Best Historical Fiction Books Vikings (2026): 5 Compared

Finding the best historical fiction books vikings fans will actually finish comes down to the kind of Norse story you want: a gritty saga, a romance, a classic adventure, or a long series you can live in. We compared five historical novels by series, page count and setting, using only what each listing publishes. One pick is not a Viking book at all, and we say so plainly.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Rise of Bloodaxe Gibbons	9.6/10	Buy
2	Viking Ventures Book 1 Asli	9.6/10	Buy
3	Golden Surrender Graham	9.6/10	Buy
4	The Dragon and the Raven	9.5/10	Buy
5	The Book of Longings Kidd	9.4/10	Buy

1

Rise of Bloodaxe Gibbons

Peter Gibbons·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 11 of the Viking Blood and Blade Saga: 343 pages of battles and treachery in 886AD Norway with Erik Bloodaxe.

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Pros

• Book 11 of a long Viking saga series
• 343 pages of battles, treachery and gore
• Set in 886AD Norway with Erik Bloodaxe
• Author compared to Cornwell and Iggulden

Cons

• No reading age is listed
• Book 11, a hard place to start
• September 2026 publication date
• 343 pages is a commitment

2

Viking Ventures Book 1 Asli

Ole Åsli·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Viking Ventures series: an underdog farm boy proves himself to a jarl on his first raid.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 5, a clean series start
• Underdog story with duels and honour
• Gritty Norse setting, per the listing
• Viking Ventures saga continues after it

Cons

• No reading age is listed
• No page count is stated
• First raid premise, familiar arc
• Screen reader not enabled, per the listing

3

Golden Surrender Graham

Heather Graham·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Vikings Trilogy: Prince Olaf of Norway and Princess Erin of Ireland, united by passion and revenge.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 3, a clean trilogy start
• Prince Olaf of Norway as the Viking lead
• Irish and Norse alliance against the Danes
• Reprint edition from Dell

Cons

• No reading age is listed
• No page count is stated
• Romance-heavy, not a battle saga
• Reprint of an older novel

4

The Dragon and the Raven

G. A. Henty·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 124-page classic by G. A. Henty: young Edmund fights Vikings in 9th century England under King Alfred.

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Pros

• Classic Henty adventure, 9th century setting
• 124 pages, a quick read
• Young Edmund as a relatable hero
• Saxons vs Vikings battles

Cons

• No reading age is listed
• 124 pages, very short for the price of a book
• Older prose style
• Odd romance subplot, per the description

5

The Book of Longings Kidd

Sue Monk Kidd·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A first-century literary novel by Sue Monk Kidd: Ana, a young woman who marries Jesus in Galilee. Not a Viking book.

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Pros

• Masterful writer at the height of her powers
• Meticulous research, per the listing
• First-century Galilee, vivid setting
• Literary historical fiction

Cons

• No reading age is listed
• No page count is stated
• Not a Viking book at all
• Fictional take on Jesus, which some readers will avoid

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More picks to compare

• Odinn's Child SeverinFor a classic Viking trilogy opener: Thorgils Leiffson in Greenland, 1001, 400 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a Viking historical fiction reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading guidance. None of these listings gives a reading age, so no book scores on that criterion; the ranking comes from fit for the keyword, series depth and page count. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best historical fiction books vikings

Pick your saga depth

Rise of Bloodaxe is Book 11 of the Viking Blood and Blade Saga, so it suits a reader already invested in a long series. Viking by Ole Asli is Book 1 of 5 in Viking Ventures, a fresh start. Golden Surrender is Book 1 of 3 in the Vikings Trilogy. The Dragon and the Raven by G. A. Henty is a standalone classic. Start at Book 1 if you are new to a series, and check the series number on the listing before buying. For more reading groups, browse our book club books.

Mind the honest outlier

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd is set in first-century Galilee and follows Ana, a young woman who marries Jesus. It is historical fiction, but it is not a Viking book. We include it because the list called for it, but we rank it last for this keyword. If your shelf is Viking-only, skip it; if you want literary historical fiction, it is the strongest written book here.

Match the length to your reading plans

The Dragon and the Raven is 124 pages, a weekend read about young Edmund fighting Vikings in King Alfred’s England. Rise of Bloodaxe is 343 pages of battles and treachery in 886AD Norway. The other listings do not state a page count, so treat their length as unstated rather than guessing.

Before you buy

• Check the series number: Rise of Bloodaxe is Book 11, Viking is Book 1 of 5, Golden Surrender is Book 1 of 3.
• Rise of Bloodaxe lists a September 2026 publication date, so confirm availability on the listing.
• The Book of Longings is first-century historical fiction, not a Viking story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Viking book should I start with?

Viking by Ole Asli is Book 1 of the Viking Ventures series and follows an underdog farm boy on his first raid. Golden Surrender is Book 1 of the Vikings Trilogy and follows Prince Olaf of Norway.

Is Rise of Bloodaxe part of a series?

Yes. It is Book 11 of the Viking Blood and Blade Saga by Peter Gibbons, set in 886AD Norway with Erik Bloodaxe. Start earlier in the saga if you are new to it.

Is The Book of Longings a Viking book?

No. It is historical fiction set in first-century Galilee about Ana, a young woman who marries Jesus. It appears on this list but does not fit the Viking keyword.

Which is the shortest book?

The Dragon and the Raven by G. A. Henty at 124 pages, about young Edmund fighting Vikings in the days of King Alfred.

Still deciding? Our top pickRise of Bloodaxe Gibbons

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Related lists

See every book club list and all fiction lists. Also see our best viking historical fiction book series. Also see our best historical fiction books ww2.

More lists: browse fantasy books, thriller and mystery books and every book list.