Multi award-winning author Christina Courtenay exquisitely blends danger, adventure, passion and seduction in her latest irresistible Viking romance: Whispers of the Runes.

As a jewellery designer Sara Mattson is all too aware of the allure of the past, however, even she is flabbergasted when, after cutting herself on a Viking knife, she finds herself travelling back in time to the ninth century. Sara had heard of time-travel, but she never imagined that she would get to experience it herself. As a woman on her own trapped during a time period where jeopardy lurks round every corner, Sara is fully aware of the risks this unexpected journey back to the past brings with it, but she also hopes to use this experience to gain first-hand knowledge about designs and symbolism used by Vikings that she can fashion in her jewellery collection in the present day. But when she loses the Viking knife and the only way she can return back home, Sara wonders whether she will manage to go back to her own time…

Luckily for Sara, she encounters silversmith Rurik Eskillson, a man who is no stranger to the concept of time-travel himself. With Rurik about to go to Jorvik, he agrees to let Sara accompany him on this perilous journey that will not only end up forcing the two of them into very close proximity but also compel them to confront their own fears and insecurities and the startling revelation that they might just have fallen head over heels in love with one another.

Yet Sara and Rurik come from two different worlds and two different eras. Does their relationship stand any chance of surviving when there are so many obstacles standing in their way? Or will their love manage to triumph even if all the odds are stacked against them?

Christina Courtenay is the queen of sweeping romantic adventure and she continues to get better and better with every book she writes. Whispers of the Runes is an atmospheric, emotional and spellbinding romantic read that effortlessly takes readers into a high stakes world of jeopardy and desire that will enthrall them from beginning to end.

Sara and Rurik’s story is dramatic, passionate and so enjoyable readers will find themselves completely and utterly mesmerized by this superb page-turner.

Christina Courtenay strikes gold yet again with an epic Viking romance that is as impossible to put down as it is to forget: Whispers of the Runes.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy in exchange for a review.

So, I didn’t realize this was part of a series.

And to be honest, what was there, didn’t capture me. Because of the last book, I think, Sara already knows about time travel and everything, and so does Rurik. So their whole miscommunication around future and where she’s from just seems annoying rather than plausible.

I also just didn’t get much personality from either of them other than Sara likes Viking jewelry and Rurik is a Viking.

If you love time travel romance or Vikings, give this one a try but it wasn’t for me. 3 stars.

Whispers of the Runes focuses on Hrafn’s brother, Rurik, and his experience striking out on his own. He is aware of time travel and when he meets Sara from the 21st century, he knows what to expect.

Even if you have not read The Runes of Destiny, you will have no trouble following this story. Rurik and Sara have a journey of their own, separate from the experiences that Hrafn and Linnea went through. They do make an appearance in Whispers of the Runes but what their role is exactly in this story is for you to find out.

As always, I am amazed by the level of research Christina has done for the book with respect to the Norse language, the history of the Vikings, mapping the geographical layout of the past to present-day Europe, and the Viking clothing, cuisine, and occupations.

Christina has described Viking silversmithing (Rurik’s occupation in the past and Sara’s occupation in the present) in great detail, making the shape and form of the silver objects come to life through her descriptions.

However, Rurik and Sara’s romance is less believable than that of Hrafn and Linnea’s bonding and seemed a bit forced. The end of Whispers of the Runes also seemed a bit rushed.

Nevertheless, it did not lessen my enjoyment of this book and I found myself getting lost in the Viking world, its hardships, dangers, and peculiarities.

A compelling tale by Christina once again!

