The exciting sequel to Children of the Chieftain: Betrayed
The orphan children of the late chieftain, Sten Brightsword, have made a promise that they will try to rescue one of their friends, Ulf, who has been kidnapped by the dreaded Jomsviking and sold as a slave.
The brother and sister, Ahl who is sixteen and Ingir who is a year older, must first get the permission of the island council, the “Ting”, to embark on their mission. But the members of the Ting will only agree on the condition that no girls must not go on the voyage. However, Ingir is not one to give in easily.
The Ting allows Ahl to borrow a new ship called the “Eagle” and appoints Bertil, an old sea captain, to sail it. They cross the Baltic Sea and find the land of the Rus where they think that Ulf is in captivity. However, the journey is fraught with danger. Not only do they have to travel through waters infested with pirates, but one of their own countrymen plots to kill Ahl.
Their luck runs out when they try to help a vessel under attack by robbers and the crew soon find themselves in as much trouble as the friend they are trying to rescue.
Available to order from SilverWood Books and Amazon.
Reader reviews
Children of the Chieftain: Banished, follows the exciting adventures of a group of fearless young people whose lives have been altered by a Viking raid on their small town on the Isle of Birches, Birka, which is now in modern day Sweden. In this second story of a proposed trilogy, a young boy has been taken captive and sold into slavery in the land of the Rus. The son and daughter of the late Birka chieftain, who first appeared in Children of the Chieftain: Betrayed, embark on an intrepid journey to rescue their friend.
Firmly aimed at the young people’s book market, Banished will appeal to those readers who enjoy a well-written adventure story. Thriving on exciting historical content, this ancient world is wonderfully recreated and is filled with characters who are always believable, not always likeable, but who, collectively, add a sense of authenticity to a story which abounds with excitement, danger and adventure.
The book is professionally finished to a high standard, with dramatic cover art and good size text for ease of reading. Both the language and content is entirely appropriate for eight to thirteen year old readers and a glossary of Viking terminology found at the end of the book is especially useful.
Sitting comfortably within the historical fiction genre, I have no hesitation in recommending this book to young readers who enjoy exciting historical adventures. Although Banished can be read as a standalone story, for greater enjoyment it is better to enter the quartet from the beginning.
May 1, 2016, Review of ‘Children of the Chieftain: Banished’ by the Historical Novel Society
We really enjoyed reading the second installment of this series, and were very keen to read what would happen to Ahl and his friends in this episode. The book continues where “Betrayed” left off, but develops the characters nicely and introduces many new ones. We particularly enjoyed the voyage on the Eagle and the character of Bertil. We didn’t find this book as tense as the last one and my boys say they saw the ending coming (we won’t reveal any spoilers here!) but we found it a very enjoyable read and look forward to the release of book number 3!
Review by “Villager” 23rd February 2016
Aimed at the young reader’s book market, Children of the Chieftain: Banished is a rollicking good story which continues the Viking trilogy which began with Children of the Chieftain: Betrayed. The story opens where the first book left off and follows the exciting adventures of a group of intrepid young people who lives have been irreversibly changed by the Viking raid on their small town on the Isle of Birches in Birka, which is now in modern day Sweden. In this second story, one of their friends has been captured and sold into slavery in the land of the Rus and the children of the old chieftain, who we first met in Betrayed, set out to do all they can to liberate one of their own people.
What draws me, an adult reader, into these Viking adventures is the fine attention to detail which the author instils into his novels. There is certainly no compromise on detail for a younger reading audience who, I am sure, will find much to enjoy in this thrilling story. Thriving on exciting historical content, this ancient world is wonderfully recreated and is filled with characters who are always believable, not always likeable, but who, collectively, add a real sense of authenticity to a story which abounds with excitement, danger and a real sense of adventure.
I am sure that those readers like me, who have followed the children of the chieftain from the beginning, will find much to enjoy in this continuation and will, by the end of the story, be looking eagerly towards book three, and the conclusion of the story, which is expected in Children of the Chieftain: Bounty.
Younger readers may need help with some of the terminology used and for those readers who are not familiar with Viking vocabulary there is an interesting and helpful glossary at the end of the book which explains some of the terms used in daily life.
Best read with wooden cups of ice cold stream water and line caught fish cooked over a wood fire.
January 21, 2016, Review of ‘Children of the Chieftain: Banished’ by Jaffareadstoo