SWORD OF DOOM

After a visit to the king of their Viking realm, teen hero Dane, female warrior Astrid, village sage Lut and various supporters and rivals set off to rescue Dane’s mother (who’s been kidnapped by the villainous Godrek Whitecloak) and recover Odin’s ring, an ancient artifact that is the source of never-ending treasure, from a cave guarded by a monstrous sea serpent. A flavor of the Norse is provided by the insertion of such mythological people, places and objects as the Valkyrie, the Norns, Asgard, Utgard and Thor’s Hammer. Otherwise, the characters and language are pure 21st century. After a slow start, the plot develops punch and the book becomes a page-turner. Readers who are drawn in by the low humor and make it through the extended setup of the book’s first quarter will be rewarded with a rollicking adventure, lots of body humor and a rousing climax. Developmental issues of identity, sexual innuendo and vividly described violence make this book appropriate for an older audience than the publisher-recommended range of eight to 12. (Fantasy. 11-14)