Trigger Warnings
This book contains:
• Attempted rape
• Attempted murder
• Slaughter and plunder of Churches and Monasteries
Characters
Sara is Linnea’s best friend who suffered the loss of her parents in the same car accident that left her in hospital for months. It’s more than a year later and Sara’s moved on from her ex and goes on an excursion for inspiration for her jewellery.
Rurik is one of Linnea’s brothers-in-law and a silversmith who’s decided to move away so that he can try and get over his love for Linnea. He’s proud, a strong warrior and determined to make his new life in England successful.
Storyline
Sara travels back through time right as Rurik is burying some of his fellow shipmates after becoming shipwrecked on the coast of England. They both knew about time travel thanks to Linnea, but they aren’t sure if the other one knows or realises so don’t want to freak them out.
As they travel through England heading towards Jorvik they find themselves in positions they didn’t expect but continues to bring them closer and closer.
Overall Thoughts
Following on from The Runes of Destiny, we get to have more time travel back to the same time period and it’s so fun!
I wanted more from this world when I finished The Runes of Destiny and I’m so glad I got more. Although I think I’m missing Echo’s of the Runes, I’m not sure though coz this series isn’t listed as a series and I’m not sure the characters cross over.
Either way, this is another great story that wove romance, action, time travel and drama all together into another great story that I’m hoping isn’t the end of this series. Once again I’m left wanting more and I have a guess as to who could be the focus of the next story but you never know!

Having recently read and loved The Runes of Destiny I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of Christina’s next book which follows on but can easily be read as a stand alone.

The book is again set over a dual timeline, with nearly all of the story set in the historical part. We follow Hrafn’s brother, Rurik, as he has left his homeland of Sweden in AD873 and sailed to England, aiming to start a new life as a silversmith in Jorvik (York). Unfortunately whilst sailing across the North Sea he and his crew are shipwrecked and he is the only survivor, washing up at Marsden Bay in Northumberland. He buries the bodies of some of the crew with a seax (a knife) and some pins he has made, being a silversmith. He is shocked to find a girl holding the seax in her hand he has just buried! And wearing such strange clothes. He realises this must be another time traveller. His brother had married a time traveller, Linnea, and she is the reason he has left his home behind. He had developed feelings for her.

In the present time line, Sara is at an archeological dig at a grave with her grandfather. When he briefly leaves the site she notices something shining in the grave and pulls it out. It is a seax. She reads the runes on the handle and finds herself in front of a man who has just buried some bodies. She realises she has travelled back in time, just like her friend Linnea had.

Rurik agrees to take Sara with him to Jorvik. As a silversmith herself, she is very interested to see the designs of the jewellery before she finds a way to get back to her own time. On the way they find a house which has been set on fire and all it’s inhabitants slaughtered. There is a dog which has survived and they take him along with them, naming him Beowulf. Not king after they encounter part of The Great Heathen Army and are forced to join them.

They eventually reach York having got to know each other quite well and realising they have feelings for each other although they are keeping their thoughts to themselves.

Another very enjoyable book by Christina although I did not enjoy it quite as much as the previous one which was outstanding.

Whispers of the Runes is a detailed fast paced story that is well written and easy to follow with a good flow... I couldn't put it down and was reading well into the night...
I like how Courtenay has transported the reader into the story with a authentic and well researched historical story that recreates the everyday life of Vikings...
The character development of Whispers of the Runes is good. The characters are likeable and realistic. I liked that Sara is strong willed and works along side Rurik as a equal. I also enjoyed finding out what Rurik thought of life in the modern era! The chemistry between Rurik and Sara is good with some tender sweet scenes...
I would recommend reading Whispers of the Runes to lovers of Historical Romance, as it is a engaging character driven story that gives an interesting insight into the culture and customs of a Viking world...

