The Horn Book Guide

OLDER FICTION

Stroud, Jonathan

Heroes of the Valley

483 pp. | Hyperion | January, 2009 | Trade ISBN 978-1-4231-0966-2 $17.99

(1) YA Halli, short, stumpy younger son of Svein's House, tries to avenge a murdered uncle. Halli's actions, clever and well-meaning though they are, tend to have unintended consequences, causing commotion and propelling the plot. Stroud keeps readers guessing--about plot turns, character revelations, and the novel's philosophical implications--through many deftly choreographed conflicts. Counterpointing the main narrative are legends of progenitor hero Svein.

Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2009