Peaceweaver

February 15, 2012
The author of the Beowulf-inspired The Coming of the Dragon (2010) returns to sixth-century Scandinavia to tell the story of one of its minor characters. At the end of the first book, unlikely hero Rune met his bride-to-be, Hild, a peace offering from the warring Shylfings, on the eve of his coronation. In this companion, Barnhouse goes back in time to tell Hild's story. Niece of the king of the prosperous Shylfings, she is about to take the position of mead-server and hopes to use the ceremonial authority to "weave peace." Her dreams are dashed when, shortly after her first passing of the mead, she has a vision of an assassination attempt on her royal cousin's life--and promptly acts on it, killing a man who has made no hostile move. Disgraced, she becomes her uncle's pawn, shipped off to the lowly Geats to marry their new king. A specialist in Anglo-Saxon literature, the author braids in her knowledge of daily life in the Dark Ages effortlessly, reveling in homely detail. Hild is a satisfyingly complex character, both committed to peace and desperate to avoid exile (and probably death) among the Geats, bewildered, terrified and exalted by her visions. Although it depends not a whit on the previous book, it may well drive new readers to it, so they can spend more time in this fascinating, distant place. (Historical fantasy. 12-16)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-At the end of The Coming of the Dragon (Random, 2010), young Rune is crowned the successor of King Beowulf. As a token of peace from a neighboring kingdom, Hild, the king's niece, is offered to him in marriage. Rather than picking up where the last book left off, this companion volume begins with Hild living in her own kingdom without knowledge of Rune or the marriage proposal. She is a spirited girl who has her own ideas about how to improve and strengthen her kingdom. Not only does she have the ability to see people for who they really are, but she also has dreams and visions of what the future holds. These abilities seem like gifts until she impulsively kills one man in defense of another and is forced to leave her home. Under the pretense of weaving peace between warring kingdoms, Hild is sent out with a delegation of men to make the long journey to Rune. Along the way, her quick wit, determination, and visions keep her and her entourage out of danger despite monstrous creatures and a treacherous path. Barnhouse has woven a fantasy that is full of bravery, adventure, and magic. Hild is a real heroine; she is as strong willed and beautiful as she is entitled and selfish. The pacing of the story remains steady throughout with a nice balance of the protagonist's introspective struggles combined with nerve-racking suspense. A thoroughly enjoyable read.-Elizabeth C. Johnson, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2012
Grades 6-9 Barnhouse's latest historical fantasy is a stand-alone companion to her Beowulf-inspired tale, The Coming of the Dragon (2010). When Hild, the niece of the Shylfings king, has a vision of the crown prince's assassination, she impulsively murders the visiting lord she knows will be responsible. Unwilling to believe in her far-minded visions, the king claims she has been possessed, and after a frightening imprisonment, she is sent as a peace offering to marry the new king of the Geats. Hild's scorn for the seemingly barbarian Geats changes during their long, dangerous journey, and she has a difficult decision to make when she learns that her uncle has no intention of honoring the treaty, instead using her journey to plan an invasion. This vigorous Norse saga is rich in details of medieval Scandinavian life, and Hild grows convincingly from a naive, judgmental girl into an honorable, capable warrior-queen as her prowess is tested against both monstrous creatures and all-too-human traitors. Give this to readers of epic fantasy, historical fiction, and Viking mythology.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)