The Sleeping Army

Mortal Gods #1

by Francesca Simon

Freya is an ordinary girl living in modern Britain, but with a twist: people still worship the Viking gods. She's caught in her parents' divorce, and shuttling between bickering adults is no fun. One evening, stuck with her dad on his night shift at the British Museum, she is drawn to the Lewis Chessmen and Heimdall's Horn.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mythology, Childrens, Adventure, Historical, Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Francesca Simon grew up in California and attended both Yale and Oxford Universities, where she specialised in Medieval Studies. How this prepared her to write children’s books she cannot imagine, but it did give her a thorough grounding in alliteration.

She then threw away a lucrative career as a medievalist and worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue (US). After her son Joshua was born in 1989, she started writing children’s books full time. One of the UK’s best-selling children’s writers, Francesca has published over 50 books, including the immensely popular HORRID HENRY series, which has now sold over twelve million copies.

Francesca won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the British Book Awards for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman. HORRID HENRY is published in 24 countries and is also an animated CITV series. She lives in London with her husband, son, and Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti.

Reviews

[Beth Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bedtime read with my 8 yr old which we both greatly enjoyed. The world of the novel is exactly like ours, but with the small detail that Christianity never caught on and the established religion is Norse. This shift was accomplished thoroughly and seemingly effortlessly with little details like the days being called 'Wodensday' and 'Thorsday' etc and people saying things like "oh my gods". The story begins in the British Museum, which (as well as being integral to the story of course) allows Francesca Simon to integrate details comparing the two religious systems without it ever feeling dry or lecturing. My sleepy 8 yr old happily accepted this world and learnt loads about Norse myth without getting bogged down, confused or losing sight of the story. I particularly enjoyed the idea that the Norse religion had reached the point that modern Christianity in Britain has with relatively few actual believers, but being embedded into the culture. The idea of Viking gods being seen as part of some dry, dull institution is somehow especially amusing!

Freya is a great character. A normal modern girl dragged into an adventure with children from the Dark Ages and a berserk, she's really out of her depth and seen as slightly pathetic by her co-adventurers. The narration focuses on her perspective, although it is third-person, allowing us insight into her thoughts and feelings as she undertakes the extremely daunting challenge set her by Woden.

Aspects of myth are used and incorporated extremely well - even to the point where it is clear which parts of the story deviate from the canon of Norse myth. This is where the set-up of a world based on Norse belief that has become fairly stagnant works best, as Freya is able to question the myths she's been brought up with and compare them to the reality that she is now experiencing. As the blurb above indicates, Freya's quest is all about restoring the gods to youth, but her knowledge of mythology tells her that they don't age. Effectively, the established myths have been PR for the gods. This detail ensures that any readers who aren't greatly familiar with Norse tales will clearly know 'real' myth from what has been added for this story. This demonstrates the respect with which the novel treats the myths and, like so many other aspects of this book, is very clever indeed.

Overall, this adventure is a great addition to a child's library. Although the main character is a girl, there is nothing in the story (or the cover) to spoil boys' enjoyment of it. I would heartily recommend this to lovers of fantasy adventure stories and those who enjoy mythic tales.

[Zoë Kimber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't realise this was a kid's book

[Harry W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book of adventure and an action-packed storyline. Francesca Simon makes good funny books!

[Genevieve B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I got this more middle grade book for a fun light retelling of the tale of Thjazi and Idunn.
There were some thing I struggle with throughout the read, some things regarding the Gods were addressed, however, I still have some issues with the portrayal of the goddess Frigg.

I always read of Frigga being the motherly figure who knew the future, but could never tell. In this she was more cruel and shallow. She also didn't once drop hints of knowing any future or the outcome of the story's events.

I also found the book somewhat fun, but a bit boring at parts. It wasn't until they got to Hel (near the end of the book) that it became a page turner, I couldn't put down.

All in all, it wasn't a bad book and would definitely recommend to my fellow heathens, especially with young families that are looking for fun new ways to share the old tales.

[Kyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an amazing premise - a kid's book taking place in a contemporary Britain where Norse religion rather than Christianity is the dominant force. Unfortunately, the bulk of the book is a totally generic quest story which would have made almost as much sense with a protagonist from our world (the only significant payoff for the premise throughout most of the text is that it explains why a not-particularly-intellectual 12-year-old would know enough about Norse mythology to understand her adventures). I only just learned while entering this on Goodreads that there is a sequel, which is good, since the ending definitely seemed to come just when things were getting interesting. . . .

