Through excellent research and storytelling Howard Whitehouse has woven a tale of old Norway written for young and older readers. These stories are pack with historical tidbits that serve as the background for these entertaining stories. Book one of a three book trilogy centers on Gudrid, who along with her brother Gisli com to live with their foster parents on the mainland of Iceland. The Grey Blade is the story of an adventurous girl who becomes a woman quickly. She is plain and largely unnoticeable, which becomes almost a superpower; she disguises herself three times as a boy, and as often as a servant girl. She's trained by a witch but has no magical powers. She births babies, heals the sick, and stabs those that need stabbing. She wrecks ships and sets fire to things, as the situation demands.