Asa Coppermane’s Viking chieftain father and all the other able-bodied men are away searching for food, her feverish mother is near death and her older brothers are already dead and stacked in one of the barns, awaiting spring thaw for burial. Seeing opportunity, Jorgen the skald, the smelly, repugnant, manipulative storyteller, seeks both power and the remaining livestock, so it’s up to the 14-year-old redhead to rescue her aged, beloved horse, Rune, and what remains of her dwindling, starving clan. As Wenda, a reclusive, one-eyed seer who can communicate with ravens, helps the teen prepare to battle Jorgen and reclaim her family’s position, she also shows Asa that there’s a price to pay for her decisions. While the focus is on the girl’s turmoil, occasional chapters from Jorgen’s and Wenda’s perspectives provide further insight into their motivations. Wilson’s dramatic prose brings to life the harsh conditions of life along the wintry, rocky seashore, Rune’s indomitable spirit and Asa’s fierce determination. Classic storytelling. (Historical fiction. 10-14)
