Journal Entry: Mood

I had a feeling of exhilaration throughout my novel. The author really did a good job of making you feel like you were right there beside the characters through all their adventures and trials. Although the mood does change over the course of the novel. It starts out dark but showing many signs of promise for our main characters, specifically Vali. Soon though,it shifts, as everything changes after Vali meets his brother, Feileg. A ship of raiders attacks the village where his loved one is captured, and the village survived barely by the leadership of Val. And his reward is him and his friend being branded outlaws by the king who was really to blame for this mess. I felt a wave of despair wash over me as it seemed slowly but surely that all hope was being lost for Vali to save his loved one. So the mood had switched from being a hopeful and happy-filled novel of sitting by a hearth with family. To Vali, Bragi, and Feileg, have to escape for their lives from the land, and search in desperation over seas to find Vail's loved one, Adisla. I was excited by the prospect of a great adventure about to unfold along with an ancient prophecy I had been getting hints at throughout this novel having to do with the Fenris Wolf.

An exciting part in my novel that I remember quite well is when Vali succumbs to his inner-animal side,and tears apart to ships of armed men, ripping them limb from limb. Although the excitement for me was short lived, for quickly after the battle was over, Vali soon finds out that in the heat of all the carnage, he had torn out the throat of his best friend Bragi as well. The mood was sad for a great period of time, as Vali was mourning the loss of his friend.Then eventually Vali snapped out of it, only to become consumed by a rage like no other.

A part that you might find most mysterious, and interesting. Has to do with a sacred swamp that is used to reach the god Odin to speak with him. In order to do this however, you must drown in the swamp. Vali in all his stubborness and love decides to undergo this trial to help him find an answer. Although things do not turn out to be so easy, for there is only a chance that Odin will answer your call if he feels the need is pure and great. Vali had his friends drag him into that swamp kicking and begging for mercy, for 4 days straight. I found this part in the novel to be truly amazing in that even though his suffering was great, his love for Adisla was greater still. I could almost feel the pain pulsing out of the novel at me, making the mood most dark indeed.