West of the Moon (Troll, #1-3) By Katherine Langrish

West of the Moon (WotM) is the one-volume version of Katherine's trilogy (Troll Fell, Troll Mill, and Troll Blood) - none of which I have read in their separate incarnations. WotM combines these tales flawlessly, in a coming-of-age tale where the supernatural aspects of trolls and house-spirits are as readily accepted as the more usual fishing and milling exploits that one might expect from a Viking Age settlement.

The trilogy begins with a funeral, Peer Ulfsson's father is sent on the long journey to the land of the dead on the very first page. Immediately, the reader sits on Peer's shoulder and watches with increasing trepidation as he finds himself in the hands of his hitherto unheard of half-uncles, Baldur and Grim. I was hooked from that fiery beginning, thrilled when the free-spirited Hilde swept her way into his life, and grinned like a loon with Hilde and Peer's quick thinking against the trolls of Troll Fell (who might be as common as pigeons are today, but seem to be both infinitely more troublesome and slightly less intelligent in Katherine's Scandinavian world!).

The second installment opens as years have passed, and characters who were once heroically worshipped are now honoured friends ... although that friendship is tested before this part is finished! Peer, now a somewhat gawky teenager, has to contend with the terrifyingly coherent Granny Greenteeth (again!) the lakewife of the millpond, the trolls (again, and with a twist!), and the realities of growing up and finding out things aren't quite what he expected.

Finally, Peer ventures across the sea - a voyage that promises little but uncertainty from the outset. The group of voyagers range from now-familiar Troll Fell folk, `revered` warriors, seasoned seamen, and more than one with supernatural blood! If the first book is rooted in the earth (underground trolls, earth spirits, and literal changes of land) and the second flows with water (Granny Greenteeth, seal-lore, and fishermen galore!), then this third book combines those two elements expertly as we are carried with Peer to Vinland - the land east of the sun, west of the moon.

Katherine Langrish has created a world where today's myth and reality walk side by side (although, the mythic parts might be lurking in the shadows next to you!) and you barely realise that this is new and different. If these books had been written a decade earlier, I'd have chewed my way through them then and probably spent hours trying to draw scenes from them (as I might have done with a certain Tamora Pierce's characters back in the day!) and yet more time imagining the place I'd have held in this well-crafted world. As it is, I might have spent some time doing the latter, and I look forward to my son growing up enough to appreciate these, as I know that he will. The myths intertwine together, magic and realism holding hands, in a way that I love.

Recommendation: If you're intrigued by Vikings, love myths, and want to step into a world where the supernatural creatures are a day to day occurrence (and often an unwanted one!) then you might be intrigued by this trilogy. Combine this with a coming-of-age tale that will stay with you, and West of the Moon is a book to read, enjoy, and read again!

Rating: 5/5
000739523X When Peer's father dies, leaving him an orphan, he is distraught to find himself dragged from his Norse village by a pair of cruel and brutish uncles. He is forced into hard manual labour on their mill, working in miserable conditions while sleeping on a barn floor and eating little. The mill itself is full of strange creatures lurking in it's dank corners and weed-strewn mill pond and for a while Peer's only source of comfort is his dog Loki and the mysterious Nis, a brownie like creature who despises Peer's uncles and also wishes. As the months pass, however, Peer gets to know Hilde, daughter of a local farmer and life doesn't seem quite so bad – until he realises that his uncles have plans for Hilde's family as well as for Peer himself...

Peer is a lovely character. At the start of West of the Moon he's believably confused and bewildered by the situation he finds himself. As the first part of the book progresses he often has to make difficult decisions between what it best for him and what might be best for others – he invariably makes the right choices but it's heartening to see him become slowly less selfless. By the time we move into the middle section of his story, Peer has reached sixteen and is at once becoming honourable and brave while still being deliciously teenage, moody and awkward and it's a lovely mix. In the third, and most far reaching, part of the book Peer is seventeen and finally starting to have confidence in himself and his place in the world.

