elves (Paperback)

The Ring Of The Dark Elves is a work of fantasy by Victoria Randall who draws from Norse legend for her story. Utilizing the same mythic conflicts that drive Richard Wagner's immortal operatic cycle, "The Ring of Nibelung", The Ring Of The Dark Elves tells of Oden's efforts to hold off the onset of Ragnarok by ensnaring Sigurd's service and using him to regain the ring of power from the ruthless dragon Fafnir. An epic, enthralling tale, The Ring Of Dark Elves is entertaining and imaginative storytelling and a highly recommended addition to personal and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Novel Based on Norse Legends, June 28, 2003

By 

Fr Phillip Bloom "parish priest" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ring of the Dark Elves (Paperback)

Victoria Randall has written a terrific novel. The Ring of the Dark Elves is a tale of romance, enchantment, adventure - and treachery. It is based on Norse mythology, but enjoyment of the story does not require an in-depth knowledge of those legends. For me the novel provided a good introduction to that world. Those who know more about the legends - for example, those who have seen Richard Wagner's operatic cycle - will read the novel with even greater relish.

Before reading The Ring of the Dark Elves, I had heard something about Norse mythology from J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. I knew that both writers had immersed themselves in that world and that it influenced their own imaginations. But I really did not know much about it until reading Victoria Randall's novel. I had heard the names Odin, Brynhild and Sigurd (although in slightly different forms) but did not know who they were. This novel makes those mythical figures live and breathe.

Those who have read The Lord of the Rings - or seen the movies - do not need to be convinced of the worth of epic stories. As Miss Randall says in the introduction:

"Heroic legends and fairy tales are currently seen as fare for children, and it is true that children benefit from being exposed to them early. But in actuality it is adults who need them most, for despite all our wishes to the contrary we live in days as dark as those of early Norsemen, and must deal with the grim realities of the world. Heroic tales give us the courage and the hope that are essential to finding meaning in life."

The Ring of the Dark Elves is a book many will want in their personal library to read - and to re-read - and to fire the imagination of both young and old.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Victoria Randall's retelling, June 28, 2003

By 

Joshua L Gonnerman (Platte City, Mo United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ring of the Dark Elves (Paperback)

Thousands of years ago, the Roman legions took over the known world. As a result, great emphasis is placed on the Greco-Roman myths, and we are left sadly lacking in other areas. Victoria Randall helps to overcome this problem, with her retelling of Nordic saga, The Ring of the Dark Elves. It tells anew some of the ancient myths of the Norse peoples, most notably that of Sigurd Fafnirsbane. This ancient tale is retold by Victoria Randall with skill and beautiful wording. Her good writing is a boon to read, and tells the cycle of tales very well. She captures the cruel-hearted beauty of the daughters of Aegir, the dim and dreary world of the dark elves, the ancient struggle of Odin One-eyed against the sands of Time, and most importantly, the epic sorrow and sadness of the ancient Nordic myths, and the almost overwhelming sense of defeat that lurks under the surface, the complete beauty of these Northern tales. Definitely recommended to any fan of myth, old and modern alike.