The Sea of Trolls: 1 (Sea of Trolls Trilogy) - Softcover

Farmer, Nancy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1481443089 ISBN 13: 9781481443081

Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press, 2015

Synopsis

"The Sea of Trolls blends ancient history and Norse epics with recognizable bits of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings" (The New York Times).

Jack is kidnapped by berserkers from his Saxon village in the year A.D. 793, an occurrence forewarned by his mentor the Bard. Captured by Viking chief Olaf One-Brow, Jack and his sister, Lucy, are swiftly taken to the court of Ivar the Boneless.

Ivar is married to a half-troll named Frith, an evil and unpredictable queen with a strange power over her husband's court. Jack mistakenly casts a charm on her--and is banished to the kingdom of the trolls to find the magic that will undo the charm. Accompanied by Thorgill, a shield maiden who wants to be a berserker, and by the mysterious crow called Bold Heart, Jack sets out on a harrowing and exciting quest for the ages.

From National Book Award winner Nancy Farmer, this first book in the Sea of Trolls trilogy is epic fantasy at its best.

About this title

Review:

Nancy Farmer’s new novel is a big, energetic, magical and breathtaking volume--a sweeping Viking adventure set in AD 793 that is rich in excitement and adventure, and which manages also to be quite funny at the same time. Farmer is a three-time Newbery Honor author in her native United States and her pedigree as a fine author is very apparent here. There’s marauding, sea-faring, kidnapping, beserking, dragon-bashing, magic and battle throughout.

Jack is a Saxon boy, apprenticed to the local bard and on the brink of harnessing his inherent magical abilities. Disaster strikes when he and his little sister Lucy are hauled away from their home in the North of England by a villainous-looking crew of Viking Berserkers led by Olaf One-Brow. Jack begins by hating his captors, for their cruelty and brutal way of living life. He is oppressed in every way, and thoroughly despised by a Viking girl in the raiding party called Thorgil who seems hell-bent on nothing more than dying a glorious death in war and ascending to Valhalla.

Jack and Lucy are hauled in front of King Ivar the Boneless and Queen Frith--a half troll with a fearsome temper--who is angered beyond measure when one of Jack’s spells causes her hair to fall out. Leaving his sister behind as a potential sacrifice, Jack must undertake a dangerous quest to the land of the Trolls in Jotunheim to seek Mimir’s Well and extract from it the elixir that could reverse his calamitous spell. There is substantial excitement and drama along the way.

It’s difficult not to be entertained by everything within these 450 pages plus. The novel encompasses such great themes, speeding the reader through fascinating Scandinavian mythology, and at the end it’s impossible to let go. Reassuring, there’s a sequel in the making. (Age 10 and over) --John McLay

Review:

"Heroic."

-- "USA Today"

Richie Partington www.richiespicks.com "The Sea of Trolls" nearly defies categorization, there are so many sides to it...the latest success in the career of one of the great storytellers of our time.

Scott Meyer Merritt Bookstore (Millbrook, NY) ...What Nancy Farmer does best -- show us that appearances do deceive. Or as the publishers say "She has never told a richer, funnier tale, nor offered more timeless encouragement to young seekers than 'Just say no to pillaging'."

Mary Brown Books, Bytes, and Beyond (Glen Rock, NJ) A new Nancy Farmer novel is always cause for celebrating because you know it will be something incredibly inventive and wholly absorbing. Nancy Farmer spins such complete stories that we don't need a sequel or even a prequel -- we just need another Nancy Farmer novel!

Susan Hirschman former longtime publisher of Greenwillow Books I think "The Sea of Trolls" is magnificent. Absolutely the best I've read. I read it in a gulp and was crushed when I had finished it. I wasn't ready to give up any of the characters. It is truly splendid.

Kathy Larkin Children In Paradise (Chicago, IL) The Norse stories are so full of buckle and swash, I am glad that the door to the land of the North has been opened again. Farmer's tale has dragons, swords, and brave hearts, what else does one need for a great read?

Rene Kirkpatrick All for Kids Books & Music (Seattle, WA) ...A fast-paced, very funny, adventure story, perfect for both boys and girls.

Sarah Todd Hannah Schwartz's Children's Book World (Haverford, PA) Bringing her wit, high style, and flair for dramatic storytelling to "The Sea of Trolls, " Farmer makes Norse mythology and Saxon history both intriguing and enthralling. Dragons and trolls, wise women and bards, runes and lunatics...these are the makings of this great tale, and one deserving of fame.

Zach (11 years old) "Sea of Trolls" is one of the best books ever. It's sorta like "Harry Potter" meets "Lord of the Rings" and they both meet Eragon. It rocks. It's a puzzling mystery but at the same time a comedy with tons of pusle pounding, adrenilene racing, page flipping things going on. It's awesome that Nancy Farmer can get you so excited about what you think is going to happen next, and then bam she swerves and has something completely unexpected happen that's even better than what you even hoped would happen. When will the next one be ready?

Jamie (9 years old) This is the next "Harry Potter" and I loved it. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1481443089
• ISBN 13: 9781481443081
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 496