Product Description

MAJOR NEW ACQUISITION An exciting adventure-filled story of Peer Ulfsson and his dog, Loki, Peer's hideous uncles Baldur and Grim Grimsson, and their hideous dog, Grendel, and the trolls of Troll Fell. Peer Ulfsson stood miserably at his father's funeral pyre, watching the sparks whirl up like millions of shining spirits streaking away into the dark. But someone else is also at the funeral. Peer's half-uncle, Baldur Grimsson. Peer watches helplessly as Uncle Baldur sells his father's property and pockets the money. Peer is then forced to move away from the world he knows in Hammerhaven, and live with his two half-uncles at their mill near Troll Fell. Peer hopes his other uncle will be more welcoming and less ferocious than Baldur, but Baldur is an identical twin, and Grim Grimsson is just as mean-spirited and greedy as his brother. Peer lives a life of servitude, with only the company of his faithful dog, Loki, until he meets spirited Hilde, whose family farm on Troll Fell, and Nis, his uncles' house spirit. Between them, they must foil a plot by the Grimsson brothers to sell one boy and one girl to the trolls who live on Troll Fell.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #332972 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 318 pages

Review
In Troll Fell Katherine Langrish has unearthed a captivating world. Bleak and captivating. Her style is quirky and hypnotic and her characters are instantly recognizable as someone you know, or someone you wish you didn't. Eoin ColferAtmospheric, dramatic, stylish and intensely engaging, Katherine Langrish's Troll Fell is the real thing. I've rarely read a more confident and assured first novel that was so mature and had as many of the ingredients that are needed to herald the arrival of a significant writing talent. Troll Fell is in turns gritty and bleak, and also magical and uplifting. I think Langrish is a natural storyteller and I look forward to discovering more of her imagination in years to come. John McLay

As his father's funeral pyre burns, Peer Ulfsson, to his horror, meets a step-uncle whom his father has never mentioned. Baldur Grimson removes Peer from his home village to live with him and his twin, Grim, in an old mill outside the hamlet of Trollsvik, directly under the trolls' mountain. The twins-fearsome, greedy, and mean-treat Peer cruelly. However, Peer befriends local humans and other supernatural creatures who provide him with information and support him in thwarting the twins' plans. Although she keeps the historical details accurate, Langrish subordinates history to fantasy in this rousing middle-grade debut set in medieval Norway. The plot and subplots race along and wrap up neatly and satisfactorily in a nice, twisty ending. Even though the tale incorporates many elements common to fiction about orphans, the clearly delineated, memorable characters transcend stereotype. Goodhearted, resourceful Peer's courage, loyalty to his friends, and generosity will win reader's hearts and will ensure the appeal to readers of Emily Rodda's Rowan of Rin series and the Lemony Snickets. (Fiction. 9-12) (Kirkus Reviews)

John McLay
'Atmospheric, dramatic, stylish and intensely engaging. Troll Fell is in turns gritty and bleak, and also magical and uplifting.'

About the Author
Katherine grew up in Yorkshire and has been writing stories most of her life. She took a First Class Honours BA degree in English from the University of London, winning the Sir Charles Harris Prize for External Students. Married with two daughters, Katherine and her family lived in Fontainebleau, where she began storytelling to classes at the International School. In 1997 Katherine and her family relocated again to Corning, New York State. There, Katherine joined Literacy Volunteers of America, a voluntary organisation for teaching reading and numeracy. Katherine and her family currently live in England.

Customer Reviews

Adventure, Gold and Troublesome Trolls
This book was recommended to me by two different people. At first I wondered whether a book about trolls would be something I'd like. However, I was pleasantly surprised - and found I enjoyed it thoroughly. The fantastical creatures of Norse mythology are a refreshing change from the characters found in most contemporary fantasy. Troll Fell is set in a world where trolls are as common as mice - though considerably more dangerous!

