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First Published:
May 2004, 272 pages
Paperback:
Jul 2005, 304 pages
Book Reviewed by:
BookBrowse Review Team
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A secret kingdom of trolls, and their legendary gold, lies in the mysterious shadows of Troll Fell. Peer's evil uncles plan to sell children to the trolls, and only Peer and his friend Hilde stand in their way. Ages 8-14 approx.
A secret kingdom of trolls, and their legendary gold, lies in the mysterious shadows of Troll Fell. It is to this eerie and dangerous place that Peer must go after his father's sudden death, to live with his greedy uncles, Baldur and Grim, at their mill.
When Peer discovers his uncles' plan to sell children to the trolls, he has to bury his fears and set out to stop them somehow. In a world filled with magic and mystery, Peer has only his bravery, his wits, and two new allies -- a daring girl looking for adventure and a mischievous house spirit looking for a good meal. Their story will become part of the legends and lore that fill this extraordinary land by the sea.
Characters
Peer
Peer's life has changed forever. Left an orphan and claimed by his mean-spirited uncles, Peer is treated like a slave. But Peer and his faithful dog, Loki, soon make a friend in Hilde. When they discover his greedy uncles are plotting with the trolls, Peer, Hilde and Loki are plunged into a terrifying adventure.
Hilde
The daughter of the Grimssons' kindly neighbors. When her father sets off for the summer on a Viking longship, trouble seeks out her family, and their farm, in the shape of thieving trolls and the evil Grimsson brothers. But they might have just found their match in the brave Hilde…
The Grimsson Brothers
These mean-spirited brothers live at their dilapidated mill near the dark and mysterious Troll Fell. They are supposedly Peer's Guardians but this evil pair will do anything for gold and riches. However, all that glitters is not gold and the brothers find there is a heavy price to pay for their greed!
Grendel
The Grimsson's enormous, bloodthirsty hulk of a dog - he is as cruel and menacing as his owners!
Trolls
Reside at Troll Fell – causing trouble, stealing animals and looking for treasure. Stinking and evil, with black tongues and terrible faces, they come in an assortment of repulsive shapes and sizes. They are rich and cunning and despise human beings. These nasty creatures leave smears of bad luck on everything they touch!
Granny Greenteeth
Lives in the black millpond and has the power to take any shape she wishes, but always with her trademark green teeth and webbed feet and hands. Scary stories of her are widespread, but Peer soon finds out that she isn't interested in riches – what she wants if far more valuable – life!
The Nis
A temperamental and at times, mischievous house spirit in the Grimsson's mill. Also frustrated at being tied into servitude, Peer and the Nis find they have one thing in common.
CHAPTER 1
The Coming of Uncle Baldur
Peer Ulfsson stood miserably at his father's funeral pyre, watching the sparks whirl up like millions of shining spirits streaking away into the dark.
Dizzily he followed their bright career, unwilling to lower his eyes. The fire gobbled everything like a starving monster, crackling and crunching on bone-dry branches, hissing and spitting on green timber, licking up dribbles of resin from bleeding chunks of pinewood.
The heat struck his face and scorched his clothes. Tears baked on his cheeks. But his back was freezing, and a raw wind fingered the nape of his neck.
Father! thought Peer desperately. Where have you gone?
Suddenly he was sure the whole thing must be a bad dream. If he turned round, his father would be standing close, ready to give him a comforting squeeze. Behind me—just behind me! thought Peer. He turned slowly, stiffly, wanting to see his father's thin, tanned face carved with deep lines of laughter and ...
His father's funeral pyre is still burning when Peer's cruel step-uncle arrives to take him to a life of servitude. However, all is not totally bleak (although it's pretty bad). Peer befriends a local girl, Hilde, and together they must foil his uncles' plans to sell human children to the king of the trolls. Troll Fell is set loosely in medieval Norway and is good, clean, fun fantasy at its best - and a great introduction to Nordic mythology. This is recommended for Grades 5-7 but our children who are a little younger loved every nasty twist and turn...continued
Full Review
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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Katherine grew up in Yorkshire and has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. As a child, Katherine was convinced that Narnia existed and set up a secret society with the aim of finding the way in! She even wrote the 8th Narnia book as she was so disappointed to have finished the 7th - she still has it now, hidden away far from prying eyes in her attic.
She is married with two daughters and loves reading, and telling and writing folk tales and fairy tales.
The second in the series, Troll Mill has just been published in the UK and will be published in the USA in February 2006. It picks up the story 3 years after we left Peer and his friends. Determined to get the mill up and running again he goes to investigate the old ...
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