Heroes of the Valley

Heroes of the Valley is a 2009 fantasy adventure novel by English author Jonathan Stroud. Its main character, Halli Sveinsson, lives in a mountain-top village.

Stroud began developing the book in 2006, after finishing his Bartimaeus Trilogy, and completed it in the summer of 2008. He has said he has long enjoyed Norse myths and the medieval Icelandic Sagas written by the descendants of Vikings. He found the Sagas interesting because they mix ordinary stories of farms and families with sudden supernatural elements like ghosts and trolls; the fantasy never overwhelms the narrative but is accepted as a marginal part of life. Wanting to write his own saga exploring storytelling and family life, he began jotting down story fragments.

Halli loves hearing tales from when the valley was wild and dangerous, besieged by bloodthirsty Trow monsters. Now farming has replaced fighting Trows, and heroics seem a thing of the past. When a practical joke rekindles an old blood feud, Halli sees a chance for his own daring quest.

The story opens with the telling of the Battle of the Rock, where twelve valley heroes united against the man-eating Trows. Taking position on a large rock, they fought off the Trows all night. By morning, all—heroes and Trows—were dead, including their leader, Svein. The heroes were buried under cairns along the valley borders with their swords, so that even in death they could guard the boundaries. Legend says that as long as no one crosses the cairn border, no Trows can enter.

Years later, Halli is born: short, stout, and headstrong, longing for the days when a man could fight for what he wanted. The valley is now ruled by a council of women demanding peace and equality, and swords are outlawed. Halli resembles his uncle Brodir, whom he adores. He is the third and last child of Arnkel (Arbiter of Svein's House) and Astrid (Law-Giver), with older brother Leif and sister Gudny. Brodir is the only relative who gets along with him.

When Brodir is murdered by the rival House of Hakonssons, Halli sets off to avenge him, believing he will finally have a hero's quest. But during his journey, he realizes he is not the pitiless avenger he imagined. His interference and thirst for revenge lead two men to their deaths, filling him with guilt. He returns home to a relieved but angry family and distrustful villagers.