***I received a free copy in exchange for a book review***

I enjoyed this 23 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) It had gone too far for sense now. 2) The darkness offered no answer. It had taken everything from him. 3) “I was thinking on my feet–the plan was to find Draven, and he’d come up with the real plan!” 4) “Those Gore things may be demons for bedtime fables to scare the young but it t’ain’t just beasts roaming the forest no more.”

The tax collector, Draven, was away on a mission when his town was invaded by Vikings. Kale, his 12 year old son and Morgana, his wife, along with other people from the village were in grave danger–either they’d be killed on the spot or kidnapped and tortured.

I thought it was brave the way Kale and Morgana stepped up to the plate to protect their friends. Draven must have taught them well.

I loved that the plot was action-packed. Kale and his friends were little boys but had to grow up fast! Deuk was Kale’s best friend. He went crazy and slit another kid’s throat in front of the adults. That was a very intense scene. For the most part, I sat on the edge of my seat because no character’s life was guaranteed.

Besides suspense, there were also bits of humor with Draven’s co-workers, so I even laughed a little.

I RECOMMEND this book to read. ( )