Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Ragnarok Unwound</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>Ragnarok Unwound</i> by Kristin Jacques is a refreshing and exhilarating journey through a world where myth and modernity collide in the most delightful ways. Jacques has crafted a novel that is both fantastical and deeply relatable, blending Norse mythology with contemporary issues to create a story that feels both timeless and timely.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The protagonist, Ikepela Ives, is a likable and complex character. Jacques' portrayal of Ives is both nuanced and engaging, as she navigates her new responsibilities with a blend of humor, bravery, and vulnerability. Ives' journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, making her an endearing and relatable heroine.

One of the standout elements of <i>Ragnarok Unwound</i> is Jacques' skillful weaving of Norse mythology into the narrative. The author breathes new life into familiar mythological figures, giving them depth and personality that resonate with modern readers. The interactions between gods, monsters, and mortals are rich with detail and brimming with intrigue.

The pacing of the novel is well-executed, maintaining a balance between action-packed sequences and moments of introspection. Jacques' writing style is both descriptive and accessible, allowing readers to vividly picture the world she has created without being bogged down by excessive detail. The dialogue is sharp and witty, adding to the overall charm of the book.

Additionally, the supporting cast of characters is diverse and memorable, each contributing significantly to the story. From the enigmatic Loki to the fierce Valkyries, every character is well-developed and plays a crucial role in the unfolding drama. Their interactions with Ives add layers of complexity and emotion to the narrative.

<i>Ragnarok Unwound</i> is not just a tale of impending doom. It is also a story about friendship, courage, and the importance of embracing one's true self. Jacques' exploration of these themes is both heartfelt and thought-provoking, making the novel resonate on a deeper level.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Ragnarok Unwound</i> by Kristin Jacques is a must-read for fans of fantasy and mythology. It is a captivating and well-crafted story. It offers a perfect blend of action, humour, and heart. Jacques has created a world that readers will want to revisit again and again, and a heroine who will inspire and entertain. This book is a true gem in the fantasy genre.

Interesting premise, it was a fast read and it kept me entertained. I didn’t especially care for main characters and writing sometimes felt lacking in terms of showing emotions and character development. Some of the relationships in the book felt forced and happened too fast but overall it was enjoyable and I like the mythology aspect of the book

[The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

DNF'd at 15%. Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't for me.

I really struggled to keep up with the number of character viewpoints and the pacing felt slightly rushed for me. That being said, the combining of Norse and Hawaiian mythology is a really unique idea and I would definitely continue to read any further books.

This book had an interesting premise, exploring multiple mythologies and pantheons set in modern times. The world building could be more deftly done, but overall it is a fun mythological romp and a solid light fantasy read. For fans of Rick Riordan and maybe even Christopher Moore.

For fan of mythology, adventures and deciding your own fate. There were a lot of characters to keep up with but it was a fun adventure. Also keep in mind this is an Urban Fantasy so if you don't like that type of setting I wouldn't recommend it.

Ikepele lives with her best friend and is tries to ignore the power she has. She doesn't know how to control her power. She makes friend with A Valkyrie who needs her help. They meet additional characters along their journey to change fate.

Love a good urban fantasy, love a good mythological retelling. This book combines those two elements, and it does so extremely well. The characters are fantastic, and the action is particularly well-done. Overall, a highly enjoyable read.

I love various mythologies, so I was super interested in reading “ Ragnarök Unwound”. This story feature Norse Mythology which I am familiar with, but I admit is not my go to favorite. The story itself was good I just really wanted more development. The worldbuilding was a little confusing, the characters were underdeveloped, and at times it was a bit wordy. The concept was good, but the execution was lacking a little.

Good day! Before anything else, I would like to extend my deepest, sincerest gratitude for sending me a digital review copy of this book (via NetGalley). Thank you very much for the opportunity!

Unfortunately, I am sad to say that I have lost interest in this particular title, and consequently, I have decided against finishing it. Forcing myself to finish a book I am disinterested in (solely for the sake of finishing it) can only negatively impact the entirety of my reading experience, which, in turn, could result in me writing an unfairly negative review. That is a circumstance I hope to avoid. With that said, I believe that the best course of action is for me to simply not read it and to refrain from publicly posting any feedback regarding this book.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from. Again, thank you for the lovely opportunity!

Kristin Jacques draws from different mythologies like Norse and Hawaiian to create a fun romp to change destiny. Ikepela Ives comes from a legacy is interesting and new to me.

This book has a lot going for it. There's the premise and several tropes that I enjoy: mythological characters set in modern day settings, magical creatures, a quest and adventure. This had me from the beginning. However, it was written in a cumbersome style where the POV bounced around in a confusing way and the characters and plot fell flat at times. It failed to hold my interest all the way through which was possibly because I was not the intended audience.
#RagnarokUnwound #Netgalley #BroadUniverse

I won't be publishing a review, or giving this book a rating on my blog or goodreads as I couldn't manage to finish it. I love Norse Mythology and was excited to read this book but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I've given it a 2 star rating as I thought what I read was well written but since I couldn't finish the rest I'm unable to give it a higher rating.

DNF at 15%
The writing skipped around a lot, changed perspective without warning which is confusing, and was the plot was pretty unsupported. I lost interest and started reading something else and I never went back to it.

An Urban Fantasy where all the pantheons of Gods exist. Ikepele Ives lives with her best friend and tries to ignore the power flowing under her finger tips. Her mother left her with her father and with no knowledge how to control her power. Until one night she has only once tried to use her powers and it didn't work very well now she has a young Valkyrie asking for her help if not then the end of days for the Norse pantheon is coming. Even though Ragnarok is a prophesied event Hildr, the Valkyrie is telling her otherwise and she needs Ives powers to untangle fate and stop Ragnarok. Together with her best friend Jules she sets off with Hildr to find Loki.

They met his daughter Hel and then Fenrir and Jormungand, who like their father have the ability to shapeshift. With each of them the ties that bind them to Ragnarok get stronger and the more energy she needs that her mortal body can barely contain. By the time she finds Loki, who has escaped from his prison, he is so entwined in Fate's threads she almost kills herself to separate him from Fate's thread. Meanwhile Hel, Fenrir, Jormungand, Hildr, and Jules are fighting off the Frost Giants. Back on Ives home island of Hawaii her father and, unbeknownst to Ives, her Great Aunt the Goddess Pele are fighting off the giants as well.

Overall, it was a fantastic story. I love mythology retold stories and I really enjoyed this version of Loki and his giant children. I love how Pele was thrown in the mix too, as a lover of geology and if I had been smarter I would have gone into volcanology; Pele was the first Hawaiian God I had ever heard of, years ago. I loved all the characters. Ives is a strong female protagonist who is at first trying to avoid her own fate but is thrown into it without warning or a choice. Ives also learns everything her father never told her about her mother. There is a hint of romance for future books but mostly it's character driven and story strong. I love the idea of a Fate Cipher a woman who untangles fate when it gets a little to fubar. I really hope there are going to be more.

I am enthralled with norse mythology, so the title had me hooked. Upon reading, the story was great and I really enjoyed it

Although a fun and inventive read (I especially enjoy how diverse our usage of mythology is becoming! No more just Greek mythology in YA novels), Kristin Jacques might have done well with a little bit more time spent deciphering her own plot and characters. Ragnarok Unwound is a good read, but forgettable.

The problems are that, although the writing is solid, the plot is unforgivingly boring. Our main character, Ikepela Ives, is thrust into the mess of a millennium when she and her friends (fae folk!) are forced into helping a young Valkyrie stop the impending doom of Ragnarok. After all, Ives is the "Fate Cipher" - although whatever that means is still a mystery to me.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book. The beginning started off strongly (and comedically) and the ending did its fair share of tying up loose ends and whatnots while still leaving Ives and her merry band of mythological friends free and open for any future end-of-the-world parties to stop in future novels.

(Quite honestly though, the Fate Cipher is oddly reminiscent of the Greek Fates, but who am I to judge?)

2.5 stars.

Ikepela Ives is a mortal, but her immortal mother had the ability to unbind fate. That ability was passed to Ives when she turned eighteen, and she had done her best to avoid dealing with the power as best as she could out of anger at her mother for disappearing. The problem is, a very determined Valkyrie needs her help to stop Ragnarok.

This is a wonderful premise that involves Norse mythology. Ives (do not use her first name, she really doesn't like it) would rather spend time with her father, who is a mortal descendant of the Goddess Pele's mortal sibling, as well as the lost fae Jules that she had found and is her best friend. She lives in Hawaii and adores her home and the life she has; trying to be a Fate Cipher would rather get in the way of that. The Valkyrie is very determined to get her help, and the other Norse gods are starting to get involved. That means there is an almost constant stream of action, from when the Jotun arrive at Ives' father's home to look for her, to journeying to Hel, to Vegas, to New York and the in between of the Fates themselves. We also see the mystery surrounding Ives' mother and why she had to disappear when Ives was a baby.

The legends here are not what people might think of thanks to the Marvel comics and the Cinematic Universe. This follows the traditional Norse legends more closely, with Loki being called the Father of Lies, having red hair, and a series of monstrous children that are also caught up in the prophecy of Ragnarok. He's a mostly absent kind of figure in the beginning of the novel, as he is trying to escape his fate as best as he can while it winds even tighter around him, but the flashes of personality we see of him as the novel progresses are definitely fun and interesting. I adored the idea of Hel being a geeky gamer, and was just as sad about Ives being the first one to truly hug her since Loki's imprisonment.

All in all, this is a wonderful start to a new series of novels exploring Ives' abilities and mythology, which are some of my favorite things in magical realism books.

Loved reading this! I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book is so much more than I first thought! So good!

The idea of this novel is really cool, the cover is nice too and I always love a mix of mythology and modernity in books, so I was very excited for the book.
The book is mostly focused on the adventure and the 'quest' or 'hero journey' with some modern bits, some magic, some strange creatures, gods, giants, family issues, intrigue and mischief and Las Vegas.

I love the concept and I liked some of the characters, like the Valkyrie and Loki's children, especially Hel.

But still it took me ages to read it. At first it bothered me that the point of views changed without warning. I feel like it could have been resolved with just stating the perspective in the beginning of a chapter and such a small detail can change the reading experience drastically. For me personally it would have been better if I didn't have to question whose perspective I was witnessing from chapter to chapter when the story was new to me anyways.
Then the descriptions also didn't draw me in and the plot didn't keep me focused as much as I thought it would. There is a lot going on and partly I felt like it was too much to keep straight what exactly was happening and what it meant.

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I personally really enjoyed this book and expect it is the first of a series. Her take on Asatru and the Gods of such is both fanciful and has an element of truth to those of us that have read translations and attempted original of various texts where many things didn't quite add up. The flowing boisterous poetic form of the Nords of old was intentionally told in ways of things having double meanings as well as hidden ones so always there is speculation. There are some very serious and definite elements to Ragnarok [the apocalypse, end of times] which has always chilled me to the bones as they describe roughly the types of weapons now at the disposal of idiots but this delves into what causes it and how to try and stop or lessen it and the reluctant adventures of a girl that is a bit more than the average girl whether she likes it or not!