Wow, I am blown away. This is yet another amazing Amy Harmon novel. Every time I pick up one of her book I know I’m in for a treat!

I loved the world Amy Harmon created in The First Girl Child. It was so interesting to immerse myself in the world building. I liked all of the characters, however, it was hard for me to focus since there were four main characters. I would have liked to see a more in depth look at each character. Overall, this book kept me entertained throughout and I would recommend it to people who enjoy fantasy books.

Amy Harmon is able to pack so much authentic emotion into her work. I loved The First Girl Child. The villain was absolutely a villain, the heroes were absolutely heroic. It’s a modern myth done in the best way possible.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. THank you NetGalley!

Amy Harmon will ALWAYS be one of my favorite authors. While this isn't my favorite genre, I love all of her work.. including this one. Her writing style is unique and beautiful. Her characters are always well-written, and you always feel like you're in the book.
Check this book out!!

The First Girl Child was masterfully crafted. I loved it. I was fully engaged, immersed and invested in the world, characters and their story from the very beginning. It was an emotional rollercoaster but I hope that there will be more stories set in this world and about these characters. I highly recommend this book.

When I started reading this book, I was expecting a love story between 2 people as Harmon usually writes. What I got was so much more.

This book was a sweeping fantasy with a brilliant cast of characters and 2 epic love stories.

THE FIRST GIRL CHILD felt like a cross between THE BIRD AND THE SWORD and GAME OF THRONES.

I don't read many adult titles these days, but this one caught my eye and I am so very glad that I decided to give it a try. I really have to say WHERE IS MY MOVIE!! Because, this one hit it out of the park and I would love to see this one on the big screen. The story is one that made my heart race and one that I could not put down. This is the first book that I have read by Amy Harmon but, it will not be the last.

I finished this book early this morning and have marinated on it all day. This is the type of book The First Girl Child is. I didn't devour it in one sitting, rather I read it over a period of a few days. That's not my normal reading habit. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. You will want to read it slow and savor each nuance of the plot, characters and storytelling. It's like a fine European meal, where you receive each course, taste it and let the flavors explode on your mouth. Then you sit back and reflect on how it made you feel and how it went together so perfectly. This isn't a fast food meal where you devour it. Savor and enjoy this purely magical event in story telling.

Amy Harmon took a genre and made it her own. This is a fantasy/historical fiction told in third person, loosely based on Norse mythology. Where the characters are mighty and could stand on their own. But that's not it. Then we get the setting. The setting could easily be seen so vividly through the details and the words. I could see myself walking through the halls of Temple Hill with Alba and Bayr. You could feel the tension of the older characters and rulers and feel the love and naiveness from the younger characters.

The First Girl Child takes place over many years. From the birth of Bayr to his young adulthood. It reads rather quickly, even though it is over an extended period of time. We see him grow from a baby to a powerful child, to a protector and then to a warrior for his clan. He is a character that bleeds right off the pages. I could feel his thoughts, his love, his protectiveness and his anger. He is MORE.

Then we have Alba. Throughout the story, it's almost like we are to have these two characters, Alba and Bayr, as the main two. But she seemed to be more supporting, along with Dagmar, Ghost, and Banruud. But we couldn't have Alba without Bayr. Those two went hand in hand. Their stories intertwined in ways that they were destined to from Desdemona's curse to the clan they were raised in.

"We are abused. We are used. We are bartered and abandoned. But rarely are we loved. So be it. From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Sailor for any of you to love."

From the rulers and keepers, to the women and daughters, to the slaves, workers and warriors, this book had it all. It almost reminded me of an episode of Games of Thrones. Where we have certain clans all within a certain area that are fighting to show their strength and fighting to represent their people. I don't want to say too much else as I fear I will give away too much. But I will say again and again that Amy Harmon has a way with words that paint a beautiful scene that can jump right off the pages. The First Girl Child is no different. And while I am content and pleased with the entirety of this book, I wouldn't mind revisiting this world with other characters. I just fear that some character's happiness has passed.
I hope you take a chance on a well told story of love and war, lies and deceit, family and honor. It starts out a little slow, but progresses along quite nicely and has quite the climax that will be sure to please any lover of battle.

