The Invisible Friend

by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Available from Amazon
*****
In the third book of the Viking Quest series, 13-year-old Brianna O’Toole has come to the Aurland Fjord in Norway. Captured from her home in Ireland, she is now a slave. Her captor, Mikkel, is only a year older than her, but he has the power go on raids and enslave captives. Of course, Bree finds that his father is not pleased with his son’s lawlessness. Mikkel spends the book searching his soul for truth and honor, coming to decide he wants to be trusted. He knows he can trust the word of his Christian Irish prisoners, and he realizes that he has a respect for people he thought he despised. Mikkel learns that to be trusted, he must prove himself to worthy of trust.

Bree becomes a slave to Mikkel’s mother and soon learns the ways of the Norwegians, all the while resenting her slavery. She, who was a chieftain’s daughter! One of her jobs is to tend Mikkel’s grandmother, who wakes every night with terrifying nightmares. Bree convinces Mikkel to let her take the Scriptures which were stolen from the Irish monastery during the raid, and to read them to his grandmother. The gospel makes a difference in the lives of each of the Norwegians, and also to Bree. When she pondered Jesus’ words, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” and “If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed,” she understood that her physical slavery did not affect her spiritual freedom. She was not a slave, but a daughter of the King of Kings! And she was not alone. Jesus had promised to be with His own, and He was with her: her “invisible Friend”.

Bree became sure that she had seen her long lost sister Keely, but she could not manage to find her. Was she hiding from her own sister? Stones on the ground seem to leave a message for Bree, but can she follow them? Is Keely even the one leaving the messages? If Bree could find her, the sisters could be friends in this foreign world.

Devin reappears, and it seems that a homeward journey is almost in sight for Bree. However, everything takes an unexpected turn, and Bree and Devin face a renewed battle with fear and hatred. They are both willing to sacrifice much for the other, and in the end a heartbreaking sacrifice shocks the readers. The children are able to survive because of the peace in their souls, peace that only Christ can give.

The author has been to the Aurland Fjord, and her glowing descriptions of the scenery are firsthand.

This is another great adventure into the Viking times, and the Christian perspective makes it so much better.

Raiders from the Sea

by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Available from Amazon
*****
This is the first of the three “Viking Quest” series, which is continued in the “Raiders from the Sea” series. Bree is a young Irish girl who is captured during a Viking raid. Her brother is also captured, but effects an escape, thanks to his sister. The story begins with the first suspicion of a raid, and is concluded with the launch of Bree’s escape from the Vikings. Through the story, Bree battles her fear, anger, and resentment toward her young captor, constantly turning to the Lord for strength and courage. The Christianity did not seem at all forced or contrived, but flowed naturally, as it would in the life of a Christian.

I was pulled into the story, especially as I enjoy this time period. It was written for children, but adults will enjoy a nice quick read. The plot is not simplistic, and moved right along. It is Christian and clean, but not preachy.

I’m going to have to get the other books in the series! This book is followed by “The Mystery of the Silver Coins.”