Ronia is born during a lightning storm that splits her father Matt’s mountain fortress in two. As the daughter of a bandit chieftain in a medieval forest, she spends her days navigating the woods, learning to avoid predatory harpies, territorial gray dwarfs, and the dangerous river. Her world changes when she discovers that Birk, the son of her father’s rival Borka, has moved into the opposite side of the split castle. Despite their families' bitter generational blood feud, the two children form a secret bond and eventually run away to live in a forest cave. They struggle to survive the wilderness and the winter while refusing to participate in their fathers' violent lifestyle.
This book is for middle-grade readers and adults who appreciate folklore and stories about independence. It appeals to those interested in how children navigate parental conflict and moral disagreements with their upbringing. Readers walk away with a specific look at how kinship can be defined by shared survival rather than inheritance. It provides a blueprint for resolving long-standing animosity through individual choice and demonstrates the practical difficulties of living in the wild without domestic comforts.
Balanced in tone; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1981
- Language
- EN
