When jewellery designer Sara Mattsson is propelled back to the ninth century, after cutting herself on a Viking knife she uncovers at an archaeological dig, she is quick to accept what has happened to her. For this is not the first Sara has heard of time travel.

Although acutely aware of the danger she faces when she loses the knife - and with it her way to return to her own time - this is also the opportunity of a lifetime. What better way to add authenticity to the Viking and Anglo-Saxon motifs used in her designs?

As luck has it, the first person Sara encounters is Rurik Eskilsson, a fellow silversmith, who is also no stranger to the concept of time travel. Agreeing that Sara can accompany him to Jorvik, they embark on a journey even more perilous than one through time. But Fate has brought these two kindred spirits together across the ages for a reason...
Fantastic read and can’t wait for the fourth book in this series!

Having been enthralled by the previous books in this series, it has taken extreme self-control to wait until now to read it. I can say, without fear of contradiction, that this is the best yet. Of course, you can read this as a standalone story, but why would you when this series is so good?
When we were last in the 9th Century, it was to meet Linnea and Hfran. Their story was wonderful, but Sara is Linnea’s best friend and Rurik is Hrfan’s brother, so the hurdle of explaining time-travel was already leapt, and we get straight into the action. This time, we are in medieval England and at the mercy of The Great Heathen Army and their mission to conquer all the kingdoms.
In this third instalment, it felt as though Christina Courtenay had really found her muse, as the story just flowed, and I found it hard to turn off my kindle. I was still reading when I should have been sleeping. I became obsessed with learning what would happen next as the story unfolded. Sara and Rurik are wonderful protagonists, well supported by a varied array of characters. My favourites would have to be Holger and Eadgyth, their story was simply lovely. Of course, I really didn’t like Asmund, but I wasn’t meant to.
The shining element of this series is without a doubt Courtenay’s knowledge of the Viking era. The sheer volume of research must have been staggering. The easy descriptions and explanations are perfect, and I felt like I had a personal tour guide as I found my way through this wonderful timeslip. I felt as though I had a little insider knowledge as I watched a live interview where she proudly displayed a Seax, a sword-like fighting knife with engraved runes.
I loved escaping to the 9th Century and hope I’ve inspired you to visit too.

When jewellery designer Sara Mattsson is propelled back to the ninth century, after cutting herself on a Viking knife she uncovers at an archaeological dig, she is quick to accept what has happened to her. For this is not the first Sara has heard of time travel.

I was curious going in to this story because whilst I loved the dual timeline of the first book, I found the second harder to get through with its timeslip storyline. With this third installment also being timeslip I was curious to see how different the plot would be, I was pleasantly surprised and I found it to be a very quick and enjoyable read. The author does a wonderful job bringing the Viking world to life and I enjoyed reading the perspective of someone thrown backwards in time and how they adjust to life away from the modern world.

I look forward to reading the fourth book this Winter.

Thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the chance to read Whispers of the Runes.

Another installment on the runes series, I was enthralled with it too.

This one follows Linnea's best friend Sara and omg i was hooked from page 1, I literally couldn't stop reading it between the history of the Norsemen and all the troubles they encountered to the romance this one is a definitive page turner.

Rurik was so amazing, I loved him on the previous book and loved him so much more in this one, he is so sweet really and has so many talents really, he deserved so much in life.

Sara was so awesome too, she was very strong with everything going on in her life, he live the adventure of a lifetime really.

I loved how the author actually get to piece all the history and the characters stories in between it's actually so seamless and I love to learn more about all this expeditions and the cultures and all the different perspectives to one thing, it's just so cool.

If you love romance and a little history this one is the perfect book to pick up, it will get you both and maintain you very on the edge.

This is the third in Courtenay’s loosely related ‘Runes’ series but I do believe they can be read as standalone. There are a few cross over characters but each story ends with a happily ever after and all ends are neatly tied up.

Now I’ve read three of Courtenay’s books and they’re always very hit and miss with me. I enjoyed the first one, with it’s dual timeline. I particularly liked the architecture angle in the present, even though I wasn’t blown away by either of the romance stories. The second one I had to DNF because I found a lot of aspects of it frustrating and the heroine took a long time to come to terms with the fact she was in the past.

This one was a bit of a miss for me as well. I did like it more than the second, the heroine seemed much smarter and willing to believe she was in the past. But again the romance fell a bit flat and the characters never seemed to develop. I will say that the research Courtenay puts into these books is amazing–but all the facts sometimes took me out of the story she was trying to tell. My favourite aspect was probably the dog, I loved how the heroine called him Beowulf, that did make me grin.

All in all I think fans of more historical-inclined fiction will enjoy these books a lot more, the detail Courtenay includes is truly brilliant, but unfortunately as a romance reader this one wasn’t for me.

Whispers of the Runes by Christina Courtenay grabbed me from the very start. Like the other 'Rune' books it doesn't hang about but gets the adventure going right from the start.
I like that the storyline moves forward and isn't predictable other than you know it's going to move between times and of course that it's a romance. Having said that even without the romance element it's a really good tale. While some of the characters overlap with the other 'Rune' books, you don't have to have read them first and there isn't a lot of repeated background for those who have read them.
I loved this book and the way it describes life in the British kingdoms during the viking age.

