THE FATED SKY by Henrietta Branford. Reviewed by Ann Turnbull

    Described by the publisher as "an epic journey of love and survival", this short historical novel spans almost a lifetime.

    Ran is a teenage girl in Viking Norway. Her family live by fishing and the few animals they keep. They have no slaves and only one servant. Ran has an uneasy relationship with her widowed mother, though she loves her grandmother, Amma.

    The story begins when a stranger comes to their home. Vigut is handsome, strong and assertive. Ran discovers later that he is a man from her mother's past. Her mother had wanted to marry him, but he was poor, and the marriage was not allowed by her family. Right from the start, the mood of the story is ominous. Ran notices that Vigut's horse is not well cared for and shows marks of beating. This man is trouble.

    Vigut travels with Ran and her mother to distant Sessing for the seasonal sacrifice to Odin. It soon becomes clear that Vigut plans to seize Sessing from its owner Finnulf. On the long cold journey the travellers are attacked by wolves, and Ran's mother is mortally wounded. She dies soon after they arrive, leaving Ran in danger, both from Vigut and from the terrifying wise-woman Gullveig. But it's also at Sessing that Ran meets Toki, the man she will come to love, and with whom she will travel to a new life and new adventures.

    Although only 150 pages long, this is an epic story, full of action. It deserves to be read both for its historical drama and for the convincing portrayal of family relationships and of a young girl's troubled emotions. It has certainly made me want to seek out Henrietta Branford's other books.

First published by Hodder in 1996. Now available second-hand from Amazon.

Suitable for ages 12+

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THE SAGA OF ASLAK SLAVE-BORN by Susan Price. Reviewed by Ann Turnbull

   In this short book, Susan Price has created an engrossing story of loss and adventure. Sixteen-year-old Aslak - born a slave but freed by his father - sets off on a quest to find his sister Astrid. Until their father's death, Astrid and Aslak had lived at home with their father's legitimate children - but when teenage Aslak returns home from his first trading voyage he finds that his father has died and his brothers have sold Astrid into slavery.

  Aslak's journey takes him to Norway and later to Jorvik (Danish York) in England. Aslak is hasty and quick-tempered and often antagonises people, but he has a friend - a shipmate, Thorgeir - who is more diplomatic and who joins him in his search. Later, Aslak is taken under the wing of an elderly woman, whose story reveals much about the lives and beliefs of the people - especially when his bond with her leads to her offering him an unwanted honour.

  The narrative is rich in detail. We learn how people lived, how their houses were constructed, what their clothes and weapons were like. Most importantly, we briefly inhabit the world as they knew it.

  Those who have read any of the Norse sagas will know that they are full of violence and danger but also strict codes of honour and kinship. What Susan Price has done in this short, accessible book is to write Aslak's story in the style of the sagas without any concessions to modern sensibilities. It all rings true.

Detailed historical notes are included at the end of the book.

First published by A&C Black in 1995.

This edition, available as both paperback and e-book, 2015.

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Viking Boy, by Tony Bradman, reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

Tony and Tom Bradman produced the immensely readable TITANIC, DEATH ON THE WATER earlier this year.  Now Tony flies solo even further back in time to give us VIKING BOY, a thrilling saga that fuses testosterone-fuelled action with Norse myth.

The Viking boy of the title is Gunnar, the only son and heir of a retired chieftain. The family lives peacefully on a fertile homestead, raising sheep and dining on hearty stew.  This pastoral existence is cut brutally short when a rival farmer and his henchmen, known as the Wolf Men, attack the steading and burn down the family long house.  With his newly-widowed mother about to be forced into marriage by the enemy, Gunnard must journey to Valhalla, where he intends to barter with the gods and bring his father back to the world of the living.

Bradman tells the story in brilliantly pared down language, letting the action speak for the characters.  And there's plenty of action for the reader to enjoy: Viking raids; sword fights; a ride with the mythical Valyries, here depicted flying on winged beasts; a bravura kidnapping, a journey to Asgard, even an execution in a fast-flowing river.  The final battle scene is epic and begs to be savoured more than once.

But this isn't just an adventure yarn, it's also a brilliant coming-of-age story.  Gunnar's character arc takes him from immature boy to a confident young man, aware of his place and role in society, ready to embrace the glory and responsibilities of his position.  The boys I lent the book really identified with him, and begged to discover more about Norse myth.  If this doesn't get reluctant readers reading, I don't know what will! Stirring stuff!

Published by Walker Books.  I interviewed Tony Bradman about his book on my blog. Read the post here.  








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