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rebeccazh's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3.5 stars. I liked this more than the author's mermaid series but the book still didn't really engage me.
rawlsreads's review
5.0
What a solid start to a new urban fantasy series! I was new to Rosie but decided to give her a go as the blurb looked like it had everything I liked in UF. I'm so happy that I did!
Book 1 starts out with our down on her luck FMC Rowan having to take a not-so-legal job to open an underground tomb. It turns out that the tomb was full of vampires (whose bite in the world kills all supes immediately and turns humans into vamps) who escape after killing the whole excavation crew. Rowan wakes up surprised to be alive and taken in by a not evil vampire called Nate. We find out she's immune to vampire bites which then ties her to a whole species that she's been raised to hate.
Along the way, we learn more about the world and the persecution that most vampires face. Rosie's done an excellent job at starting to build a complex world with different races and backgrounds. The side characters we meet are also intriguing and help fill in some of the blanks of the world.
Rowan is a young lead who has lead a sheltered life. She's a bit frustrating as she makes some stupid choices, but honestly, I'll take a not-so-perfect main character that learns and grows along the way any day. I have hope for her development as we dive into the rest of the series.
Nate's the guarded vampire who's lived a few lifetimes and doesn't want to get close to anyone in case he gets hurt. Needless to say, the chemistry between Nate and Rowan is hot as hell.
I cannot wait for book 2!
Book 1 starts out with our down on her luck FMC Rowan having to take a not-so-legal job to open an underground tomb. It turns out that the tomb was full of vampires (whose bite in the world kills all supes immediately and turns humans into vamps) who escape after killing the whole excavation crew. Rowan wakes up surprised to be alive and taken in by a not evil vampire called Nate. We find out she's immune to vampire bites which then ties her to a whole species that she's been raised to hate.
Along the way, we learn more about the world and the persecution that most vampires face. Rosie's done an excellent job at starting to build a complex world with different races and backgrounds. The side characters we meet are also intriguing and help fill in some of the blanks of the world.
Rowan is a young lead who has lead a sheltered life. She's a bit frustrating as she makes some stupid choices, but honestly, I'll take a not-so-perfect main character that learns and grows along the way any day. I have hope for her development as we dive into the rest of the series.
Nate's the guarded vampire who's lived a few lifetimes and doesn't want to get close to anyone in case he gets hurt. Needless to say, the chemistry between Nate and Rowan is hot as hell.
I cannot wait for book 2!
amberherbert's review
4.0
This book, though not my typical cup of tea, engaged me from page one. I appreciated the valkyrie/vampire feud, but the romance--though still blossoming in book one--was lacking. I didn't feel attached to Rowen or Nate, resulting in a disconnect for me as a reader. However, I would still definitely pick up the next book when I'm in the mood for a story with vampires.
I recommend this book to fans of paranormal fiction with a romantic subplot.
I recommend this book to fans of paranormal fiction with a romantic subplot.
michmash's review
5.0
Action packed from the very start, this book was hard to put down. The characters are well developed and I found myself growing attached to them very quickly.
Set in a modern urban fantasy where supernatural species have learned to coexist, Rowan gets herself in a bit of trouble and finds herself quickly allied with a mysterious vampire she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.
This fast paced novel leaves you gasping and wanting more.
I cannot wait to read more about Rowan and her adventures in future novels.
I have always been a fan of The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith and I think other fans will enjoy this as well! I also found this story to remind me of the early novels in The Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton.
This novel has great potential to become a hit new series and I will be keeping my eyes out for upcoming sequels!
Set in a modern urban fantasy where supernatural species have learned to coexist, Rowan gets herself in a bit of trouble and finds herself quickly allied with a mysterious vampire she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.
This fast paced novel leaves you gasping and wanting more.
I cannot wait to read more about Rowan and her adventures in future novels.
I have always been a fan of The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith and I think other fans will enjoy this as well! I also found this story to remind me of the early novels in The Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton.
This novel has great potential to become a hit new series and I will be keeping my eyes out for upcoming sequels!
see_sadie_read's review
3.0
I thought this was quite entertaining, but nothing extraordinary. A perfect middle of the road read. I liked Rowan, Nate and crew. I appreciated the slow-slow burn of the maybe-future-relationship. The book is easily readable and I don't remember any big editing mishaps.
But I also didn't think the world particularly well developed. I, for example, couldn't really pick out the lines between some of the species. What made a witch and a valkyrie different, for example, other than culture? How aware was the rest of the world of paranormal? I have no idea, etc. Nor did I think Rowan's the family history adequately utilized. Though I did recognize that her and her brother's situation mirrored Nate and his cousin's.
All in all, I like it. I'd read another. But I'm not running out to buy it. (Well, I don't think a next exists yet. But you get the idea.)
But I also didn't think the world particularly well developed. I, for example, couldn't really pick out the lines between some of the species. What made a witch and a valkyrie different, for example, other than culture? How aware was the rest of the world of paranormal? I have no idea, etc. Nor did I think Rowan's the family history adequately utilized. Though I did recognize that her and her brother's situation mirrored Nate and his cousin's.
