Scan barcode
taramoonzz's review
4.0
very cute and fun MG book! I loved these even though I don't technically fit into the mg reader range anymore haha
emperor_e's review
4.0
This books was fun to read and I thought it had some interesting characters. As I had read Beowulf and a lot about Norse mythology I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. The spin this book took on the mythology was also different than how a lot of other books decide to do it. If you enjoy Beowulf or mythology books I would recommend reading this one!
ljg765's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
teaandspite's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book so much. I really did. The problem is that it had no spark. The ideas are all there, the characters are mostly there, the world is there, but none of it comes together the way it should.
Part of this feels like Subity trying desperately to recreate the Rick Riordan success formula and failing. The book reads like a Percy Jackson knock-off rather than a new, individual voice. Which is too bad because there are glimmers of possibility in the way Subity frames his modern take on Vikings that are worlds away from Riordan's Magnus Chase series. The glimmers never fully form though, instead leaving the world dim and flat.
The other big problem is that there's no real emotional investment and therefore no pay off to the individual events in the book. One of the first things Abby does is, but...no one cares. It does not matter. Similarly, when she , there are no consequences. Nothing. Abby doesn't even properly consider or worry about what potential consequences she might face. If she doesn't care, then why should readers care?
Even the battle and adventure scenes fall flat because of this lack of emotional investment. The entire book takes place over the course of a few days, as seems to be the habit for middle grade books these days, but the relentless in-world pace drags for readers due to how tedious the action is. Abby grabbed a sword. She slashed at something. Yawn. If you're going to pack your book with battle scenes, the battle scenes need to work. They need to convey a sense of urgency, at the very least. Subity's battle scenes read like Ben Stein reciting a sports play by play.
All of that said, I do think Subity can improve enough to make picking up his next book worth a shot. He just happened to miss the mark with this one. Not exactly unusual for a debut author.
Part of this feels like Subity trying desperately to recreate the Rick Riordan success formula and failing. The book reads like a Percy Jackson knock-off rather than a new, individual voice. Which is too bad because there are glimmers of possibility in the way Subity frames his modern take on Vikings that are worlds away from Riordan's Magnus Chase series. The glimmers never fully form though, instead leaving the world dim and flat.
The other big problem is that there's no real emotional investment and therefore no pay off to the individual events in the book. One of the first things Abby does is
Spoiler
spill her supposedly super secret Viking heritage to a non-Viking she's known less than a day and take the non-Viking into the super secret Viking baseSpoiler
immediately tells her two new besties (who, again, she's known less than a week) about what was supposed to be a secret conversationEven the battle and adventure scenes fall flat because of this lack of emotional investment. The entire book takes place over the course of a few days, as seems to be the habit for middle grade books these days, but the relentless in-world pace drags for readers due to how tedious the action is. Abby grabbed a sword. She slashed at something. Yawn. If you're going to pack your book with battle scenes, the battle scenes need to work. They need to convey a sense of urgency, at the very least. Subity's battle scenes read like Ben Stein reciting a sports play by play.
All of that said, I do think Subity can improve enough to make picking up his next book worth a shot. He just happened to miss the mark with this one. Not exactly unusual for a debut author.
dorhastings's review
2.0
I feel bad giving such a low rating to this book, but here we are. I love this idea, and I love the genre. To be completely fair, I may have compared this a little too much to Percy Jackson.
That the book was fast-paced and fairly action-packed is consistent across many of the reviews I've read for this book, and what can be a benefit did not appeal to me in this book. I wanted more explanation and more POV of Abby Beckett. Alliances were made so quickly. I didn't understand the concept of the school (which, to my understanding, is meant to be a "normal" middle school built by Vikings (which is overt), but Vikings concepts such as Valkyries and Aesir are not (as are just Vikings in general). I appreciate that the door is open for speculation regarding Grimsby.
The logical connection between events was just missing to me, as was a more developed explanation of Vikings culture. You have to think that your audience is mostly unfamiliar with Vikings mythology and culture, so part of the fun of creating a present-day mythology is weaving the past into present situations, but it's just not there for me.
So I guess what I'm saying is that there was a massive hole of backstory. And backstory can be really tedious and boring to do, but there are creative ways to do it. I just didn't see it here.
The cover is lovely, though! I picked this up because it's a local author, and I'm glad there will be a series.
That the book was fast-paced and fairly action-packed is consistent across many of the reviews I've read for this book, and what can be a benefit did not appeal to me in this book. I wanted more explanation and more POV of Abby Beckett. Alliances were made so quickly. I didn't understand the concept of the school (which, to my understanding, is meant to be a "normal" middle school built by Vikings (which is overt), but Vikings concepts such as Valkyries and Aesir are not (as are just Vikings in general). I appreciate that the door is open for speculation regarding Grimsby.