I loved, loved, loved this story! If you're a fan of historically accurate time travel romances, then this is the novel for you! I appreciated how the author had carefully researched her target time period and didn't hide from the horrors of the time, but whilst also showing the true emotions, and romance despite the period being so radically different from our own; this is a very well written book. I would heartedly recommend to everyone

My second Christina Courtney novel (sorry) and the first dual timeline of hers I've read, so I don't know if this is a first? You may need to go back in time to understand what I've just written!
Anyway, I've recently become a fan of this genre, so that made this book even more welcome.
Shipwrecks, heroic Vikings, loyal dogs (even though I'm a cat bod) and strong women, all laced together with writing of the highest order; what more could you want? Ms Courtney weaves a tale that drew me in and refused to let me go until the wee hours of each morning. Her style and description is hard to equal and together with a fair amount of well-placed humour, makes pretty much a perfect read - more please!
My thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always loved dual timeline stories. Barbara Erskine was particular favourite in years gone by. A difficult thing to pull off but when successfully executed, they are brilliant. The author has pulled it off with this one.

I love the Vikings link, and both the ancient and modern day setting were so wonderfully described.. Great characters and fabulous dialogue.

I was drawn in to both stories but must confess a slight preference for the 'older' setting. It felt so authentic - a world of difference in the way that life was lived and yet so much in common with how we feel and think. A totally y beautiful story.

I have loved the previous books in the series so was really excited to get a copy from netgalley. I wasn't disappointed . You quickly get engrossed in the storyline and I read it in one sitting .
I especially enjoy the humour that Christina Courtenay always invests into her storylines. Each book also manages to be individual too.
We met Rurik in the previous book and he is the main protagonist in this story. A skilled silversmith , he decides to travel to Jorvik to make a fresh start away from his older brother and the sister in law he is infatuated with.
Sara is a modern day jewellery designer,incorporating Viking designs into her work. When she discovers a knife with runic designs carved into the blade at an archeology dig site and accidently cuts herself whilst reading out the mystical verse , she realises she has travelled through time . When she inadvertently loses the knife she is trapped in the 9th century .
Rurik and Sara end up travelling to Jorvic together with a stray dog they pick up along the way. The attraction between them grows as the story progresses and their journey comes to an end. There are misunderstandings thrown in and it's a constant will they won't they scenario.
I absolutely loved this book and it gets a massive 5 stars from me! I thoroughly recommend It!

Having read several of Christina Courtenay’s previous books, I was prepared for being immediately swept away by the story—and Whispering Runes did not disappoint, landing me in the distant ninth century in less than five minutes.
I love how Ms Courtenay weaves her beautiful prose into this vivid depiction of Viking life. From utensils to clothes to dwellings and transportation – with a touch as light as gossamer, she paints the past, breathing life to a world that no longer exists.
Add to this a well-developed plot and two wonderful main protagonists, and you have a read that sucks you in and holds you captive right up to the moment when you emerge only to discover with a little sigh that you are no longer with Rurik and Sara in long-ago Eskilsnes.
An excellent read – warmly recommended!

Two hearts. Two different eras.

Whispers of the Runes is an entrancing time-slip romance that takes the reader to the time of the Vikings.

Rurik was a favorite of mine from the previous book (Runes of Destiny), and I'm glad to inform you that he officially joined my list of fictional crushes.

Middle brother in a Viking landed family, Rurik left his older brother's home after he married the woman Rurik loved. Heartbroken and disillusioned, Rurik traveled to another city to start a blacksmith shop but ended up being the only survivor of a shipwreck.

Alone in a place away from home, he met Sarah, a woman strangely dressed who came from the future. Irritated to have been settled with someone to take care of, he reluctantly agreed to let her travel with him to the city of Jorvik (currently York, England).

This romance has all the elements I most love in the genre: a loyal and honorable hero, a strong heroine, a slow-burn connection, and the right amount of unrequited love and angst.

Both Rurik and Sarah were simply adorable. I could not put the book down until the very end.

The side characters were intense and exciting, including some actual fearsome historical figures from the Vikings era. I love a sweet pet, and Beowulf, their dog, was perfect in his fierce and loyal way.

Whispers of the Runes is a lovely and well-written time slip romance with wonderful characters.

Highly recommended!

Having read all the previous ‘Runes’ stories, I was very pleased to see this new timeslip adventure from Christina Courtenay. You know you are going to get a well-written and well-researched story but Courtenay’s particular talent is to entice you into her world and capture you.

Whether living in a Viking age house with the smells of Jorvik around you, swaying across the North Sea in a low-hulled ship or fighting the Saxons in bloody battle, you are there and vividly so.

The timeslip is handled well and I particularly enjoyed Rurik’s encounter with modern technology. How would we handle such a time jump either backwards or forwards?

The romance develops tantalisingly between two main characters who have suffered deep emotional hurts and are reluctant, no, completely dead set against a new relationship.But as we know from previous books, this will change!

The writing is clear and sensitive without being sentimental, but you can’t doubt the warmth of the good relationships and the bitterness of the bad ones. This is an absorbing way to spend your precious reading hours. Highly recommended.