Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud

Halli Sveinsson has grown up hearing the legends of the twelve great heroes whose sacrifices saved the Valley many years ago. As a descendent of Svein, Halli has been brought up to believe that his ancestor was the greatest of all the heroes. The stories of Vein have always captured the imagination of Halli, whose sharp mind and tempestuous spirit longs for adventure and greatness. Unfortunately for Halli, peace has long since settled in the Valley and the houses of the twelve heroes are no longer at war. Halli’s knack for trouble soon sparks a chain of events that will alter the destiny and the legends of the Valley forever.

Stroud has crafted a novel that is a departure from his best-selling Bartimaeus trilogy. The adventure and folklore in this novel are more likely to appeal to older fans of Riordan’s Percy Jackson series than Harry Potter. Primarily misunderstood by everyone Halli alternates between being an interesting and likeable protagonist and someone who you hope to see get what is coming to him. Stroud fans looking for the sharp wit and sarcasm of Bartimaeus are not going to find it here. While the tale has its funny moments, they are few and far between. The narration drags here and there, but the action is intriguing. Readers who stick to the end may find they have more questions than answers, but Stroud provides enough information at the end that readers can imagine their own answers.