The Vardoger Boy

The Forerunner Series Book Two

Vikings war with the last Saxon Kingdom, blood feuds stalk the family, the werebear takes revenge and our forerunner hero must face trolls, a kelp man and his nuggles, and a dark elf… The epic adventures of the Agneson Clan continue!

The year is 878…

Danish forces assemble for war on Wessex and the loyal Agneson Clan heeds the call to join the Great Viking Horde, but while honorable men gather in the midlands, a blood feud draws mercenaries to their undefended homestead for murderous revenge.

Sailing his Viking crew to fulfill their oath, Karl harbors suspicions over strange occurrences that bedevil his nephew Thorfinn, while far to the north their sworn enemy the werebear and his dark elf master strike back…

And the young forerunner Thorfinn learns the Nine Realms are full of surprising hidden folk, but to earn his place aboard the Viking’s ship he must accept a mast troll’s quest….

Will the family escape the despicable vendetta?
Can Thorfinn face the evils prowling the bottom of the Humber Estuary?
Does Cub battle to victory against King Alfred’s men?
How can Karl and his Vikings find and defeat a mysterious lair of were-beasts?

The epic saga of Thorfinn the forerunner and his clan in Danelaw England continues….

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“An epic adventure with foes of this world and beyond. Author Jay Veloso Batista had a hard task indeed to follow up from the first novel in the Forerunner series, but he has certainly delivered to the same high standard of family saga, fantasy battles, and coming of age for our youngest hero, Thorfinn. The mix of Viking heritage with epic fantasy plays out beautifully throughout the novel’s twisting and combining plot lines, and I truly felt the gruesome atmosphere of the bloodstained battlefields of Danelaw England. One of the things which I really enjoyed in this novel was the author’s sense of when to hold back to build tension and mystery, which gave the plot an excellent rise and fall to keep us reading from cover to cover. Overall, I would certainly recommend The Vardoger Boy to readers who enjoy fantasy and history combined and written to an excellent standard.”

— K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

“The Vardoger Boy is as explosive and exciting as the first story in this series. Author Jay Veloso Batista has perfectly captured the times he writes about, the struggles for survival and the brutal cheapness of an enemy’s life. By bringing in the aspect of Danish or Viking lore, their magic, and their rituals, the author has created a fascinating insight into the family life of the time that lifts this book well above its competitors in the genre. I had read book one in the series and although it isn’t necessary to enjoy book two, I would recommend it as it provides a seamless and explanatory journey into the next adventure. I appreciated the author’s three separate and different story arcs that keep a reader focused on more than just one plot development. The style of warfare practiced by the Danes was fascinating and it is clear they were a well-disciplined group of warriors despite the general conception of Viking rape and pillage. The arc that captures the adventures of Thorfinn and his developing magical powers was perhaps the most interesting of the three but what I really did appreciate was the continual growth and development of the characters I had met and enjoyed in the first book. If you love historical fiction, Viking lore, or just a jolly good adventure, I can highly recommend this book and this series.”

— Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite

“Stayed up all night reading it! Full of action, insight, and with history woven in so skillfully that I didn’t even notice I was in another world till I put the book down to find myself back in the time of covid. This is a spectacular read. All about the importance of trusting others and believing in yourself. Chin-jutting, action packed, and brimming with the sheer delight of living at every turn. I most highly recommend this book.”

“Second book was even better than first! Very engrossing and I read it much too quickly. There was more character development I thought in this one … fleshed them out a little bit, or for some (Kara) a lot more. Great to see the female characters get their due. I loved Kara and her mother in this one — showed the mama bear instinct for sure! Lots of fighting, both in war and in treachery, a great battle, a journey, reunions and separations. All in all, a great read.”