Daughter of Doom
In Denmark, 870 AD, Yrsa’s world is tipped upside-down when a heated argument reveals that her mother was a slave instead of a merchant’s daughter. However, her father is their village’s helmsman, and she won’t let others diminish her, particularly the insufferable Njall. When her father returns from a raid with a hostage named Sister Job, Yrsa is assigned to look after her. As the nun is a descendant of King Charlemagne, the Danes plan to demand a hefty sum of silver for her. But as winter lengthens without a response, Njall decides to make Job his slave by force. During the struggle, Njall is mortally struck by a rock. Ysra knows Job’s life will be forfeit and decides they’ll escape by boat, but Njall’s father is intent on revenge and quickly sets out after them.
Yrsa and Job are unlikely friends, one a maiden of the sea and a “pagan” while the other’s a stalwart Christian nun, yet each changes the other in unexpected ways. Yrsa and Sister Job have a charming grumpy-sunshine dynamic, Yrsa being gruffer in her interactions and Job keeping a faithful optimism. Early on, Yrsa exhibits talents as a seer, being able to view the life and death of anyone she touches. This ability is never really developed or used to help overcome challenges and ends up feeling like an underdeveloped plot thread.
Despite Yrsa’s disability, being born with a crooked foot, the two travel far across a well-constructed ninth-century landscape. Job is a great example of quiet strength despite living in a world defined by raiding tribes and slave traders. And while Yrsa knows the role her family expects her to fill, that doesn’t stop her from standing up for herself and forging her own path. An intriguing story of female faith, courage, friendship. Young adult.
