"Stroud conjures up an alluring Viking world where legends intertwine with reality, heroes still matter, and monsters lurk in the darkness"
Rick Riordan

"Jonathan Stroud's new book is, quite simply, stunning"
The Guardian

"Witty and cinematic storytelling" Publishers Weekly

"As always, Stroud writes like a dream… Those who eagerly awaited this next novel after his superb Bartimaeus trilogy will not be disappointed."
Books for Keeps

"[a] compelling novel… Fans of his Bartimaeus Trilogy will, like the hungry Trows of valley legend, devour this book whole."
School Library Journal

"a real treat" Daily Telegraph

"Funny, exciting, thoughtful, and, most of all, timeless…"
Booklist