Unfortunately this was not something I could find pleasure in reading. Annoying boy who decides he doesn't like history (a factor at least mitigated by the pro-literacy and pro-books elements later on) gets sucked into history by his granddad's time machine, and fetches up on a Viking ship invading the British Isles of the time. His annoying twin sister, famous for doing nothing except being a goodie-goodie and bickering with her brother badly, has to follow, and ends up bickering with other people instead – namely a certain someone about to be invaded by a Viking ship…

This contrivance isn't too bad, and the plot can get good mileage out of how the two manage to unite and get home safe. But before then the history lessons in this Reithian effort are just crammed in with too much force, and the chopping and changing viewpoints between the two annoying twins actually makes the imminent attack feel almost boring before it's even started. But I think the biggest flaw is that I really had to have been able to like the kids a lot more than I did. That said, when the lad first ends up on the boat, what do we get but more bloody bickering. I'd have expected something more entertaining from an author with his experience.

This is a great story to introduce young readers to the different views about the Vikings and their impact on raiding Britain. It is something that will encourage research, as well as being a fantastic adventure in its own right.