I picked up 'How to Host a Viking Funeral' on a whim, and it turned out to be this wild, introspective journey disguised as a quirky self-help book. The main 'characters' aren’t traditional protagonists but rather facets of the author Jay Schiffman’s own life—his regrets, ambitions, and the symbolic 'funeral' he stages to let go of his past selves. It’s less about a cast of people and more about the idea of personal reinvention. The book frames his friends, family, and even strangers as participants in this bizarre, cathartic ritual. It’s like a memoir meets performance art, with Jay as both the conductor and the subject of his own metaphorical send-off.
The supporting 'characters' include his wife, who oscillates between baffled and supportive, and his circle of friends who gamely play along with his Viking-themed theatrics. There’s also this recurring theme of 'past Jays'—versions of himself he’s burying, which adds this layer of surreal humor. It’s not a narrative driven by dialogue or action, but by the sheer audacity of the premise. I walked away feeling like I’d witnessed someone’s midlife crisis turned into a public spectacle, but in the best way possible. The book’s charm lies in how it turns introspection into something communal and oddly festive.
If you’re expecting a novel with a clear protagonist and antagonist, 'How to Host a Viking Funeral' will throw you for a loop. It’s a memoir-meets-social-experiment where Jay Schiffman, the author, is the central figure—but he’s more of a catalyst than a hero. The real 'characters' are the abstract concepts he grapples with: failure, reinvention, and the weight of unrealized potential. He drags his reluctant friends into this elaborate ritual where they burn effigies of his past selves, which sounds bonkers but somehow works. The book’s energy comes from the tension between Jay’s earnestness and the absurdity of the situation.
His wife is a standout presence, balancing skepticism with affection, and there’s a rotating cast of acquaintances who react to his antics with everything from enthusiasm to polite horror. It’s less about individual personalities and more about how people respond to someone else’s existential theatrics. The lack of a traditional plot might frustrate some, but I loved how raw and unfiltered it felt. By the end, you’re not rooting for a character—you’re rooting for the idea that it’s never too late to set fire to your old self and start anew.
Jay Schiffman’s 'How to Host a Viking Funeral' blurs the line between memoir and performance art, so the 'main characters' are essentially his own neuroses. The book revolves around Jay orchestrating a literal funeral for his past failures, with friends and family as bemused attendees. His wife is the grounding force, rolling her eyes but still showing up, while his buddies alternate between cheering him on and questioning his sanity. It’s a character study where the protagonist is the author’s evolving sense of self, and the supporting cast is everyone who tolerates his eccentricity.
The humor comes from how seriously Jay takes his own metaphor—Viking funerals as a tool for personal growth. It’s weirdly inspiring, watching someone turn midlife angst into a shared experience. The book’s charm isn’t in traditional storytelling but in its willingness to be vulnerably ridiculous.
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The Viking's Mate Hunt
Maria Elise
9.7
115.8K
"Little bunny, little bunny. Wolf is HUNGRY!"
The voice taunted me, followed by an evil cackle.
*
"Run, rabbit. RUN!"
A monstrous bellow boomed through the night sky and crashed into my soul like a sledgehammer. I could feel a chill sweeping across my body and my heart pounding in my chest. The echoes of howls and laughter followed me from behind as I ran for my life.
**
Elisabeth's life had been harder than most since she was a child--a distant and often cruel mother and her never-ending cycle of addiction that had taken over her life. But on this fateful night, something far more sinister was lurking in the darkness, ready to take her away from it all.
Massive figures appeared out of nowhere, growling and taunting her. She tried to scream, but nothing would come out; before she knew it, she was waking up in a world where Viking werewolves ruled with mysterious faeries at their side.
Every five years, they traveled to the human realm, collecting ten girls for their mate run--and tonight, Elisabeth was one of them.
With only a white dress and her bare feet, Elisabeth stood beside the other nine girls as the beasts prowled around them menacingly.
A silver dagger pierced each of our wrists, signaling the start of the hunt!
“We honor the moon goddess; let your blood lead your mate to you!”
The Devil's Viking (The Road Devils Motorcycle Club 3)
Marysol James
10
2.3K
So it appeared that she was to start paying her way on her back with this absolutely massive, broad-shouldered, tattooed, aptly-named wild warrior. Gideon was a large man, but this modern viking put him to serious physical shame; if Gideon’s dick had split her in half in agony, Iris could only imagine what this monster’s cock would do to her.