Keep in mind, as per usual, that I tend to like perfectly generic quest stories!

[Admiralsmallhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange Children's book. That begins with an interesting premise and then takes us through a journey through the planes of the norse gods. I found it fascinating to learn about Norse mythology in this way, but the main characters were so unbearably cruel to each other, bickered constantly and it showed a very hard version of viking society (which may or may not be accurate).

The ending in particular lacked pathos. Which I felt was a shame, especially after so epic an adventure I wanted a kiss and cry moment, but I do wonder why I expected it in a book so devoid of affection between characters.

That said the world building was excellent, the encounters satisfying and the story engaging.

[Courtney Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great conceit. Imagine Christianity was never anything more than a shortlived exotic cult. Imagine most of the English-speaking world still worshiped the Norse gods instead, a world of Wodensday and Thorsday, of years dated AW (after Woden), a world where Leonardo painted not the Last Supper, but Woden feasting in Valhalla with his warriors on the night before Ragnorak .

This is the world into which Francesca Simon drops her reader, looking straight out of the eyes of Freya, a twelve or thirteen year-old Londoner who's stuck at the British Museum after closing time because her dad Bob - who lost his job and is temping as a security guard - got his nights mixed up with her mum Clare, a priest in a local fane (church).

Simon's master-stroke is that the religion isn't serious. Wodenism is watered down to a social norm (these aren't the bloody and mysterious Norse gods of Melvin Burgess's Bloodtide, or the worldly denizens of Neil Gaiman's American Gods) and an anemic state religion:

Sometimes it was embarrassing being religious. Even though the Queen was head of the Fane of England, and Britain was a Wodenic country, not everyone believed in the Gods anymore. Baby-namings were still popular, and swearing on Thor's sacred aoth-ring of course, but apart from that the Fanes weren't exactly bursting at the seams. The Archpriest of York had devoted his Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 this morning to criticising people for their lacklustre religious observances. Freya had had to listen to him droning on while she was eating her cornflakes.

Freya's about to have her blase attitude blown away though. Wandering around the museum that night, she ends up in the hall that houses the Lewis chessmen (if you've not heard of them, follow that Wikipedia link, they're the most fascinating little items):

Freya peered at the pale, golden-brown figures. ... They looked weary and glum, with bulging, startled eyes, frowning mouths, and hunched shoulders. Some of them appeared positively disgruntled. Mostly they looked sad, as if something terrible had happened, something they were helpless to do anything about except brood for eternity. The sorrowful queens looked a lot like Clare did sometimes, late at night when she thought Freya wasn't looking, after she'd just been on the phone with a depressed member of her throng.

Next to the display case hangs a medieval ivory horn, which Freya is mysteriously drawn to. She puts her lips to it and blows - and is suddenly snatched away in a roaring noise and whirling wind. When she comes to, she's in the company of two of the Gods' bond-slaves, Roskva and Thialfi, a berserker named Snot and Woden's eight-legged horse Sleipnir, and they're toting her off to Asgard.

When they reach the home of the gods, it's deserted. Deserted and devastated:

They stood inside the ruined walls, unable to speak. Bits of tarnished metal, scrapings from the vanished roof, and a few rusted spears lay scattered in the dirt.

This was Valhalla, The Hall of the Slain. The gold-bright palace of Woden's chosen warriors. The dark, echoing hall was now only home to the winds.

'This hall was so bright they used swords instead of fire for light', murmured Alfi. 'The rafters were made of spear shafts and thatched with overlapping shields of gold. There were helmets and red-gold mail coats strewn everywhere, and men shouting and drinking ... even Woden's wolves are gone; I used to give them meat scraps ... there were five hundred and forty doors. ...'

Freya's skin prickled. She was reminded of old photographs of American ghost towns, where only a few sun-bleached buildings and dirt roads showed that anyone had ever lived there.

The place isn't entirely deserted. The gods have just become very, very old - Loki has stolen off with Idunn and her apples of eternal youth, and the gods are fading away. Odin places Freya and her three companions under a curse, and they have nine days to retrieve Idunn from Jotunheim, or face the fate of all the other heroes who have failed in this mission - being frozen in time into his waiting army of ivory chessmen.