All in all, I like it. I'd read another. But I'm not running out to buy it. (Well, I don't think a next exists yet. But you get the idea.)
boekensteeg's review
4.0
Note: I received an digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for a voluntarily and honest review.
Original review on my blog Boekensteeg
Valkyrie Cursed is the first part in Rosie Wylor-Owen'sThe Rogue Valkyrie series. What will Wylor-Owen have in store for the reader?
Not a single magical creature survives a vampire bite, but how come Rowans still feels everything after she is bitten? Is this life after death? She soon finds out that she didn't die after the vampire bite, and she was rescued by another vampire. But how did she survive the vampire bite? Can she trust her savior since he's a vampire? What happened in the tombs anyway? Slowly, Rowan learns more and more about what happened in the tombs and gets answers to her questions. But now that a group of dangerous and bloodthirsty vampires have escaped, she must stop them before more bad things happen. Will Rowan be able to put the vampires back in captivity?
Although the title suggests that Valkyries could play the main role in this story, however this is not the case. The story revolves around Rowan, a valkyrie, as well as a whole bunch of vampires.
Rosie Wylor-Owen has a great writing style. The story starts and ends with actionfilled scenes, although the middle part remains a bit more superficial. However, it is in the middle part that you get the necessary knowledge about the characters and some background information, so this part is certainly not boring.
I really enjoyed Valkyrie Cursed. The story introduced me to both Valkyries and this author. Rosie Wylor-Owen has made a very promising start for this series with this book, and I am very curious about the next installments in this series.
Original review on my blog Boekensteeg
Valkyrie Cursed is the first part in Rosie Wylor-Owen'sThe Rogue Valkyrie series. What will Wylor-Owen have in store for the reader?
Not a single magical creature survives a vampire bite, but how come Rowans still feels everything after she is bitten? Is this life after death? She soon finds out that she didn't die after the vampire bite, and she was rescued by another vampire. But how did she survive the vampire bite? Can she trust her savior since he's a vampire? What happened in the tombs anyway? Slowly, Rowan learns more and more about what happened in the tombs and gets answers to her questions. But now that a group of dangerous and bloodthirsty vampires have escaped, she must stop them before more bad things happen. Will Rowan be able to put the vampires back in captivity?
Although the title suggests that Valkyries could play the main role in this story, however this is not the case. The story revolves around Rowan, a valkyrie, as well as a whole bunch of vampires.
Rosie Wylor-Owen has a great writing style. The story starts and ends with actionfilled scenes, although the middle part remains a bit more superficial. However, it is in the middle part that you get the necessary knowledge about the characters and some background information, so this part is certainly not boring.
I really enjoyed Valkyrie Cursed. The story introduced me to both Valkyries and this author. Rosie Wylor-Owen has made a very promising start for this series with this book, and I am very curious about the next installments in this series.
writerdgabrielle's review
5.0
Valkyrie Cursed is a perfect first-in-series. In just a matter of a few days, we become acquainted with Rowan McQuaid, a young (even by human standards) valkyrie codebreaker who has landed herself in a bit of a pickle. In an attempt to make a bad situation better, Rowan takes an illicit job, opening a crypt for a treasure-hunting professor. Whether the professor truly knew the nightmare he was unleashing or not is unclear but things do not end well for him--or for Rowan.
Throughout the pages of this first Rogue Valkyrie story, Rowan is forced to face her own failings as well as the injustices heaped upon an entire sect of the supernatural community. The prejudices and hardships facing the vampires of Rowan's world feel almost too real in the social climate of 2021 but Wylor-Owen takes her protagonist from arrogant ignorance to active understanding without preaching to her readers. Rowan has begun a journey of growth--individually as well as as a member of a cohesive community--by the time we close the cover on Valkyrie Cursed and anticipate Valkyrie Awakened (the second of the series).
Couple that with a gently budding romance and the Rogue Valkyrie series has a lot of potential for the future.
Throughout the pages of this first Rogue Valkyrie story, Rowan is forced to face her own failings as well as the injustices heaped upon an entire sect of the supernatural community. The prejudices and hardships facing the vampires of Rowan's world feel almost too real in the social climate of 2021 but Wylor-Owen takes her protagonist from arrogant ignorance to active understanding without preaching to her readers. Rowan has begun a journey of growth--individually as well as as a member of a cohesive community--by the time we close the cover on Valkyrie Cursed and anticipate Valkyrie Awakened (the second of the series).
Couple that with a gently budding romance and the Rogue Valkyrie series has a lot of potential for the future.
marinaluna's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
At the beginning I wasn't so sure whether I would end up enjoying this book, so if you are like me and didn't get into the characters right away, stick with it, it's worth it! I really enjoyed this book and it had some surprising elements, which I always find fascinating! I mean, one would think an author can't surprise us with stories about vampires and witches anymore, but this book delivered! The story was interesting, the characters fascinating and the romance forbidden and slow burning. There is no cliffhanger in this book, but there is a hook and if you are looking for insta-love and insta-gratification, this book is not for you!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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