I’M STILL STUNNED.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, 47North, for the e-ARC and opportunity or read The First Girl Child. All opinions are my own.

I’m sitting here trying to write this review, but I’m not even sure where to start. I absolutely love everything Amy Harmon writes. And this was no exception. TFGC was different from her usual books (generally contemporary, she does have 2 that are fantasy). It only goes to show she can write, regardless of the genre. AND I AM HERE FOR ALL OF IT.

One of the big themes I noticed was about mother’s. And all different types too. Ones who were unloved and unwanted, had their babies taken from them, ached to have a child, and more. This personally resonated with me (because I am a Mom) and struck chord after chord of the fierce love and protection mother’s have for their babes.

A lot was also focused on the true need and affect women have on the world. We are all so unique and divinely inspired and have immense amounts of talent to give to the world in various forms. It was interesting to feel what it would be like if girls did stop being born. And what an awful place that would be.

BAYR. I so deeply love this character. This book is around 400 pages and it felt long because of the intense connection that was built watching Bayr from birth to growing into a man. As he learns to speak it’s noticed that he has a stutter. The way Harmon uses his weakness as a strength was everything. There were some allegories woven in that were stunning. I cheered Bayr on in every way possible. Watching his relationship with Alba had me staring at my book contemplating what gods I was going to have to pray to for them to get a happy ending. This was a relationship built out of pure childhood love. It was so achingly sweet and precious and beautiful.

I loved so many of these side characters too. Dagmar, Ivo, Ghost, The Keepers, Dred, seriously, everyone. Dagmar was the best POV to watch Bayr grow up and his heart-shattering relationship with Ghost will bring you to your knees. It was tender and built on so many things they both needed. I loved Dred (Dagmar’s Dad, Bay’s Grandfather) because his immediate acceptance of his grandson has me feelings all the feels. I enjoyed every connection I built with these characters.

Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors for a reason. Her ability to bring out these characters to life and create magnificent worlds filled with heartbreak and hope always leave me breathless.

Overall audience notes:

Adult fantasy romance
Language: none
Romance: kisses to make-outs, mentions of wanting to lie with another, some vague mentions of having done so, but not descriptive
Violence: knives, murder, battle
Trigger warnings: childbirth resulting in mother’s death, suicidal thoughts, someone with a disability being referred to as an idiot and bullied

Inspired by Norse mythology comes a totally different tale from Harmon, but excellent nonetheless. A man promises to raise his sister’s child as she succumbs to death and simultaneously curses the land. Only the child can be their salvation.

I loved the characters, the mysticism and political elements of how they chose their leaders. I think I would’ve liked a bit more about the rune magic but overall the pacing was excellent and the time jump was executed perfectly. I really enjoyed the nuance to the hero character and the stark contrast of the villain. Everything was just so well done.

I have absolutely no clue how she does it every time. I don't understand how she can get something so incredible and fascinating together, but she always does!!! I'm talking about a genres, that before Amy Harmon, was a absolute no go for me. Please? Fantasy/Paranormal /Historical? Ha! Never ever. But Amys books had opened me up to try and get to know a new world and to never condemn a genre before trying it. 🤷🏻‍♀ After every book by Amy, I'm a complete emotional wreck. 😩 I didn't want it to end 😩 and now I can't stop thinking about it 😩
Oh my goodness, this book was so beautiful and perfect and so fantastic written. I'm really bewitched 🥰 I don't even know how to describe this incredible experience.
The story takes place in a time when the fear of the gods and the rugged power of the warriors ruled the world.
Where magic powers existed and the fight for the kingdom was fought with bare hands 🔥
This book takes us in the hard times of the forefathers. In a time where women and men had to fight for their rights to be safe and protected.
A world, in which woman and man fight side by side to survive.
And in this whole mess of chaos, a love story emerges, a story that begins with a curse and death at childbirth.
There main characters are not just two people in love, there are several that have also the lead role in this story.
This book is extremely emotional and heartbreaking, but also packed with action,  excitement, fear and romantic.
I don't want to spoil too much and give you the chance to experience this story for yourself, therefore only one more thing: THIS IS A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE! I loved every millisecond of this book and I'll definitely reread this like all Amy Harmon books ❤
I recommend this book to everyone! 🤷🏻‍♀

