The story begins at dawn when seven-year-old Abriel sets out to catch some fish on his own to surprise his mother on his birthday. In the early hours of dawn, he sees a shocking sight: the entire pier is in flames. He runs to the village to alert the villagers of the impending danger, but he couldn’t save them. He escapes, and goes to study under the mentorship of Abbot Ermentarius, who adopts him as his own child. After sixteen years, Abriel, now a monk, is sent to recover the relics of Saint Philbert lost during the fateful attack of the Northmen when the island was sacked. Now, he is on an adventure that he never imagined, a journey that will bring him into contact with the Northmen who’d colonized the island and who may have the key to finding the relics. The Line of His People by C.J. Adrien tells the riveting adventure of this character against a hostile and unforgiving historical and physical backdrop between 799 A.D. and 815 A.D. and events that will alter the way he sees life and destiny.

Readers who enjoy tales of the Vikings will enjoy this interesting, riveting story. C.J. Adrien has a gift for creating a story that is emotionally rich, action-packed, and filled with surprising twists. It reads like an action movie, thanks to the author’s skill in narrative and the attention to detail when it comes to describing scenes. The Line of His People has a beautiful setting and readers will be gripped by the beginning, when the serenity of the life of a fishing village is disrupted without notice and a young boy barely escapes. The story begins with the crisis and, from this point on, the author builds the tension in a consistent manner. A very enjoyable, fast-paced, and intelligently plotted adventure.

I like Vikings, the TV show and the historical people it is based on. That is why I was interested in reading The Line of His People by C.J. Adrien. I thought that almost any book about Vikings would be action packed and generally interesting. If it is well written it would also be thought provoking and informative. I was right. The Line of His People is well researched and well written. C.J. Adrien added a deeper element to the tale by making the protagonist a Christian monk. These elements are woven into an exciting tale that paints an interesting portrait, not only of the main character, but of the times. The Line of His People is full of conflict and historical detail. It has a variety of great characters from all walks of life at that time. I enjoyed it. I got a feel of how life must have been back then for people of various nationalities, religions, and educational backgrounds.

For me, a key element in a good novel is how well the author portrays all the characters. Not just the main ones, but also the minor ones. Not just the good ones, but even the ones doing bad things. C.J. Adrien came through in this critical area. I liked Abriel, but I also felt I knew the people he had to work with as he made his journey of discovery. The plot is solid. One of the best and most unique I’ve read in novels of this period. The setting is also done well. All the key elements of great storytelling are put together in The Line of His People to give us a great historical action tale.