The wars and fights in the novel take us back to the history that has many folds. Frans G. Bengtsson presents a hero who fights many battles on different fronts and though he wins some and loses some, the determination never disappears.
From a boy with no talent living an ordinary life at once come to terms with the reality that becomes too big for him. He is abducted by the Vikings and taken to their ship where he is given the toughest duty i.e handling the oars of the ship. The life goes on for the little boy in the same tough manner until he reaches the palace of Cordova and meets the Caliph. Though this time too he is arrested by the Spanish army but they provide him with all the pleasures and in return in fights for them with all his heart in the battlefield.
Soon the bored lad runs from Cordova and meets the Christian monks after which he helps the king of England to fight and win a big war against the Vikings. Thus the boy develops well as a fine fighter and a brilliant planner who gets all the riches in the end. The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies have the same sort of struggle in them, the war element is not common in all the novels by Frans but the struggle of the main character is always the highlight in writer’s work.
The narration sets well with the scene though Michael Page has not added extra emotions but still it’s a fine effort by him and the words are clear and easily understandable
