SOLVED. Fantasy/ Medieval setting. The main boy is described as being incredibly ugly. [s]

[Ben]

This is a book I mostly read around 2015/2016 while on holiday in Australia and I've been trying to find it ever since.

Pretty much all spoilers.

The story is set in a small hamlet/farmstead, with the main character being the grandson (from memory) of the leader of the group. His grandmother (the leader) describes him as being incredibly ugly, to the point were she doubts he'll ever find a wife. The boy himself doesn't particularly care and spends a lot of time exploring the surrounding area and listening to stories of the past (?). They just tell him not to go into the mountains as they're cursed or guarded by the ghosts of their ancestors.

One day, the daughter of one of the bigger chiefs comes to stay and the boy ends up being her guide of sorts. They become friends as she stays for quite a while before returning home.

I forget what happens next, but at some point, the boy goes to rescue the girl from something bad happening to her as part of some political upheaval and they flee back to their little village.

Soon after, the enemy comes to attack them and they're holed up in a large barn, which is the strongest building they have and fend off the attackers.

After the attackers retreat, the boy and girl head off into the hills/mountains to try and draw attention away from their village and end up having to fight the ghosts of his ancestors around a burial mound at night.

They survive and repel the ghosts and that's as far as I got.

I vaguely recall this being book 1 of a series, but I'm not 100% sure.

[SBC]

Hi Ben, was this book aimed at children or young adults, or was it adult fiction? Did you buy it from a book store or secondhand store in Australia? (I'm just trying to get a sense of how new it might have been at that time).

[Ben]

Hey SBC, it was aimed at Young Adults, probably around 15/16 due to the themes and it was at the holiday house we were staying at so I'm unsure where it was bought from, but it looked read if you know what I mean.

[Becca]

Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud?

[Ben]

Becca wrote: "Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud?"

Yes! That's it. Thank you very much!