Whispers of the Runes – Christina Courtenay

Time is no barrier for a love that is destined to be. She couldn’t be sure that she had travelled through time … but deep down she just knew. And her only way back had just disappeared. 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…

This book contains:

attempted rape
attempted murder
slaughter and plunder of Churches and Monasteries.

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.

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.

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!

Continue to read further down to find out about the author and any extra giveaways available.

Author Bio

Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former chairman of the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association and has won several awards, including the RoNA for Best Historical Romantic Novel twice with Highland Storms (2012) and The Gilded Fan (2014). Whispers of the Runes (time travel published by Headline 24th June 2021) is her latest novel. Christina is a keen amateur genealogist and loves history and archaeology (the armchair variety).