Whispers of the Runes by Christina Courtenay is a timeslip romance fiction story that is the second book I have read of Christinas'. The previous book was in the 9th Century and we met Linnea and Hfran. Their story was for me, brilliant. Sara is Linnea’s best friend and Rurik is Hrfan’s brother, so we meet the main characters of this book and they already have knowledge that time travel happens, so that sets us up for this story. This time, we are in medieval England and the enemy is The Great Heathen Army and they have a mission to conquer all the kingdoms no matter how they do it.
I really enjoyed the previous book and know how much historical detail Christina Courtenay puts into her work. This one flowed even better that the other book, I thought the first was marvellous and Whisper of the Runes just solidifies her writing for me. The characters are again so wonderful and vibrant. The two main ones are surrounded by characters just as varied as always. There is always a hated one and Asmund is shining in this catergory.
Again I was transported away and truly enveloped in the 9th century, Christina has a knack of allowing me to time travel with whichever characters are going back in time, it is such an immersive experience and again I felt like I was being educated as well as entertained yet again.
Another fabulous book from Christina and I am hoping I will be able to experience time travel again soon.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Christina Courtenay for the book to take part and bring you my thoughts.

Sara Mattsson is attending an archeological dig in the north of England when she inadvertently cuts her finger on a Viking knife. Instantly transported back to the 9th Century Sara encounters Rurik Eskilsson, an enigmatic Viking, who is safeguarding his own secrets.

Already aware of the time travel phenomenon Sara takes being whisked back in time with remarkable good grace and her burgeoning friendship with Rurik ensures a lively adventure especially when they get drawn into the long standing feuds which exist in this time. I enjoyed being with Sara and Erik as they make a perilous journey towards Jorvik, encountering an array of fascinating characters, some good and some bad, but none are more special than Beowulf, who captured my heart from the start.

Time slip stories are notoriously difficult to get right but when they are done with a realistic look at the past then the whole thing comes alive and in Whispers of the Runes the past feels very real indeed as the author clearly does an impressive amount of research in order to create an authentic atmosphere. Filled with excitement, danger, adventure and passion, Whispers of the Runes is an absolute joy to read and is every bit as good as I knew it would be from this talented author.

This is such a lovely series of time slip stories and whilst each book can be read comfortably as a stand alone, there are occasional references to previous stories, so it sort of makes sense to start at the beginning and escape to the time of the Vikings.

The third book in this exciting time-slip series, WHISPERS OF THE RUNES by Christina Courtenay, is everything I wanted it to be and more.

When Sarah finds herself transported back in time, she isn't unduly shocked and is determined to make the most of her time there, learning about the Viking world, specifically their talents in design. And when she finds what she needs to transport her back to her own time, she will have learned firsthand everything she needs to know to make her own jewellery authentic. It's all quite simple really.
Rurik understands heartache and hardship in ways that Sarah could never imagine, but when he stumbles across this strange girl with her strange clothes, he understands what has happened to her and feels the need to keep an eye on her, even if it is begrudgingly at first. As they travel together and danger begins to thwart their adventure, a gentle heat slowly starts to build. But how can they ever be more? Has fate placed them together or will fate tear them apart?

A time-slip romance that will effortlessly transport you to a different place and time, WHISPERS OF THE RUNES, is brimming with detail perfectly woven throughout the story so that you can picture it all in your mind's eye like a movie. The characters are likeable and strong-willed, which I love, and it was such a pleasure to watch them learn to trust each other with their hearts. With plenty of excitement and danger along the way, this historical romance has something for everyone, and as soon as I turned the final page, I wanted more.

WHISPERS OF THE RUNES by Christina Courtenay is the kind of story that you want to curl up on the couch with and savour, and I cannot wait for more from this talented author.

I was granted eARC access to Whispers of the Runes via a NetGalley widget as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Rachel's Random Resources. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I jumped on the opportunity to review what promised to be a relatively clean romance with time travel back to biking times, as I absolutely love anything that touches on Scandinavian heritage. I've seen some others reviewing this book refer to it as third in a series, and I was not aware of its sequel status when I signed up for the tour (nor is this book listed as part of a series on Goodreads!) but I do feel that this book reads well as a stand-alone, and I suspect the "series" is merely a collection of time travel romances going back to the same time and place, but with different characters.

Sara, our heroine from the future, is intelligent and strong-willed and responds exactly as I would expect one to respond to discovering that she's suddenly in the distant past. Rurik is exactly the sort of strong, sensible leader of a biking hero I like to see in historical romances, and there's just the right amount of standoffishness going on to make it juicy. This pairing is adorable, and the slow-burn is perfect!

