From an award-winning storyteller comes a sweeping historical tale of honor, star-crossed lovers, and loyalty, set during the violent Viking invasion of York, England
Tor is the youngest son of the mighty king of Norway, whose prowess is the stuff of legend and whose hundreds of ships and thousands of Vikings are now set to invade the great city of York, England. Eager to prove himself, Tor is sent ahead to scout, using his charm and guile to gather information. Meanwhile, in an Anglo-Saxon village south of the city, Kata yearns for something beyond her small world of planting and harvesting. When Kata and Tor meet, their hearts are set alight. As the eve of battle draws closer, fear, resentment, and prejudice swell; Tor watches the cruelty of his beloved kinsmen as they advance toward the city while the local earls descend into unscrupulous political machinations. Caught in the middle, Kata and Tor must question everything they thought they knew about fate, choice, and belonging. Where do their loyalties lie—heart or home? Love, military strategy, and a lush historical setting are woven into this passionate and painstakingly researched tale.
Kevin Crossley-Holland is an award-winning author and well-known poet. The first book of his Arthur trilogy, The Seeing Stone, won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, and his novella Storm won the Carnegie Medal. His other titles include King Alfred and the Ice Coffin and Arthur, the Always King, both illustrated by Chris Riddell; Across the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love; and Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland, illustrated by Frances Castle. Kevin Crossley-Holland lives in Norfolk, England.
From an award-winning storyteller comes a sweeping historical tale of honor, star-crossed lovers, and loyalty, set during the violent Viking invasion of York, England
Tor is the youngest son of the mighty king of Norway, whose prowess is the stuff of legend and whose hundreds of ships and thousands of Vikings are now set to invade the great city of York, England. Eager to prove himself, Tor is sent ahead to scout, using his charm and guile to gather information. Meanwhile, in an Anglo-Saxon village south of the city, Kata yearns for something beyond her small world of planting and harvesting. When Kata and Tor meet, their hearts are set alight. As the eve of battle draws closer, fear, resentment, and prejudice swell; Tor watches the cruelty of his beloved kinsmen as they advance toward the city while the local earls descend into unscrupulous political machinations. Caught in the middle, Kata and Tor must question everything they thought they knew about fate, choice, and belonging. Where do their loyalties lie—heart or home? Love, military strategy, and a lush historical setting are woven into this passionate and painstakingly researched tale.
Author
Kevin Crossley-Holland is an award-winning author and well-known poet. The first book of his Arthur trilogy, The Seeing Stone, won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, and his novella Storm won the Carnegie Medal. His other titles include King Alfred and the Ice Coffin and Arthur, the Always King, both illustrated by Chris Riddell; Across the Rainbow Bridge: Stories of Norse Gods and Humans, illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love; and Between Worlds: Folktales of Britain and Ireland, illustrated by Frances Castle. Kevin Crossley-Holland lives in Norfolk, England.