Love, love, love this book!! Great characters, great story, very well written - a true page-turner. This is book about many kinds of love - for land and country, romantic love, familial love, love of a higher power(s), brotherly love...all woven together in a very engaging tale. There really are four main human characters, Bayr, Alba, Dagmar and Ghost as well as Saylok - which is the island country they live in. There is romance (as mentioned), mystery, intrigue, betrayal and redemption. I loved everything about this book and am hooked as a fan of Amy Harmon; I plan to read more of her books. This is a great beach read if you have a few days in a row to relax and read at the beach. Give it a read, you won't be sorry!

So, I'm not sure how to rate/review this book.

On one-and, it has a very interesting plot and premise. But on the other, I am not entirely sure <i>who</i> this book is supposed to be about. The characters we meet at the start of the book aren't the main characters. And the character who I think is the main character is a child through most of the book. The book also glosses over many years of the child's life in a few paragraphs, though I suppose that's because it's mostly unimportant things.

I don't know I feel like the plot was both rushed and too slow. I just don't really know how to rate this. It was good, I just don't know how to rate it.

I loved this book! It was surprisingly funny and has strong female characters. All the characters are well sketched and the settings and descriptions are generally vivid. I did think a few times that it would be nice to have a little more of an idea where this was supposed to be - yes, it's a fantasy setting but I just sort of didn't have a real sense where I was a few times. But I got over it. Definitely recommended.

This is a suspenseful fantasy with angsty romance woven into it. The world-building is fantastic. The author did a great job of grounding me in the land of Saylok, where there are six different clans based on different animals—the eagle, bear, wolf, boar, lion, and horse. The story starts with 2 siblings who discover a magical cave of runes. The girl is entranced with the power, her brother is appalled and asks her never to visit that cave again. Skip forward in time, the brother has grown and is a Keeper at the temple of Saylok. His sister shows up in the wood nearby, at death’s door after giving birth to an illegitimate son. With her dying blood, she makes a rune in the ground and curses the father of her baby and the land of Saylok with no more daughters until they can treat their woman better. This is how Bayr enters the world, as his mother dies and leaves him in the care of his Keeper uncle.

Bayr is blessed with godly strength, like Thor, and amazes those who know him. Meanwhile, his father (that he is never told about) becomes the new king—a bloodthirsty, selfish ruler—by tricking the people into believing his wife has given birth to the first daughter in the land for 7 years. Alba, his supposed daughter, is truly the daughter of an albino slave girl brought in from another land. Ghost, as the mother is called, overhears the chieftan aspiring to be king order the execution of her and her owners after he takes her child from them and puts it in the arms of his unconscious wife who has just lost another baby. This is how Alba, daughter of a slave, becomes princess of all of Saylok. Bayr, who is 7 at her birth, vows to always be her protector…and he does. This is the setup for this amazing, heart-rending story of forbidden love, power, promises, and undoing a blood curse that is tearing a nation apart.

I couldn’t put this book down once I started. The writing and plot pulled me in into this fascinating world, immersing me in magic, intrigue and love with unique and powerful characters. I’m not a super fan of fantasy, but I do love Harmon’s fantasies. I always want to reread her books because there are so many levels of understanding and emotion weaved into them. Her latest book is no exception. It was exceptional!

