Warriors of Alavna by N. M. Browne, N.M. Browne

From the Publisher

A mist envelops a school group in the year 2000 and, on the other side, Dan and Ursula find themselves in what looks like the year 75 AD. They come to understand that they have been called through time to battle for the Combrogi, a Celtic tribe nearly wiped out by the bloodthirsty Romans. While becoming Combrogi warriors, Dan and Ursula realize that they have strengths and powers never imagined and they learn to depend on each other and their tribesmen as they battle for the future of Britain.

N.M. Browne offers up another dramatic tale, thick with history and deeply drawn characters. Full of action and with a strong dose of the mysterious this book sets a new standard for fantasy.

Matthew Weaver - VOYA

Ursula and Dan are normal students going on a typical school field trip when they are suddenly engulfed in a mysterious fog. The fog propels them back in time to 75 A.D., where they are mystically called by the druids Combrogi, who are at war against the Romans, to aid them in their battle. Surly Ursula, with her short hair and modern fashions, is mistaken for a male, while nerdy Dan finds a sword, "Bright Killer," and newfound powers as a berserker or violent fighter. The two struggle at first in their new historical setting, even arousing the ire of their comrades at arms, but ultimately find that they are exactly where fate requires them to be. This novel takes itself very seriously, despite asking its audience to accept a silly opening premise. There is little time for the reader to get to know either main character before being swept up and deposited in history. Nevertheless, if one can get over the lightning-quick opening plot twist, the book actually becomes involving. Both Ursula and Dan grow into intriguing three-dimensional figures, as they settle in to their new surroundings and roles. Ursula, in particular, becomes a fascinating character as she moves out from under Dan's shadow into a world well suited for her. Browne asks readers to take quite a leap, visibly straining to get on with the plot, but as the book progresses it turns out to be worth making the jump. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2002, Bloomsbury, 320p,

Alan Review

Dan and Ursula are mysteriously transported from their twentieth-century school outing into what appears to be the midst of a first century Druid tribe. Along the way, Dan discovers a magic sword. He gains the powers of a Bear Sark, which transforms him into a "berserk" and ruthless, warrior. Ursula, whom the tribe believes to be a male warrior, discovers she can change gender at will, and can thus contribute, although reluctantly, to the tribe's battle success. Both take an oath to avenge the massacre of the settlement of Alavna, as Ursula uses her emerging powers to transport a legion of Roman soldiers to aid in the definitive battle. As a fantasy novel, Warriors of Alavna weaves an intricate and inventive plot that, at times, is difficult to follow. There is much graphic and bloody battle description, as Browne intertwines the fiction of Alavna with numerous historical links to first century Britain and the archeological studies of that period. 2002, Bloomsbury Children's Books, 320 pp., Ford

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10-An absorbing fantasy with thought-provoking issues to ponder. A field trip to the battlefield at Hastings turns into much more when a mysterious yellow mist transports Dan and Ursula to A.D. 75 Britain. The indigenous Combrogi tribesmen are fighting the invading Ravens for their land and their lives, and Combrogi Princess Rhonwen has used magic to summon the present-day teens to help her brother battle the enemy. Dan is popular and athletic and becomes an incredibly effective but mindless killing machine. Ursula, who is too tall and bulky to fit in at home, once again becomes the butt of teasing and torment until she realizes that her talent in this world is the same magic that Rhonwen used to find her and Dan. Gradually she learns to use her powers and, in the end, it is she who raises the Warriors' Veil, first to bring an entire Roman legion to help the Combrogis, and then to try to get her and Dan home again. Both teens find themselves wondering who the good guys are-the blood-thirsty Combrogi, who butcher as much as battle and collect severed heads as trophies, or the "more civilized" Ravens, who fight in organized legions but slaughter entire villages of men, women, and children. In the end, Dan and Ursula leave the Combrogi wondering about their place in their own world after what they have experienced. Combining the thrill of a video game come to life with the tempering of both a strong heroine and hero finding themselves in a difficult world, this novel deserves a wide audience.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

On a field trip, British students Ursula and Dan disappear into a yellow-colored fog. The other side of the fog is an alternate Britain in the time of the Roman conquest. The central characters-one a six-foot-tall, overweight teenage girl, the other a short, always-doing-the-right-thing male classmate, are fully developed and likable. Ursula may be an outsider, but she has grit and humor. Dan is a popular, smart jock, but he is also protective and empathetic. The characterization proffers enjoyable ironies: Ursula becomes a warrior and a sorcerer; Dan becomes a "berserker." Secondary characters are important. In addition to their reality as people, they portray the beliefs of the time and lend depth to the story. The plot is great: short periods in which the characters grow and develop skills sandwiched between the violence of battles. The world-building, in which ecological, historical, and cultural elements both support and energize the plot, is masterful. The climax works-barely-because the deft plotting leaves little time for thought. An unfortunate number of loose threads, in both characterization and resolution, provide an unsatisfying ending that leaves readers wondering if the story is really finished or if the author plans a sequel. These are minor cavils against a skillfully written, involving fantasy. The mysterious beginning and the plot's brisk progress will catch the interest of YA readers; the development of unlikely friendships among the very different characters and the coming-of-age story will sustain it-author victorious. (Fiction. YA)

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