[.ca] The Sea of Trolls (ISBN 0689867441)

Across the sea:
Thrice honored by whoever awards the Newbery award, Nancy Farmer turns her attention from Africa to medieval Norway in "The Sea of Trolls." Weaving legends and fact together, Farmer crafts a thrilling, magical, and hugely entertaining story set in the old Norse legends. Jack was thrilled when the Bard took him on as his apprentice, especially when the strange old man taught him to do magic -- or rather, to "use the life force." (Use the Force, Jack!) But his life is suddenly thrown into disarray when an evil Nightmare drives the Bard mad, and a band of berserkers captures Jack and his little sister Lucy. Now Jack is at the questionable mercy of Olaf One-Brow, who fortunately is pleased to have captured a skald (bard). But things go wrong again as soon as they arrive at Olaf's home. The sullen shield-maiden Thorgil gives Lucy as a present to the half-troll queen Frith, who is initially pleased by the pretty little girl. But then Jack accidently says a spell that reveals the queen's true appearance (and it's not a pretty sight). Now the queen threatens to kill Lucy unless Jack goes to the legendary Mimir's well, and finds a way to reverse the spell. But Mimir's well lies in the middle of Jotunheim, a hideous wasteland full of trolls, dragons, carnivore plants and enormous beasts. It's hard to find a fantasy as textured as this one is. Farmer weaves history (Viking berserkers and the destruction of the Holy Isle) with legends (Jotunheim, trolls, Norse gods and Yggdrasil), and never makes you suspend your belief that it could have been like this. Plus there's a bit of Irish druidry, all wrapped up in the growing friendship between the Bard and Jack. The book is worth reading alone for the Bard's insights into nature and happiness. But unlike many less talented writers, Farmer doesn't make everything simple. The berserkers slaughter or enslave whole villages, yet they can be kind and honorable as well. Same with the trolls. And wrapped up in her grim tale of pillage and slavery, Farmer works in some humor as well. "Just say no to pillaging"? Priceless. Jack evolves wonderfully over the book, turning from an ordinary farm boy into a sensitive, intelligent bard. Thorgil takes a rather long time to become sympathetic, although Farmer creates a realistic background to explain why she's such a pill. Nancy Farmer creates another classic in "Sea of Trolls," a magical blend of history and myth. Remember -- just say no to pillaging.

The Sea Of The Trolls:
This book was really good. It made me want to keep on reading it and not set it down. The author describes the characters very well, and makes them very realistic. The book takes you to that world and you get lost in the book.

Excellent story!:
Key words: Fiction, epic, fantasy, adventure, quest, youth, high-sea journey, Vikings, trolls, magic, bard, teenager The Sea of Trolls - Book Review At only $8.99 (US) or $12.50 (Canadian) this 462-page epic fantasy adventure is an unbelievable bargain. The Sea of Trolls has won at least eight literary awards including A Parents Choice Gold Award and Publishers Weekly?s Best Children?s Book. Author, Nancy Farmer has also been honored with the Newbery Honor three times! The author?s unusual use of sounds, sense of touch and texture for descriptive scenes is a skill that has helped her stand out among her peers. Nancy Farmer went to great lengths to ensure that the language, places and even some characters, poetry and so forth were as fitting and authentic as possible for her novel. Certain battles in The Sea of Trolls really did happen, some of the religions, tribes, warriors and even the Bards and Wise Women really did exist during the era that the book is set in. The setting for this epic fantasy is around 793 A.D. and involves the areas that we know today as England, Iceland, Sweden and a few other regions on that side of the globe. The lead character is an eleven-year-old Anglo Saxon boy, Jack, who is destined for greater things than farming. Berserkers attack the village in a violent raid and steal this young Bard-apprentice and his small sister, Lucy. Soon, his ability as a Bard reveals itself and saves Jack from a servant?s fate. An action-packed high-sea adventure leads Jack to the kingdom of the Vikings where he is sent on a quest to the land of Trolls. The appendix section for this book includes wonderful little history lessons that are certain to renew the reader?s interest time and time again. The Sea of Trolls will be a favorite on my family?s bookshelf alongside Star Tide Rising, Hawkwood?s Voyage, The Road of Silk and On Stranger Tides. I give this book the highest rating possible and recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning while reading and being entertained with fantasy adventure stories that involve magic, battles and sea travel. ~ Book Reviewer: Lillian Brummet - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment ? Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. \o...\c