A 2020 WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS RED RIBBON WINNER! Vikings war with the last Saxon Kingdom, blood feuds stalk the family, the werebear takes revenge and our forerunner hero must face trolls, a kelp man and his nuggles, and a dark elf… The epic adventures of the Agneson Clan continue!The year is 878… Danish forces assemble for war on Wessex and the loyal Agneson Clan heeds the call to join the … call to join the Great Viking Horde, but while honorable men gather in the midlands, a blood feud draws mercenaries to their undefended homestead for murderous revenge.
Sailing his Viking crew to fulfil their oath, Karl harbors suspicions over strange occurrences that bedevil his nephew Thorfinn, while far to the north their sworn enemy the werebear and his dark elf master strike back…
And the young forerunner Thorfinn learns the Nine Realms are full of surprising hidden folk, but to earn his place aboard the Viking’s ship he must accept a mast troll’s quest….
Will the family escape the despicable vendetta?
Can Thorfinn face the evils prowling the bottom of the Humber Estuary?
Does Cub battle to victory against King Alfred’s men?
How can Karl and his Vikings find and defeat a mysterious lair of were-beasts?
The epic saga of Thorfinn the forerunner and his clan in Danelaw England continues….
Don’t miss The Vardoger Boy, second book of The Forerunner Series by Jay Veloso Batista, historical fantasy and supernatural suspense! if you love the work of Bernard Cornwall, Susanna Clarke or Elizabeth May, then this will have you turning the pages!
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This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Vardoger Boy
Author: Jay Veloso Batista
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
Of the 15 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
13 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I like this book a lot. I think the Viking setting is interesting and there’s a fantasy element too which is cool.” Boy, age 15
“This novel is full of exciting twists. I thought the characters were brave, strong, and always on the hunt for adventure. I like that a lot. The writing style is good and I think most older teenagers will follow it OK. The fighting can be a bit nasty in parts but that was OK by me.” Boy, aged 16
“This book is a sort of mix of Viking and fantasy. I thought that was sort of clever. It’s a bit slow in parts but the ending is excellent. I even like the cover.” Girl, aged 16
“I think this is the second book in the set. I’d recommend reading the first book before having a go at book two. It will help you understand the characters better. I think this author is a talented writer with a wild imagination. The characters were sort of over the top, but they were never boring! Girl, aged 15
“A sort of coming-of-age book, Viking style.” Girl, aged 16
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted fantasy adventure with a strong element of Viking lore. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
The exciting Viking story combining historical drama and fantasy continues.
As in the previous book, Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse, a lot of effort has been made getting all the details right. This applies to both the historical parts, taking place in Midgard, as well as the fantasy sections in the Realm Between. I think that the author does a terrific job with the historical details describing everyday life in the Viking era. Details include names of characters as well as correct historical Scandinavian words for weapons, tools, clothing and other things. These details make the story very believable. Living in the southern part of Sweden, Skåne, l have visited Viking remains in Sweden as well as in Denmark. I think that the author has succeeded very well in finding the Scandinavian touch to all this just as in the first book.
Also, I think that the fighting scenes are presented at exactly the right level to make them feel real.
When it comes to the fantasy scenes, these also feel very real. The reason for this is the way the author makes the transitions between the real-life Midgard and the fantasy scenes in the Realm Between.
The characters have also continued to develop from the first book and have become even more alive than before.
In this second book the characters move around much more than they did in the first book. Even though the story is very easy to follow, there is a map with all important locations included which is helpful.
I do not want to spoil what happens in this story. But I can say that there are lots of thrilling events that keep you reading and turning to the next page. It is hard to stop reading.
After having read this second book, The Vardoger Boy, you really get the taste for the next, third book in the series.
I absolutely loved book 1 and couldn’t wait to dive into book 2. I’m happy to say book 2 was all I’d hoped for…and more.
Mr. Batista has a wonderful cadence to his story telling and a way to pull you in to the point you never want to leave his world.
I love fantasy and the fact that this is a historical fantasy novel, that is painstakingly researched, is icing on the cake.
