This is a continuation of my reviews of Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories. Previously I covered a similar story called Queen of the Black Coast.

The story starts en media res as Conan finds himself in Nordheim. According to Norse myths, there was a war between the Aesir and Vanir. Conan, according to Howard, was there when it happened.

After the battle, Conan noticed a woman, beautiful and pale, dancing across the battlefield. She beckoned for him to follow, and he did, into the wastes. But where it would have turned dangerous for any man, Conan’s barbarian ferocity saved him. (Spoiler below)

Spoiler: Conan is ambushed by the girl’s brothers. She and they were frost giants, called Jotun. The Cimmerian is able to cut them down, but before he claimed the woman as his mate, her father Ymir used his magic to snatch her away.

Ultimately, the story is more… Norse. Howard is of course an excellent writer, and the action is interesting and descriptions fantastic. I would say this is certainly one of my favorites, but it is also one of the shorter stories in the Conan catalog.

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Story Review: Black Amazon of Mars by Leigh Brackett

Book Review: The Ship of Ishtar by A. Merritt

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Book Review: Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock

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