Heroes of the Valley

Starred review from November 24, 2008
Witty and cinematic storytelling propels Stroud's engrossing novel, set in a medieval world that recalls Norse epics—no gods, but plenty of heroes to go around. Twelve Houses control sections of a valley. Halli Sveinsson—at 15, the youngest child of the rulers of the House of Svein—goes against tradition when he sets out to avenge the death of his murdered uncle, and his actions result in warfare among Houses for the first time in generations. Halli, “a cumbersome stump of a boy,” is a quick-witted, appealing underdog and troublemaker (“Leif needs no sabotage from me,” he quips. “If he manages two sentences without tripping over his trailing knuckles he will have exceeded my expectations”). Smart, funny dialogue and prose, revealing passages about the exploits of the hero Svein, bouts of action and a touch of romance briskly move the story along. Offering more than just a grand adventure (which the tale certainly is), Stroud (the Bartimaeus Trilogy) explores the consequences behind legend-worthy acts of glory and the power and peril of blind faith and hero-worship. Ages 10–up.

The bestselling author writes an epic tale with an unlikely hero. Halli Sveinsson is short in stature, long on relieving his boredom by pulling pranks. He wonders about the boundaries beyond his home, where monstrous Trows are said to roam, but he has no idea of the frightening secrets that await him or how he'll lead his peaceful valley into peril. David Thorn heightens the drama of Halli's adventures. He also brings out the story's wit and wordplay for listeners. Each chapter begins with a short interlude about Svein, Halli's forebear. While this device helps establish the epic tone, it may confuse listeners. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine