Synopses & Reviews
Asa Coppermane is the proud daughter of a Viking chief. Asa and her horse, Rune, are creatures of the sea and the cold northern lands. But this winter has been the worst one Asa has ever seen. Her father and the other men have gone to sea to search for food, leaving behind the women and children, many sick with fever.
Also left behind is Jorgen, the clan's wise man. His stories are meant to comfort them all, but Asa suspects that what Jorgen really wants is power. Now that her father is gone, Jorgen demands Asa give up Rune -- for food, and as a sacrifice to the gods.
When Jorgen comes to kill Rune, Asa fights him off and she and the horse flee. They find shelter with a one-eyed old woman who speaks to her two pet ravens, and who seems to have a strange power over Asa. The old woman hints that Asa must make a sacrifice to save her clan -- but how? And what kind of sacrifice? What are the secrets of the raven speak?
Review
"Although the story takes place over just a few days, Asa matures tremendously, becoming someone capable of sacrificing greatly for the good of her people. Outside of some references to Odin and andlt;iandgt;draugrsandlt;/iandgt;, not much places the story as explicitly and#8220;Viking,and#8221; but the strength of the storytelling should keep readers rapt through the brutal but satisfying conclusion."--andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Wilsonand#8217;s dramatic prose brings to life the harsh conditions of life along the wintry, rocky seashore, Runeand#8217;s indomitable spirit and Asaand#8217;s fierce determination. Classic storytelling."--andlt;iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/iandgt;
Synopsis
Asa is the daughter of a Viking chief whose clan is struggling to survive a never-ending winter. Asa's determination and sacrifice are all that stand between her clan and death. Now she must face the biggest challenge of her life in this eerie, absorbing adventure.
Synopsis
Asa is the daughter of a Viking chief whose clan is struggling to survive a never-ending winter. All the able-bodied men head to sea in search of food, leaving behind the children, the elderly, the sickand#8212;and Jorgen the skald, the wise man who will stop at nothing to take over the clan. When Asa learns the skald wants to kill and eat her beloved horse, she runs away. But then she meets a strange woman who talks to her two pet ravens, and who warns Asa sheand#8217;ll have to make a great sacrifice to save her clan. Now Asa must face the biggest challenge of her life in this eerie, absorbing adventure tale.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Diane Lee Wilson andlt;/Bandgt;is the author of andlt;iandgt;Black Storm Cominand#8217;andlt;/iandgt; (which won a Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile, was a andlt;iandgt;Booklistandlt;/iandgt; Editorsand#8217; Choice, a andlt;iandgt;VOYA andlt;/iandgt;Top Shelf fiction pick, a Notable Social Studies book, a andlt;iandgt;Bulletinandlt;/iandgt; Blue Ribbon book, and a Book Links Lasting Connection), andlt;iandgt;Firehorseandlt;/iandgt; (which was a andlt;iandgt;Booklistandlt;/iandgt; Top Ten Mystery/Suspense pick and an ALA Amelia Bloomer Project pick), andlt;iandgt;Ravenandlt;/iandgt; andlt;iandgt;Speakandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;i andgt;Tracksandlt;/iandgt;. She lives in Escondido, California. Visit her online at DianeLeeWilson.com.