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5th out of 108 books
—
188 voters
The Sea of Trolls (Sea of Trolls #1)
by
Nancy Farmer (Goodreads Author)
Jack was 11 when berserkers loomed out of the fog and nabbed him. Now in 793 AD, Jack and his little sister Lucy are enslaved by Olaf One-Brow, and his fierce young shipmate Thorgil. Alongside the crow "Bold Heatt", they learn to "Just say no to pillaging."
Paperback, 459 pages
Published
May 23rd 2006
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
(first published September 7th 2004)
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Feb 19, 2013
Michael Fierce
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Hobbit fans, fans of Nordic Scandinavian fantasy
After Jack becomes apprenticed to a Druid bard, he and his little sister Lucy are captured by Viking Berserkers and taken to the home of King Ivar the Boneless and his half-troll queen, leading Jack to undertake a vital quest to Jotunheim, home of the trolls.
This book has everything I enjoy in a story. Charm, wit, cool scary creatures, and likeable characters you can connect with.
It's a children's book. A children's book that is also for adults.
It has a background and history that ties itself...more
Really I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. I liked it.
In my daughter's review, she said this book was "gruesome" so I felt compelled to read it to find out what that meant to her. I would not use that same word to describe it. It is a story set in Viking times, and a historical event was used as background to this story - when Lindisfarne, AKA the Holy Isle was destroyed by Vikings in 793 AD. Although this is a story about Vikings, that is only one aspect of it. And for this story to be believab...more
In my daughter's review, she said this book was "gruesome" so I felt compelled to read it to find out what that meant to her. I would not use that same word to describe it. It is a story set in Viking times, and a historical event was used as background to this story - when Lindisfarne, AKA the Holy Isle was destroyed by Vikings in 793 AD. Although this is a story about Vikings, that is only one aspect of it. And for this story to be believab...more
10 likes
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3,5 bintang.
Sebagai newbie di dunia novel fantasi, saya dengan noraknya terheran-heran menemukan tokoh-tokoh yang sama di beberapa novel berbeda. Valkyrie, disir, beowulf, pohon yggdrasil kembali saya jumpai di sini, tapi dengan perspektif berbeda tentunya.
Walaupun sempat kaget dengan kebrutalan beberapa adegan dalam buku ini, tapi sesaat kemudian saya sudah menikmati petualangan Jack yang luar biasa. Diculik bangsa Viking (Northmen), bertemu naga dan troll, melawan ratu jahat Frith dan laba-la...more
Sebagai newbie di dunia novel fantasi, saya dengan noraknya terheran-heran menemukan tokoh-tokoh yang sama di beberapa novel berbeda. Valkyrie, disir, beowulf, pohon yggdrasil kembali saya jumpai di sini, tapi dengan perspektif berbeda tentunya.
Walaupun sempat kaget dengan kebrutalan beberapa adegan dalam buku ini, tapi sesaat kemudian saya sudah menikmati petualangan Jack yang luar biasa. Diculik bangsa Viking (Northmen), bertemu naga dan troll, melawan ratu jahat Frith dan laba-la...more
2 likes
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I loved reading this book - epic adventure, full of all the traditional elements of a good fantasy: trolls, dragons, warriors, bards, and magic. But the adventure is made better by the complexity of the characters. There are no clear-cut lines between good and evil in this book - only characters that are very human in their imperfection. I think this book does a good job of pushing young readers to think about cultural relativism - or at least introduce them to the concept.
I was annoyed by the...more
I was annoyed by the...more
An engaging, wonderfully woven tale. Blue loved it. I was kind of bored with the adventures by the time of the spider singing (a marvelous concept, but I was not fully present by then, maybe cause I'm a grown up). The use of real history as a jumping point was clever and we will be doing some research on Vikings and the Pict people (the true original Pixies). Blue says the Rangers Apprentice series does the same thing with actual historical nods.
I am once again disheartened by another woman auth...more
I am once again disheartened by another woman auth...more
1 like
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Aug 04, 2011
Jacob Aitken
added it
This book had a good interplay of different stories and languages. It is your typical "Saxon kids get kidnapped by Vikings book." You could have anticipated most chapters. However, here is what I noticed that was unique about the book:
The Norse religion was shown to have some superior elements to the medieval catholicism of the children. BUt this Norse religion failed at the climactic moment.
The characters, while WEstern CHristians, noticed flaws in their own religion that they never could solve...more
The Norse religion was shown to have some superior elements to the medieval catholicism of the children. BUt this Norse religion failed at the climactic moment.
The characters, while WEstern CHristians, noticed flaws in their own religion that they never could solve...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I am doing a book review on"The Sea of Trolls"by Nancy Farmer. The genre of the book is fiction but requires thinking and may inspire creative writing, critical thinking, and just someone who wants a good tale. This book is the 1st book of the series "The Sea of Trolls". This book includes some legends, religions, myths, and trials of hardship.