The story begins with young Peer Ulfsson at his beloved father's funeral. Finding himself now the obligatory orphan required for most children's fiction, he goes to live with his two unpleasant uncles: Baldur and Grim. They live in an old watermill at the foot of Troll Fell - and soon put Peer to work, treating him like an unpaid slave. Fortunately, Peer has his faithful dog, Loki, with him - and soon makes friends with Hilde from a neighboring farm, whose father has just sailed off on a Viking ship. He also befriends a Nis - a mysterious little creature who cleans the mill, (badly), in return for a daily bowl of groute, (a sort of Norse porridge - not the stuff between your bathroom tiles). Peer also makes the acquaintance of Granny Greenteeth who lives in the millpond, waiting to drag the unwary down to the bottom.

As if slaving for Grim and Baldur isn't bad enough, Peer soon discovers his uncles have more sinister plans for him; plans that involve making a nefarious deal with the trolls of Troll fell. I'll say no more - leaving you to enjoy this beautifully crafted tale for yourself. Suffice to say it all ends well, with a twist or two along the way. An excellent first novel - hopefully the first of many.

"Fell" up
A Norse flavor is given to "Troll Fell," a solid and surprisingly imaginative fantasy starting off on a Cinderella note. Katherine Langrish's debut novel has a few dropped threads, but dips into traditional goblins and ghouls as its inspirations. And it's inspired indeed.

Peer's father has died, just after completing a new longship. Enter Baldur, his ogrish uncle, who takes all of Peer's money and drags him and his faithful dog away. Peer's new home is a miserable place, in a land surrounded by angry neighbors and mischief-making trolls. He's treated like a slave by his uncles Baldur and Grim, and his only solace is the Nis (a neglected house sprite) and a girl from the neighboring farm, Hilde.

But things take a nastier turn after Peer encounters the ghoulish Granny Green-teeth: She reveals that at a forthcoming double wedding for troll princes and princesses, the uncles are going to give him as a wedding present. What's worse, they also plan to kidnap Hilde and give HER as a gift too. Determined to save himself, Peer runs away from home -- only to end up right in the trolls' hands...

"Troll Fell" is a good example of what a fantasy should be -- not derivative, well-written, quick-faced and with enough quirks to keep it from being too grim. Langrish doesn't stoop to deus ex machinae, but keeps the plot simple and straightforward, while peppering it with plenty of northern ghoulies, ghosties and long-legged beasties.

Her writing is solid and descriptive, bringing to life everything from the bleak hills to the bizarre underground kingdom of the trolls. Langrish is particularly good at making the readers feel what the characters are feeling, such as Peer's almost crippling claustrophobia, or his horror at seeing faithful dog Loki thrown into a dogfight. A few threads -- such as Granny's threat to Peer -- are left unsatisfied, but a sequel might take care of those.

Peer and Hilde are a good hero and heroine, with their own flaws and squabbles and weaknesses. The supporting cast is equally good -- the scraggly, disgruntled Nis, the stupid lubbers, the grandmotherly yet homicidal pond-dweller Granny Greenteeth, feisty grandpa Eirek, and the greedy, scheming Baldur and Grim.

"Troll Fell" lives up to its promise as a suspenseful, well-written fantasy. Katherine Langrish does a good job, with plenty of promise for her future books.

A remarkable first novel
Troll Fell is a good old-fashioned fairy story combining a brilliant evocation of the everyday life of Viking folk with an array of supernatural characters - not only the trolls themselves, but also the Nis, who reluctantly does the housework for the evil brothers Grimsson (but not very well as they are too mean to put butter in his porridge), the sinister Granny Greenteeth and even the lubbers who inhabit the privy! The characterisation is impressive. The hero and heroine are young Peer and Hilde, but every character is real, from Hilde's grandfather, now old and frail but evidently a Viking to be reckoned with in his youth, to Loki the dog. All this and a great story that appeals to all ages! Great fun and highly recommended.