North Child

The plot of North Child is constructed around the Norwegian fairy tale ‘East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon’, part of a collection made in 1844 by Asbjørnsen and Moe who were inspired by the Brothers Grimm. Readers will notice too an affinity with ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and some other northern European traditional tales.

Laid out in short chapters, the story is told from multiple perspectives. It recounts Rose’s encounter with a great white bear, her time spent immured in a castle with the bear who hopes that through Rose he may regain human form, her betrayal of the bear and her quest to make good the harm she has caused him.

We are introduced to the viewpoints of Rose, her father, her brother, the Troll Queen and the bear; all, with exception of the bear whose fractured speech is not entirely successful, speak in words which are simple, and like the best of folk-tales give an account of events which is almost visual in impact.

It is a rich and rewarding read, well-researched and fascinating in its insights into cartography, Viking ships and Inuit life, all of which play an essential part in Rose’s journey north to find the land of the Troll Queen who has bewitched the bear/young man whose rescue is the object of Rose’s journey.

This is a book which will appeal to more than fantasy aficionados. Anyone who enjoys a good adventure story, well-told and interesting, will find it hard to escape from North Child until the last page is reached.