Can I just ask, though, why on Earth anyone who's educated enough to read Norse runes wouldn't think maybe they shouldn't read the inscription on an old viking seax, out loud no less, immediately after cutting yourself on it and thus adding blood to the runes? Come on, Sara! You seemed smarter than that for the rest of the book...

I love the fact that Sara and Rurik have compatible careers, with Sara being a jewelry artist and Rurik a silversmith.

This is a well-written, well-researched historical romance with a lot to offer fans of both historical fiction and clean romance. If this sounds like your thing, check out the whole series!

This engaging Viking romance has a believable timeslip element and a vividly written Viking setting, immersing the reader in ninth-century Britain.

Whisked back in time to Viking Britain, Sara adjusts to her time-travelling status better than you'd expect. Rurik shares Sara's jewellery skills and has met a time-traveller before, so he helps her survive the danger, but can he guard his heart?

Full of adventure and romance, pertinent historical details bring the setting to life, but it's the characters who keep you turning the pages. Will they survive? Can they be together?

With lyrical writing, vibrant sensory imagery and complex characters, the readers' time in Viking Britain passes quickly, leaving them with images that resonate and the knowledge they've experienced something special.

I received a copy of this book from Headline via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

5 Word Review: History, jewellery, love, friendship, danger.

I didn't realise I needed a Viking time slip romance, but here we are. And I need more.

This is the second book in a kind of mini-series, the first is The Runes of Destiny. There are small spoilers if you haven't read the first (like me) but I don't think they ruined it, if anything I'm even more excited to go back and read Linnea's story.

Sara adjusted remarkably well to her time travel - and although it was understandable given what has happened to her friend (in a book I have not read but immediately bought when I finished this). Even if I knew what she did, I would have freaked out a lot more. Sara is so lucky with her knowledge of languages both modern and ancient and it definitely made her situation a lot more bearable.

Rurik has such a kind heart, but my gosh he's a bit of an oaf sometimes! He's caring, yet careless when it comes to communication, which of course leads to massive misunderstandings.

I loved the simmering tensions between Sara and Rurik, and the growing trust between them. This is a marvellous slowburn with moments of intense lust, longing for their pasts, and perhaps a few mistakes. I liked their scrutinisation of their own pasts, and how the realisations they came to shaped their relationship.

This isn't just a one way timeslip, either. There is a small amount of back and forth, and I liked seeing how Rurik and Sara reacted to each other's times. Both would be a lot to take in, but Rurik really took it in his stride and it took it all with an open mind (and stomach). I do kind of wish that Sara had prepared a bit more when she got the opportunity to, I would have been straight into recipe books and survival blogs, frantically googling what plants are safe to eat.

It is obvious that a huge amount of research has gone into this book. It even had me reaching for resources. There is a vast history in the area that the book begins, from prehistoric to modern times, so a cairn isn't beyond the realms of possibilities, especially as the landscape has changed so much. And yes, I took myself to Marsden Bay in the thick sea fret for a bookstagram photo.

The writing is beautiful too. I could picture everything so perfectly, so vividly. I could even smell it, the descriptions are so rich. From the weather to the landscape, the smells to the horror of a raiding army, this book had me there, in the past.

Whispers of the Runes is perfect for fans of Outlander and The Last Kingdom, it's a whirlpool of action and a slowburn romance in one and I loved it. There was a snippet of Tempted by the Runes at the back, and December has to hurry up so I can read Madison's story!

“A journey even more perilous than one through time” – goodness, yes, it most certainly is. But what I really, really loved about this book is that it’s all tremendous fun too – a quite wonderful developing love story between two characters I really took to my heart (and who both know a little more about travelling through time than they’re ready to reveal), lots of edge-of-the seat excitement from outset (and even more while travelling with the lawless Great Heathen Army), some wonderful glimpses of Jorvik in Viking times (and York in the present day), and a story that grips you and moves at tremendous pace while whisking you away to the world the author creates.

