I’ve spent the last few weeks tripping around Iceland, soaking up the scenery, but avoiding the cold; both of which are entirely possible, when the mode of travel is a book. Interestingly, my travelling companions, the authors, have weaved their itinerary with the old Norse myths – stories that have become more familiar through the Marvel films. The sagas are full of high adventure and high on honour, but sadly empty of second chances, and painfully low on grace.

In fact, that’s what stands out most as missing from the stories. There is no forgiveness. No mercy. No capacity to forget and move on. No means of grace. No model of grace. Just this: You killed my brother, so I am honour-bound to kill you! For honour is the Nordic virtue that triumphs over all. And the idolization of it, is what makes the sagas both impressive and oppressive at the same time.

It’s this ability to break the circuit of revenge that makes the Christian story so compelling. James the Lord’s brother, who was just as much a son of thunder as his namesake apostle, put it this way: ‘Mercy triumphs over judgement.’ Not meaning of course that principles of justice are to be ignored, nor honour to be given no voice, but that grace is to be given the louder voice, and mercy the higher place. It’s attractive because it works. And it’s compelling because the One whose hands really held the hammer showed us how.