by Julia Golding
A raid on a Viking village leaves 16-year-old Freydis seriously injured and her older brother Toki taken prisoner by the attacking pirates. When their father returns to what is left of the village, he gives Freydis an African slave, who is called Blue Man for his blue-black skin. Freydis and Blue Man are left with a neighboring tribe while her father pursues the pirates. Toki manages to escape, but he, Freydis, and Blue Man are set on a collision course with the pirate king. This engaging historical tale features plenty of rousing adventure and some hard truths about love—both familial and romantic. There are also passages that encourage readers to be tolerant of cultures other than their own. Golding includes a brief author’s note that describes the historical facts at the root of the story and a short glossary that helps with the characters’ references to Norse mythology. This addition to the growing number of Norse and Viking tales will be enjoyed by fans of Judson Roberts’ Strongbow Saga or Tim Severin’s Odinn’s Child.
The book was very engaging. I loved that it was about Vikings. This doesn't area of the world doesn't seem to have been milked dry yet. There was so much diversity in cultures. Enno was a great character. He was trying to learn to live with his lot in life yet not accepting it at all. Then he meets Freydis and things begin to get interesting. Now Freydis is quite the frail little thing. Or perhaps we shouldn't judge someone by what is on the outside. In the end she proved that it is the strength of your heart that makes the most difference in the world. The ending was rather tragic for my taste but still a good fit for the story. Definitely, far more of a unique read than others on the market now.
