Scottish Book of the Week: Postcards from Valhalla

For this week’s instalment of reading my way around Scotland through children’s books, we have Postcards from Valhalla by Danny Weston, which takes us from Edinburgh all the way to Shetland for a Norse-inspired mythic mystery. This book is aimed at age 12+ and YA readers.

Book Details

Title: Postcards from Valhalla
Author: Danny Weston
Genre: Mythic Mystery
Recommended reading age: 12+ / YA audience

Scottish Setting

The story starts and ends in Edinburgh, but is mostly set in Shetland. Specific places in Shetland that are mentioned include Lerwick, Sumburgh, Jarlshof Prehistoric & Norse Settlement, St Ninians Isle, the isle of Yell, and the isle of Unst with the Viking Unst Project and the Burra Firth. Other real-life places referenced in the story include Fountainbridge in Edinburgh; and Aberdeen, where the ferry leaves for Shetland.

“It was a short and please drive to their destination. The last few clouds had burnt off and the sky was a clear blue sweep from horizon to horizon. The sat nav directed them to a small car park just above the tombolo, a long stretch of vivid white sand that reached like an extended arm across turquoise water to the distant outline of the island.” (Chapter 12 – St Ninians Isle)

Plot Summary

Fifteen-year-old Viggo Ryan’s ordinary life – movies with friends and teenage worries – is upended when his older brother, Magnus, goes missing on Shetland. Worse still, their father disappeared from the same place five years earlier and is still ‘missing presumed dead’. Viggo and his mum travel north from Edinburgh to search for Magnus, but from the moment they set off, strange things begin to happen. Viggo experiences unexplained visions: Viking longships in stormy seas, armed warriors and mythical creatures, mixed with the present.

Along their way, they meet Leon, a mysterious musician who seems to know more than he lets on. Once on Shetland, the search deepens, and the line between myth, memory and reality starts to blur. What begins as a search for Magnus across the length of Shetland, soon feels connected to something much older, hidden in the landscape of Shetland itself.

“ ‘So what’s so great about this Jarlshof place?’ He asked. Leon chuckled. ‘Are you kidding? It’s one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever discovered. The remains range from 2500 BC to the seventeenth century. There are Bronze Age, Iron Age and Viking remains all in one place.’ ” (Chapter 8)

Conclusion

The story mixes family tension, suspense and an undercurrent of Norse legend. What I liked most was that the book flirts with the supernatural without ever fully tipping over into fantasy. The visions and folklore give it atmosphere, but the story stays rooted in Viggo’s experience, which kept it feeling tense and believable right to the end. I think readers who enjoy coming-of-age journeys or stories inspired by Norse legend will enjoy this book.

Bonus Info

The book includes five QR codes linking to videos providing bonus context and immersion for readers. Three of the videos feature real-life footage of locations that feature in the story; one of them is a played-out scene featuring the story’s lead character; and the final video is a tutorial on how to make Greek honey and orange cake, which is mention in the book.

Postcards from Valhalla is available from uk.bookshop.org (Affiliate Link) or you can order it from your favourite indie bookshop.