Status
Available
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Publication
Doubleday (2008), Hardcover, 400 pages
Description
When young Halli Sveinsson plays a trick on Ragnor of the House of Hakonsson, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever alter his destiny, forcing him to leave home and go on a hero's quest where he encounters highway robbers, terrifying monsters, and a girl who may finally be his match.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sirfurboy
This book was a tad slow going to start with. I thought it might be the first book by this author that I would not like, but by page 60 I was thoroughly enjoying it again and it went from strength to strength.
The hero of the story is Halli, a 15 year old boy in - presumably- a kind of alternate
Written with all the author's trade mark wit, and a good deal of passion, this book is a very good and enjoyable read. If it were not for the slow start I would give it 5 stars.
The hero of the story is Halli, a 15 year old boy in - presumably- a kind of alternate
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universe middle ages nordic fjord (Sweden perhaps). Halli has very short legs and is not comely, but he is born with wit and a mischievous streak that makes him an entertaining character, even if he makes an unlikely hero of legend. But through a series of circumstances he is thrust to the fore when a rival house in the valley reneges on an ancient treaty of non violence.Written with all the author's trade mark wit, and a good deal of passion, this book is a very good and enjoyable read. If it were not for the slow start I would give it 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
I very much enjoyed this book. In style, it reminded me quite a lot of books by Howard Pyle and retellings of Viking legends that I read as a child. However, this book is much more morally and ethically ambiguous. It provides the reader with a lot of food for thought without handing out predigested
Long ages ago, the titular valley was settled by a group of legendary heroes. Each founded a House, and over time each house has become an insular community within the larger insular community of the Valley, which no one leaves - ever - for fear of the Trows, whom, legend has it, will attack and curse anyone who crosses the border. The houses squabble amongst themselves and think ill of each other, but are ruled in a civilized manner by a council. However, young Halli Sveinsson harks back to the age of heroes, when brave deeds were done and men still carried swords. All around him can see that his violent streak is bound to get him into trouble. Of course, it does.
As a protagonist, Halli is a surprisingly not-very-nice person. He's not quite bad - or is he? (His sidekick, Aud, a girl from a neighboring House, is purely delightful as a character, however.) Stroud very much enjoys taking a reader's expectations for this sort of book and turning them on their heads. The 'messages' that one might presume will be delivered, aren't.
However, in order to appreciate this, the reader needs to have developed those expectations to start with, which is part of why I find this very peculiar that this book is marketed for "10-and-up." I'm not saying that 10-yr-olds shouldn't read this, but I'm sure that at ten, I would have missed a lot of it. It's a lot more subtle and complex than many books I've read that were aimed at 'adults.'
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pap on a platter. For a more contemporary comparison, it also brought to mind Ursula LeGuin's 'Gifts.'Long ages ago, the titular valley was settled by a group of legendary heroes. Each founded a House, and over time each house has become an insular community within the larger insular community of the Valley, which no one leaves - ever - for fear of the Trows, whom, legend has it, will attack and curse anyone who crosses the border. The houses squabble amongst themselves and think ill of each other, but are ruled in a civilized manner by a council. However, young Halli Sveinsson harks back to the age of heroes, when brave deeds were done and men still carried swords. All around him can see that his violent streak is bound to get him into trouble. Of course, it does.
As a protagonist, Halli is a surprisingly not-very-nice person. He's not quite bad - or is he? (His sidekick, Aud, a girl from a neighboring House, is purely delightful as a character, however.) Stroud very much enjoys taking a reader's expectations for this sort of book and turning them on their heads. The 'messages' that one might presume will be delivered, aren't.
However, in order to appreciate this, the reader needs to have developed those expectations to start with, which is part of why I find this very peculiar that this book is marketed for "10-and-up." I'm not saying that 10-yr-olds shouldn't read this, but I'm sure that at ten, I would have missed a lot of it. It's a lot more subtle and complex than many books I've read that were aimed at 'adults.'
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LibraryThing member bookworm135
marvellouss book lovin it so far will finish soon check back soon for my over all verdict
LibraryThing member bell7
Halli is dark and short, as unlike his family, the descendants of the hero Svein, as it is possible to be. The second son of the Arbiter is not expected to do much besides farm a bit of land while his older brother, Lief, will someday become Arbiter and his sister Gudny will make a good marriage.
Each chapter begins with a story about Svein, one of the twelve heroes and founders of the valley. The interplay between fact and fiction in legend, and how stories dictated what the people of the valley did was a really fun part of this story. I enjoyed getting to know Halli, and was sorry when his story ended.
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But Halli longs for adventures like those of the twelve heroes, maybe fighting off some Trows. All he seems capable of, however, is mischief and getting into trouble.Each chapter begins with a story about Svein, one of the twelve heroes and founders of the valley. The interplay between fact and fiction in legend, and how stories dictated what the people of the valley did was a really fun part of this story. I enjoyed getting to know Halli, and was sorry when his story ended.
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LibraryThing member welkinscheek
Hallie is a wonderfully flawed character who grows significantly in the course of the book, even though he lives in a world where people never act on curiosity, never take risks. With a sense of humor and incredibly well-developed characters, this book treats on the myths that guide our lives and
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decisions, and how they may or may not be serving us. Show Less
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Short, bandy-legged, dark and stubborn, Halli Sveinsson may not look much like the rest of his family, but he was weaned on tales of his heroic ancestor, founder of the valley and ridder of the trows, Svein. Unfortunately, a love of the heroic tales and a dislike for serious work have made Halli
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but Halli's story was a pleasant surprise. Not only didn't it go where I thought it would, but I enjoyed the trip. Aud's a riot, and Halli's quite a character. It may be 500 pages, but it read much more quickly than its length would suggest.
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something of a trickster. But one prank to many played on someone important lands Halli in serious hot water - and changes to course of his life and his families forever.I'm not sure what I was expecting, but Halli's story was a pleasant surprise. Not only didn't it go where I thought it would, but I enjoyed the trip. Aud's a riot, and Halli's quite a character. It may be 500 pages, but it read much more quickly than its length would suggest.
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LibraryThing member brigitte64
well writen book about heroes, and an old world full of legends and fearfull monsters. Little slow at the beginning but it gets good later.
It`s different from the Bartimaeus Trilogy, but I also enjoyed it. It`s probably written for teenager.
It`s different from the Bartimaeus Trilogy, but I also enjoyed it. It`s probably written for teenager.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Halli loves to listen to stories of the old days when adventure and heroism was the order of the day rather than farming. He's a younger son and short and he's searching for a purpose in life and not finding it easy. Along with Aud the two of them discover more about the valley and the legends than
I loved the Bartimaeus trilogy but this one didn't grasp me as well. It came across as being a bit bitty and I found it quite hard to keep reading. It wasn't a bad story but I didn't enjoy it as much as previous books.
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they thought was possible. Not my favourite read by this author.I loved the Bartimaeus trilogy but this one didn't grasp me as well. It came across as being a bit bitty and I found it quite hard to keep reading. It wasn't a bad story but I didn't enjoy it as much as previous books.
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LibraryThing member lchs.mrso
Jonathan Stroud
Heroes of the Valley
Halli Sveinsson is a small and young boy who takes interest in trows, or monsters. When told that the stories he were told were false, he sets out to prove everyone wrong. He meets Aud Arnsdottir who becomes a close friend and helps him through his adventure and
The cover is designed to show Aud and Halli with a holographic foil over it to give it an entertaining appearance.
People who like dark and interesting stories should read this novel.
Heroes of the Valley
Halli Sveinsson is a small and young boy who takes interest in trows, or monsters. When told that the stories he were told were false, he sets out to prove everyone wrong. He meets Aud Arnsdottir who becomes a close friend and helps him through his adventure and
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helps him discover the truth.The cover is designed to show Aud and Halli with a holographic foil over it to give it an entertaining appearance.
People who like dark and interesting stories should read this novel.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I have had this book for quite a while and was looking forward to finally getting to read this one. I was a big fan of Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy and an even bigger fan of his Lockwood and Co series (one of my favorite series of the last few years). Given that, I was excited to read a stand
The writing style is well done, in keeping with Stroud’s other work. However the story lagged and nothing much happened. It starts out pretty promising. I liked the mythology and history of the Valley. I even like our anti hero Halli who is a trickster and a trouble-maker. The book has a very old Norse mythology feel to it.
My big issue was with the pace of the story. It was just so slow and flat out boring. I thought things were picking up pace when Halli is forced to watch some sheep and one of them is mysterious torn to pieces...then just nothing. There is a Gathering Halli is forced to skip because of his shenanigans and he doesn’t really do much about his punishment. He causes a little trouble but mostly the story just kind of stops as we deal with all these different clans and their politics.
In the end I kept falling asleep while I read this and decided it was time to stop. I found myself re-reading pages after my mind had wandered onto something else. This story was just not engaging or well paced.
Overall parts of this book were okay but the majority was pretty slow and boring. I only read the first 100 pages but I struggled with staying awake during those first 100 pages and decided to throw in the towel after that. Not recommended; I would highly recommend reading Stroud’s Lockwood and Co series though...that series is absolutely spectacular!
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alone novel by him. This novel ended up being...disappointing. I read the first hundred pages and not a lot happened.The writing style is well done, in keeping with Stroud’s other work. However the story lagged and nothing much happened. It starts out pretty promising. I liked the mythology and history of the Valley. I even like our anti hero Halli who is a trickster and a trouble-maker. The book has a very old Norse mythology feel to it.
My big issue was with the pace of the story. It was just so slow and flat out boring. I thought things were picking up pace when Halli is forced to watch some sheep and one of them is mysterious torn to pieces...then just nothing. There is a Gathering Halli is forced to skip because of his shenanigans and he doesn’t really do much about his punishment. He causes a little trouble but mostly the story just kind of stops as we deal with all these different clans and their politics.
In the end I kept falling asleep while I read this and decided it was time to stop. I found myself re-reading pages after my mind had wandered onto something else. This story was just not engaging or well paced.
Overall parts of this book were okay but the majority was pretty slow and boring. I only read the first 100 pages but I struggled with staying awake during those first 100 pages and decided to throw in the towel after that. Not recommended; I would highly recommend reading Stroud’s Lockwood and Co series though...that series is absolutely spectacular!
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LibraryThing member mutantpudding
It was ok? Parts of the story were interesting and I thought it was a pretty good viking-esque world that the author created but it wasnt actually that good of a read. I know this author is fond of his anti heros and unlikable protagonists but I didnt dislike the MC so much as find him boring. I
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did like the end though. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
I feel really torn about this book. On the one hand, it's a brilliant contemporary Icelandic saga -- one that uses all the traditional tropes (even the old nurses' warnings!), that sets up the Hero's journey in just the same way, that contrasts the present-day action with traditional stories as a
On the other hand, partly because it's a historical form, the pacing is terrible. Frankly, it's boring. Deeply, deeply boring. And way, way, way too long. I'm leaving off at the end of part 4? or 5? out of 11, and the idea of spending the requisite 6-7 hours more to finish it fills me with anxiety. If I was passing the evening in a dark and smoky hall and this was the entertainment over a week or two, I would be riveted and the pacing would be perfect. Alas for the terrible influence of modern life.
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foil -- it's incredibly well done, and a feat of storytelling. Also, the audio book reader is tremendous. On the other hand, partly because it's a historical form, the pacing is terrible. Frankly, it's boring. Deeply, deeply boring. And way, way, way too long. I'm leaving off at the end of part 4? or 5? out of 11, and the idea of spending the requisite 6-7 hours more to finish it fills me with anxiety. If I was passing the evening in a dark and smoky hall and this was the entertainment over a week or two, I would be riveted and the pacing would be perfect. Alas for the terrible influence of modern life.
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LibraryThing member ulan25
i liked this. especially that chapter where the suspense was so delicious. lots of funny quips, too.
Awards
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2010)
Locus Recommended Reading (Young Adult Book — 2009)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2010)
OYAN Book Rave (2010)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-01-27
Physical description
400 p.; 8.66 inches
ISBN
0385614012 / 9780385614016
Local notes
When young Halli Sveinsson plays a trick on Ragnor of the House of Hakonsson, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever alter his destiny, forcing him to leave home and go on a hero's quest where he encounters highway robbers, terrifying monsters, and a girl who may finally be his match.
Signed by Stroud and lined 'Lovely to know I'm being read down under' - yay!
Signed by Stroud and lined 'Lovely to know I'm being read down under' - yay!