If you should ever find a Viking seax, don’t – for goodness’ sake – cut your finger and read out loud the inscription on the blade. That’s where Sara’s problems begin, when she finds herself transported to a beach in the North of England in the ninth century. Rurik has just been shipwrecked on the same beach on his voyage to Britain to ply his trade in Jorvik – the burial mound that Sara was investigating was the one for his perished shipmates – and they decide to stick together and head off cross-country. Sara really doesn’t have any other options – despite a desperate search, the seax is lost, along with any possibility of making a return journey through time.

But there are other elements at play too – Sara’s already aware that she’s by no means the first person to be taken back through time (she’s a friend of Linnea in the last book), and Rurik too has his reasons to be familiar with a concept other ordinary Vikings might understandably struggle with. But these are troubled times, and they find themselves captured by the forces of the Great Heathen Army roaming the British Isles in the time of Alfred the Great – acquiring a faithful dog in Beowulf in the aftermath of a massacre they stumble across – and become part of a succession of settlements as they hope for the opportunity to finally make their way to Jorvik, where Sara has an idea about how she might just be able to find a way to return to her former life.

The way the author recreates everyday life in Viking times is just wonderful. The research that must have gone into the writing is amply evident, but it’s used so cleverly to bring the era vividly to life – always authentic and believable, with every small detail helping to build a world that you entirely inhabit and experience with all your senses. I liked the fact that both Sara and Rurik were silversmiths – and learned a tremendous amount about the way they set up their workplace and plied their trade without the modern-day help of blowtorches and magnifying glasses. I learned a lot about day-to-day life too – I already knew the life of a thrall was no picnic, but I didn’t know they were sometimes sacrificed, and that’s a particularly difficult one for present day Sara to get her head around.

The story is absolutely cracking – fast paced, with so many moments of real danger – with some of the most wonderfully well-drawn characters, both evil and benevolent. And through it all, the romance between Sara and Rurik builds – it feels hopeless, and really tears at your heart, with a few perfect tender moments, on the way to an unexpected ending (a real “bravo!” moment) that was everything I could have possibly wished for. The secrets between them cause considerable problems: there might have been a few times when a little more honesty and disclosure wouldn’t have gone amiss, but then we wouldn’t have had the story.

I’ve always enjoyed the author’s writing – and if pushed, I think I have to say that in this book it’s better than ever. It’s important when reading a time slip story that you’re able to suspend your disbelief of the basic premise – and this was a book I didn’t have a moment’s hesitation in believing. There’s an essential lightness about the writing – with a lot of gentle humour – but no glossing over the less palatable parts of ninth century life. I particularly liked too the brief return to the present day, for the most essential of reasons – it was something a little different to see a Viking experiencing life in modern-day York.

Whatever might draw you to this book – the history, the notion of time travel, the romance – I absolutely guarantee that it won’t disappoint you in any way. I really loved it – and recommend it very highly.

4.5* rounded to 5
I read “Echoes of The Runes” and loved the mix of historical fiction and romance, a highly entertaining and interesting story.
Whispers of the Rune is another good story by this author as it’s engrossing, fascinating and highly entertaining.
I’m a huge fan of Outlander and Doctor Who, this means I’m fascinating by story that features people travelling in time and meeting different way of living and cultures. I’m also a huge fan of Jody Taylor’s The Chronicles of St Mary's Series but I don’t know if this is relevant for this review.
There’s plenty going on: time travelling, action, fight, a lovely dog and two very interesting main characters.
Sarah is great character: I loved how she was able to cope in a different age and how she saw it as an opportunity to learn. The evolution of her characters is very interesting, and she grew on me.
Rurik is the Danish I’d love to meet handsome, gentle, clever and brave. I liked how he treated Sarah as a peer and how he came to love her.
The romance is slow burning and realistic, Sarah and Rurik don’t fell in love at first sight and their relationship grows as they share experiences and get to know each other.
The historical background is well researched. I found the parts set in the past vivid and learned something news about Viking culture and how people lived in the IX century.
One small note: the fantasy aficionado in me would like some more world building. How is the time travel working and how the magical objects were created? I would be interesting in know more about this part.
An engrossing and entertaining story that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Headline Review, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

