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"Listen then, and I'll tell you again..." Jan 30, 2009 (29 of 30 found this helpful)
Jonathan Stroud simply is not a fan of innocent protagonists as pure as the newly driven snow. He has little patience for innocents as main characters. No time for guys like Harry Potter or Frodo, who find themselves thrust into dangerous situations that were not of their own making. Give Stroud a nicely corrupt kid or a wildly headstrong hero any day of the week. Having burst upon the juvenile writing scene with his breathtaking Bartimaeus trilogy, Stroud now scales himself back a little with a slightly more conservative fantasy going by the name "Heroes of the Valley". Masquerading as yet another boy-shepherd-learns-how-the-world-really-works tale, Stroud's newest book may seem to tread a well worn path but in fact it has all the zip, panache, and intelligence you would expect of the man who made footnotes a literary technique (outside of "Pale Fire" and "Jonathan Strange", of course . . .). It has a slow start, but stick with "Heroes of the Valley" and you will discover a smart bit of storytelling that knows how to suck in its readership.
Halli has grown up hearing the stories. How the heroes of the Houses in the valley drove back the horrible monstrous Trows and that's why no one can ever leave the valley again. Halli yearns for those old days, when violence and fighting could solve problems, particularly since in this current world Halli stands out. He is rough and short and ugly and prone to getting into trouble. Pranks come to him easily, but when a particularly keen one leads to the death of someone he loves, Halli vows to avenge the murder. Yet the boy has no idea what lies in store for him, or just how important it will be to remember those old stories and find out the truth (and lies) behind them.
Trying to compare "Heroes" to other children's books isn't difficult, but I did find that it broke certain rules. Like Taran from the Prydain Chronicles), Halli yearns for battle and glory. As such, the first half of this book takes on a distinctly Don Quixote flavor, with Halli in both the role as the deluded would-be knight and his much put upon squire. Halli meets odd characters, goes against all rhyme, reason, and sense and then only finds himself facing the truth about the world around him when given exactly the thing he has been searching for. This is a quest novel where the quest keeps changing. If it reminded me of anything it was of the smart fantasy writing of Nancy Farmer in her "The Sea of Trolls". But it's hard to find anyone to compare to the hero in this book.
Generally as heroes go, usually they can at least fight a little bit. But Halli, aside from being one of the uglier bandy-legged protagonists out there, is both short and incapable of fighting someone. To his credit, he's pretty good at escaping from death (though in truth a lot of that is probably due to the fact that swords pass a fair foot above his head half the time). But how many books have you read where the hero's short legs prevented him from making a clean escape time and time again? It's kind of novel, really.
And now let's talk about female characters a bit, shall we? For all that Stroud likes his boys flawed and wretched, he does a darn good girl. This may not sound too remarkable. Many a fantasy writer for kids knows how to write strong women characters. But I would go so far as to say that male fantasy writers for kids almost always make those same girls humorless. Not always (a tip of the hat to Neil Gaiman here) but more often than I would like. Not Stroud, though. No sir, when you first meet Aud she is falling out of trees, laughing, and mocking Halli in a truly humorous fashion when his ridiculousness comes to be too much. Aud is the daughter of one of the lords from another House. She has all the spunk and verve you would expect, but that's not extraordinary. I was far more interested in how funny she could be. It's a trait that serves her well
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Meta-legend Mar 9, 2009 (4 of 4 found this helpful)
Terrific meta-legend, sort-of fantasy, coming-of-age, young adult novel. It's all about what makes a hero - how a legend is born, how it dies, and how a new legend can arise out of its ashes. There's plenty of action and a good dose of humor, but there's also a depth to it that makes it more than it might seem at first. The tone is what you might expect in a classic legend and, perhaps partly because of that, it starts a little slowly, but once you immerse yourself in the author's world, it picks up nicely, and I found I had to read the last third of the book in one huge gulp. It should be accessible to younger YAs, but adults will appreciate the multiple levels of the author's storytelling. This book hooked me with the adventure, but has kept me thinking long after I finished.
Oh, and the ending that a few others have complained about was perfect. It brought the book full-circle and was essential to the author's purpose in telling the story.
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Enjoyable, but . . . Feb 24, 2009 (8 of 10 found this helpful)
There was a lot to like about this book - a unique and flawed hero who makes a huge and totally believable transformation during his quest, a bad guy you really want to see get his due, creative world building and wonderful humor. Once I reached the second half I couldn't put this book down. And then came the ending. I have to agree with the other reviewer, it was disappointing. I would still recommend this book to fans of fantasy, because I really enjoyed reading it. Stroud is a very talented storyteller, and very creative.
