Heroes of the Valley
Listen then, and I'll tell you again of the Battle of the Rock. But none of your usual wriggling, or I'll stop before I've begun...
Halli loves the old stories from when the valley was a wild and dangerous place – when the twelve legendary heroes, led by his ancestor Svein, stood together to defeat the ancient enemy, the bloodthirsty Trows. Halli longs for adventure but it seems these days the most dangerous thing in the valley is boredom. He tries to liven things up by taunting his siblings and playing practical jokes. But when one of his jokes goes too far reawakening an old blood feud, Halli finds himself on a hero's quest after all. Along the way he meets a ruthless thief, a murderous rival, and a girl who may just be as fearless as he is. Halli may be about to make his own last stand and discover the truth about the legends, about his family, and about himself...
Jonathan Stroud has created an epic saga with a funny, unique spin, and an unforgettable anti-hero.
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Jonathan Stroud
Long before ghost-fighting teens roamed the streets of London with iron chains and salt bombs, Jonathan Stroud was already imagining hidden worlds tucked behind the edges of our own. Known for his sharp wit, atmospheric storytelling, and talent for building fantastical universes with a modern edge, Stroud has carved a distinctive path through the landscape of children's and young adult fantasy.
Raised in Bedford, England, Stroud spent his childhood devouring myths and legends, a fascination that would later bloom into stories teeming with ancient magic, restless spirits, and clever young protagonists who don’t always follow the rules. His breakout success came with The Bartimaeus Sequence—a richly layered fantasy set in an alternate London where magicians hold sway, demons serve under duress, and the line between hero and villain is always in flux. Stroud’s gift lies in balancing dark themes with biting humor, especially through the voice of Bartimaeus, a sarcastic djinni whose footnotes alone could carry a novel.
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