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adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, War
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Slavery, Blood, Vomit
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
Solid conclusion to this duology, plenty of intrigue, adventure, and twists. I definitely feel okay with the story arc overall and don't feel the want for more of the storyline/characters.
I found the pacing of this book dreadfully slow at times. The plot points seem to have such a reflective hold over the MCs that it stopped them from progressing or pushing the story. There were several points where I was frustrated and annoyed with the MCs because it was almost too much reflection, where holding onto an emotion or waiting for something to happen but nothing would happen for chapters at a time. Sometimes all this reflection made past story arcs or plot points virtually pointless at the end. This definitely lowers the quality of the storyline itself. But the Worldbuilding continued to be amazing, the characters multifaceted. I would have loved more ties into the Nordic gods and their direct roles in this second book throughout rather than just at the end.
I found the pacing of this book dreadfully slow at times. The plot points seem to have such a reflective hold over the MCs that it stopped them from progressing or pushing the story. There were several points where I was frustrated and annoyed with the MCs because it was almost too much reflection, where holding onto an emotion or waiting for something to happen but nothing would happen for chapters at a time. Sometimes all this reflection made past story arcs or plot points virtually pointless at the end. This definitely lowers the quality of the storyline itself. But the Worldbuilding continued to be amazing, the characters multifaceted. I would have loved more ties into the Nordic gods and their direct roles in this second book throughout rather than just at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Gore
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was good quick read! I am rarely surprised by a twist but this one I was not expecting!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, War
adventurous
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lot of book two focuses on Freya’s decentering of men and feminine rage. Her connection to Hel literally personifies that rage. A woman finding and wielding her power in a world ruled by men is a dangerous thing in their eyes. The book delves into the questions of morality in war, “othering” perceived enemies, emotional and mental abuse, men’s lust for power, the objectification of women (in more ways than one), and most importantly consent. I do feel the book feels rushed at times. Some character deaths fall very flat to me because I felt the scene needed to breath more to truly encapsulate grief in an appropriate way. Like Snorri’s death. Bjorn literally just finds out he’s been the victim of narcissistic abuse and manipulated into killing both of his parents and nearly has no overwhelming breakdown over this. Finding out nearly everything in your adult life is a lie and your primary caretaker has cruelly and purposefully deceived you would be devastating for anyone. Let alone finding out your mother has truly been dead all this time and now you’ve just killed your own father too. I felt the same rushed pacing when we find out Freya’s brother died, her killing an entire fleet of her own people and condemning them to Helheim, and even when she inevitably kills Harald. All of these scenes would’ve benefited with extra time and more emotional weight. I know the point was not to see Freya as weak, but I think overwhelming anxiety from her power over Death as well as her innate desire to weird it could have hit harder if we’d gotten more of that grief and anxiety and mistrust of herself. Other than that, I did enjoy this series. I felt very sad it was over. I did enjoy book one more than two, but the ending still holds its own and portrays redemption, female empowerment by means of reclaiming your voice, your story, and your truth, and recognizing the many faces of sacrifice. This series is easy to enjoy, the characters are memorable, flawed, and likable. And most importantly, I feel the love between the two main characters is actually believable. I still stand by not loving the insta-lust in book one, but it’s clear to me they do love, like, and respect one another. I’m going to miss my fishwife and firehand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
Loved this one just a much as the first. Wonderful conclusion, but I do find myself really wishing there was more to come for these books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Slavery, Grief
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Vomit, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, War
Moderate: Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
Thankfully I liked this one so much more than book 1! It took me a little bit to get into this because I found that I had forgotten a good amount from the previous book, but once I got past that, this became much more gripping.
The story was much more compelling than the first book and I also enjoyed the characters more. I wasn’t originally convinced that I would read this at all but Libby had a “skip the line” copy come available so I decided to grab it on a whim and I’m glad that I did!
The story was much more compelling than the first book and I also enjoyed the characters more. I wasn’t originally convinced that I would read this at all but Libby had a “skip the line” copy come available so I decided to grab it on a whim and I’m glad that I did!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, War
Moderate: Confinement, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Torture, Vomit