She just hoped that he left her able to walk… and able to fuck the rest of the boys downstairs, because of course they’d be close behind. She knew there would be blood soaking and staining her thighs before things were done, long before they decided that they’d used her up.
Stopping her jumbled thoughts, Iris slowly lowered herself to her knees. ****
Liam “Viking” Callahan thought the job was done. Evidence buried. Debt paid to The Road Devils MC. Then he drives out of the Utah mountains with a secret in the back of his van: a terrified woman running for her life.
Iris has spent six months planning her escape from Gideon and the Garden of Divine Light. She’s barefoot, freezing, and desperate enough to gamble on a stranger who looks dangerous... but still safer than the hell she left behind. So she hides. And prays.
When the Road Devils discover Iris, the truth unravels: a cult, a tyrant, and a woman who fled into a winter night wearing nothing but a nightgown and borrowed boots. She’s broken, but not defeated. Iris wants her life back... her body, her choices, her fearlessness.
The only man she feels safe with is the towering, gentle Viking.
As trust turns into desire, neither of them sees the danger closing in. Gideon wants his “property” returned... and he won’t stop until he gets it.
Gwyneth Windsor spent her entire life trying to "function normally," but this hard-won, delicate pattern is instantly shattered when she is mysteriously pulled into an infinitely complex interstellar empire. She must suddenly learn new common sense in a world where near-immortal shifters view anyone under 100 as a minor.
To her confusion, Gwyneth, despite her adult body, becomes the empire's most coveted 'BABY.'
Luckily, she finds a doting family that spoils her utterly, even securing her the lordship of a small, 12-planet galaxy. Yet, Gwyneth's arrival is no accident.
While Gwyneth navigates the absurdity of being a pampered 'minor' in an adult body, the universe itself is in peril. Emperor Alaric Lykos, the last of the powerful Royal Fenrir Clan, is the sole anchor of the universe. An ancient prophecy warns that if his line falls, all will collapse.
Though pressured to marry, the Fenrir Clan's unique bloodline will only settle for its destined bond, a soulmate whose identity has remained a ghost in the cosmic radar...
Until now.
BASTARD SON OF THE VIKINGS
Palermo does not forgive.
Neither does it forget.
When Guerrero Valenti, the feared leader of the Vikings, vanished, the city exhaled a dangerous calm—but only for a moment. In the shadows, enemies waited. Rivals sharpened their knives. And one woman bore a secret that could ignite every street in the city.
Lucia Romano carried the child of a man who had disappeared into legend and rumor. A son who had not been claimed, not protected, not named.
The city whispered of him with venom: the bastard of the Vikings.
The boy was fragile, but he was a storm waiting to erupt. And every night, Palermo tested him. Masked men tried to snatch him from his crib. Fire, steel, and blood became his lullabies. Yet he survived. Every threat only sharpened his instincts, every scream hardened his mother’s resolve.
But whispers spread faster than steel through the night—rumors of a man returning. A shadow that would claim everything, sparking fear in every heart:
Guerrero Valenti.
The father who abandoned him.
The legend whose name alone commands obedience.
The storm that will rise, carrying vengeance, blood, and fire.
And when he comes,
Every man who dared call the bastard his enemy will fall.
Every street, every roof, every whispered corner will bow to the son of Guerrero Valenti or be washed in blood.
This is the story of survival.
Of fire and steel.
Of a mother and her son.
Of a father’s return.
Even the earth is getting ready to absorb blood … the blood of those who call the legitimate son of the Vikings a “BASTARD", and collect necks........the necks of those fallen by the sword of GUERRERO VALANTI.
And upon his return Heads will bow to the one they called a BASTARD .
