Character Portraits
Select any character from the Daughters of Valhalla series below to learn more about them.
Svanhild
Sharp-tongued and strong of heart. A shieldmaiden in the making.
Firstborn daughter of Jarl Tove and his wife Helga, Svanhild is stubborn and passionate by nature. She also has a strong belief in the gods and frequently prays to Odin, the god associated with their family. Everywhere she looks, she sees signs of the gods, whether it be Odin’s ravens watching from the trees or the rainbow bridge to Asgard spreading across the winter sky.
Shunning marriage, Svanhild dreams of being a shieldmaiden. When she’s not practicing her fighting skills, she enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the forests beyond the village. Still, there is nowhere she would rather be than the training yard, sword in hand.
Haldis
Abandoned as an infant. Trained as a seer.
The second-born daughter of Tove and Helga, Haldis was born blind in one eye with a red rash running down one side of her face. She was nearly abandoned as an infant, but her mother saved her with a story: that her white eye saw Asgard, the world of the gods.
Since then, Haldis has trained as a völva, or Viking seer — but she doubts her own abilities. She would rather be sitting by the lake than reading runes, and when in company she hides her scars beneath a hood.
Brynja
A peacemaker finding her inner strength.
Youngest daughter of Tove and Helga, Brynja is shy and kind by nature. She loves spending time with friends and family, and she has a gift for domestic arts. Though she shies away from most men’s attention, she enjoys nothing more than spending a day with her best friend Erik, a boy with whom she grew up.
Brynja particularly looks up to her mother, who runs the longhouse with authority and compassion. Although she can’t envision herself married to anyone, she looks forward to running her own house one day.
Helga
Once a shieldmaiden. Forever a mother.
Wife of Jarl Tove, Helga is respected throughout the village of Kaldvik. Once a shieldmaiden, she met Tove on the battlefield – but she gave up the sword to raise her family, a choice she has never regretted.
Known for her wisdom in running the longhouse, Helga is a loyal wife to Tove and caring mother to her three daughters. She has a special connection with Haldis, the daughter she saved from being abandoned as an infant.
Jarl Tove
A wise jarl. A sometimes troubled father.
As jarl of Kaldvik, Tove has a deep connection with the people of his village. He is known for his wisdom and compassion, as well as his trading prowess. Every summer, he takes a band of warriors across the sea to trade with foreign lands, bringing home riches without bloodshed. When home, he spends time visiting Kaldvik’s homes to learn how his people are faring and help where he can.
Though he once believed the gods promised him a son, he has made peace with his family of three daughters. His kindness and sense of humor endear him to his family, and he is affectionate and loyal to his wife Helga, a former shieldmaiden and strong leader of their household.
Ulrik
Forsaken son of a jarl. Driven by greed.
As the younger son of a jarl, Ulrik has always known he will never be given a high-seat. Instead, he must take power for himself. He does this through raiding; every summer, he leads a large band of warriors to foreign shores to plunder what riches they can.
Despite his success as a raider, Ulrik does not feel rewarded enough at home. This leads him to seek more fortune elsewhere – and greed makes him insatiable.
Andor
Son of a raider. Torn between love and loyalty.
The son of raider Ulrik, Andor is known as the even-tempered one in his family. Fair by nature, he has an eye to rule, not for power but to serve his future people. After raiding with his father the past several years, he is also experienced in battle, with a preference for the spear.
Andor enjoys spending time with his little sister Kindra, hunting in the forest, and sailing a longship on the fjord. As his future begins to unfold before him, he employs much thought before making any decision – though holding his tongue is not always easy.
Thorbjorn
Lover and fighter. Wild at heart.
Famous in Kaldvik for being Jarl Tove’s most skilled warrior, Thorbjorn took up the axe at a young age. He is known for his wild and aggressive fighting style. Loyal to the god of thunder, he wears a pendant of Thor’s hammer Mjolnir around his neck – yet everyone sees he also has Loki’s mischief within him.
When not fighting, Thorbjorn spends time hunting, fishing, and chasing women. As likely to flirt with a thrall as with the daughter of the jarl, he has always been known for his boldness.
Erik
Loyal son of farmers, yet wields an axe.
Son of farmers Torven and Ragnilde, young Erik has always looked forward to running his own farm one day. Best friends with the jarl’s daughter Brynja, he has been welcomed into Jarl Tove’s home on many occasions. Still, he and Brynja much prefer exploring the forest or sitting by the fjord to being cooped up in the longhouse all day.
Erik’s easy charm and sense of humor make him popular wherever he goes. Yet even as he prepares to take over his family’s farm, the shine of the axe beckons.
Kára
A thrall who dreams of a better life.
A thrall in Ulrik’s house, Kára’s life is a monotonous routine of cooking, cleaning, and being of service to men. She savors any excuse to be outside the longhouse.
Now coming of age, Kára does not know what her future holds. Norse raiders captured her family when she was still a young girl – so long ago, she barely remembers the taste of freedom. Still, even a thrall can dream.
Asmund
A raider with the heart of a bear.
Jarl Tove’s younger brother, Asmund left Kaldvik after his wife died to start a new life, far away from his pain. Known for his wisdom and tactical mind, he has since become an infamous raider based in the great city of Uppsala.
Though Tove’s daughters have fond memories of their uncle, they have not seen him in years.
Revna
Mysterious weaver of Norse magic.
An experienced völva in service to Jarl Otso of Mosfell, Revna is both admired and feared for her powers. She carries a staff to weave Norse magic; with it, some say she can read the Norns’ tapestry of the future.
Though many are intrigued by her abilities, she is private by nature and a mystery to most.
Mouse-Hunter
Friendly house cat with an ironic name.
Once the beloved pet of Ursula, an elderly thrall seamstress who taught Brynja and her sisters how to sew, Mouse-Hunter is a fluffy, friendly house cat. Her loving nature makes her a great comfort to her caretaker. Her name, however, is ironic, for no one has ever seen this cat hunt a mouse.
Floki
Loyal hound. Always ready for adventure.
As Thorbjorn’s loyal hound, Floki is as goofy as he is protective of those he loves. Big as a wolf, he’s more than ready to join Thorbjorn in a fight. But most of the time, he can be found swimming in the fjord, hunting rabbits in the forest, or napping by the front door of his house.
Rikki
Once a warhorse, now a calm and dedicated explorer.
A former warhorse taken from a raid, Rikki is now a sweet-natured creature who loves exploring the Norse forests. Though sounds of war sometimes spook him, he seems happy in his new life with Andor, who takes him out hunting and on long discovery rides in the wilderness.