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shinychick's review against another edition
4.0
I stand corrected. When I read last year's [b:The Lost Sun: Book 1 of United States of Asgard|18440950|The Lost Sun Book 1 of United States of Asgard|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410773475s/18440950.jpg|18183974], I said that I couldn't imagine how there was series potential, or how you could even connect the characters from that book to another one. [a:Tessa Gratton|3111338|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328563756p2/3111338.jpg] does it - by starting Signy's story before The Lost Sun and continuing after it. She involves Soren Bearstar, and we get to see what happened after his adventures with Astrid and Vydir.
All that said, I like Signy. She's bold, brash, and strong in her own way. Setting out to prove herself (she thinks, to her god, Odin), she happens upon a poet, Ned Unferth (Ned the Spiritless) who offers to help her kill a troll, which he assures her will accomplish her task. Over months of training and practice, they fall for each other (and, again, as with my criticism in [b:The Lost Sun: Book 1 of United States of Asgard|18440950|The Lost Sun Book 1 of United States of Asgard|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410773475s/18440950.jpg|18183974], the romance is very whirlwind, unexpected, but not without passion.)
I look forward to book three, a lot because even if I'm not fond of the romance, I love the world building and setting - it's so immersive, and it's fun to imagine what it must be like, living in the United States of Asgard.
All that said, I like Signy. She's bold, brash, and strong in her own way. Setting out to prove herself (she thinks, to her god, Odin), she happens upon a poet, Ned Unferth (Ned the Spiritless) who offers to help her kill a troll, which he assures her will accomplish her task. Over months of training and practice, they fall for each other (and, again, as with my criticism in [b:The Lost Sun: Book 1 of United States of Asgard|18440950|The Lost Sun Book 1 of United States of Asgard|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1410773475s/18440950.jpg|18183974], the romance is very whirlwind, unexpected, but not without passion.)
I look forward to book three, a lot because even if I'm not fond of the romance, I love the world building and setting - it's so immersive, and it's fun to imagine what it must be like, living in the United States of Asgard.
librarydanielle's review against another edition
4.0
The story as a whole was great, but the ending felt flat to me.
itsamae's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cheermio's review against another edition
4.0
darker than lost sun but glorious in scope and writing and characters. loved it.
did not approve of all the animal sacrifice though. little too much of that.
did not approve of all the animal sacrifice though. little too much of that.
jaymeshaw's review against another edition
4.0
Much like the first book in the series, I did take awhile to really get into it. However, it turned out to be pretty exciting and enjoyable. I like the modern take on the Norse mythology.
allyriadayne's review against another edition
5.0
Me: Idk about [b:The Lost Sun|13021366|The Lost Sun (The United States of Asgard, #1)|Tessa Gratton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362068810s/13021366.jpg|18183974]. It was boring as fuck and I bet the sequel is as well, or worse.
Me, after reading this one: I WOULD WALK ON A THOUSAND FIRES FOR SIGNY VALBORN !!
But honestly, what a goddamned good book, what an upgrade from the snoozefest that was the first book. If Tessa Gratton had started the United States of Asgard with this one then I would had more faith in the trilogy. The Strange Maid is about Signy Valborn's quest to prove herself as the new member of the Council of Valkyrie (yes, those Valkyrie) bringing a stone heart as a riddle said just before her getting accepted. Signy with the help of a mysterious poet find it is a mother troll's heart she must bring to the council (and to Odin by extension).
The whole book it's about Signy's quest and about redefining herself and learning what it is that she wants to do as Valkyrie in a world where they are just spokespersons to the Alfather and not the warriors of old (which is what Signy wants, madness, death and blood). What I liked most specially about it is that the author doesn't shy away from subjects you don't see in YA like the rawness and dirtiness of death, or having the protagonist have sex just because she wants with more than her love interest. I also loved than the first book is all about Soren hates having the berseker madness in him, and like, Signy in this one makes friends with a pack of berserker who are nothing but proud og having it because it is also Odin's madness in them. If book #1 was about denying fate and oneself, then book #2 it's all about accepting it. Signy and the bersekers all love what they are and she it's very decided on meet her destiny head on.
Speaking about destiny, the fact that the story of Beowulf was so present and then at the end the parallels to Signy and the Troll Mother makes itself very obvious (both to each other and to Beowulf... having to become the monster to hunt it was very A++) and it was really, really amazing and a lesson on following destiny but also having free will to know what's right (unlike book #1). Signy was an amazing protagonist: passionate, a little mad, compassionate, daring, angry... a much better rounded protagonist than Soren and Astrid in the last book, tbh. The writing as always was v. good and I loved Glory aka Fenris Wolf's cameo (will I ever stop screaming at this? I!! don't!! think!! so!!).
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend The Lost Sun normally but now I would a thousand times over if it means reading The Strange Maid after, so, get on with it!!
Me, after reading this one: I WOULD WALK ON A THOUSAND FIRES FOR SIGNY VALBORN !!
But honestly, what a goddamned good book, what an upgrade from the snoozefest that was the first book. If Tessa Gratton had started the United States of Asgard with this one then I would had more faith in the trilogy. The Strange Maid is about Signy Valborn's quest to prove herself as the new member of the Council of Valkyrie (yes, those Valkyrie) bringing a stone heart as a riddle said just before her getting accepted. Signy with the help of a mysterious poet find it is a mother troll's heart she must bring to the council (and to Odin by extension).
The whole book it's about Signy's quest and about redefining herself and learning what it is that she wants to do as Valkyrie in a world where they are just spokespersons to the Alfather and not the warriors of old (which is what Signy wants, madness, death and blood). What I liked most specially about it is that the author doesn't shy away from subjects you don't see in YA like the rawness and dirtiness of death, or having the protagonist have sex just because she wants with more than her love interest. I also loved than the first book is all about Soren hates having the berseker madness in him, and like, Signy in this one makes friends with a pack of berserker who are nothing but proud og having it because it is also Odin's madness in them. If book #1 was about denying fate and oneself, then book #2 it's all about accepting it. Signy and the bersekers all love what they are and she it's very decided on meet her destiny head on.
Speaking about destiny, the fact that the story of Beowulf was so present and then at the end the parallels to Signy and the Troll Mother makes itself very obvious (both to each other and to Beowulf... having to become the monster to hunt it was very A++) and it was really, really amazing and a lesson on following destiny but also having free will to know what's right (unlike book #1). Signy was an amazing protagonist: passionate, a little mad, compassionate, daring, angry... a much better rounded protagonist than Soren and Astrid in the last book, tbh. The writing as always was v. good and I loved Glory aka Fenris Wolf's cameo (will I ever stop screaming at this? I!! don't!! think!! so!!).
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend The Lost Sun normally but now I would a thousand times over if it means reading The Strange Maid after, so, get on with it!!
groundedwanderlust's review against another edition
5.0
I can't really review this book without giving it away, so just trust me when I say you should read this series. It's truly awesome!
seachelles7's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely love and adore this series and Signy Valborn is a fantastic lead character. I loved Signy, her story, Unferth, Soren, the Norse mythology, Red Stripe, the alterations to the world we know to make it Asgardian... everything.