August 2009, Oxford University Press
352 pages, Paperback
Review copy
Children's, 11+ Historical
Cushions: 3/5
Daggers: 2/5
Tissues: 5/5
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Every single historical novel I've read from OUP is outstanding, and Wolf Cry proudly belongs to that same category.
Vikings seem to be a popular theme at the moment (I promise a post on themes soon). Life back then was harsh, but that's not a reason for Freydis' father to treat her so poorly. Perhaps having a son has a lot to do with it. But when her brother Enno is captured on a raid, a raid which leaves Freydis in permanent suffering, I thought it really unfair that her father doesn't rejoice that she's alive, and instead wishes she'd have been killed.
Compassion and caring is left to the Blue Man, a slave from Africa who Freydis' father acquired and gave to his daughter. Blue Man, who is really called Enno, doesn't take to slavery well. He never has. Yet for some strange reason he likes helping Freydis out. He is outraged at how poorly her father treats her. So he, and after a while the other men on her father's ship treat Freydis with the attention her father should be giving. It's a feeling of kinship that can't last long for Freydis is dumped in the care of another tribe while her father goes in search of his son. Yet it is here, in a strange place with no-one she knows that she receives more outward displays of affection from the ladies of the tribe.
It is not just the friendship she receives, it is acceptance from the whole tribe after undertaking a test, a test which reveals her second name given, in a way, by the spirits. The mystical side of Viking life is a pleasure to read about, adding more to cultural knowledge of this time in history. Will Freydis realise that there is a great deal more than a simple mistress-slave relationship between herself and Toki? Can both of them survive when the raider who took Toki wants to track down Freydis?
The other story line involves Toki, and his enslavement by the raiders. He isn't a spoilt brat - he's the type of older brother I'd want Freydis to have. He sees how unfairly their father treats her, and tries to gain leniency. All he wants to do is go back to her. And escape the raiders. His tale is fraught with danger, and it is during this time that he meets his future wife, Aino. She has such spirit, more than Freydis, who is the quieter of the two. I'm glad she is there when fate deals a cruel blow to Toki; she'll help distract him in the future should he get too morose.
Wolf Cry has truly memorable characters, I would love for there to be a sequel, to watch the different relationships flourish. The ending is extremely touching, I needed a lot of tissues for it. Knowing the characters presented in the book, I was surprised by the end but I understood why it happened, and agree it was the best conclusion to the story.
Julia Golding's website can be found here.
Liked this? Look out for another Viking story: Daughter of Fire and Ice by Marie-Louise Jensen in February 2010. Until then, try The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen.
ISBN 9780192727619
Buy from Amazon.co.uk and Borders.co.uk
(unavailable at Amazon.com and Borders.com for now)
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