Troll Mill

Booklist

"Taut plotting and potent language."

Children's Literature

Langrish's beautifully written sequel to her acclaimed Troll Fell begins three years later, when fifteen-year-old Peer Ulfsson watches aghast as his neighbor Kersten hands him her baby and disappears into the sea. As he and his adopted family help to raise the abandoned infant, Peer also struggles to pursue his secret dream of reclaiming the abandoned village mill from his evil uncles and their henchmen trolls, so that he can establish his own identity as more than an unfortunate orphan living on charity in his seafaring community. Although the story is at times somewhat difficult to follow for readers unfamiliar with the previous book—the reader seems expected to recognize many of the characters from past encounters—Langrish provides an absorbing story that draws on a rich array of magical and mythical elements from Viking legends: mysterious seal women, malicious and terrifying trolls, the millpond witch Granny Green teeth, and the self-pitying house spirit Nils (perhaps a bit too reminiscent of Rowlings's Dobby the house elf). Compelling characters, an evocative setting, a suspenseful plot, and a satisfying ending add up to a winning choice for fantasy devotees. 2006, Eos/HarperCollins, and Ages 10 up.
—Claudia Mills, Ph.D.

VOYA

Life has never been better for Peer Ulfsson in this sequel to Troll Fell (HarperCollins, 2004/VOYA June 2004). Peer has a family and a home, and he no longer has to deal with the two horrible uncles who tried to sell him to the trolls before ending up as trolls themselves. One night as Peer returns from a fishing trip, a neighbor woman pushes her baby into his arms before running into the ocean and disappearing. That same night Peer discovers that his uncles' abandoned mill is working again. The mysterious events mount until Peer finds himself in the middle of a conflict involving three babies, the notorious Granny Green-Teeth, a whole lot of trolls, and his own wicked uncles. Langrish offers another action-packed adventure filled with strange creatures and heroic friendships. This tale departs from the more classic fairy-tale setting and lets the characters develop beyond the happily-ever-after that ended the first novel. Unfortunately teens who have not read that book might get lost amidst the large cast. Langrish is not quite able to keep up with the numerous points of view presented, occasionally making the narration choppy and confusing. This series gives a nice introduction to older forms of folklore for teens who are familiar with Harry Potter's world and are looking for more fantasy. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, HarperCollins, 288p., and PLB Ages 11 to 15.
—Leslie McCombs

KLIATT

AGERANGE: Ages 12 to 18.

To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2006: Readers of Langrish’s Troll Fell will be eager to find out how Peer Ulfsson has fared after being freed from the clutches of his evil uncles and taken in by Ralf and Gudrun as one of their own. This story opens with a dramatic scene. Kersten, his friend Bjorn’s wife, thrusts her baby into his arms as she races to the sea. Confused and afraid after Bjorn sets his boat off in a storm to find his wife, Peer stumbles home to Gudrun with the strange, dark girl. The mythology of the Selkies, the seal people who can take human form, the legend of Granny Green Teeth who lives under the water and, of course, the dark world of the trolls form the backdrop of this fantasy-filled book that is, overall, Peer’s coming-of-age story. Not only is he pulled into Bjorn’s tragedy and questioning his own beliefs, he finds himself struggling to establish a future for himself and to understand his feelings for his best friend, Hilde. The novel’s setting is dark, and Langrish’s description of the mill and its various inhabitants is especially chilling. Supporting characters are well developed, as are subplots, making Troll Mill a fine addition to the fantasy literature genre. Reviewer: Michele Winship
March 2008 (Vol. 42, No.2)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Troll Mill (Eos, 2006) by Katherine Langrish is a sequel to Troll Fell (HarperCollins, 2004). Listeners new to the series will probably be a bit confused at first, but will quickly be caught up in the action as the story opens with Peer Ulfsson's friend, Kersten, shoving her baby into his arms and then throwing herself into the sea. Was Kersten a seal woman? What about the baby? And exactly what is going on at Troll Mill, the desolate place that Peer's cruel uncles used to run? Bit by bit, details of Peer's life come to light, including why he's staying with an adoptive family; the strange and unusual creature, the Nis, that accompanied him to his new home; and Peer's thus far unrequited love for Hilde. Peer and his family are drawn into a life-changing adventure that is replete with Norse legends and fantastical creatures. Narrator Andrew Sachs makes this tale a joy to listen to as he delivers the descriptive, lyrical language in a convincing and engaging manner. His renditions of the trolls and the Nis are particularly enchanting, and listeners can hear Peer mature and grow throughout this delightful coming-of-age tale. A popular choice for those who enjoy fantasy and historical fiction.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

In this sequel to Troll Fell (2004), a more mature Peer Ulfsson struggles with identity, disillusionment and unrequited love. The story begins with mysteries: Bjorn's wife pushes her baby daughter into Peer's arms before casting herself into the sea; the mill, deserted since Peer's uncles became trolls, runs at full throttle long after dark; and sheep disappear from the mountain-usually a sign that the trolls are on the move. Then it progresses through a variety of folkloric tropes and terrors-lubbers and trolls are back and selkies are a new addition-to a neat ending. Langrish really knows how to construct a plot, keep tension mounting and provide a satisfying narrative climax. That's not to say that she neglects character development. Peer, the foster family that took him in, and even the Troll Princess and her monstrous son, are well enough developed to keep readers involved in the suspenseful story. Fans of the first volume will be happy to have this companion, while those new to the tale will be able to follow the story with ease. (Fiction. 9-12)

Booklist (starred review)

“Taut plotting and potent language.”