Paperback, 459 pages
English language
Published Nov. 8, 2004 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
The year is A.D. 793; Jack and his sister have been kidnapped by Vikings and taken to the court of Ivar the Boneless and his terrifying half-troll wife; but things get even worse when Jack finds himself on a dangerous quest to find the magical Mimir's Well in a far-off land, with his sister's life forfeit if he fails.
Other threats include a willful mother Dragon, a giant spider, and a troll-boar with a surprising personality -- to say nothing of Ivar the Boneless and his wife, Queen Frith, a shape-shifting half-troll, and several eight foot tall, orange-haired, full-time trolls. But in stories by award-winner Nancy Farmer, appearances do deceive. She has never told a richer, funnier tale, nor offered more timeless encouragement to young seekers than "Just say no to pillaging."
The story seems to be inspired by the Viking raid and destruction of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on June 8, 793.
No matter who the intended audience is, a good story is a good story. I found this book hard to put down.
For more information on Lindisfarne, here's the Wiki -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindisfarne
