Daughter of the Wind
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
A young warrior sets out to rescue a Viking princess
On the frosty coast of Scandinavia, the greatest warriors are the berserkers—men chosen by the god Odin to perform superhuman feats of strength, obliterating their enemies with the frenzied passion of a wild bear. More than anything, Gauk wishes to join their ranks. On a hunting trip in the blighted North, his best friend is slain by a bear, and Gauk is forced to kill the great animal. As he dons the pelt of his victim, Gauk fills with Odin’s spirit, and knows that he is on his way to becoming a legend.
When the most beautiful princess in a Norwegian village is kidnapped by a pack of bloodthirsty Danes, Gauk knows it is his destiny to rescue her—and neither ice nor ocean nor an enemy’s steel blade can keep a Viking from his destiny.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Although readers will enjoy the sensation of being swept to another time and place in this thrill-a-minute historical drama, they may have trouble staying on course as Cadnum (In a Dark Wood; The Book of the Lion) leads them through ancient Nordic coastal villages. Clunkily weaving together two stories that of Hallgerd, a rich jarl's daughter kidnapped by Danes, and that of fellow villager and bear hunter, Gauk the author introduces an onslaught of minor characters and events. It is clear that the paths of the young heroine and hero are destined to cross, but the plot's continually shifting focus grows burdensome. Adventure buffs may be enthralled by some action-packed scenes (e.g., Gauk kills his first bear; Hallgerd makes a daring escape from her captors). However, the plot seems to advance from one scene of bloodshed to the next, and these become almost run-of-the mill. While it sheds light on Nordic customs, rituals, beliefs and the value placed on heroism and loyalty, the narrative lacks the humor and multidimensional characterizations that the author's fans have come to expect. Ages 12-up.
