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A review by ashton_reads_
The Last Shadow Warrior by Sam Subity
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!