This story's main character is unlikely Saxon farmer's brat named Jack who, in the beginning was just that, a farmer's brat. But as the book progresses,...more
This story's main character is unlikely Saxon farmer's brat named Jack who, in the beginning was just that, a farmer's brat. But as the book progresses,...more
This is a rollicking adventure, a feast if you like Norse mythology. I have to admit I was thoroughly entertained by this book, even as I spent a good bit of it grinding my teeth. I would recommend this to any young boy who loves fantasy and adventure -- but I would hesitate before suggesting it to any girl who loves same.
The book's main flaw, and it's a big one (for me, anyway), is that its female characters are uniformly repellent. Of all of them, only the very minor characters of Heide and (p...more
The book's main flaw, and it's a big one (for me, anyway), is that its female characters are uniformly repellent. Of all of them, only the very minor characters of Heide and (p...more
Friends, you have to hand it to Nancy Farmer.
Some authors might be all, “Holy shit, I have enough plot here in this one novel to fill a couple dozen books. So I’ll write a couple dozen books, reap the financial rewards, retire early and live like a king in Patagonia!!”
Not our Nancy.
She takes that dozen-novels-worth-of-plot and is like, “Screw it,” and publishes it as one huge epic fantasy adventure, which still manages to be part one of three.
So what we have here is your typical boy meets Bard...more
Some authors might be all, “Holy shit, I have enough plot here in this one novel to fill a couple dozen books. So I’ll write a couple dozen books, reap the financial rewards, retire early and live like a king in Patagonia!!”
Not our Nancy.
She takes that dozen-novels-worth-of-plot and is like, “Screw it,” and publishes it as one huge epic fantasy adventure, which still manages to be part one of three.
So what we have here is your typical boy meets Bard...more
5 likes
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NANCY FARMER
Jack works for a bard as an apprentice, trying to live up to his father's standards. After being with the bard for only a few months, Jack and his sister Lucy are captured by Northman. Jack starts to learn the ways of the Northman and has to negotiate to get his sister released. Arriving in Norway, Jack finds that he has to undertake a quest to find Mimir's Well in order to save his sister from the half-troll queen, Frith. Their leader eventually dies and they have to find a way to t...more
Jack works for a bard as an apprentice, trying to live up to his father's standards. After being with the bard for only a few months, Jack and his sister Lucy are captured by Northman. Jack starts to learn the ways of the Northman and has to negotiate to get his sister released. Arriving in Norway, Jack finds that he has to undertake a quest to find Mimir's Well in order to save his sister from the half-troll queen, Frith. Their leader eventually dies and they have to find a way to t...more
This has been my favorite young adult fiction book for the longest time. I remember buying it at a scholastic book store when I was in 6th or 7th grade and I fell in love. I've read it more than 5 times over because I love the story so much. It's in the spirit of The Lord of the Rings so if anyone likes stories full of adventure, epic travels, unusual characters/monsters and main characters with real strengths and weaknesses, this story is perfect. I believe it is part of a trilogy but I'm not c...more
NANCY FARMER CATEGORY
FANTASY CATEGORY
When Jack and his little sister Lucy are kidnapped by bezerkers– dangerous norsemen looting for provisions and slaves, Jack fears the worst. Certainly their lives have been changed forever. And with his skills as a bard and magician only fledgling at best, he sees little chance of escape. But when Lucy's life is put on the line in an angry half-troll queen's bargain, Jack has little option but to embark on a quest that will change his life forever. This book...more
FANTASY CATEGORY
When Jack and his little sister Lucy are kidnapped by bezerkers– dangerous norsemen looting for provisions and slaves, Jack fears the worst. Certainly their lives have been changed forever. And with his skills as a bard and magician only fledgling at best, he sees little chance of escape. But when Lucy's life is put on the line in an angry half-troll queen's bargain, Jack has little option but to embark on a quest that will change his life forever. This book...more
This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.
“In my opinion you aren’t a total waste of time,” says the town’s visiting Bard to eleven-year-old Jack. “Don’t let that go to your head, boy. You could easily be a partial waste of time. How’d you like to be my apprentice?”
There’s nothing like a glowing appraisal from one’s teacher to set one on the path to self-study and personal development, is there?
But back-handed praise is enough for Jack, who longs for something more from his...more
“In my opinion you aren’t a total waste of time,” says the town’s visiting Bard to eleven-year-old Jack. “Don’t let that go to your head, boy. You could easily be a partial waste of time. How’d you like to be my apprentice?”
There’s nothing like a glowing appraisal from one’s teacher to set one on the path to self-study and personal development, is there?