From here, it's a classic quest - giants, trolls, shape-shifting, a visit to Hel, eventual success. Freya moves from scared and unwilling and useless-felling through to the key to the mission's eventual success. It's all a bit too quick and neat for my liking, but then again, this is a middle-school book. Thus you get the occasional explainy passage; right after the passage about the chessmen cited above, which I love for capturing the clearsightedness with which sometimes kids see their parents, comes this:

She especially liked the ferocious-looking berserks, the ancient warriors sacred to Woden, biting their shields with their big teeth. Those fearless, terrifying soldiers, who went into battle frenzy and fought like wild animals, impervious to pain, had always fascinated her.

Having said that, it's all very competently done. The occasional Wodenised references (a passing mention of the Valkyrie of the North) raise a smile, and Simon captures a lot of the detail from the familiar Norse legends without going into straight retellings. It might not be deeply nuanced, but Simon is a very popular writer, famed for her Horrid Henry series, and I can see this book lining up nicely with the Percy Jackson series to trigger a new generation of kids to step back into the icy world of Norse mythology.

[Raquel Pilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only contact I had with norse mythology was through Neil Gaiman's book. And although I love him and his books, I was not very impressed with this one.

Francesca Simon then mixes norse mythology, a girl from 21 century and looots of action! I thought: "Well, if I hadn't read that other book, I would have been a little lost". If kids are not so familiar with norse gods and myths, it is a good idea to present some of the stories related. Or maybe they might be interested in reading about it, who knows?

It was fun to read though.

[Aleksandra Baksheeva · Rating 3 out of 5]

One doesn't just go to Mordor:
+ could get older kids into reading Norse myth;
- too many Nordic myth names used that hold little meaning for those who have not done step 1;
+ very good for making a list of synonyms;
- another version of Hobbit, but with more conflict and unpleasantness for the sake of it.

I don't mean to be overly critical, but Hobbit is much more thought provoking without irrelevant references to Hello!, Jamie Olivier etc.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a while to get into but I thought it was a great idea for getting fiction lovers into history. However, it annoyed me that Simon chose to use phrases such as Lazy Cow and Oh hel/Gods as I was hoping that I could use the book with my class and I don't feel it's appropriate to promote a book with such phrases in a school. As a book for sharing at home with children, I would recommend it.

[Elmari Kruger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an interesting take on what the world would be like if Christianity was the main religion.

Major build up, then the ending was just that, the end.

No grand finale, just the end.

I feel like the characters spent forever disagreeing and disliking each other and then suddenly they were all friends.

Was worth the read.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really fun kids adventure story that takes place in a world where Norse gods are the main religion. This was a really good story diving into the basics of Norse mythology, so even if you didnt know much about it (my knowledge comes purely from the Thor Marvel movies, and my partner grew up on the stories, so lots of asking her questions) its still an easy enough read

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for kid's! I read it to my 9 month old son but look forward to rereading it with him when he reaches the "farts are funny" stage in his life! May be a bit scary in places so probably best suited for 8 plus.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just what I needed. Loveable characters and a plot to grip you.

[Yorky Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad little book. Quick read and made me want to read more about norse mythology!

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very imaginative story inspired by the Norse myths. Fast-paced and actioned filled, this a story of courage. (7+)

[Sie Sie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may have been labeled as a children's book but the story is quite imaginative and action-filled. If ever you want your child to start reading books, I would totally recommend this.

[Lotus_Dibbets · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars! I liked the story but Freya was for most of the time crying or whining Because of that I didn't like the story that much

[Inés · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a kid's book, this was a very fun and interesting read! You can almost finish it in one sitting.

[Jemima Pett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a world where Christianity didn't take off and the predominant religion in Britain was based on the Norse Gods. I must admit I've always enjoyed these parallel universe type of stories, and Francesca Simon cleverly works in the Norse concepts with UK religious governance. Freya is in the British Museum one evening, being looked after by her Dad who works there. By meddling in something she shouldn't she is whisked off to the home of the Gods, to find she has nine days to solve their problem or be turned into a piece of an ivory chess set - the Sleeping Army.

This army was supposed to have woken with her, but only three turned up, so they accompany her on her quest. A modern girl, she's pretty clueless about self-sufficiency and as squeamish about what she eats as me (ok, maybe a little less than me). Her companions don't think much of her either, but she proves she's got more resources than she thinks she has and does a mean trick of using kindness and consideration to people that have never known it to get through some sticky situations.

