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"I gave The Last Vikings to the best critic for the job - my nine year old son - who soon found himself so completely immersed in the story that we faced our own epic nightly battles to persuade him it was time for bed. His eventual verdict was unequivocal: a rip-roaring read that he found even more engaging than certain wizarding tales we could mention. The only downside is that he has been pestering me ever since about the sequel!" Tobyn Andreae, Features Editor, The Daily Mail
The Last Vikings is the first book in the Viking series. It begins with Peter entering the magic snickelways and entering the secret Viking Halls beneath York Minster. Soon he sets out on a Quest with the Viking Princess and Dunstable to find Mimir's Cavern and discover the only way to defeat the dreaded Necromancer, Maledict, and his vast army. On this page, S P Grey has provided some interesting background information on Yggdrasil, the tree of life, and Mimir's Well, before providing further information on the main characters in the book.
Yggdrasil - the Tree of Life Yggdrasil is the greatest of all trees. Yggradasil was created when the world began. Its branches encompass the nine worlds within their reach. Its three roots delve into Asgard (where the Viking gods make their dwelling), the land of the Frost Giants (where the Well of Mimir lies), and deep down into Niflheim, the land of the dead. It is said that the three Norns (goddesses) of Fate, Being and Necessity live beside it. They shape the life of each of us throughout our lives. Every day, they water the tree. The dragon Nidhogg gnaws at its deepest root. But despite its traumas, the tree cares for all living things and is the Guardian of us all. The Vikings built their secret halls beneath York Minster, where they dug deep into the ground to find Yggdrasil's root. They draw its precious sap, which gives them unique magical powers. The Well of Mimir The Well of Mimir delves deep into the mountains in the Land of the Frost Giants - so deep that it reaches the spring that bubbles beneath the root of Yggdrasil. The spring gains its magical properties from the tree and endows the gift of insight to anyone who looks into the water drawn from the Well. So great is this knowledge that Odin himself famously gave one eye for a single draught of the water. Mimir was the wisest of the Viking gods, and though he was cruelly murdered, his wisdom is preserved by Odin's magic and the water from his Well.
The Characters in The Last Vikings... Peter Peter is upset by his parents splitting up and comes to York in the hope that he can escape from their bickering and explore the magical city. A lonely boy, he likes to be on his own and discover things for himself. Despite this, he is protective towards his mother in particular. Brave and loyal, Peter also possess a vivid imagination and a subconscious understanding of magic and how it works. It is this ability that allows Peter to become the first person for over a thousand years to see the Vikings and enter the magic snickelways.
The Princess The Princess is the youngest child of the Viking Queen and the most like her. She prides herself on her magical ability, and only the Queen can match her skills. Though still young, she yearns to prove herself. The Vikings have had many heroes and champions, and the Princess longs to become one of them. She is also incredibly vain and loves to wear her best clothes. She is proud of her upbringing and never fails to remind other Vikings, and Peter, that she is the daughter of the Queen.
Dunstable Dunstable was once the bravest Viking. Whilst the other Vikings remained in their hidden halls, Dunstable spent many years exploring the human world, studying modern people and their cities. Dunstable also searched for signs of Maledict and followed troll movements in the distant mountains. In the end, though, his bravery was his undoing as he was captured by Maledict. Though he eventually escaped, his capture took its toll and Dunstable is now terrified of anything that could be dangerous or unknown. He can no longer perform magic and even the thought of it terrifies him. Considered useless, he is shunned by all the Vikings except for the Queen, who remembers the Viking he was and still believes in him.
The Queen The Queen is the most powerful and wisest of the Vikings. Her skill in magic is second only to Maledict, but greater still is her ability to understand people and read their minds. She has lived in the Viking Halls all of her life, but knows how dangerous the world is outside of the city walls. The matriarch of the last Vikings, she is conscious of her responsibility for the dying race and is determined to save them. The Queen knows the history of the Vikings and has not forgotten the lessons it has taught her. She rules alone. Her husband, the Viking King, betrayed her a long time ago, but that is another story...
The Prince The Prince is the oldest child of the Queen and several years older than the Princess. Though he only knows the most basic magic, he is broad and strong and trained in warfare. He is proud of his strength and skill in arms. No other Viking is as skilled as he is with a sword or axe. Vain and arrogant, he has little time for lesser Vikings. But despite his moodiness, he is loved by his army. Sometimes rash, he is a skilled military tactician, if he can overcome his arrogance and impatience.
Trolls Trolls are nomadic creatures that live in the mountains and woods of this country and others. There are two breeds. The largest and most ferocious are the Mountain Trolls that live high in the freezing mountains and generally live solitary lives, feeding off livestock. They hate humans but, until Maledict roused them, had avoided people, remembering the time when the Vikings hunted them almost to extinction over a thousand years ago. There are only a few hundred Mountain Trolls left, scattered across the vast mountain ranges. The Wood Trolls are more numerous, though there are still barely a few thousand of them. More timid and smaller than the Mountain Trolls, they are also less intelligent and docile. They live in the wide forests and make their home far away from humans, where they hunt deer and other mammals. Both Mountain and Wood Trolls enjoy the flesh of humans, though they only occasionally take a human. Female and particularly children humans are their favourites - a rare delicacy for a hungry troll!
Frost Giants The Giants are the ancient enemies of the Viking gods, who fought many battles against them. Often cunning and deceitful, the giants are mighty foes and even Odin and Thor have struggled to defeat them. The Frost Giants live only on the peaks of the highest mountains. Immensely strong, they hate Vikings and all humans.
Betty the Witch Deep in the darkest most inaccessible forests and wildernesses, witches still live in this country and across Europe. Like the trolls, they have learnt to avoid modern people, but occasionally someone strays across their path, often with deadly consequences. Only the worst, most evil, most powerful witches remain, weaving their spells and conspiring to affect the lives of others from afar. Often they will work for the few people who still know them, and will cast their spells in return for gold. Their magical abilities are unique and varied, and many have the ability to change their form and the form of others to deceive the unwary! Betty, for instance, can appear as a kindly old lady and changes her troll bodyguards to fat, spiteful cats.
For more information, see The Last Vikings website at www.lastvikings.com
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