Ghostly Curses in Viking England!Danelaw life is good! Practicing martial skills, grumbling over chores, listening to scary stories and shadowing his brothers everywhere, Finn is a normal boy of ten in the Viking Kingdoms of ninth century England. A bit timid, his father plots his apprenticeship while the family prepares a grand wedding. Off to the North, his uncle sails home after years of … years of exile. And unbeknownst to all, the ghost of an ancient mage sits sentinel over his clan freehold. But when a witch’s curse comes alive, a mishap turns young Finn into a vardoger, haunted by his own forerunner ghost.
Suddenly thrust into a new realm beyond Midgard, Finn struggles to be a boy by day and a ghost at night. His own clan fears him, he overhears murder plots, he learns the truth of giants and the hidden folk, and the witch still hunts revenge…
Will Finn find the courage to defeat his enemies, save his uncle, and accept his new ghostly existence?
Don’t miss Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse, first book of The Forerunner Saga by Jay Veloso Batista.
more
I thoroughly enjoyed Jay Batista’s grand adventure. He brings the world within your fingertips and the characters become real, as if you’ve known them for a long time. Great first book to start of this fun series. I highly recommend this book.
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse
Author: Jay Veloso Batista
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 20
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 20 readers:
20 would read another book by this author.
20 thought the cover was good or excellent.
20 felt it was easy to follow.
20 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 9 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
20 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I like historical novels, particularly if there are Vikings in it. There’s a good mix of fantasy and history in this book. I did think it was a little slow to get going, but then I loved it.” Male reader, aged 14
“This is a good adventure book for younger teenagers. If you like Vikings, you will love it. It’s all non-stop and the characters were fun to get to know. I even loved the cover; it made me want to read it.” Female reader, aged 14
“All I can suggest to the author is don’t go into too much depth with the history as it can kill the pacing. But it’s still a thrilling story. I think the author is excellent at developing characters.” Female reader, aged 15
“Thorfinn is the best character. I will try to find another book where he’s the hero. This book has a myths and legends feel to it which I love! Fab book!” Female reader, aged 14
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping YA adventure packed full of danger and exciting twists. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Exciting Viking story in parallel universes
This is an exciting story combining historical drama with fantasy. I have never been to any remains of Viking settlements in Britain but visited several such locations in the Scandinavian countries actually living in “Skåne” myself. The author has done the research work for this story very well and this becomes obvious in the successful result. The characters as well as their surroundings become really alive and it very much feels as if you are actually there. This is to a large extent achieved by never sacrificing any details when describing the characters or their environments. Much work has been put into finding authentic Nordic names to characters and their tools, weapons, food, clothing and other outfits. Having Swedish as native language I recognize these terms and names and feel very much at home in this description of an ancient Nordic environment. Another detail, making the world of the Vikings come to life, is that you get to know the stories and legends that were told at their festivities. Rituals and traditions are also described in detail. All this is successful as a result of research very well carried out. So for the plot: This is an unusual story since it takes place in what we call today would call “parallel universes”. However, I’m sure that the Vikings saw this in a more traditional religious way. The main character can move between “Midgard” and other parallel worlds that are still closely tied together. I do not intend to spoil the plot here, but the ability to move between universes and to simultaneously see what goes on in various universes opens for a lot of possibilities that combine “anticipation with uncertainty”. This keeps the reader to just keep on reading. Finally, the end of the story is a very good starting point for more adventures with Thorfinn…
Really impressed! I was hooked from the first sentence and Batista kept me hooked throughout. Can’t wait to dive into book two!
This is the first book in the Forerunner Series. The story centers on Thorfinn, a young Viking living in England (before it was England). At the beginning of this book, Thorfinn is an ordinary boy with ordinary problems, but this quickly changes as the story develops. This book introduces Thorfinn and his family and friends as well as the fascinating world in which they live. It blends real history with folklore and fantasy to create a rich and consistent home for the characters.
I completely enjoyed this book. The characters, even the minor ones, were distinct and well developed. I found myself interested in their interactions, adventures, and crises. The writing style is readable while providing rich detail. The world in which it is set was well researched and was consistent with what I do know about Norse culture and mythology. One thing I really liked was that while the first several pages gave me a good idea of what would be resolved by the end, I couldn’t guess how it would be resolved until I got to the last few pages.
Good, very good story. A little long winded in the middle. I would think some of the Vikings would be that way. Add a little to each story. I enjoyed the story and the boy Finn fought very well especially for a ten year old. I hope to see more stories about Finn and Raga. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
A historical Viking action/adventure with a touch of fantasy. From the opening you are welcomed into a cast of characters that soon will be giving you a glimpse of realistic, everyday life of Vikings of that period. I found it very informative on customs, rites and the superstitions of the period.
I became quickly drawn in by Yeru, who runs a tight household, but is a very down to earth mother. Karl, the adventuring brother, and his band of warriors who run into a few interesting folklore figures. Thorfinn, the youngest of the cast, is inquisitive, tender-hearted and drawn into the In-between. He encounters Raga, a witty, entertaining wizard who has waited long to train his young charge.
An imaginative tale that will keep your interest through each page.
A highly enjoyable, atmospheric (and sometimes downright spooky) read! I enjoyed the depth of development for the setting and characters. It is clear the author has a passion for the history of Viking-era Britain. I look forward to reading the second book!
Disclaimer: I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.