Born-in-Fire, Bound by Oaths

Freya, daughter of two goddesses—Hlin and Hel—possesses both protective and deadly magic. Her life is shaped by blood oaths: one to Snorri, the king of Skaland, binding her to his will, and another to her own sense of justice. Kidnapped by Bjorn, a Nordelander and son of the seer Saga, Freya is swept into a web of political intrigue and prophecy. Her power to curse souls to Helheim makes her both a weapon and a threat, and her journey is one of seeking truth about herself, her magic, and the fate that others would force upon her.

The Trickster's Web Unraveled

Harald, king of Nordeland, is revealed as a child of Loki—a shapeshifter and master manipulator. For years, he has worn many faces, including that of Saga, Bjorn's mother, and even Snorri, orchestrating tragedy and vengeance to serve his own amusement and ambition. His machinations have united and divided nations, destroyed families, and set Freya and Bjorn on a collision course with destiny. The revelation of his true nature is the catalyst for the unraveling of his carefully woven web.

Wolves, Storms, and Schemes

Freya and Bjorn's journey across stormy seas and hostile lands is fraught with danger, both from without and within. The wolves Skoll and Hati, bound by runes, serve as both protectors and symbols of the power of oaths. The group faces storms, raids, and betrayals, each event testing their loyalty to each other and to their own ideals. The wilds of Nordeland and Skaland are as treacherous as the hearts of those who seek to rule them.

The Price of Vengeance

Vengeance is a central motivator for many characters—Steinunn, the skald, seeks it for her murdered family; Bjorn for his mother's death; Freya for her own suffering. Yet vengeance is shown to be a double-edged sword, often manipulated by Harald to turn potential allies into pawns. The pursuit of vengeance leads to cycles of violence and regret, and only by breaking free from this cycle can the characters hope to change their fates.

Blood Oaths and Betrayals

Blood oaths—magical and emotional—bind Freya, Bjorn, and others to paths not of their choosing. Betrayals, both real and perceived, fracture relationships and force characters to confront the consequences of their choices. Freya's anger at Bjorn's lies, Bjorn's guilt over his actions, and the manipulations of Harald all serve to illustrate the destructive power of broken trust and the difficulty of forgiveness.

The Unfated and the Undead

The Unfated—those with divine blood—are both tools and victims in Harald's schemes. Freya's curse sends hundreds of warriors to Helheim, but she later raises them as draug (undead) to fight for a chance at redemption and Valhalla. The undead army becomes a symbol of the possibility of change and the power of choice, even after death. The Unfated must decide whether to continue serving a false king or to claim their own destinies.

Saga's Prophecy, Saga's Fate

Saga's original prophecy—that the shield maiden would unite Skaland under the one who controls her fate—drives much of the action. Yet the meaning of prophecy is shown to be mutable, subject to interpretation and manipulation. Saga herself is a victim of Harald's deception, her identity stolen and her voice used to further his ends. Ultimately, prophecy is revealed as a tool, not a master, and true destiny is forged by choice.

The Monster Within Us All

Freya, Bjorn, and others must confront the darkness within themselves—the capacity for violence, the temptation of power, the weight of guilt. Freya's struggle with her Hel-given magic, Bjorn's guilt over his mother's and father's deaths, and Steinunn's grief-fueled actions all illustrate the theme that everyone has a monster within. Redemption is possible only through self-awareness, forgiveness, and the courage to choose differently.

The Siege of Grindill

The climactic siege of Grindill is both a literal and metaphorical battle. Freya's undead army surrounds the fortress, while inside, Steinunn's magic song reveals Harald's true nature to all. The smoke and flames force the people to flee, and the chaos allows for the possibility of change. The siege is a turning point, where truth, long hidden, is finally brought into the light, and the people must choose whom to follow.

Truths Sung in Song

Steinunn, the skald, uses her magic to show the truth of Harald's deceptions to the assembled crowd. Her song reveals the tragedies he orchestrated, the faces he wore, and the lives he destroyed. The power of story and song to shape reality is a central motif—truth, once revealed, cannot be hidden again. The people, freed from illusion, turn against Harald, and the Unfated reclaim their agency.

The Shape of the Enemy

Cornered, Harald uses his shapeshifting to become a monstrous beast, fighting Freya and Bjorn in a desperate bid for survival. The battle is brutal and costly, with both sides wounded and exhausted. Harald's true nature—ever-changing, ever-deceiving—is finally laid bare, and it is only through sacrifice and cunning that Freya is able to bring him down.

