The Emperor’s Treasure

It’s spring and the Vikings are sailing to Miklagård (Constantinople) for trade, but Siri can’t go with them: her father, Chief Torkel, says that she is too young. And a girl!
If he thought it would stop her, he was wrong. Siri hides on the ship. On board, there is also a mysterious box that will be given to the emperor himself.

But the villains Ivar and Grym are searching for the box and Siri has to gather all her courage and niftiness to protect it. Luckily, she gets help from Zack, a young boy she meets in Miklagård, speaks her language and – as she will learn later – is the emperor’s son.

The Emperor’s Treasure is the first part in the comic series of Siri the Viking. This brilliantly entertaining series is aimed at middle-grade readers and it mixes imaginative adventure with historical settings and facts about the Viking age.

The comic format encourages reluctant readers to pick up the exciting stories, and fans of Asterix will get to experience the Viking stories through the eyes of a young and resourceful girl. Many aspects of Viking life are portrayed in a historically accurate way, and this is accompanied by information highlighted in special fact boxes.

Publishing information

Year of publication

2020

Page count

Original title

Kejsarens skatt

Original language

Swedish

Original publisher

Stevali

Book series

Siri the Viking (Book 1)

About the author

Patric Nyström (b. 1968) has written text for comic scripts for many years, for example for comic magazines like Mumin or Bamse. In his own books he combines his interest for inventions, history and adventure and has the ability to tell exciting and captivating stories.Per Demervall (b. 1955) is one of Sweden’s most experienced comics and picture books creators and illustrators. He has created illustrated versions of for example August Strinberg’s The Red Room. He is now among others adapting H. G. Well’s classics into easy read versions.Together Patric Nyström and Per Demervall have created the series Siri the Viking (Siris äventyr). Siri the Viking is a comic series aimed at middle-grade readers. The series mixes imaginative adventure with historical settings and facts about the Viking age.

Author page

Reviews

"The story is characterised by joyful humour and fast-paced comedy in a well-elaborated setting."

Bibliotekstjänst

"With a swift plot, well researched illustrations and a tough little girl in the lead, Siri the Viking is a reading experience for all ages. Not the least does it convey a story about cultural encounters in the Middle Ages, which should be written about more often in our time."

The Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul (SRII)

"This series about the courageous and charming Viking girl Siri is no less than a masterpiece. A children’s comic series in the same category as the best international works."

The Swedish Academy of Comic Art