Hilde is quite a different character. She's headstrong, prone to rambling on without taking a breath and absolutely sure of herself in seemingly every situation – particularly in her interactions with Peer. Yet she's hard to dislike. Faultlessly kind, her devotion to her family and Peer knows no bounds and her distress/outrage and any cruelty or deceit is touching. A special mention must also go to the Nis – one of the most delightful creations I've come across.

West of The Moon also has its share of darker characters, who tie in nicely with the way in which it is written. I grew up reading Norse and Celtic fairy tales and the style and content of West of the Moon has clearly been inspired by similar myths complete with a haunting seal woman and the mysterious Draug – a ghost ship of the most sinister nature – and West of The Moon becomes an intoxicating mix of Norse lore and legend. Katherine Langrish has woven all of the above aspects into an intoxicating tale filled with strong characters, beautiful backdrops and sly humour.
(extended review at www.mountainsofinstead.blogspot.com) 000739523X Such a mixed review of this!! Whilst the storylines are good in all three parts, I found the first two books a bit childish and found the trolls hard to picture 🤔 but hold out for that third part, what an adventure! The Nis is without a doubt my fave 😍 000739523X Review: The setting for the three stories is a Viking Age settlement several hundred years ago, when America was still unchartered territory and men still went-a-viking. Encompassed into the story are Norse legends and myths, including trolls, water witches and the nithing – a shy but friendly house elf that cleans and tidies for a bowl of gruel. When young Peer and Hilde travel to Vinland, they encounter ‘skraelings’, better known as Native American Indians, as well as other mythical creatures including Yetis. This combination of historical fact and mythology adds both reality and magic to Katherine Langrish’s beautifully crafted world.

Admittedly I was hesitant about what might happen in the story when I realized that Vinland was on the verge of being explored and how the skraelings might be treated. To my great relief, the story handled the invasion of Vikings in a balanced but realistic way, looking at a multitude of points of view from the bully Harold who viciously kills innocent skraeling, to the curious and superstitious natives.

Although the plotline is fairly simple, there is intrigue, peril and a few twists and along the way. A sense of darkness and impending danger surfaces in each of the stories, when Peer and Hilde enter the trolls’ underground lair and later when they discover they are stranded with a pirate crew and unpredictable captain. With the threat of mythical creatures lurking all around, this helps carry the stories along and keep them flowing at a steady pace.

The stories are set around Peer and Hilde, and written in a dual narrative. At first Peer is very much a victim – when his father dies from an infected wound he is taken in by uncles who he’s never met before and put straight to work. You can’t help but sympathise with the horrible circumstances he lives in and the cruel way he is treated. Peer is often a reluctant hero, being brave to impress the free spirited Hilde. In the third story, he undergoes a slow but steady transition from boy into young man, eventually standing up for himself against the bully. It is these little flaws and his transformation that makes Peer believable, likeable, and worthy of fighting for Hilde’s love and attention.
Unlike Peer, Hilde is a headstrong young girl not afraid to go into the trolls’ underground lair to rescue her family or to travel to Vinland, however it is this stubborn and impetuous nature that leads her and Peer into trouble. As we see their developing relationship from both perspectives, you can’t help but feel for Peer who has to compete for Hilde’s attention and fight against her perception of him as a brother.

The nithing, a friendly house elf, is my favourite character and reminds me very much of Dobby the house elf from Harry Potter. Hiding in the rafters of the house and coming out only at night, he tidies and cleans in exchange for gruel and butter. Treated badly by the uncles, the nithing gets on well with Peer as well as Hilde and her family, and moves to their farm to hide in their roof and help clean. His role expands with each book and in the third story he plays a part in helping tackle the bully Harold. His character brings humour to the stories, taking on new names such as ‘nithing the sea farer’ when Peer tells him he is the first nithing to travel by boat.

West of the Moon blends Viking history and mythology, drawing you into a captivatingly different setting for a fantasy story. A refreshing read, Katherine Langrish is certainly an author to keep an eye on!

Rating: 4* 000739523X This book is a newly-produced (and rewritten) single-volume version of Langrish's earlier trilogy: Troll Fell, Troll Mill and Troll Blood (which I hadn't read, so can't compare).

