Viking Warrior: Denmark A.D. 845

by Judson Roberts and Ruth Nestvold

Book Overview

A young man only at peace when he is at war Young Halfdan is a slave. He is crafty with a bow and arrow and wise in the ways of the animals, but he can only dream of a warrior's life. That is, until the dark day a Saxon's blows lay his father on his deathbed, and his mother makes a tragic bargain for Halfdan's freedom. A boy's destiny can come at the most terrible price. Halfdan must suffer a grave loss in order to grasp what he most desires: to train...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006079996X
• ISBN13: 9780060799960
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Thank you so much!

I love this series! The Vikings are a curiosity to me and I really like the world building of this book and the introduction to the culture and lifestyle of the Vikings. The book arrived before expected and in great condition.

Too Bad Author Didn't Finish Series

Great read but author didn't finish the last book yet, after 7 years. Sucks big time not to have an ending.

Not just for teens!

This is a marvelous book. I am old enough to be Halfdan's mother so this is NOT just for teenagers. This is storytelling at it's finest. I can't wait for more from Judson Roberts!! If you like this book try Nigel Tranter's novels, these are not about vikings but are good historial fiction.

Riveting action story that will keep you turning the pages

"In one moment the Norns changed the pattern they were weaving in the fabric of my fate." From the first line of Viking Warrior, Book One of the Strongbow Saga, I was drawn into the story of Halfdan, a fifteen-year-old boy who starts life as a slave but soon must meet the challenges of becoming a warrior. Set in the world of the 9th century Danish Vikings, Halfdan's life story is changed radically when his mother offers to sacrifice her own life so he can become a free man. As the illegitimate son of a captured Irish princess and a Viking chieftain, Halfdan labors as a thrall, or slave, in his father's household. His only escape is into the woods he loves, where he masters the use of a bow and arrow. Whenever possible, he works for the estate metalsmith, becoming skilled at creating fine weapons out of molten iron. When his father, Hrorick, is mortally wounded in battle, the Norns, or fates, weave Halfdan's life in a new direction. His half-brother, Harald, and half-sister, Sigrid, are forced to acknowledge him when his dying father makes him a free man. In exchange, his mother is sacrificed and buried beside the father that Halfdan has despised. After his mother's death, Halfdan struggles to adjust to wearing fine clothes, dining at the head table in the longhouse, and accepting his new status as master instead of slave. Harald trains Halfdan in battle arts. Soon Halfdan has mastered the use of a sword and shield. He proves himself superior to his brother in the skill of archery. Halfdan is thrilled to learn he has inherited lands of his own from Hrorick. But before he can claim his inheritance, he must survive the treachery and deceit of Hrorick's stepson, Toke. In the heat of battle, Halfdan faces danger and death, and discovers the hidden depths of his own warrior spirit. Viking Warrior is a page-turner. Once I started reading the book, I was hooked and found it difficult to stop. There's something for everyone here: history, mystery, action, danger, and even a little romance. Historical details give the book depth and a sense of immediacy that draws you into the story from page one. More books are promised in the series, but this book comes to a satisfying stopping place in what one hopes will be a continuing saga of Halfdan's adventures. Readers should be warned that the book doesn't wince away from describing the heat and fury of combat. Parents of readers under 12 may want to read the book along with their children. Halfdan lives in a violent world, but nothing is gratuitous. Every detail moves the story along at a fast clip. Viking Warrior is a gripping story for young and old alike, and will appeal to male and female readers alike. Teachers will definitely want to include this on a reading list for any study of Viking history. It left me wanting to know more about the Vikings, so I was happy to find that the author has set up a website, [...], where you can find interesting articles, bibliogra

Spectacular!

This book held amazing truths to the Viking society and the age, complete with a realistic display of characters, weapons, ships, and everything else. The book is very bloody and intense but also very emotional and charming. A great book... I had trouble ever putting it down.

Wonderful

At first this book was hard to get into for me because I am use to modern language, but after the first two chapters the intensity of the building situation involving the main character's mother drew me in. Soon I didn't even notice and the book was so good I couldn't put it down. There are only a few books that I have finished in a time span of two days (Harry Potter book 6 being one of them) but this one managed to make the list. With a wonderful historic setting this book creates the illusion of Denmark A.D. 845 so vividly you'd swear it were real. My only problem with the book is it is the first in a series and since it only just came out, it will be a while before I am able to read the next one. I will tell you it is not a cliffhanger ending so you will not die of anticipation. Other than that I loved the book.

excellent historical fiction

When the Vikings raided Ireland, they captured several women including Princess Derdrui, whom like all the prisoners was made a slave. Danish Chieftain Hrorik Strong-Axe took his needs with Derdrui leaving her pregant. She gives birth to Halfdan, but because his mother is a slave and his father refuses to free him, the lad is raised as a slave too. Over the years Halfdan dreamed of becoming a warrior like his dad, but only a free man learns to truly use weapons. When he was fifteen, the Saxons invaded and killed Hrorik. Derdrui wanting her son to live free strikes a bargain with Hrorik as he is dying; she would accompany him on his death ship provided that he frees Halfdan. The clan leader agrees making his second offspring a free man. Already quite proficent with some weaponry especially for a slave, Halfdan undergoes rigorous training beyond that seen by anyone but may not be enough to persuade the clan, especially his half-brother Harald ,that a former slave can truly become a free warrior. Still in spite of the skeptics and his grief over his mother's sacrifice, Halfdan puts his heart into achieving his goal of acceptance as a free warrior. The first Strongbow Saga tale, VIKING WARRIOR, is a vivid look at the Viking culture during the Dark Ages through the efforts of a teen to become an accepted warrior. The story line is extremely graphic not trying to dumb down or hide abuses from the targeted audience, high school teens. Thus historical fiction readers of all ages will appreciate this deep look at a bygone way of life in which the flow of blood is the norm. Harriet Klausner