But back-handed praise is enough for Jack, who longs for something more from his...more
REQUIRED AUTHOR CATEGORY: NANCY FARMER
Jack is apprenticed to the village bard, known for his magic as well as his songs. But when Jack and his little sister are captured by Northman, they begin a new adventure. Jack comes to understand the Northman's way of life, even if he doesn't appreciate it. When his sister is given to a half-troll, he negotiates her release with the promise to restore the half-troll's hair. He and several Northman set out on a quest to the land of the troll to gain knowled...more
Jack is apprenticed to the village bard, known for his magic as well as his songs. But when Jack and his little sister are captured by Northman, they begin a new adventure. Jack comes to understand the Northman's way of life, even if he doesn't appreciate it. When his sister is given to a half-troll, he negotiates her release with the promise to restore the half-troll's hair. He and several Northman set out on a quest to the land of the troll to gain knowled...more
Jack and Lucy live in the the 8th century in England. Jack finds it hard to live up to his father's expectations, but loves spending time with the Bard, who quickly makes him his apprentice. After being with the bard only a few months, the Vikings of the north come and raid Jack's town, capturing Lucy and Jack. Lucy is spared because of her beautiful golden hair, and Jack is spared because he is a bard, or skald.They become the owners of Olaf One-Brow, the leader of the Vikings, and Thorgil a yo...more
I don't think I would have ever picked this book up - simply because of its title. I know that's a little shallow, but to me trolls spell BIG, UGLY, and HAIRY. Ugh. Although they are all of these things in Farmer's Sea of Trolls, the story beautifully weaves Nordic mythology with fictionalized history in this tale of adventure. It takes place in Anglo-Saxon Europe, where the Vikings (known in the book only as really large Northmen with a thirst for booty and plunder topped with wild red hair) ar...more
The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer is an intense, interesting, suspenseful fantasy book based around an 11-year-old boy named Jack, and his little sister Lucy. The book takes place in 793 A.D. of a fantasy world. This world is separated into 3 regions, each containing different occupants. One is an icy region containing the Ice trolls called Jotunheim, one containing the berserkers, and one containing humans. Jack and Lucy are kids in a family of four, living on a seaside town. Jack spends a lot...more
Things I Liked:
What a fun story! I wish I'd read this one sooner. The mythology is absolutely fabulous. I adored learning more about Norse and Scandinavian mythos, particularly the gods and the trolls. The story is interesting and unique and it evoked the great quests so common in high fantasy. But what I really loved was the historical element as well. This is set in the dark ages of England and Scandinavia and that setting is written so thoroughly that you can't help but fall into it! The boo...more
What a fun story! I wish I'd read this one sooner. The mythology is absolutely fabulous. I adored learning more about Norse and Scandinavian mythos, particularly the gods and the trolls. The story is interesting and unique and it evoked the great quests so common in high fantasy. But what I really loved was the historical element as well. This is set in the dark ages of England and Scandinavia and that setting is written so thoroughly that you can't help but fall into it! The boo...more
Aug 15, 2011
Dori
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
older children/ YA
Recommended to Dori by:
Middle school Librarian
I read the Sea of Trolls for the first time in grade six, soo probably 2005/2006. I came across it by way of my school librarian to whom I had been complaining that I had been having trouble finding YA novels that appealed to me after falling in love with adult writers (my teachers very much disapproved of my choice of novels for silent reading, what they had against people like Brenda joyce and Dean Kootnz is beyond me, I guess they never read good horror or historical romance.) My librarian ga...more
Nancy Farmer- The Sea of Trolls (Atheneum Books 2004) 4.5 Stars
When berserkers strike Jack’s village, he suddenly finds himself protecting his sister as they are taken across the sea. Olaf One-Brow is now their master and will take them on adventures around the world. Bold Heart, a mysterious crow has tagged along for the ride, as Jack’s friend. Together this crew will embrace adventure and fight the many dangers hidden in the far corners of the globe.
A slower start to this book, but something a...more
When berserkers strike Jack’s village, he suddenly finds himself protecting his sister as they are taken across the sea. Olaf One-Brow is now their master and will take them on adventures around the world. Bold Heart, a mysterious crow has tagged along for the ride, as Jack’s friend. Together this crew will embrace adventure and fight the many dangers hidden in the far corners of the globe.
A slower start to this book, but something a...more
Got through one full CD of this audiobook, but I wasn't enthusiastic. A lot of worldbuilding going on, and most of the character development is just establishing forcefully that Jack is your typical unappreciated farm-boy-turned-mage's-apprentice. It didn't help that the reader gave Jack a voice that really kind of annoyed me. Strangely, that didn't come up all that often - most of the first CD is narration, not dialogue.
