This month, the Catholic Writers’ Guild is touring Guildie Susan Peek’s book, SAINT MAGNUS, THE LAST VIKING. It is a SOA award winner.
Teaser: In this fast-paced novel for teens, the conflict unfolds between Saint Magnus Erlendson, a heroic young prince aflame with the love of God, and his outlawed cousin Hakon, who blames Magnus for his banishment from their kingdom.
Summary: Come back in time 900 years, to the fierce and desolate Northern lands, where Norsemen ruled with ax and sword. A dying king, a shocking death-wish, his heirs divided with an oath of blood . . . In this fast-paced novel for teens, the conflict unfolds between Magnus Erlendson, a heroic young prince aflame with the love of God, and his outlawed cousin Hakon, who blames Magnus for his banishment from their kingdom. What follows is a tale of betrayal and revenge, bravery and forgiveness, as Magnus seeks to restore his father’s vanquished kingdom to its rightful hands. Entertaining and inspiring from start to finish, a must-read for all those who thrill to learn the life of a saint we never knew existed!
Website: www.susanpeekauthor.com
Excerpt:
The other ruffian, surprised by Magnus’s sudden appearance on the scene, instantly drew his sword.
The one holding Grida didn’t even bother.
Everyone froze.
Magnus knew the dagger in his own hand was a joke. Against the two of them, both well armed, a lone defender with a knife didn’t pose much of a threat. But he wasn’t going to back down. He had at least one weapon they might not want to mess with. He was the Jarl’s son.
“Let her go,” he demanded.
Oh yes, they recognized him all right.
The thug who had drawn his sword wavered, and cast an uncertain glance at his comrade. He half-lowered his blade, not sure what to do.
But it was the other man, the one holding Grida, that Magnus realized he’d have to reckon with. This one seemed totally nonchalant, unconcerned that he’d been caught in crime by Erlend’s boy, a prince. Through the cut-out slits in his mask, he boldly locked eyes with Magnus.
He, obviously, would not back down either.
Grida watched them, ready to faint with fright. Behind the four of them the fire kept raging. Its heat was tremendous.
“I said,” Magnus repeated, “let her go. Now.”
The eyes behind that mask flickered with amusement. Whoever he was, he had no regard for Magnus’s princely rank. The reaction was disconcerting. Nor did he bother to draw his weapon. All he replied was, “Make me. I dare you.”
Grida was pale as death. The second man glanced irresolutely from Magnus to his partner-in-crime.
“My father will have you executed for this,” Magnus said to the bold one. “You will never get away with it. Release her this instant. I order you.”
To his amazement the man started to . . . laugh.
It wasn’t often that Magnus got angry, but now he felt his blood boil. It was not the personal insult to himself, nor even to his father the Jarl, but the bruises and terror on Grida’s face and the fact that Helge’s homestead was being destroyed before their very eyes. And to top it all off, Grida was his brother’s sweetheart!
Enough was enough. Magnus lunged at the man.
Reviews:
“Wow! From the beginning, I couldn’t put this book down. Susan Peek brings Saint Magnus to life while delivering action-packed excitement and suspense galore! Sure to be read with bated breath.” — Therese Heckenkamp, Author of #1 Bestseller ‘Past Suspicion’
“Written for boys in boys’ language: hard, fast, and to the point. Magnus is portrayed as a real boy with real blood in his veins.The book puts forth how courage, will and intelligence, joined together under the strong influence of grace and prayer, make a boy into a man and a man into a saint. Susan Peek certainly knows how to grab one’s attention and hold it captive!” —Benedictine Monk, Silver City, NM
“This enthralling and inspiring book must be THE favorite of our high school students. Our school had to order more copies, because everyone couldn’t wait any longer [to read it].” — Sister M.P., Teaching Nun, Minnesota
Bio: Catholic novelist Susan Peek is a wife, mother of eleven children, and a Third Order Franciscan. Her passion is writing novels of little-known saints and heroes, especially for teens (and anyone young at heart!). She is an active member of the Catholic Writers Guild, teaches creative writing in her spare time, and is currently continuing work on her series “God’s Forgotten Friends: Lives of Little-known Saints.” Her books have been incorporated into Language Arts and Reading Programs in Catholic schools worldwide.
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Saint-Magnus-Viking-Forgotten-Friends/dp/0997000503
Tweet: Looking for a fast-paced, exciting saint story? ST MAGNUS by Susan Peek http://buff.ly/1Q5TzVo #Catholic #books
Michael Fraley
Michael Fraley has been editing and posting the CWG Book Blast since 2016. He's adapted the Arthurian portion of Geoffrey of Monmouth's “Histories of the Kings of Britain” to the comic page, has worked in book illustration, graphic design, and has also served as a newspaper columnist. In 2019 the story of his conversion to Catholicism was told in Nancy Ward's book Sharing Your Catholic Faith Story. His primary area of study is in the Jewish roots of the Church, with an emphasis on the Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle of James. He holds a MA in theology from St. Joseph's College of Maine and a BFA in fine art from Indiana University. He can be reached at michael@michaelfraley.com
Susan Peek’s St Magnus is a strap-your-belt-tightly! tale in which each chapter springboards you with ever greater momentum through its absorbing adventure. Here royalty, brigands, maidens, and that rarest of men – a saint – appear as such true to life figures that they could not portray more perfectly the people that they once were. In strained suspense you feel, move and breathe with them, joined in their intrigues, dangers and death. This is a masterpiece from start to finish, a glorious triumph of story telling, an absolute must read!