While it took most of the book to stop being annoyed with the main character (basically until about 18 pages left), the book was otherwise quite good. The only other problem was that, occasionally, the author will be very obvious. For example, you're read the whole book, and she'll say, "Mikkla is very stubborn". Like you would have forgotten that or wouldn't have picked it up every time he's stubborn. Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often.

Spoilers: a young man travels to the "Alfar" realm where he tries to open a box with "something" in it of great importance and everyone he meets seems to want to get it. The surprises in the book (ie the box contains a magical gauntlet and Sigurd's father is Halfdane) are very good. And the not-so surprises (Jotull and the other Warlord being the worst) are not so obvious that you're annoyed. As I noted above, some rough, meandering, editor-fail writing, but I still mostly enjoyed it. Probably will not read again because Sigurd (the main) is almost insufferably stupid, stubborn, and arrogant throughout. Probably some good stuff about Norse mythology here and all the norse names, places, and customs are cool. A very original book. ( )

WORLD OF ALFAR