A retelling of part of Beowulf set in the world of the Empire’s Legacy series. Presented as both a facsimile of a medieval manuscript and as a poem in modern font.

Bjarndyr and the Marsh Monster

Confession time first. I have not read Beowulf so unfortunately I am unable to tell you about the connections in between the two. That said…

I wouldn’t ever skip a title written by Marian. You will find proof of this in all of the reviews I have written for her Empire’s Legacy books. A completed series which was drawn to a conclusion not so long ago… Thankfully, Marian didn’t say goodbye to writing altogether as she has a duology in the works and I simply cannot wait!… a bit more about that later... 😉

Here’s a little snippet from Bjarndýr and the Marsh Monster:

In Empire’s Heir, the seventh book of Empire’s Legacy, the character Sorley, who is a scáeli, a poet and musician – the equivalent in my fictional world of a bard – hears a tale of a raiding marsh monster from a sailor on a trading ship. I never say the tale is Beowulf – but it’s what was in my mind. In the story, Sorley goes on to create a poetic version, and set it to music, although we never see the finished version in the story. […] Writing Sorley’s voice meant omitting all Christian elements and using some invented terms from the world of Empire’s Legacy. I wrote it as I worked on An Unwise Prince, the first book of The Casillard Confederacy, set in the same world but 500 years later. This poem has a role to play in those books, the first of which should see the light of day in 2026.

Marian assured me that I do not need to know Beowulf in order to enjoy Bjarndýr and the Marsh Monster, and as always, she was right. Be mindful of the fact that I do not have enough sophistication or technical knowledge of the workings of poetry. I can only describe what this poem felt like to me…

…and it felt like going back to childhood, exploring the age-worn books on the shelf that told tales of ancient legends and heroes. Every country and culture has its legends and heroes. There are stories, that I hope, have a place in every home, even if sitting on the shelf forgotten and unread for years and years; and I wish that there is a child that feels happy and safe in that house to go and explore with their natural curiosity to experience the same as I did: sunlight streaming in the window, the smell of old books from the shelf, and the feeling of something “big” in my hands. Something hard to comprehend yet, but still so intriguing. And how the story of legends and heroes unfurled as I opened the cover and simply went to read.

This is what reading Bjarndýr and the Marsh Monster made me re-experience. Thankfully, I can share some technical aspect of the poem, as well, as Marian was very kind to share:

I focused heavily on the Anglo-Saxon method of consonant alliteration, but I also tried to keep the caesura (the pause in the middle of a line) in place as much as I could. I also used a few kennings – descriptive compound words, although not as many as perhaps Sorley would have used! I’ll point these all out in one verse:

In fighting fearless;

Long a leader, sure and strong,

On shore and ship. Bade he a boat

Brought; chose fourteen companions

To ride the swan-road.

**

You can see/hear the alliteration: fighting/fearless/fourteen; sure/shore/ship; bade/boat

There is a caesura in each of the three middle lines.

The kenning is ‘swan-road’, meaning ‘sea’.

Poems… so much more than meets the eye! And if you have ever read Marian’s work, you’ll be nodding to what I have to say next (if you haven’t then this is what you can expect): Marian writes with utmost focus on the role of each word. Every scene in every book is carefully considered and even languages and names across the world and cultures are brought together and linked. Marian is a wizard with words and I will always warmly recommend her works.

So what next? Bjarndýr and the Marsh Monster is the link in between the Empire’s Legacy series and the duology in the works. I feel beyond privileged to be able to give you the scoop on the duology… but not too much… just a teaser for now! 🙂 I’ll simply say this… there are tons of “easter eggs” and lineage links to be discovered when you delve into the new duology after reading the Empire’s Legacy series.

An Unwise Prince and A Distant Obligation, are set in the same world as the Empire’s Legacy series, but about 500 years later. There are five POV characters.

I mean, did I get the scoop on the five POVs? Yes. Yes, I did! And I picked out the juiciest for you here…

Luce bé Casille and her twin brother Cenric bé Casille are descended in some way from Lena and Cillian, either through Gwenna or Colm. Luce is a physician; Cenric is a merchant. They are both 40.

Lena and Cillian are the main characters from the Empire’s Legacy series. I am BEYOND warmed in my heart by the fact that their spirit continues on to this duology. What a way to honor characters that were blown to life from paper and pen, to live eternally!

Kirthan del Candre de Guerdian en Leste, 44, who is descended from both Druise’s family through his mother, and Garth on his father’s side. The name translates to ‘Kirthan of the House of the Guardian of Leste’ (and if you remember from Empire’s Daughter, ‘Kirthan’ is how ‘Garth’ translates in the Lestian language) – and ‘Guardian of Leste’ refers to Garth becoming the governor of Leste in the last books. Kirt is apparently disreputable, absolutely gorgeous, and has stolen all my alpha readers’ hearts (just ask Bjørn!). Described as: ‘as if he were made of autumn oak leaves, shades of gold and brown from the short curls of his hair to the tips of his polished boots.’ When we first meet Kirt, he’s seducing Cenric.

Okay, first of all… this description… nnnnhhhh… who is this Kirt guy?! And second of all, OF COURSE he is descended from Druise! I mean… of course! Seriously, you need to read the Legacy books already!

Yes, I am totally expecting you to have major FOMO about all of this and here, let me gently guide you to the book that is the absolute start of all this… Empire’s Daughter… You absolutely have time to read the series in time for the new duology! I’m not even joking. You know what? Here’s the link to the Empire’s Legacy series, take the leap, just surrender and commit!