I read this in one sitting and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I didn't think I was going to when I started it! It's a well constructed tale with lovely illustrations and delightful imagery. It's writing that brings things to life in one's imagination and I'd love to write like that.

An excellent book for older children and teenagers who like adventure and fantastical beings or legends.

[Maera Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very clever book. It opens with lively, witty prose, outlining what the world might be like through the eyes of a twelve year old girl if Christianity had never come to Britain, and people still worshipped Norse Gods. Simon does fantasy so well. I hope we see more from here. She is known for writing for a much younger age group than this so I wonder, if in some places in the novel, she neglected to supply her characters with a bit more emotional depth. That said, she doesn't skimp on the gross bits, the gore or the death at all, and to that I say, fair play. I love the character of Freya. She's a very typical young girl, who frightens easily and finds been tossed into the cut throat world of the gods very difficult to cope with. Interestingly too, it is another mythological retelling that portrays the Gods, or the Otherworld in some state of jepoardy or decline as a result of modernity. Overall, a well structured, light-hearted fantasy that plays by the rules.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting fantasy book about a young girl living in Britain. But everyone still worships the viking gods. Freya's quest is thrilling, and is just like a Percy Jackson quest. This book is a good one, and should be read by many children.
Some themes are tradition vs. change, overcoming your fears, and friendship. Tradition vs. change is one of the themes because Freya's tradition's are not really worshipping the gods. After her quest, she begins to try and spread the gods importance around to people, so they can be more grateful. Freya's fears are many. She is not very talented and in the book, describes many things fearfully. She doesn't overcome her fears, but gets past them in the situation, otherwise she would not live to see her world again. Finally, Freya develops a friendship, with the four other people on the quest. They aren't particularly friendly, but that's what pushes her to finish her job. To please them. And of course, the Viking Gods.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, fun, adventure-filled story!

Freya lives in modern England as it would have been if people had continued workshipping the Viking Gods. That in itself is pretty hilarious, and I appreciate all the research done by the author to make the story and language believable. For example (this isn't really a spoil): on the first page, Freya's parents are talking on mobile phones, but say "Thorsday" instead of "Thursday".

Freya accidentally blows an ancient horn in a museum, and she ends up invoking a pair of thousand-year old children and a crazy warrior that embark her on a quest to save the crumbly dusty Viking Gods.

The action never stops. It twists and turns at every page. New characters make us laugh at every chapter.

Highly imaginative, and well recommended by Eoin Colfer and Jacqueline Wilson to boot!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly enchanting and adorable story perfect for young readers (age 10+) which opens a whole new captivating world not just into norse mythology and the norse gods but also an England where the ruling religion was the norse faith and not christianity. Francesca Simon introduces these ideas in a very charming and clever manner. The characers are fun to encounter and reveal a suprising amount of depth for such a short book. It has some great sketches of dramatic scenes at the start of each chapter which makes it even more child friendly. And I particularly love the beserk warrior called Snot who displays a typical viking warrior attitude to death and battle.

[Keridwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little children's book that twists north mythology. Worth a read but I think it's a borrow from the library book not a buy it book. "Freya lives in modern Britain with a twist: people still worship the old Viking gods. Stuck with her dad on his night shift at the British Museum, Freja is drawn to the Lewis Chessmen and Hiemdall's Horn. Unable to resist, she blows the horn, waking four chess pieces from their enchantment: Roskva, Alfi, Sleipnir and Snot the Berserk."

[Pippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great idea for a book, and there was quite a lot of humour in it. Unfortunately it really didn't grab me. The heroine was like an adult view of a child, and I felt it was written more for adults than for children. Some problems were down to bad editing. Overall I felt she wasn't really in the story, so I wasn't either.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw this book on a list of great YA books. Unfortunately it just didn't work for me. Obviously this is for a younger group of kids, but still character development is lacking. I never really cared about anyone in the book so it was hard to be invested. The whole situation seemed to be resolved too easily too. Oh well can't win them all.

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was really good but it was confusing with all of the names of the gods and the places but once i started reading it it was very hard to put down.

[Mark Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and fun. Surprisingly unviolent and works in some of the original Norse legends.

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book please let there be more.