The Viking Tales Books in Order
How to Read The Viking Tales series
Read in order—each book builds directly on the previous one.
The series is tightly interconnected with a continuous character arc, escalating dangers, deepening relationships, and progressive revelations about magic, heritage, and larger threats. Reading in publication order is essential to follow Liv's journey, Erik's evolving role, the buildup of conflicts with the empire, and the layered mysteries without confusion or spoilers. While each installment advances its own immediate challenges and resolutions, the overarching story—Liv's powers, her bond with Erik, and the pursuit across the realm—relies on sequence for full emotional and plot impact.
About The Viking Tales series
Series Premise
The series centers on Liv, a resourceful young woman from a humble village who harbors a dangerous secret: she possesses magical powers in a realm where such gifts are punishable by death. When a charismatic warrior named Erik arrives with the king's forces, their paths cross in unexpected ways, forging a bond that challenges social barriers and draws her into peril. As Liv's abilities are exposed, she faces arrest, execution threats, and exile, forcing her to flee with Erik into the wilderness. Pursued by imperial soldiers and haunted by the price on their heads, they navigate treacherous landscapes, betrayals, and revelations about hidden powers, ancient debts, and shifting allegiances. The narrative explores survival against overwhelming odds, the cost of protecting loved ones, and the tension between societal laws that condemn magic and the personal strength it can bring when embraced.
Main Characters
The central figure is Liv, a clever, determined young woman from a low station who conceals her magical abilities to survive. Practical and fiercely protective, she grows from a cautious villager into a defiant force willing to risk everything for those she loves.
Her key companion is Erik, a handsome, honorable warrior tied to the king's forces whose initial arrival sparks their connection. Resourceful and burdened by debts of honor, he becomes her protector and ally, their bond evolving amid shared peril.
Setting
The world is a rugged Viking-era Scandinavia-inspired realm where Norse villages, coastal settlements, and dense wilderness meet the encroaching might of a Roman-like empire. Stories unfold in humble hamlets suddenly disrupted by royal visits, fortified settlements, prison cells, and vast wild forests teeming with danger. Imperial armies clash with local forces, creating a backdrop of tension between old traditions and expanding conquest. Magic lingers as a forbidden undercurrent—whispered in ancient tales and suppressed by law—while the landscape itself feels alive with seasonal harshness, blood-soaked battlefields, and hidden paths where fugitives seek refuge.
Tone & Themes
The tone is intense, adventurous, and emotionally charged, blending raw Viking-era brutality with moments of hope, loyalty, and quiet tenderness. Expect high-stakes action, narrow escapes, and heartfelt connections amid a grim world, without excessive gore. Themes center on defying oppressive laws, the power and peril of hidden gifts, loyalty and sacrifice for those you care about, resilience in the face of persecution, and the idea that some destinies are worth fighting for—even at great personal cost. Coming-of-age struggles, forbidden bonds, and the clash between fate and free will recur, underscoring that true strength often lies in protecting others and embracing what society fears.
The Viking Tales series is a thrilling saga of magic, loyalty, and defiance in a world that fears what it cannot control. W.J. May crafts a heroine whose quiet strength and forbidden gifts challenge an unforgiving age, delivering adventure, heartache, and hope that linger long after the final page. For readers craving Viking-inspired fantasy with strong characters, high-stakes survival, and the power of unbreakable bonds, this series roars to life—proving that in the heart of every legend, one person's courage can rewrite fate itself.
FAQ
10 books total: 9 main + 1 extra story
The next book in The Viking Tales series, Savior, will be published in Jul-2026.
Champion was published in May 2026.
The first book in the series is Adversity, published in March 2023.
The series primarily falls into the Fantasy Adventure genre.
Yes, the series should be read in order. The books follow a continuous story, starting with Adversity.
The series centers on Liv, a resourceful young woman from a humble village who harbors a dangerous secret: she possesses magical powers in a realm where such gifts are punishable by death. When a charismatic warrior named Erik arrives with the king's forces, their paths cross in unexpected ways, forging a bond that challenges social barriers and draws her into peril. As Liv's abilities are exposed, she faces arrest, execution threats, and exile, forcing her to flee with Erik into the wilderness. Pursued by imperial soldiers and haunted by the price on their heads, they navigate treacherous landscapes, betrayals, and revelations about hidden powers, ancient debts, and shifting allegiances. The narrative explores survival against overwhelming odds, the cost of protecting loved ones, and the tension between societal laws that condemn magic and the personal strength it can bring when embraced.
The series is ongoing, with the next book currently scheduled.