The logical connection between events was just missing to me, as was a more developed explanation of Vikings culture. You have to think that your audience is mostly unfamiliar with Vikings mythology and culture, so part of the fun of creating a present-day mythology is weaving the past into present situations, but it's just not there for me.
So I guess what I'm saying is that there was a massive hole of backstory. And backstory can be really tedious and boring to do, but there are creative ways to do it. I just didn't see it here.
The cover is lovely, though! I picked this up because it's a local author, and I'm glad there will be a series.
ashton_reads_'s review
4.0
This is such a fun, action-packed middle grade! I really enjoyed the ride, so there better be a sequel!!
Goodreads synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Abby Beckett is proud to come from a long line of elite Viking warriors known as the Aesir. She's spent her entire life training to hunt the horrific creatures known as Grendels - the ancient foe of the Aesir - just like her mother did before she died. But there's just one, small problem: No one has seen a Grendel in centuries, and the Viking Council wants to disband the Aesir . . . forever.
When her father is injured in an attack that leaves him in a coma, Abby is forced to take refuge at Vale Hall, a mysterious school in Minnesota where nothing is quite as it seems. She soon discovers the tables have turned and a Grendel is hunting her, but when she tries to alert the Viking Council, they accuse her of making up stories for attention . . . just like her mother did.
Desperate to protect her father and clear her mother's name, Abby goes on a dangerous quest to discover the truth--a journey that brings her face-to-face with some unlikely foes, including a Ping-Pong-playing sea monster with a wicked backhand, and a dark Valkyrie with a fondness for bingo. Abby quickly realizes that someone at the school is trying to stop her progress and destroy the Aesir for good. And only she can unravel the sinister plot before it's too late.
This book feels a bit Riordan-esque, so of course I loved it! Abby Beckett has the snarky internal dialogue of a Riordan character with all the mythology to match! I really loved the way Subity incorporates the elements of Norse mythology because it feels subtle and aloof (as it should as a middle grade) yet still hits all the important and intense elements the mythology requires - like the Valkyries and the Aesir and the Grendels (inspired by Beowulf).
While these pieces do resemble Riordan’s work, this middle grade still feels entirely fresh; I loved all the characters in their individuality, and the clever ways Subity spun Beowulf and Norse mythology continued to surprise me as I read the novel. This truly is a remarkable and fun read that kept me on my toes and promises to entertain far more than just middle grade readers!
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow me on Instagram/Pinterest @ashton_reads for more bookish content! Thanks for reading!
Goodreads synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Abby Beckett is proud to come from a long line of elite Viking warriors known as the Aesir. She's spent her entire life training to hunt the horrific creatures known as Grendels - the ancient foe of the Aesir - just like her mother did before she died. But there's just one, small problem: No one has seen a Grendel in centuries, and the Viking Council wants to disband the Aesir . . . forever.
When her father is injured in an attack that leaves him in a coma, Abby is forced to take refuge at Vale Hall, a mysterious school in Minnesota where nothing is quite as it seems. She soon discovers the tables have turned and a Grendel is hunting her, but when she tries to alert the Viking Council, they accuse her of making up stories for attention . . . just like her mother did.
Desperate to protect her father and clear her mother's name, Abby goes on a dangerous quest to discover the truth--a journey that brings her face-to-face with some unlikely foes, including a Ping-Pong-playing sea monster with a wicked backhand, and a dark Valkyrie with a fondness for bingo. Abby quickly realizes that someone at the school is trying to stop her progress and destroy the Aesir for good. And only she can unravel the sinister plot before it's too late.
This book feels a bit Riordan-esque, so of course I loved it! Abby Beckett has the snarky internal dialogue of a Riordan character with all the mythology to match! I really loved the way Subity incorporates the elements of Norse mythology because it feels subtle and aloof (as it should as a middle grade) yet still hits all the important and intense elements the mythology requires - like the Valkyries and the Aesir and the Grendels (inspired by Beowulf).
While these pieces do resemble Riordan’s work, this middle grade still feels entirely fresh; I loved all the characters in their individuality, and the clever ways Subity spun Beowulf and Norse mythology continued to surprise me as I read the novel. This truly is a remarkable and fun read that kept me on my toes and promises to entertain far more than just middle grade readers!
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow me on Instagram/Pinterest @ashton_reads for more bookish content! Thanks for reading!
victorpineiro's review
5.0
This book is an absolute gem. I was sold the minute I saw it. A well-reviewed retelling of Beowulf? Yes please. It was action-packed and impossible to put down, but what astounded me was how laugh-out-loud funny it was throughout. Sam's an extremely clever writer, and it makes the book completely irresistible. I also loved how much I learned about Viking culture. I thought I knew my stuff, but Sam taught me something new in every chapter! I highly recommend this both to kids and post-kids, and think it'd make a fantastic read-aloud book.