Descent to Helheim

Wounded and dying, Freya uses her Hel-given power to drag both herself and Harald into the realm between life and death. In Helheim, she confronts the goddess Hel, bargains for her soul, and is aided by Hlin and the spirits of the dead. The descent is both literal and symbolic—a confrontation with mortality, fate, and the possibility of rebirth. Freya's journey through Helheim is the crucible in which her destiny is finally forged.

The Weaving of Fates

In the realm of the gods, Freya is offered a place in Valhalla by Odin but chooses instead to return to the mortal world and to Bjorn. The gods, including Hlin and Hel, debate her fate, but it is Freya's own will and the help of her allies that allow her to escape. The weaving of fates is shown to be a collaboration between divine power and mortal agency—destiny is not given, but chosen.

The Death of a Trickster

With the help of the gods and the spirits of the dead, Freya finally destroys Harald, sending his soul to Helheim where Saga ensures he can do no more harm. The cycle of vengeance is completed, but not without cost. The death of the trickster is both a personal and communal victory, freeing the Unfated and the people of Skaland and Nordeland from his manipulations.

The Cost of Freedom

Victory comes at a high price—loved ones lost, wounds that may never fully heal, and the burden of memory. Freya releases the undead warriors to Valhalla, says farewell to her brother Geir, and confronts the pain of all that has been sacrificed. The cost of freedom is shown to be steep, but necessary for the possibility of a better future.

The Quiet Life Questioned

Freya and Bjorn attempt to build a quiet life together, far from war and politics. Yet both feel the restlessness of those born to fight, and the world's troubles do not leave them untouched. The question of whether peace is possible for those who have known violence is explored, and the answer is left open—contentment is hard-won, but not always lasting.

The Call to Arms

When raiders threaten Skaland, Freya and Bjorn are called upon once more to defend their people. The decision to take up arms again is not made lightly, but it is a choice—one that affirms their agency and the ongoing nature of destiny. The cycle of conflict and peace continues, but now it is chosen, not imposed.

Destiny, Chosen Together

Freya and Bjorn, united by love and forged by hardship, choose to face whatever comes together. Their partnership is the heart of the story—a testament to the power of forgiveness, trust, and shared destiny. The future is unwritten, but it is theirs to weave, side by side.

Characters

Freya Born-in-Fire

Freya is the daughter of Hlin and Hel, making her both a protector and a bringer of death. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with the power to curse souls to Helheim and the burden of being used as a weapon by others. Bound by blood oaths and manipulated by those in power, Freya's greatest struggle is to claim agency over her own fate. Her relationship with Bjorn is central—marked by love, betrayal, forgiveness, and partnership. Freya's arc is one of moving from pawn to player, from victim to weaver of her own destiny.

Bjorn Firehand

Bjorn is the son of Saga and, for much of his life, the adopted son of Harald. Marked by the fire of Tyr, he is both a formidable warrior and a man haunted by guilt—over his mother's death, his father's, and his role in Freya's suffering. Bjorn's loyalty is both his strength and his weakness, making him vulnerable to manipulation but also capable of great sacrifice. His love for Freya is transformative, and together they forge a partnership that is both romantic and heroic. Bjorn's journey is one of learning to forgive himself and to choose his own path.

Harald, Child of Loki

Harald is the true antagonist—a child of Loki who has spent decades wearing the faces of others, orchestrating tragedy and vengeance for his own amusement and ambition. His psychological complexity lies in his need for control, his delight in deception, and his utter lack of empathy. Harald's manipulation of prophecy, oaths, and relationships is the engine of the plot, and his eventual downfall is both a personal and communal catharsis. He is a cautionary figure—the monster that results when power is sought for its own sake.

Saga

Saga, Bjorn's mother, is a seer whose prophecy sets the story in motion. For much of the narrative, her identity is stolen by Harald, and her true voice is silenced. Saga's fate is tragic—burned alive, her spirit lingers to guide Freya and Bjorn. She represents the ambiguity of prophecy and the pain of being used as a tool by others. Her final act of vengeance against Harald is both personal and symbolic—a reclaiming of agency and justice.

Steinunn

Steinunn is the skald whose family was murdered in a raid orchestrated by Harald. Her grief and desire for vengeance make her both a pawn and a player in the larger game. Steinunn's magic—her ability to reveal truth through song—is the key to exposing Harald's deceptions. Her arc is one of moving from selfishness to self-awareness, and her final act of telling the whole story is an act of redemption.