The central character of this saga is Peer. When we meet him, his father has just died, which would probably be enough to help us warm to him as a character, together with his clear love and loyalty for his dog, Loki. However, Langrish makes absolutely sure; we are rapidly whisked away from the first scene into a situation that becomes Dahlesque (or fairy tale like) in its cruelty, guaranteeing our affection and admiration for Peer. Most of the novel is told from his perspective, although all is third-person narration.

Hilde's point of view is also presented at regular intervals, and we also build up respect and affection for her, although her vulnerability isn't as great. A hint of romance develops, and I particularly liked how this was handled. It was enough of a thread to enrich the action-focused plotlines and interest older teen readers, but not enough to alienate younger readers, or those more interested in the quest type narratives.

The setting of this book is crucial and adds depth. There are beautifully descriptive touches which evoke the landscape effectively, but never enough to slow the plot. The folklore of the lands evoked is also a key feature of West of the Moon. There are fabulous creatures (none of which are cute and cuddly - even the helpful ones are moody!) and I appreciated learning more about the established folklore Langrish was drawing on from her website. I also follow her blog - there is a wealth of myth, folklore and fairy tale information there. This area is clearly an interest for the author, and it has added a valuable additional layer to the story.

The only less-than-positive comment I have to make is about the blurb on the back cover. It relates largely to Part 3 of the novel (i.e. the third book in the trilogy), which I think is a shame. Obviously, I realise the author has no control over such things, and that blurbs often do contain some 'spoiler' elements, but I think it would have been fairly easy to base the blurb on Part 1. Clearly this is a very minor point, though!

Overall, I would strongly recommend you buy and read this - seriously, what are you waiting for! I will lend it to my 12 yr old (and am sure she will love it), and have promised the 7 yr old I will read it to her in a year or so (I think its length is a bit daunting for her now, and some of the danger sequences may be a bit too exciting at this point). 000739523X

Katherine Langrish Õ 8 Read

It is a time of dark magic and fearsome creatures — a time of Vikings and Heroes…


Alone after his father's death, Peer Ulfsson struggles for survival against natural and supernatural enemies. Then he meets beautiful, adventurous Hilde, who tells him of a land that lies East of the sun and West of the moon.


When a dragonship visits at their village, Peer and Hilde seize the chance to set sail for this legendary country. But on board they hear whispers of ghosts, murder and witchcraft. What icy-hearted evil awaits them in the new land?


A dark, brooding and epic fantasy adventure. West of the Moon (Troll, #1-3)

West of the Moon is a great, sweeping story of an orphaned boy coming-of-age and experiencing the most important lessons in life.


West of the Moon is told in three parts. The first part sees Peer grieving for his father after he dies of an untreated wound. Peer is wrenched from everything he knows and taken by his Uncle Baldur to live in the mill at Trollsvik. The second part sees Peer in a kind of limbo. No longer a boy but not quite a man, he struggles to find his place in the world. And the third part sees Peer go off on a great adventure and visit a mysterious land. The third part was my favourite as it was all about the final discovery of Peer’s identity.


Peer is a courageous character without ever realising that he is so. His twin uncles are huge brutes and bullies of men and they treat him cruelly. They also mistreat the poor Nis that lives in the mill and don’t reward it for its help around the place. The first part of the story is centred upon the trolls that live under the hill in Trollsvik. They are a source of constant mischief and are meddlesome. While living with his uncles, Peer makes a friend in Hilde who lives up on the hill. Her father has a long history with the trolls which goes back to the time when he took a piece of their treasure. Peer and Hilde have to journey into the lair of the trolls and face the Troll King.


Hilde is an independent and strong-willed girl who is loved by all who meet her. In the fantasy world of West of the Moon, there is a traditional division of labour and Hilde does a great job of breaking through the domestic expectations that the men have of her. She fights off trolls, isn’t afraid to speak her mind and believes she should have the chance to see more of the world than the fells and hills around Trollsvik.


The connection between Peer and Hilde really captured my heart. There is a sort of romance between them born of a long and trusting friendship. It is just enough to be heart-warming without putting off younger readers who will revel in their daring adventures.