This is the first book I have read from Christina Courtenay, though I have others waiting patiently on my Kindle which I need to catch up on. I loved it and though it is the third in the Runes series; it works well as a standalone. This highly readable romantic novel follows a modern silversmith, Sara, when she slips into the 9th century thanks to an ancient sword. I quickly connected to her when she meets a shipwrecked Viking, Rurik. Unlike the traditional stereotypical Viking we all expect, he is chivalrous, kind and unphased by her time travelling because he has met a wanderer before in a previous book. I loved this twist because it meant Sara did not have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t, increasing the speed of the story. Rurik is also a silversmith, giving the characters a common thread to discuss and allow the chemistry between them build. He really is a Viking everyone could fall in love with.

As like all time travellers, Sara is faced with dangers from others but this tension is balanced with the everyday life of the Vikings. The highly detailed descriptions of this gave the novel depth and was able to transport me to the tents in the camps immersed in the smells and chat. Unlike some well researched historical fiction the details are perfectly blended with the storytelling and were never a distraction but made it a joy to read.

I can’t wait to be able to nudge the other books in the series up my TBR pile and catch up with the series.

I really love Christina Courtney books, and this was good, the storyline worked well and I love the history she works into it. The romance didn't quite get to me like the previous books but I still can't wait to read the next book.
Thank you NetGalley

Another Great Read!

I have read the other books in this series and enjoyed this one just as much. I think we all wish at times that we could be transported out of our day to day lives, but Sara Mattsson finds out the reality of that when she must cope in the past, without even her underwear! She is lucky that she meets Rurik, who is open to the possibilities of time travel, having met a time traveller before. As always, I am in awe of Christina Courtenay’s writing skill and her knowledge of Viking history and ways of life. I particularly loved Beowulf the dog. Looking forward to the next in the series already.

Over the years there have been a few instances when I've picked up a book by a new author and wondered why it's taken so long to discover them. Whisper of the Runes is a fabulous time slip adventure with Vikings, runes, and is a wonderful discovery.

When jewellery designer, Sara Mattsson meets fellow silversmith, Rurik Eskilsson!

When I began reading this novel, I was unaware it's part of a series however, it works as a standalone. It's noticeable the novel is well researched and full of historical detail. I enjoy reading novels set during this era, and this more than exceeded my expectations.

The historical descriptions triggered vivid images and captured my imagination as I was transporting back to the age of Jorvik. For those who enjoy, romance and time travel, this is a treat.

I'm always cautious when reading a timeslip novel because often one timeline doesn't hold my attention as equally as the other. I need not have worried because, they weave together seamlessly, as the narrative grabbed my attention right from the start. It resulted in a desire to read the other novels I've missed in the series, whilst waiting on the publication date of the next one.

***arc received courtesy of Headline Review via NetGalley***

Another great time travelling novel. If you have enjoyed other books by Christina you will devour this one.
What is there not to like?
Time travel
Vikings
Romance ?
I would recommend this to readers of Barbara Erskine and if you enjoyed the TV series Vikings you will get a warm glow when Ivar ,Bjorn and the rest of the Lothbruk brood are mentioned. I cannot wait for the next book!

I love Christina Courtenay books, and have bought quite a few of them, so I was delighted to get an advance copy to read. The tale is about Sara, a time traveller, who accidentally cuts herself with a magical knife and travels back in time to the Viking age, because of the magical runes on the knife. From there I was already gripped by the tale, and remained that way until the end. It drew me in, straight away. Another triumph for Christina Courtenay, and possibly the best book I have read of hers, although I have not read them all.