Get ready to learn more about the book Thrall of Deception in this discussion with sapphic author Edale Lane.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Edale Lane about Thrall of Deception, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Norway category in the 2026 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Thrall of Deception?
Norway Week is featuring my entire Tales from Norway series, in which Thrall of Deception is the newest addition. All the books are standalones in the same world, though several mention the original characters, Sigrid and Elyn. The series has a following and garners me awards and finalist honors for awards, so I don’t want to abandon it. This novel incorporates several tropes, such as butch/femme, historical mystery, action/adventure, with both a redemption arc and a no-redemption-here reveal. Ravn had been needling me to write her story, and after the epic The Long Winter of Miðgarðr, I opted for a more manageable length with a smaller cast. Don’t worry – rich world-building abounds.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I would have to say Ravn. Her indomitable spirit and sense of justice drove her to excel when her circumstances should have prevented her rise. She’s fierce, intense, and observant – a real 8th-century hard-nosed detective, tasked with rescuing children who were kidnapped. Determined to turn over every stone to find them, she encounters Svana, a young widowed mother in a fishing village, and envelops mother and child in her protective instincts.
What inspired the idea for Thrall of Deception?
Pizza Gate.
How much research did you need to do for Thrall of Deception?
I’ve done a college course’s worth of research for the Tales from Norvegr books. I like to feature different aspects of pre-Viking life in each one while still incorporating many aspects of life in ancient Norway. In other books, I focused on mythology, battle tactics, weapons and armor, Yule celebrations, shipbuilding, and many other details. In Thrall of Deception, much attention is paid to the fishing industry, one that persists to modern times in the region. Pirates are not limited to the 16 and 1700s. They’ve been around since the first boats were built and are still active today. If there’s a historical detail in this series, be assured, I researched it. The primary distinction between Edale Lane Viking books and those from popular published authors of the genre is that I tend to present a less vicious and violent Norseman. Battles? Violence? Yes, but even my “bad guys” aren’t constantly raping, pillaging, and hacking folks to bits.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
Thus far, I have published 5 Tales from Norvegr: Sigrid & Elyn, Legacy of the Valiant, War and Solace, The Long Winter of Miðgarðr, and Thrall of Deception. I do have another one planned, though I haven’t plotted out the outline yet. Timeline-wise, it occurs after Sigrid & Elyn, before or contemporaneously with Legacy of the Valiant, and features an older main character with a potential second chance at love. Also, lots of action, twists and turns, and nods to mythology. It asks the question, “What do you do when you’ve lost everything except who you are inside?”
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Smile. List it for pre-order, and start writing the next book.
Do you have any odd writing quirks?
I write at my laptop, relaxed in a recliner chair, usually with Piper on my feet, behind my neck, or nestled at my side. I’m in the living room, and my partner has taken up watching TV in there while she lies on the couch for most of the day. Therefore, I have started plugging in my earbuds to listen to Irish music or “relaxing Medieval fantasy” background music while I write. It blocks out “Deal or No Deal” so I can focus. Not sure if that counts as odd or quirky. Don’t fault my partner – chemo and radiation therapy can sap your strength and energy. Besides, it’s best to have her three feet away in case she needs something.
What author in your genre do you most admire, and why?
All of the Tales of Norvegr include an aspect of mystery, and I’m most well-known as a mystery writer (I think). But I also love history and including interesting cultural and historic details to my work. Considering that, I’m going to claim Dan Brown as a writer in my genre – mystery with art, history, culture, and religion intertwined. I really admire Dan Brown as an author. He does such a splendid job of letting the mystery unfold and always keeps us guessing. He’s a master of misdirection and the last-minute twist that changes everything. If I could do it so well, ah, what satisfaction.
Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?
No. Contrast helps us grow. You can’t appreciate joy if you’ve never been sad.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
Mysteries, fantasies, and historical fiction. Romances, if they incorporate one of those three. I’ve been reading more sapphic romance lately to help me improve that aspect of my writing, but I need more than the standard romance book formula to keep my attention.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
My favorite books are audiobooks. Therefore, my favorite place to “read” is in the car. But the power goes out a lot here on my side of the mountain, and so my next favorite spot is lying in bed, listening to another chapter.