Three fated lovers: a shieldmaiden, a Troll Queen, and a Valkyrie. One price: the fate of all Midgard. Turiel is crown princess, but from the outlawed Northern Holds, bloodbound to Troll Queen Jarngrimr, and best friends with the stablelass Yolanda, her first love - until her poison kiss turned Yola into a Valkyrie, and whisks Yolanda from Turiel's grasp. Now, Turiel has been stolen into wily Queen Jarngrimr's realm, with only the goddess Skadhi and Yola - back from the dead! - to guide her. Lussi, the Snow King, craves a bride - and it is Dia's troth alone. Dia, the last blood mage from the line of the Isa, is all that is left of Turiel's legacy. Dia has been raised as Lussi's Magdalene - his ritual Bride - and ritual Slayer - for the past three years. Every Winter Solstice, Lussi can die, and Dia must kill him. But as Dia falls deeper into Lussi's sexy web - and in love - her heart is on the line! Other works and Ko-Fi: linktr.ee/avnelson
Mia D’Lorne thought heartbreak would kill her but getting hit by a car did the job faster.
One second she’s running from the sound of her boyfriend and sister fornicating, the next she’s standing in front of an abandoned bus station in what looks like purgatory. The bus that picks her up looks like a prop in a horror movie and she’s introduced to the world of the Soul Recycle Program.
To exist, she has to compete in a twisted afterlife show where the dead fight their way through nightmare worlds for the amusement of unknown and unseen spectators. The rules are simple. Survive or disappear for good.
Mia is joined by two strangers who are just as broken as she is. Axel Rivers, who has been dead for almost a century, and Bree DeBois, a control freak paramedic with more guilt than she can carry. Together they try to survive the challenges of the game.
As the trio do their best to keep from being erased, they begin to realize the Game is more personal than they imagined.
I totally get the curiosity about snagging a free read of 'How to Host a Viking Funeral'—it’s such a quirky, intriguing title! But here’s the thing: while I’ve stumbled across some sketchy sites claiming to have PDFs, most are either scams or just plain illegal. The author, Kyle Scheele, put real heart into that book, and it feels wrong to cheat him out of his well-earned royalties. Instead, I’d scout your local library’s digital app (Libby or Hoopla often have hidden gems) or wait for a Kindle sale. Sometimes, supporting creators means waiting a bit longer, but it’s worth it.
That said, if you’re tight on cash, Scheele’s social media or blog might have free snippets or related content. He’s got this infectious enthusiasm about unconventional projects, so diving into his other work could tide you over. Plus, used bookstores or swap groups sometimes have surprises—I once found a copy buried under a pile of cookbooks! The hunt’s part of the fun, honestly.
Ever stumbled upon a book that feels like a warm conversation with a friend who’s just returned from an epic adventure? That’s how 'How to Host a Viking Funeral' hit me. Kyle Scheele’s blend of humor, vulnerability, and life lessons wrapped in a quirky premise—literally burning his regrets in a DIY Viking send-off—is oddly profound. It’s not just about the spectacle; it’s about the messy, beautiful process of letting go. I dog-eared so many pages where his anecdotes mirrored my own struggles, like when he talks about fear holding him back from creative projects. The book’s strength lies in its refusal to be preachy—it’s a guy sharing his stumbles, not a guru selling a formula.
What surprised me was how the Viking theme isn’t just a gimmick. Scheele ties ancient rituals to modern anxieties in ways that feel fresh, like comparing social media burnout to 'dying gloriously in battle' (but with fewer axes). The pacing does wobble occasionally—some chapters digress into tangents—but even those detours have charm. If you enjoy memoirs that read like late-night heart-to-hearts, with a side of pyromania, this one’s a sleeper hit. I finished it feeling oddly empowered to build my own figurative longboat—regrets and all.
Ever stumbled upon a book that feels like a wild adventure wrapped in life advice? 'How to Host a Viking Funeral' by Kyle Scheele is one of those gems—part memoir, part self-help, with a dash of absurdity. It’s about burning old habits (literally, in a tiny boat) to make room for new beginnings. If you loved its quirky blend of humor and introspection, you’d probably enjoy 'The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fck' by Sarah Knight. Both books tackle personal growth with a rebellious streak, though Knight’s approach is more about boundary-setting than pyrotechnics.
Another great match is 'Everything Is Fcked' by Mark Manson, which mixes philosophy with dark humor, much like Scheele’s playful yet profound tone. For something lighter but equally unconventional, try 'Hyperbole and a Half' by Allie Brosh—her comics about failure and resilience hit the same sweet spot of laughing through life’s messiness. What ties these together? They all refuse to take 'serious' topics too seriously, and that’s why I keep revisiting them.