Clear her name and survive the hearth-wife bargain before the deadline.
In Viking Iceland, orphan weaver Runa witnesses the chieftain's wife murder her dear friend Ingrid, then finds herself framed for the drowning. Ingrid's husband Vidar, a fierce warrior, prepares to execute Runa but halts his blade at the final moment. Instead, he invokes an ancient custom, claiming her as his hearth-wife with a brutal condition: she must bear him a son within twelve months or face death. As a shadowy assassin stalks the settlement and an unexplained power awakens within her, Runa scrambles to expose the true culprit. Her investigation pulls her closer to Vidar, revealing a gentle heart beneath his battle-scarred exterior, even as her growing feelings complicate a pact meant to end in tragedy.
Why it hooks you
- High-stakes bargain with a ticking clock
- Murder mystery woven into Norse tradition
- Forbidden romance between accuser and accused
Intensity
Tension simmers beneath quiet moments, balancing mortal danger with tender connection.
