She spoke only one word: “Sleipnir!” Except that it wasn’t a word – it was a name.
When Sleipnir, the renowned eight-legged horse from Norse mythology, mysteriously appears on the school field, Brynja is the only one who recognizes him. As it turns out, she and her mother and grandmother have been summoned on an urgent quest: to find out why Yggdrasil, the mystical Tree that joins the Nine Worlds together, has fallen ill. Along the way, they meet Ratatosk the talkative squirrel, Garm the faithful hound, Vedfolnir the impressive hawk, and a whole host of other animals from the Norse myths… but will Brynja and her family be able to find their way to the root of the problem, and save the Tree?
A place of raven wings and running wolves, horses that climb the wind, a red squirrel with a dancing tail, and snakes more beautiful than you can imagine…
Runewood is an eco-fable inspired by Norse mythology, and is suitable for readers of all ages, from children to adults. Ideal for those with an interest in Nordic history and heritage, it will also appeal to fantasy readers (two pillars of the genre, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, were both greatly influenced by the Norse Edda), as well as animal-lovers, environmentalists, and anyone with Scandinavian cultural ties, or just a liking for all things Viking.
Written by Sölvör Bjarna & illustrated by Julia Reddy