The characters are well developed and the female characters are especially strong and powerful which I find refreshing and uplifting. There is a character that is relatable to everyone no matter your age or background.
I found myself longing for book 3 as I turned the last page in book 2. Let’s go! Let’s go!! Let’s go!!!
He did it again! Batista is a true master and in the second installment of the Forerunner Saga he keeps the enchanting Nordic adventure moving in all the right directions. I love the characterization, word smithing, story, and page-turning adventuring. Well done! Looking forward the book three!
If you love historical fiction true to the core essence of Norse Mythology, this is the book for you!
An adventurous, action-packed page-turner ‘The Vardoger Boy’ is every bit as exciting and enjoyable as its predecessor. Driven by a strong character cast, epic battle descriptions and chilling blood feuds, the story provides a unique glimpse of a how life might have played out in the many layers of the Viking World. Not only is the accounts of the Agneson children amazingly authentic, but the author pocesses a unique talent for researching and shedding light on the lesser known sides and aspects of the Norse Mythology and Folklore.
An impressive piece of Work, that leaves you hungry for more!
I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment and can’t wait for the next! It’s a well-written adventure that keeps the pages turning. Lots of insight into the daily life of the time with great characters and a solid plot.
Oh, so where can I start with the book?
How about I just say that it’s awesome? How about I just say that if you like vikings, folklore and magic, this one is for you!
The pace is really good in this second instalment of Batista’s saga about the Agneson Clan and I seriously struggled to decide which parts were my favorite.
I loved the struggles of Kara as she, her mother and the remainder of the family must flee enemies set on seeing them all dead. This is tense.
I also equally loved the lead-up to the battle between the Saxons and Danes. Though the books are essentially very dissimilar, having read Cornwell’s ‘Last Kingdon’ series, I just couldn’t help but feel The Vardoger Boy treated me to a view of the viking’s side of the story – which I loved. Of course, the battle itself was every bit as gritty and tangible as you’d expect and this definitely made me fall in love with Cub.
But wait! Because then there’s Thorfinn. His story is perhaps the most exciting if you love magic and fantasy. At times, I felt so delighted to be on a journey of discovery as Thorfinn’s adventure lead to some amazing, unique events in the realm in-between. It brought back all the forgotten Danish folklore that I used to adore when I was a kid.
It you want trolls, elves, were-creatures, banshees, selkies, nuggles, etc… masterfully rolled into a historically accurate setting of Viking times and Danelaw during the reign of King Alfred, then look no further. Get this today for an amazing read and prepare to be taken to another world. (less)
This is the second book in the Forerunner Series and it reads like the second book in a trilogy (in a good way). The first book introduced young Thorfinn and his family and friends as well as the fascinating world in which the live. Like the first book, this one blends real history with folklore and fantasy to create a rich and consistent world. This book continues the story in several mostly independent threats. It moves a bit faster than the first book. In it the characters (and there are a lot of them) are given greater depth and complexity. As you would expect for a middle book, things do not go particularly well for several of the main characters. The peril and action kept me reading, sometimes later than I should have. I eagerly await the last book in this series where I hope thing go a bit better for Thorfinn and the others and the unresolved issues get worked out.
“The Vardoger Boy,” the second book in the Forerunner Series combines moments of quietness with I can’t put the book down action. Thorfinn, the title character, expands his knowledge and use of the Realm Between while navigating his early teen years. Finn must summon the courage to explore, complete quests, and fight battles in the Realm Between and in Midgard, the world of men. The sections with Finn traveling with his uncle Karl Alfenson are a beautiful combination of magic, fantasy, and Viking lore.
A parallel storyline leading up to and on the battlefield against the Saxon king, Alfred, involves other members of Finn’s family and clan. While his father and older brother are fighting Alfred, Thorfinn’s mother, sisters, and younger brother are on a forced trek to safety. The trek sections are some of the most suspenseful scenes in the book.
As expected in a second book of a series, “The Vardoger Boy,” has less character development and more action than the first. While I enjoyed both books, this one is very exciting. Highly recommend “The Vardoger Boy,” to those who enjoy a mix of history, folklore, and fantasy.