TROLLHEIM: The Secret of Castle Crow

By Ida Skjelbakken Arne Lindmo

Mysterious things are going on in the small town of Trollheim. The children talk in hushed voices about scary things in the woods, and their friends are going missing. 
It’s the first day of school after the summer holidays, and Adam is the new kid in class. He walks to school through the idyllic and beautiful forest with his new neighbor, Tobias. On the way they run into Tara, a girl in their class, who decides to enter an abandoned, old house, called Castle Crow, all by herself. But when Tara doesn’t turn up in school, the boys decide to go look for her. They search through the house without any luck, until they suddenly see a rug moving across the floor. 

The three newfound friends will soon face the longest and most dangerous night of their lives. If they are to survive until dawn, they must discover the secret of Castle Crow and battle with an ancient evil force before the whole world is lost.

The Secret of Castle Crow is the first book in a new extraordinarily illustrated, page turning and award-winning middle grade series from Norway, Trollheim. It follows the three children, Adam, Tara and Tobias, as they fight against creatures from the Norwegian myths and save the world from an ancient darkness. This action-filled series also highlights relatable subjects for young readers: new friendships, feeling like an outsider, falling in love, and having a difficult time at home. 
 
This book was also a selected title by NORLA – the Norwegian Literature Abroad organization that chooses certain books to promote and present at literature events both domestic and abroad. 

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About the author

Ida Skjelbakken (b. 1979) illustrates in a photographic style which exceptionally brings characters to life in a cinematic way.Skjelbakken has illustrated the Norwegian fantasy series Trollheim, written by Arne Lindmo, which shows her incredible skill in depicting supernatural creatures and settings. Her execution is impressive and her style fits the fantasy genre perfectly.

Arne Lindmo (b. 1981) is a teacher and an author. He loves writing thrilling stories inspired by Norwegian fairy tales and myths, a theme that has fascinated him since he was a boy.He has worked for many years as a teacher and even then used to make up small, scary stories that he constantly told his students to keep them awake during the class. Occasionally, his stories kept individual students awake at night as well.