Viking Magic is a brilliant new series from Australian author Anna Ciddor.  The two books so far, Runestone and Wolfspell, follow the adventures of Oddo and Thora, two children born on the same day but swapped at birth, in order to save Thora's life.   In the Viking world of the stories, girl's lives are not as valuable as boys.  So Thora grows up in Oddo’s magic–working family and Oddo on Thora’s farm. 

Both have found it hard to fit in with their respective families and through their adventures they draw strength from one another to continue with their quests. 

Runestone was released last year and its story of Oddo and Thora’s discoveries, mistakes and sea journey to help their families lays the foundations brilliantly for the second story. Anna Ciddor shows an extensive historical knowledge throughout the book, with settings and characters that create a vivid impression of living in the times of the Vikings.  

In Wolfspell, Winter has set in and is especially hard as all the families have a new tax to the King of Norway. Oddo's family have always relied on the land to help them get through tough times, but when it looks as if their land is about to be stolen from them by a neighbouring farmer, Oddo takes the fight to the Gula Thing (type of court proceeding).

Thora experiences similar difficulties as her family has a similar dependence on magic to survive, so she accompanies Oddo to the Gula Thing to earn silver to pay the taxes. Will they get back in time to save their families?

Ciddor has brought to life an enchanting and believable world full of magic and magical adventures. Oddo and Thora each draws strength by gaining hope and approval from the other. 

At the end of each chapter, the reader is invited to solve the mystery messages of the runes and there is a Futhark (Viking alphabet) at the end of the book to help. This adds to the charm and mystery of the story, making it an enjoyable quest and discovery for the reader as well.  

Ciddor has drawn from her historical novel and background in factual text writing to provide a series well worth reading for those who love a good adventure.

Strongly recommended for children aged 7 - 13 +

Review by Annemarie Holmyard

© 2003 Annemarie Holmyard