Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Eaters of the Dead: The Manuscript of Ibn Fadlan Relating His Experiences with the Northmen in AD 922 (later republished as The 13th Warrior to correspond with the film adaptation of the novel) is a 1976 novel by Michael Crichton, the fourth novel under his own name and his 14th overall. The story is about a 10th-century Muslim Arab who travels with a group of Vikings to their settlement. Crichton explains in an appendix that the book was based on two sources. The first three chapters are a retelling of Ahmad ibn Fadlan's personal account of his actual journey north and his experiences with and observations of Varangians. The remainder is a retelling of Beowulf.
Is Eaters of the Dead appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Based on the Beowulf legend, this novel contains Viking-era warfare violence including battle sequences and encounters with monstrous foes that may be graphically described. The historical setting includes period-appropriate attitudes and conflicts.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include gore, death, and mass death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens interested in historical adventures and Viking culture will enjoy this retelling of a classic legend through the eyes of an Arab traveler.