One of my favourite things about this epic story is the characterisation of the villains. Langrish goes beyond the convention to have a defined simplistic “evil” as opposition in her fantasy. We set out thinking that the trolls are cruel, self-interested and vile beings but in the course of the story we see beyond the folktales and the myths and recognise the family values that the people share with them.


As I have already mentioned, my favourite part of the story was Part Three. I loved the introduction of the Skraelings and the chapters that showed the world through their eyes. Langrish portrayed a wonderfully descriptive view of Vinland through the character of Kwimu.


West of the Moon is a charming and vibrant fantasy story. Peer’s journey of discovery teaches us to see the world from another person’s standpoint and find the heart of our true self. A delight!
000739523X I found this to be a very enjoyable YA read. The mix of fantasy and every day life was perfect as were the different characters. I think the 2nd book was probably my favorite although I really enjoyed reading all three parts. I hope Katherine Langrish writes some more fiction soon as this was one of my favorite YAs that I have read in the past few years. Norse mythology/fantasy normally doesn't interest me but the way she incorporated elements of it really worked with the stories and I was even disappointed when the third book focused less on it. 000739523X I really enjoyed reading West of Moon, it's a great read with plenty of adventure with characters that mature with each new challange. 000739523X You know when you read a book and you dread reaching the last page, because you instinctively you will miss the characters and the fantasy world they live in, well this is one of those books. I felt emotionally attached to the characters and wanted to know whether they ever returned to their original lives.

As an abridged version of three books,the book is an epic 614 pages, allowing you to have plenty of time to make yourself comfortable in a world where Vikings, Trolls and Yetis all coexist, if not always happily together. The book is split into three parts with follow different events in Peer's life. The first part deals with Peer's relationship with his uncles and his need to escape their evil clutches before being handed to the Troll King as a slave. The second part shows Peer's desperation to appear more grown up in front of Hilde, by trying to bring the mill back to life. The last part follows Peer and Hilde as they travel to the land that is east of the Sun and west of the Moon. Each part, blends beautifully into the next one, leaving me disappointed at the end to find out there was no more.

The first pages of the book lift you up and throw you straight in the horror that is to become Peer Ulfsson's new life. His father has died and his uncles whom he has never met before take him home to use as a slave. It is heart wrenching to read how they treat them. You find yourself gasping with horror with each incident. The darkness envelops you and you become desperate for Peer to escape his miserable life.

Peer's only salvations are his dog, Loki and his new found friend, Hilde. Peer's relationship with Hilde is beautiful to watch as it blossoms from childhood friendship to love. Throughout the book they are constantly thrown into difficult situations to tackle and work together to solve each problem. You are repeatedly urging Peer and Hilde to rebuild their friendship with love,as you can see they are suited to each other.

Kathleen Langrish has created a beautiful landscape through her extensive world building. The attention to detail gives this fantasy land such an air of authenticity. You can easily picture the mill, the farm and Troll Hill as the hill becomes raised for each special occasion.

There is a character within the book called the Nis, who I adored on contact. In my eyes, I viewed him to be a bit like Dobby from the Harry Potter films, only smaller. He helped with the cleaning and looking after the babies. He also becomes a sailor in the last part of the book. He is just a wonderful character to meet and definitely my favourite within the book.

Out of the three parts of the book, I would say that I loved the first part the best. The introduction of the Troll King and his family had me enthralled. In this part, we also see that Peer's uncles get just what they deserve, after such ill treatment of Peer. I hated his uncles as soon as they turned up in the book and couldn't wait to see them suffer.

I have never read anything about Vikings and trolls before, but Katherine has left me with a thirst for more information. I will be seeking out other Viking books to help calm my curiosity.

I am also very curious about Katherine Langrish's future books as she will definitely be an author I will want to read again.
000739523X Set in viking times, when Peer's father dies, he has to go live with his Evil Evil McEvil uncles. I had enjoyed the early part of the book, the setting and bit of world building around Peer's village, but as soon as the uncles came onto the scene, I had to bail. They were so black-and-white evil, it was unrealistic to the point of being annoying. However, this was a book aimed at younger readers, so... you can't blame a book for kids if it doesn't work for adults. DNF. 000739523X