Anyway, I might have listened to more, but a friend pointed out to me based...more
Anyway, I might have listened to more, but a friend pointed out to me based...more
I thought I would adore this series. I love historical fiction; I love middle grade/YA books; I love Norse mythology; I love books about the British Isles and about folklore, so I doubly love books about British folklore. And this series had it all. I thought that this one would be one of those series that I would check out from the library and love so much that I'd run to the bookstore and buy my own copies. And then I read the trilogy and it was . . . nice. It was fun. But it wasn't great.
Each...more
Each...more
May I just say that I ♥ Nancy Farmer? She is possibly my very favorite author. I love the pictures she paints with such simple, exquisite strokes. I love her characters who seem so innocent and unsure, yet they are immensely brave. I love the friends she creates, and the feeling of reality that soaks through her stories, even if they are about trolls and vikings and giant owls. This book especially was just a joy. I absolutely loved Jack, the young bard apprentice who has to find himself on an e...more
An amazing book, Nancy Farmer writes very well. This book is a clean read and will completely just suck you in. It is the first of three books about a boy named Jack. Jack starts out as a regular old farmer's brat but the Bard, an old man living in an old Roman house up the road from the village, starts training Jack to be a Bard too. So Jack learns all sorts of magic and fun things that his father thinks are all very unholy. See, Jack's father, Giles Crookleg, wanted badly to be a monk and do a...more
Hmmm. This is one of those books where you should ignore the star ratings and find a reviewer with similar tastes to try and determine if you should give it a try. Which is to say that while I only gave "Sea of Trolls" 3-Stars that I can see why other people, especially younger readers, would love it. The story is interesting and there's lots of adventure. Plus the writing is decent... so what's not love, right?
Well, I found a couple of things that detracted from the reading experience. The firs...more
Well, I found a couple of things that detracted from the reading experience. The firs...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jun 20, 2009
Elizabeth McDonald
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fantasy lovers
Recommended to Elizabeth by:
Zach
I picked this up on audiobook after reading Zach's review, and I must say that I enjoyed it as much as I think I would have if I had found it when I was ten - which is to say, very much. It's on my imaginary list of "books that would be good to read aloud to my hypothetical offspring".
I am enchanted by Nancy Farmer's settings. Having previously tackled Zimbabwe in 2194, she now tries her hand at Saxon England and Scandinavia ca. 793. She mixes genuine history, authentic historical fiction, mytho...more
I am enchanted by Nancy Farmer's settings. Having previously tackled Zimbabwe in 2194, she now tries her hand at Saxon England and Scandinavia ca. 793. She mixes genuine history, authentic historical fiction, mytho...more
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I think that The Sea of Trolls was a great book. That thought is because the author makes it clear that there are these berserkers that are coming to the village where Jack lives. This happens in the mid-beginning when Jack is training to become a bard. When Jack and his sister are kidnapped they where going to be sold a slaves, but when Jack sings a song to prove the he is a bard he and his sister aren't sold into slavery. When they get to the village Jack makes the Queen's hair fall of on acci...more
REQUIRED AUTHOR NANCY FARMER
FANTASY TYPE
I have to say that I didn't really like this novel that much. It follows the story of Jack, a bard's apprentice and his sister, Lucy. When Vikings invade Anglo-Saxon England, Jack's master bard is rendered unable to aid in the community. Jack and Lucy are captured and they are taken to the Viking king and queen. Most of his plans to help Lucy are thwarted, such as the queen's hair falling out as he sings, etc. The characters involved learn to make sacrific...more
FANTASY TYPE
I have to say that I didn't really like this novel that much. It follows the story of Jack, a bard's apprentice and his sister, Lucy. When Vikings invade Anglo-Saxon England, Jack's master bard is rendered unable to aid in the community. Jack and Lucy are captured and they are taken to the Viking king and queen. Most of his plans to help Lucy are thwarted, such as the queen's hair falling out as he sings, etc. The characters involved learn to make sacrific...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Farmer's The Sea of Trolls - fantastic! | 5 | 38 | Aug 04, 2012 10:58pm | |
| The Sea of Trolls | 12 | 47 | Dec 23, 2011 06:53pm | |
| Endicott Mythic F...: The Sea of Trolls (Sea of Trolls, #1) - Discussion | 4 | 10 | Mar 28, 2011 10:23am |
Nancy was born in 1941 in Phoenix and grew up in a hotel on the Arizona-Mexico border where she worked the switchboard at the age of nine. She also found time to hang out in the old state prison and the hobo jungle along the banks of the Colorado River. She attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, earning her BA in 1963. Instead of taking a regular job, she joined the Peace Corps and was sent to...more
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“But I also know that to ignore joy while it lasts, in favor of lamenting one's fate, is a great crime.”
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“Look around you...Feel the wind, smell the air. Listen to the birds and watch the sky. Tell me what's happening in the wide world.”
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Feb 15, 2013 04:07am
Oh good. I hope you do.
Feb 17, 2013 11:56pm