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Another winner from Stroud May 10, 2009 (2 of 2 found this helpful)
Halli Sveinsson has grown up basking in the almighty stories of his forefathers. The twelve ancient heroes of the valley battled thieves, murders, mysterious monsters called Trows, and each other. Halli's ancestor, Svein, was the mightiest of all the warriors. He killed more Trows than any other, took back his land and pride when wronged, and proved himself as the unconquerable leader of the heroes.
Having grown up in the shadow of the stories of Svein, Halli feels the need to show that he is worthy of his family name. Halli, however, doesn't fit the typical hero mold. He's the second born son, small and wiry, and is well known for his practical jokes and general listlessness. Halli would much rather play practical jokes than stand up and defend the House of Svein's reputation. After a practical joke goes too far on Ragnar of the House of Hakon and Halli's uncle Brodir pays the price with his life, Halli is determined to avenge his uncle and bring honor that is befitting of Svein's ancestry.
Along his journey through the valley, Halli recognizes that he's ill-equipped for his mission. After a few mishaps that leave Halli battered and bruised, he finally arrives to confront his uncle's killers. Drawing upon the strength the legendary hero Svein, Halli sets out to finish the task that brought him so far from home. In the heat of the moment, however, Halli falters and is left scrambling to figure out what when wrong. Would the mighty Svein have hesitated? Would the mighty Svein waver in his duty? What kind of hero is Halli, if one at all?
Halli is left to pick up the pieces and attempts to return to his quiet way of life. For a true hero, though, things are never that easy. Events have been set in motion that threaten the peace and prosperity of the valley, and Halli is in the thick of it.
In a society that sees the rise and decline of many of its heroes, Heroes of the Valley explores the true meaning of heroism. Fans of Jonathan Stroud and The Bartimaeus Trilogy will appreciate his masterful characterization, fast-paced narrative, and the artful mix humor and sincerity.
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Stroud has done it again. Mar 4, 2009 (2 of 2 found this helpful)
Fourteen-year-old Halli Sveinsson is the second son and third child of the Arbiter of the House of Svein. His future appears bleak and boring, stuck with toiling in the fields for his brother, the future leader of their House. Halli has never traveled beyond the Svein lands, but he knows that the House of Svein is one of 12 Houses in the Valley and that everybody now lives in safety and peace thanks to their heroic ancestors. Weapons are forbidden, and a council decides the punishments of those who break the law.
Halli loves to listen to the old tales of the ancestors, especially his own ancestor, Svein. Svein is the bravest of them all, the one who joined the Houses together to chase the monstrous Trows out of the Valley. Trows, who have sharp teeth and long claws, live underground and come out at night to hunt humans. But Svein and the other House ancestors pushed the Trows back, and Trows are now forbidden to enter the Valley. And even though no one alive today has seen a Trow, everybody knows never to cross the boundary, especially at night, or face a certain and horrible death.
Since the ancient heroes have made the Valley so safe and peaceful, young Halli is bored with his life. He compensates by playing practical jokes on everyone. One joke goes too far, however, and he is banned from participating in the big festival, hosted this year by his own House. So it's by accident that he meets Aud in the orchards. Aud is the daughter of another House leader and is unlike anyone Halli has ever met. She is spirited and adventurous, and dreads the day her father will marry her off to a stranger. Halli looks forward to seeing this intriguing girl again someday.
But by the end of the festival, Halli pulls another prank that leads to someone wronging his uncle. Thus, he sets out on a quest of revenge and in the process helps to open up old grudges, bringing war back to the Valley. He doesn't realize the adventure and danger that await him. Does Halli have it in him to be a hero, like the ancestor he so admires?
In his first novel since the Bartimaeus Trilogy, Jonathan Stroud brings us another winning adventure story, complete with an unexpected hero, a spirited sidekick, bone-chilling monsters, and a thrilling, soul-searching journey. Stroud has a gift with impeccable timing and a captivating rhythm, a flow that takes a hold of the reader on page one and never lets go. His colorful characters will charm, amuse and intrigue --- some adding an element of evil, others contributing a splash of humor. Halli, the unexpected hero, is especially charming; he will appeal to all with his physical shortcomings, good heart and thirst for adventure.
Stroud has done it again. Each page in HEROES OF THE VALLEY is filled with excitement and thrills, and we can only hope that the wait won't be long for his next amazing tale.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman