From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking is the second book of the Valkyrie duology. The series is a young adult fantasy with a touch of romance inspired by Norse Mythology. This second installment picks up the adventure from the end of Between the Blade and the Heart so the series is definitely best read in order and not as a standalone.

The main character of the series, Malin, is a Valkyrie in training who readers discovered in the first book had her world turned upside down. Valkyrie’s are meant to keep a balance in the supernatural world by following their orders and taking the life of an immortal when it is their time to go. Malin’s mother had broken an order and let an immortal live years before and now that one life has caused chaos throughout the years and it’s Malin’s turn to set everything right and save the world.

Starting off the series I found Malin to be a somewhat unlikable character in her brash nature but as the story went on and I learned of her background and relationship with her mother I slowly came to like her. In this second book it felt as if she’s grown even more from the first which was a definite plus to the story.

There was also a love triangle that began in the first book of the series with an ex-girlfriend of Malin’s and a new male love interest. To me the romance was a bit of a back burner in this installment and was left to work itself out in the background of all of the action and adventure so I was glad that didn’t get pushed more.

There certainly was plenty of action in this installment to further the story from going anywhere from a trek into the underworld to Central America. As much as I loved the characters in Belize having been there before myself it was also extremely easy to picture them in the underworld and all the creative creatures along the way with the authors descriptions. The story had a few slower moments here and there but for the most part I really enjoyed this addition and the ending to the story.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The story turns up the action and places the relationship aspects on the back burner with Malin going off on a mission from Odin in order to retrieve his sword from the Underworld as well as rescuing Asher from the Underworld. Once the sword is retrieved, the balance between immortals and mortals would be complete.

I will be perfectly honest, this sequel wasn’t as strong as the previous installment. The plot wasn’t as thoroughly planned out and was over simplified compared to the first book. I loved the action, but love triangles are over with and need to be taken out of YA literature for good.

Instead, this book needed more complex scenes, problems, etc.. It just needed…..more. Get rid of the triangle, add more mythology based issues, betrayal – things like that. Push the limits, give the readers something to munch on even after the final page is turned.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from netgalley.com in exchange for my review.

Book two of Amanda Hocking’s Valkyrie series, From the Earth to the Shadows is at it’s core, a creation myth story. Hocking jumps right into the storyline events at the moment after the first book ends; with Malin and her friends regrouping after the big boss fight. Throughout this novel, Malin continues to fight, continues to find items to help stop the big bads from destroying the world around her, and dealing with the coming-to-terms moments of what it means to be her. Fan favorite characters appear back in this book (yay for Bowie) and we’re also treated to a few new players.

Hocking’s writing is crisp and action-oriented. The scenes fly by and there’s little room for introspection or sleep. This book is fast paced. It’s like we went from setting up an initial sequence of bad events to a whole new level of apocalyptic occurrence in a compressed timeline. Some readers may enjoy this quick pace, however I personally feel the characters and their interactions suffer from the speed. It feels like Hocking wanted to wrap this book up so she could move onto something more inspiring.

With this title wrapping up the series, I wished the events in this book to be broken down across two books. I wanted to see more of the world building that Hocking treated us in book one. I wanted more of those moments of contemplation for what is going on and how the character’s actions affect the rest of the human and immortal worlds. I think fans should've been treated to a three book series.

It occurred to me, after finishing From the Earth to the Shadows that this series describes an creation myth as it unfolds. The climax of From the Earth to the Shadows and the ritual of making everyone mortal sets this series up for more stories. The plot may have followed Malin around, but the story is about a world where the rules of who dies and who lives has changed and these struggles could form the basis for more stories. Even Malin acknowledges that there is a place for her and what the old valkyries did in this new world. I’d love to see more books featuring Malin, Oona, Asher, and Samuel, and the others. I want to see how they grow and become leaders during the world’s transition period. It’s my hope Hocking returns to this series later on and writes more on how the change affects everyone.

From the Earth to the Shadows was a thrilling read full of gods and goddesses, magic and mythology, and also love, family, and friendship. Some of the ending feels like it was wrapped up a bit too neatly, but overall, I enjoyed where the story took me. I recommend it for those who like fantasy or paranormal YA books with a bit of romance. It helps to have read the first book, but Hocking does a good job of reintroducing the major characters, so you won’t be lost for long if you don’t read it.

I gave this book 3.75 stars. As far as second books go, this wasn’t my favorite. Of course I still enjoyed it, it just wasn’t as good as I found the first one, or at least, it didn’t surpass it as I would expect out of a sequel.



This story follows a teenage bisexual valkyrie, Malin, and her quest to right her mother’s past mistakes. Now since this is the second book I won’t give to much away about it other than what we’ve established in the first book. If you haven’t read the first book yet maybe don’t read this.



While there were so many interesting aspects of this books and the previous book, there were times where I found myself zoning out a bit. We get introduced to some new characters that we don’t really get a connection to.



Despite some of the negative things I’ve said about this book I still think it’s worth a read. I still think that there are so many incredible aspects about this duology. Also, I must say once again, I think this is the only realistic love triangle ever to exist in literature.



I wanted more Asher, but it was part of the plot for him not to really be around, but dammit I wanted more. I felt like I was being deprived of him during the long stretches of his absence.



I loved how the twists in this novel forced the protagonist to question everything she knows. To question everything she had been led to believe her entire life. I love the trope of characters breaking out of the mold and thinking for themselves.



Overall, I think that if you have read the first book it would be worth giving this book a read instead of leaving things where they were with the last book.

This book is the second part to the Valkyrie series and you do need to read the first one before you read this one. Overall the book was good. The book did lag a bit in some places. I am happy the whole triangle between Mal, Quinn and Asher was put to an end at the beginning of this book. A lot does happen in this book so the world doesn't come to an end. It does make you wonder if we really have free will or if we are predestine to live the lives we do live. The book does have a satisfying ending.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Some reviews are really hard to write. This is one of them. While I enjoyed aspects of From the Earth to the Shadows, others I didn’t, making this just an okay read for me. I was on the fence about reading this one simply because of my feelings about the first book Between the Blade and the Heart. But after how it ended, I wanted to continue the series and find out what would happen to Malin, Asher, and their friends.

From the Earth to the Shadows picks up three days after the end of the first book. I liked this because it meant there was little to catch the reader up on, and I was able to jump right into the story. The author does give a brief review of the events that occurred leading up to the opening scene. It didn’t feel repetitive, but like a reminder of where Malin is and what is about to happen.

Unlike the first book, this book is filled with fights scenes. While this made for an exciting read, it also became dull. The characters kept finding themselves in situations that were conveniently solved without actually growing the characters in any form or fashion or even really adding to the plot. Rather than driving the plot, these scenes slowed the story down. And don’t get me started on the love triangle. This was an issue I had with the first book and I really thought it was resolved at the end of that book, but I was wrong *mentally rolling my eyes*

The book’s saving grace was it’s continued world-building. I liked the addition of Odin and the quest he sends Malin on. I love Hocking‘s ability to blend mythology with a future urban world. I liked the mythological creatures Malin faces and even her everyday struggles. However these things can’t carry the book.

Overall From the Earth to the Shadows was just an okay read for me. I honestly found myself skimming during some scenes and savoring others. I couldn’t empathize with Malin, and I detested the triangle. If you read and enjoyed the first book, I believe you will be happy with this one. But honestly, I could have taken it or left it.

In the conclusion to Hocking’s Valkrie Duology we see the conclusion to Malin’s journey. The Underworld is in a state of chaos which threatens the mortal world. Malin has a lot of work set out before her. She has to protect the mortals, her friends, and those in her world.

I was a little disappointed with it. It’s pacing was a bit slow, there was the overdone love triangle, and it felt like nothing had changed or developed since the first book. Everything was placed in just the right spot at the right time. I skimmed through several scenes and didn’t find myself invested in what was happening like I usually am.

I received an e-ARC copy via NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

It took me awhile to read Between the Blade and the Heart. I think it's something to do with the writing. This second book was severely lacking in my opinion. I think the premise of the whole Valkyrie theme is super cool. For a second book, I don't believe there should be so much info dumping. If these books were supposed to be sort of separate but still in the universe than I would understand the need to inform the readers of previous happenings. However, this is a sequel and it's just clunky to me. I enjoyed Between the Blade and the Heart and I really hoped this sequel would step it up, but I was just not a fan. I didn't really care much for the characters. Asher was okay in the first one but in this, his character development was not existent. I'm giving From the Earth to the Shadows 3 stars because there were things I didn't like, but I'm sure someone would actually like the book.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

So today I have a review of the second and final book in the Valkyrie duology by Amanda Hocking called From the Earth to the Shadows (referred to as FEttS throughout the remainder of this review). If you aren’t familiar with the series, please check out my review of the first book here. Scroll down to the bottom of this review for a giveaway of a paperback finished copy of the book! Spoilers for the first book starting in the next paragraph. You’ve been warned!

The second book picks up a few days after the end of the first one: Malin, a Valkyrie, receives orders from Odin to retrieve special objects in order to prepare for an upcoming battle against immortals threatening to break out of the Underworld. Having read a few other books in between the first book and this one, I had trouble with the creatures that were referred to throughout the book. Where the first book took more time to describe and explain some of these creatures, FEttS glossed over them and I found myself not as welcome to the world of the book.

The pacing of FEtts was more steady, especially when compared to the first book, whose conflict was hastily resolved in a few sentences. FEttS; however, still has some issues. Yes, the pacing was more reasonable, and there was action sprinkled throughout, but it still felt like it was dragging for me.

There was still a lack of character development for me in FEttS like in the first book, but I appreciated that the love triangle was not the main focus this time around. The relationship between Asher and Malin felt superficial to me. There was no development, just insta-love.

What I did appreciate Malin’s struggle of not knowing whether she had free will or was predestined to the life she was given. In the end that choice ends up being hers, which impacts Malin. I feel like the execution of this idea throughout the book could’ve been better, but I like thinking back to parts of the book and debating whether what happened was pre-destined or not.

Overall, FEttS was a better read for me than the first book, but it still wasn’t perfect. I would recommend this second book, especially if you were on the fence (like I was) about it after reading the first one.

From the Earth to the Shadows continues Malin’s journey in her quest to avenge her mother’s death. Only this time the stakes are a little higher as the Underworld is in a state of unrest, threatening the mortal world, and Malin has much more to lose. She and her ex have formed a tenuous truce, Asher has managed to burrow into her heart, and both are just part of the small group that Malin has grown to care for. Protecting the mortals is one side of the fight, protecting those around her is a whole different battle, and she has to somehow try and save everyone while also protecting her heart. The previous installment showed just how tough Malin is, but this installment showed that underneath all the gruff, there’s a vulnerability, and certainly one that could lead to impulsiveness.

The pacing this time around was just as quick and energized as the previous installment, and I’m happy to report there’s quite a bit more action involved. Which is a given, actually, considering all that’s at stake. There’s also a whole lot of character growth as each character slowly but surely acknowledges circumstances and finally manages to rein in all of the emotions and past hurts they’ve been grappling with. The inventive storyline of this duology is certainly my favorite part with its blend of fantasy, sci-fi elements, and mythology, but it’s truly the characters and their relationships that make it shine.

From The Earth to the Shadows brings Malin’s journey to a close and while I’m sad to see it it end, the ending was a satisfying one. Tough women warriors in a futuristic setting, a bisexual MC, a little romance, and a whole lot of action with a little Norse mythology thrown in for good measure all blended together for a truly interesting tale, and certainly one that I’ll recommend in the future.

The conclusion to the thrilling Valkyrie duology. The first book I struggled with, so I was surprised to have been gifted a copy of the conclusion to review. I thought maybe after reading the first story that this one would have won me over a wee more. but unfortunately that didn't happen. It was too slow, I do NOT like love triangles, this trope is done, like we have to move on from this trope that literally just gets used so damn much, I have read so many ya book with triangles and then recently I have read some with NONE and ya know what they are the best bloody books. I much prefer Adult books, this book just mailed that last nail of mine into the coffin! I found myself skimming, not interested in the characters and that alone says it all.

Valkyries and nonstop action. I loved this!

I'm all for myths and Valkyries, but for some reason, I couldn't click with this. Mal is an interesting character, very head-strong and aggressive. She does whatever she thinks is best and at times, it worked out, but for me, it just felt like it all worked out too well. I couldn't agree with the way things went and... eh, I think it just wasn't for me. Like out of everyone, Marlow's one of my favorite characters, and she's not even in here. But I'm still a fan of the Valkyries and Odin and the underworld so even though it felt like it took me a long time to read this, I think others could be interested.

My blog doesn’t give half stars so I’m rounding this up to 4.

I was so excited to receive this book for early review. I had read the first one and absolutely loved it! I had to know what happened with Malin and her gang. I wish I could say I was just as excited when I finished reading but I’m not.

I really don’t know what happened. I don’t know why this one fell short. I’m still sitting here wondering if maybe it was just me.

First let’s start with what I loved. I love reading about Mari and what she accomplished throughout the book. I love the love story between her and Asher. I love that it was action packed and even though at times I felt myself skimming over the pages then it would pick up and I was just as engrossed as I was when I started reading it. The new characters and the old kept my interest peeked.

I didn’t love how descriptive it was at times. How some of the scenes felt like fillers to make the book longer. How I kept losing interest. A great book draws you in from the first page and doesn’t let you go until the end. This book was good but not great.

Now saying all that I still liked it. It kept my interest not to dnf it and I was able to finish it feeling somewhat satisfied. Amanda Hocking is a very talented author and because this one fell flat doesn’t make me less of a fan.

I encourage everyone to read it and judge the book by your experience. I’ve had a lot going on this week and that could’ve affected my reading style. It really is a good book and I’m going to revisit it later when things calm down.

With the fate of the world resting on their shoulders, Malin and her friends piece together clues from a long-forgotten prophecy to battle against their world's demise in Amanda Hocking's From the Earth to the Shadows.

In the aftermath of correcting her mother's inaction against a particular immortal that ultimately lead to her death, Malin is determined to stop the resulting monstrous plans of an immortal from the underworld. In trying to do so, Malin's friend cum lover Asher is held hostage in the underworld as a pawn in the grand plan to unleash underworld beings into the living world. As Malin works to accomplish the tasks Odin sets her, she manages to release Asher from captivity and gather the supplies required to stand a fighting chance of bringing a halt to the odd, supernatural phenomenon overtaking her native Chicago on the eve of the earth's demise. 

Picking up where the first installment left off, the narrative moves swiftly into the next bout of action that Malin undertakes in her mission. Though an entertaining idea and escape from reality, elements of the story were over-explained, particularly things that were explained in Between the Blade and the Heart, too much was happening without deeper development into the hows and whys to back the constant action, and the slow-moving plot was too convenient and simplistic to be believable. Including more beings with unique traits and abilities in this second of the duology, there's more opportunity for something to capture reader attention and interest; however, the characters and the decisions they make are relatively one-dimensional and lacking depth to engender genuine investment in their fate.

Overall, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

I would give it 3.5 stars*
I was super impressed by the world that Hocking cont. to expand in this series. I loved the various myths we were introduced to. I loved how we experiences both the "normal" world and also the supernatural world in this book. It was a super fast pace read. I was never super invested in the main romance but I really love Ash IN general. I also loved the supporting characters and their expanded role in book two. I would highly rec. reading these two books back to back because book 1 and book 2 are two parts of the same story. I grew to enjoy the lead throughout this series and she reminds me alot of faith from buffy and her morality choices. I would def read more by this author in the future. The highlights of this book is the world building and the supporting characters and the fast pace adventure. The parts I struggled with at points was the romance but I still really enjoyed this read.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Malin is on a mission to avenge her mother’s death, but as the Underworld threatens to rise and wreak havoc on the world, she must head to Central America in search of the one weapon with the power to save humanity. As she journeys to the depths of darkness, she will encounter both friend and foe, while knowing she may not survive this terrible battle. One thing for sure, she cannot fail, or chaos will rule.

FROM THE EARTH TO THE SHADOWS the latest from Amanda Hocking, known for her high octane, rapid-fire pacing and chaotic atmosphere definitely lives up to her creative talents in those respects. There seemed to be a heavy dose of over-explaining, too much attention to the tiniest of sideline details. Lots of action, lots of angst, and maybe just a little too much happening all at once to do justice to the characters involved followed by “filler” that could get tedious. I couldn’t connect with some of the events and the almost love triangle was just off somehow.

Certainly an entertaining read, but I wasn’t riveted.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Wednesday Books!

Duology: Valkyrie - Book 2
Publisher: Wednesday Books (April 24, 2018)
Publication Date: April 24, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Paperback: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com

In the first book of the Valkerie duology we follow Malin as she tries to right her mothers dangerous mistake not knowing how far reaching the consequences will end up spreading. In this sequel we get to see the devasting consequences in action as the Underworld tries to rise up and Mal scrambles to put a stop to it before its too late. Malin and her group of friends go on a quest to Central America to procure the only weapon that might just help them win this fight. The futuristic world mixed with a variety of creatures and mythology was fun.

After reading the first book and giving it a 3.5 Stars I was hoping this would step it up a notch. I really wanted to love this more than the first book, but the pace was a bit too slow for me. I ended up prefering the first book since my biggest issue with it was how the bi love triangle was handled. I didnt like Mal kissing her ex Quinn while knowing Asher had feelings for her. It just perpetuates the idea that bisexuals cant be happy with just one gender. I would have preferred she just be good friends with Quinn, like she was with Jude.

Besides that I felt like the Malins feelings for Asher developped a little quickly. She would contradict herself by saying she didnt love him yet, but still acting like she did. Thats not to say that I didnt love Asher because I did. He was a sweet love interests I just wish the whole thing would have happened differently. I did love the friendship between Mal and her best friend. Oona was just such a great friend and Im really happy we got to see more of her. She's always trying to keep the peace and taking care of Mal. Im a sucker for animal companions so Mals pet was a great addition.

I eventually started skimming the details and was still able to follow along. I honestly think this book would have benefited from less time spent on descriptions and more time spent on making the plot less convenient. I felt like the pace dragged, but the plot was rushed which makes for a weird combination. Just one example would be how a girl just shows up on Mals doorstep with a key to hell. It was just so convenient that I kept expecting some kind of betrayal. I did like the concept of the plot I just wish it was excuted differently. Im happy the duology is complete and we got a good resolution at the end.

From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking
Series: Valkyrie Book #2
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publish Date: April 24, 2018
Pages: 336

Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher Wednesday Books for the ebook ARC of From the Earth to the Shadows by Amanda Hocking in exchange for an honest review.

Malin finds herself with new allies and new enemies, while dealing with dark revelations about her life and her world. Her quest for truth leads to places she never thought possible. She has never been one to shy away from a fight. With all of her strength and determination, will it be enough to save the world or will it be too late?

I give this book a rating of 4 stars. This is the second book in the series, and it picked up right where it had left off. I really enjoyed it but, I found it kind of slow in the beginning.

I really like Amanda Hocking’s books, she is one of my absolute favourite authors! I did read the first book in the Valkyrie series, Between the Blade and the Heart. I recommend reading this book and series.