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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I always enjoy reading Marie Brennan's work. This one had a real suck-you-in quality that I appreciate, and I gobbled it up. The author's note in the back is not to be missed, by the way: in brief, the genesis of this tale is as a fix-it fanfic of a Norse Saga that had an extremely disappointing conclusion -- but you should read the full details for yourself. Still, the story relied on repeated invocations of my least favourite trope: a woman dressed as a man, who is revealed as a woman, and loses everything that she managed to build up while dressed as a man. I hate it so much, and it happens multiple times here. And somehow, because of the requirement to start over after trope-revelation, we have multiple sets of characters, which means I can never really build up much sense of relationship to any one set of them. This means that their tragic ends (usually at the hands of someone going berserk and slaughtering them all -- Norse saga, remember) doesn't hit as hard as it might.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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
Such a good premise, 1.5 stars for the pregnant Viking warrior woman. Started strong with setting up the mystery and the language was good, but all the plot twists and "reveals" were underwhelming and predictable, the character was just handed everything on a plate and the ending was random and unsatisfying.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I get that this book was based on an actual myth and so the author had to work within certain perimeters, but I found it a real slog. The plot was dry, predictable, and yet extremely dark and gory. I'm afraid this one just wasn't for me, which is a shame since I've loved some of the author's other works.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is brilliant. If you enjoyed LOTR, Game of Thrones, Vikings this book is perfect for you.
Hervor is a complicated main character but by the end you can’t help but root for her! She’s not always likeable but ultimately she’s just a woman trying to survive being dealt a remarkably unfair hand. The twists are amazing and heartbreaking. Clues subtly lie everywhere if you pay attention yet the reveals are still always just as incredibly rewarding. The way the author weaves in explanation to better understand Norse mythology and even little details about other topics like Viking sail boats to ensure the reader has enough context while not being too heavy handed that someone already knowledgeable wouldn’t feel hit over the head with it. The violence can be pretty hectic but it also feels like you are there watching or even sometimes in it. Would recommend!!! I can’t wait to buy my sister a copy.
Hervor is a complicated main character but by the end you can’t help but root for her! She’s not always likeable but ultimately she’s just a woman trying to survive being dealt a remarkably unfair hand. The twists are amazing and heartbreaking. Clues subtly lie everywhere if you pay attention yet the reveals are still always just as incredibly rewarding. The way the author weaves in explanation to better understand Norse mythology and even little details about other topics like Viking sail boats to ensure the reader has enough context while not being too heavy handed that someone already knowledgeable wouldn’t feel hit over the head with it. The violence can be pretty hectic but it also feels like you are there watching or even sometimes in it. Would recommend!!! I can’t wait to buy my sister a copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Classism
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes