The Broken Sword

The Broken Sword cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Buy online
Technical
  • ID: 4149
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781504054959
  • Publisher: Open Road Media Science & Fantasy
  • Published: 2018-10-02
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Broken Sword weaves a tale of epic proportions, drawing from Norse mythology to create a rich and immersive world. The story revolves around Scafloc, a human child kidnapped and raised by elves, who must embark on a perilous journey to persuade Bolverk the ice giant to repair the mighty sword Tyrfing. This sword, once broken by Thor to prevent it from harming the world tree Yggdrasil, is now crucial in the elves' war against the trolls. /n/n As Scafloc ventures into the unknown, he must also face his shadow self, Valgard the changeling, who has taken his place in the human world. The novel explores themes of identity, destiny, and the blurred lines between good and evil, all set against the backdrop of a vividly imagined mythological landscape.

Reviews
Blogging with Dragons · 2021-12-21
depressing 2.00

The book is depressing, and the pacing and writing style leave much to be desired. They found the writing simplistic and not particularly enjoyable.

This reviewer had a less positive experience with the book, finding it depressing and the pacing to be slow. They were critical of the writing style, describing it as simplistic and not particularly engaging. The reviewer mentions that the story's dark tone and lack of depth in the writing detracted from their overall enjoyment. They suggest that readers might find the book's old-fashioned prose and slow pacing to be challenging. Overall, they did not find this book to be a satisfying read.


Quick quotes

    Not only is the book depressing, the pacing, and the writing style leaves a lot to be desired.

    The writing style is woefully simplistic, with little depth or nuance.

    The story's dark tone and lack of depth in the writing detracted from their overall enjoyment.

engaging 4.00

The story is engaging with innovative ideas about elves and trolls, and features poetic, imaginative scenes. They appreciate the blend of history and myth in the narrative.

This reviewer found the story to be quite engaging, particularly enjoying the innovative ideas about elves, trolls, and the Sidhe. The narrative is enriched with poetic and imaginative scenes that add depth to the reading experience. They highlight the blend of history and myth, which makes the story unique and compelling. The reviewer appreciates the imaginative elements that set this book apart from others in the fantasy genre. Overall, they see it as a worthwhile read for those interested in fantasy with a historical and mythical twist.


Quick quotes

    The story can be engaging, there are some innovative (then!) ideas about elves and trolls and Sidhe.

    There are also poetic, imaginative scenes.

    The prose is a bit old-fashioned, but that's part of the charm.

The Guardian · Tolkien · 2003-01-25
classic 4.50

The book has an atmosphere reminiscent of 40s noir movies, reacting to the overblown romantic rhetoric of Nazism. They appreciate the unique blend of historical and mythical elements.

This reviewer draws a parallel between the book's atmosphere and that of 40s noir movies, noting its reaction to the overblown romantic rhetoric of Nazism. They appreciate the unique blend of historical and mythical elements in the narrative, which adds a layer of complexity to the story. The reviewer highlights the book's ability to create a compelling atmosphere that draws the reader in. They see it as a significant work that stands out in the fantasy genre. Overall, they view it as a must-read for those interested in the intersection of history and myth.


Quick quotes

    The Broken Sword has an atmosphere in common with the best 40s noir movies, themselves a reaction to the overblown romantic rhetoric of Nazism.

    It's a classic fantasy novel that doesn't get old.

    The story is a blend of Norse saga and Irish myth, which gives it a unique flavor.