Skade

Skade is Harald's right hand, a huntress with a magical bow and a deep-seated need for approval. Her jealousy of Freya and her loyalty to Harald make her a dangerous adversary. Skade's psychological complexity lies in her need to belong and her willingness to do harm to achieve it. Her death at Geir's hands is both justice and tragedy.

Tora

Tora, a child of Thor, is both a formidable warrior and a victim of Harald's binding magic. Forced to serve against her will, Tora's arc is one of suffering, endurance, and eventual liberation. Her relationship with Bjorn and Freya is fraught but ultimately redemptive, as she aids in the final battle against Harald.

Geir

Geir, Freya's brother, is killed and later raised as a draug to fight for a chance at Valhalla. His arc is one of reconciliation—making peace with Freya, fighting for his family, and ultimately earning his place in the afterlife. Geir represents the possibility of change, even after death, and the enduring power of familial love.

Guthrum

Guthrum, a child of Jord, is a watcher and a survivor, more comfortable in the wilds than among people. His familiar, Kaja, serves as both spy and messenger. Guthrum's loyalty is hard-won, and his eventual decision to aid Freya and Bjorn is a turning point. He represents the importance of perspective and the value of those who see what others miss.

Ylva

Ylva, Snorri's wife and Leif's mother, is a complex figure—pragmatic, fiercely protective of her own, and willing to make hard choices. Her shifting alliances and willingness to sacrifice others for her son's sake make her both a foil and a mirror to Freya. Ylva's arc is one of survival, and her ultimate acceptance of the truth is a hard-won victory.

Plot Devices

Prophecy and Fate

The narrative is driven by Saga's prophecy, which is interpreted, manipulated, and resisted by various characters. Prophecy serves as both a motivator and a constraint, but the story ultimately argues that fate is not fixed—choices matter, and destiny is something to be woven, not simply endured. The tension between fate and free will is explored through the actions of the Unfated, whose divine blood gives them the power to change the future.

Shapeshifting and Deception

Harald's ability to change shape is both a literal and metaphorical device, representing the dangers of deception and the difficulty of discerning truth. His manipulation of identity allows him to orchestrate tragedy and control others, but it is also his undoing—once the truth is revealed, his power collapses. The motif of masks and hidden faces recurs throughout, underscoring the theme that appearances can be deceiving.

Blood Oaths and Magical Binding

Blood oaths, often enforced by runic magic, are a central plot device, binding Freya, Tora, and others to the will of those in power. These oaths create tension and drive conflict, as characters struggle to break free or find loopholes. The breaking of oaths—through death, forgiveness, or self-sacrifice—is a key turning point, symbolizing the reclaiming of agency.

Song and Memory

The power of song and story is literalized through Steinunn's magic, which allows her to show the truth of past events to all who listen. This device is used to expose Harald's deceptions and to catalyze the final confrontation. The motif of memory—what is remembered, what is forgotten, what is revealed—is central to the resolution of the plot.

Undead Army and Redemption

Freya's raising of the draug—warriors cursed to Helheim—serves as both a plot device and a symbol. The undead army allows for the possibility of redemption, the rewriting of fate, and the power of choice even after death. Their release to Valhalla at the end is both a reward and a closure of the cycle of violence.

Descent to the Underworld

Freya's journey to Helheim is both a literal descent and a metaphorical confrontation with death, fate, and the possibility of rebirth. The underworld is a place of reckoning, where bargains are struck, debts are paid, and destinies are chosen. The motif of climbing out of the darkness is a powerful symbol of agency and hope.

Analysis

A Curse Carved in Bone is a sweeping Norse-inspired epic that interrogates the nature of fate, agency, and the cost of power. At its heart, it is a story about reclaiming one's destiny from the hands of manipulators—be they gods, kings, or the wounds of the past. Through the intertwined journeys of Freya and Bjorn, the novel explores the psychological toll of trauma, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the redemptive power of love and partnership. The narrative structure, with its shifting perspectives and use of song and memory, underscores the theme that truth is both powerful and dangerous. The book's ultimate message is that destiny is not something given, but something chosen—woven from the threads of pain, hope, and courage. In a world where oaths and prophecies bind, it is the act of choosing—again and again, in the face of loss and uncertainty—that defines heroism. The story's conclusion, with Freya and Bjorn choosing to answer the call to arms together, affirms that the future is unwritten, and that the greatest power lies in the freedom to choose, side by side.

Last updated: May 17, 2025