I probably had the advantage of having come across such a literary device before, so you could say I was forewarned
I can understand if you feel let down by it.
It's worth noting that there is actually a character by the name of Halfdan the Black in several of the old texts, for example Snorre Sturluson's
Yngligasaga - and he appears to be the inspiration behind this Halfdan.
I hope you will like the stories I linked to. They are old translations and the language shows it a bit, but it's great tales - though nothing like modern novels. The word 'saga', by the way, means something that is said or told - a tale.