Judith Lindbergh lays out an epic historical tale of a time when the Vikings were exploring the new world and the replacement of paganism with Christian religion through the eyes of three women: a beautiful slave, her twisted and vengeful daughter, and their powerful mistress. Katla is a the Christian daughter of a Viking and the slave he took during a raid and brought back to Iceland. Her faith sets her apart from everyone else of the pagan Norse religion, but her beauty draws the attentions of her master’s eldest son Torvard, who violently rapes her. After this, she is bought and nursed back to health by Thorbjorg, a healer and seeress. Katla gives birth to a mute daughter, Bibrau, but her despisement of the child causes Bibrau to grow up with a thirst for vengence.