THE SWORDMAKER: Heroic Fantasy by Joe Vadalma

The saga of a Nordic Conan!

Gunther the Viking, son of a swordmaker, is on a raid with his fellow Norsemen, when he becomes separated and enters enchanted woods that encircle the realm of Faery. There he encounters a succession of goddesses, fairies and magical women who fight him (and win), love him (and steal his heart) and bestow upon him advice and magical gifts, like the Wand of Learning and the Cauldron of Plenty—all of which he'll need when he returns to the world of mortals and encounters women as dangerous as any in the enchanted realms.

There is Aine, who steals his purse and lures him to a deadly encounter, and Guida, the pirate and princess, who would as soon spill blood as drink ale. And before his adventures are over, Gunther will brave Nitheim, region of icy darkness and cold, wash up on the shore of corpses, battle the dread serpent Nidhogg, fight polar Yeti, and be tortured by Hela, the Ice Queen of Nifheim. Throughout, only his swordmaking and swordfighting skills hold death at bay—until at last he meets his destiny.

Cover art: Jade.