Very quick, almost novella, historical fiction book for YA readers.

Good characters, sold plot and incredibly fast paced. Could have done with being more fleshed out. As it did skip through moments that would have helped to develop the characters.

A tale of star-crossed young love set against the backdrop of the Viking invasion of York, from a master storyteller.

Tor is the youngest son of Harald Hardrada, King of Norway and leader of the Viking fleet, whose countless victories have been woven into song, his prowess the stuff of legend.

Kata knows little of her parents, but her heart yearns for something beyond the small world of her Anglo-Saxon village south of the great city of York.

When Tor is sent to scout ahead of the Viking fleet after their invasion of Scarborough, he relies on his charm and his guile to learn the lie of the land and the location of the regional earls' forces, ready to report back to his father. Soon, however, he meets Kata, a caring and capable young woman whose fierce nature sets Tor's heart alight.

But these are troubled times. Mistrust and rumours ripple through the the mighty Hardrada is coming and help is far from hand. As the eve of battle draws closer, Kata and Tor must question to whom their loyalty heart or home.

Thankyou for allowing me to read & review this book!

I read about 20% before I just gave up. The writing was nice but the story didn’t grip me and I didn’t find myself drawn to any of the characters.

I really tried with this book, i really did. It wasn't bad, per se, but it felt like reading a book about people making battle tactics and not much else. I rarely dont finish a book, but this was one that i had to give up on. I read about half, and then when i went to pick it up again the next night I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I just didn't care and didn't want to keep reading. Maybe it improves later on, but i feel like when you're over 100 pages in and you still dont care about the story or characters, it's not the book for you.
I'm sure there are some people who will love this. Kids who are super into vikings who literally want to know everything about how their raids worked will probably go crazy for this book. But it's just not for me.