The Invisible Friend

The Invisible Friend is the third book in the Viking Quest series. In this series, Bree and her brother, Devon (check spelling) are captured by Viking raiders (as was their sister, Keely, seven years before them). Devin is set free in the first book so he can return home to Ireland and secure ransom for his sister's Bree's release. In this book, Devin returns with the ransom money, but Bree's release is not immediately secured as there are, of course, complications. Devin is imprisoned and must await trail. In the meantime, Bree discovers their sister Keely is not only alive, she is living in the same part of Normandy as Bree and Devin are now. Throughout all their troubles and tribulations, the siblings remain strong in their faith. There are pencil sketch illustrations at the beginning of some of the chapters that illustrate a key concept from that particular chapter. What I Like: I have only read the first book and this book in the series, so I didn't know what happened between books one and three. However, the author did a good job of filling in the blank spaces by backtracking and adding things from the first two books, so I have a pretty good idea what happened in book two. What I Dislike: Nothing. Overall Rating: Very good. Christine M. Irvin - Christian Children's Book Review

Bree and Mikkel arrive in Norway. Bree thinks she see's her long lost sister. Bree is a slave to Mikkel and his family. Devin comes to pay ransom for her but is put into prison. What will happen? You have to read this book it draws you in with every sentence. These are like my favorite books in the whole world. Anybody can read this book. Please read it.

In the third book of the Viking Quest series, 13-year-old Brianna O'Toole has come to the Aurland Fjord in Norway. Captured from her home in Ireland, she is now a slave. Her captor, Mikkel, is only a year older than her, but he has the power go on raids and enslave captives. Of course, Bree finds that his father is not pleased with his son's lawlessness. Mikkel spends the book searching his soul for truth and honor, coming to decide he wants to be trusted. He knows he can trust the word of his Christian Irish prisoners, and he realizes that he has a respect for people he thought he despised. Mikkel learns that to be trusted, he must prove himself to worthy of trust. Bree becomes a slave to Mikkel's mother and soon learns the ways of the Norwegians, all the while resenting her slavery. She, who was a chieftain's daughter! One of her jobs is to tend Mikkel's grandmother, who wakes every night with terrifying nightmares. Bree convinces Mikkel to let her take the Scriptures which were stolen from the Irish monastery during the raid, and to read them to his grandmother. The gospel makes a difference in the lives of each of the Norwegians, and also to Bree. When she pondered Jesus' words, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed," she understood that her physical slavery did not affect her spiritual freedom. She was not a slave, but a daughter of the King of Kings! And she was not alone. Jesus had promised to be with His own, and He was with her: her "invisible Friend". Bree became sure that she had seen her long lost sister Keely, but she could not manage to find her. Was she hiding from her own sister? Stones on the ground seem to leave a message for Bree, but can she follow them? Is Keely even the one leaving the messages? If Bree could find her, the sisters could be friends in this foreign world. Devin reappears, and it seems that a homeward journey is almost in sight for Bree. However, everything takes an unexpected turn, and Bree and Devin face a renewed battle with fear and hatred. They are both willing to sacrifice much for the other, and in the end a heartbreaking sacrifice shocks the readers. The children are able to survive because of the peace in their souls, peace that only Christ can give. The author has been to the Aurland Fjord, and her glowing descriptions of the scenery are firsthand. This is another great adventure into the Viking times, and the Christian perspective makes it so much better.

I'm thirteen, and I just got these less than a year ago...and I'm already reading this series for the third time! It's a book that never gets old! You'll read it over and over again and never get tired of it! If you could give it a million stars...I would! The way the book is written...is magical! You want to read it slowly to get every word, yet at the same time yourself reading it as fast as you can! It's got mystery and danger...but unlike most...it's so real! The best thing is that the characters always turn to God when they need help instead of panicking or thinking they can do it on their own! As soon as I was done reading the first and second book...I picked up #3! The first one was a million stars, the second one was even better...and this was better than that! (If that's possible!) I'm not gonna tell you what happens...cause you need to find out what happens for yourself in this one too! You'll find yourself totally rapped up and lost in the book without even realizing that hours that have gone by again! This is defiantly a must read! For everyone! No excuses!Even people who don't like to read will lose themselves in these books!

The Invisible Friend by Lois Walfrid Johnson is an exciting adventure set during Viking times. The descriptive writing and authentic settings pull the reader into life near the Aurland Fjord--an arm of the awesome Sognefjord in Norway. Kids age 10 and up who liked Harry Potter books will find this a compelling novel with powerful conflicts between good and evil. Bree, the main character, steps out in courage through her Christian faith. I recommend all of the Viking Quest books by this author. The Invisible Friend, third in the series, stands out as a book with unpredictable complications such as a character getting Hansen's disease (leprosy). Adults who are interested in Norway will like this well-researched book as well. For me, it was a true "page-turner." I'm eager to read the next one in the series.