Wonderful. This was a bit different genre for me and I totally enjoyed it. I loved the fantasy aspect and the writing was top notch. I did have trouble remember all the names and who they were. The nature of the world had them start with the same letter/sound for the same clans, which was cool. But it made it difficult for my Swiss cheese brain!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the opportunity to read a review copy of The First Girl Child. Amy Harmon is a fantastic weaver of words and this book is no exception. It’s a sweeping epic tale inspired by Norse mythology that spans generations and filled with complex characters that buried down deep under my skin. This is a story I won’t soon forget.

5 surprised stars



“We are abused. We are used. We are bartered and abandoned. But rarely are we loved. So be it. From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Saylok for any of you to love.”





“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” as Ari https://readingunderstreetlamps.wordpress.com (my buddy reader said) this could be the motto of this book!

The first thing that astonished me in this book is a totally different writing style from what I have read from Amy so far. Still very beautiful though.
I can’t pinpoint the difference but it had a more “tale” quality. It was simpler. Naked, free of any unnecessary embellishment. It was raw like these Norse men. And it fitted the story to a T!

The focal point of this story was women’s power or lack of.

The women in that time and place could become warriors but were always second to men. If they were nobles they were seen as investments to forge alliances. And everything began when a woman, Desdemona, was rejected by her lover for a high-ranking woman, hoping to become king that way. But fear the woman you have wronged as she holds a great power!

I loved the power of women. The greed of men and their foolish pride would be their damnation. Decades would go by with great suffering for the people because of a single curse.

You can’t deny that Desdemona could hold a grudge like no one else!



One of our heroes is the young Bayr, Desdemona’s son and he’ll dedicate his life to protect Alba, the daughter of king Bayr.

Bayr was solid. Loyal. A protector. Hel lived for his duty.

Selfless he was humble as he was afflicted by a stutter who made him seem simple to other men. I would say that Bayr himself thought little of his intelligence but it did not bother him. He did not want to outshine everyone. He may have been gifted with enormous strength, looking like Hercules, he just wanted to serve and protect. I dare you not to love that child/man who’d rather observe and listen than talk.

“I want to protect,” Bayr answered without thought or hesitation. It had always been the single-minded purpose of his young life. “I w-want to protect Saylok and the temple. I w-want to protect the princess and the d-daughters of the clans. I want to protect D-Dagmar and the k-keepers.” “You want to protect those you love.” Bayr nodded.

Alba is your free-spirited child. She did not often take center stage. Or at least not before a long time as she was an infant. Bayr would have died for her. From the first second he laid eyes on her, at her birth, she’s been his sole purpose in life!

Of course you can probably guess that a budding romance will come one day but strangely, Alba did feel more like a side character than a main character!



My favorite character in this book was Ghost! I won’t tell too much about her purpose or who she is to whom let’s just say that Ghost embodies maternal love in its purest form. I loved her because she was gentle even after having been ostracized for her otherness all her life. Fate never smiled on her. Yet she discreetly protected in her own way.

She touched my heart and soul. I prayed for her HEA. I wanted her to have some joy she’s been denied for so long.

“You are still very young.” “I am old inside,” she whispered, and he nodded as though he understood.



I realize while writing this review that both Bayr and Ghost were humble characters. And I seem to appreciate these kind characters. Because that’s one of the things Amy does best: take ordinary men and women (well Bayr was maybe not ordinary) and make them extraordinary.

Last but not least of our main characters, Dagmar was a worthy hero. He was a father to Bayr. A humble man determined to be a keeper and fight his warrior of a father to follow his dream. But as much as becoming a keeper was his dream he would have renounced his calling if it meant losing Bayr.

I was immediately immersed in that story as I loved the plot, the mythology, learning to understand these people. That book is filled with Norse magic, with the power of runes. Blood runes that could curse a whole land. Blood runes that should not be known by everyone as they held so much power!



And I loved that grand finale! I wanted to shout “Atta girl!”



The pace is just right, not rushed nor too slow; the villain was a true villain who had two faces and the hero was strong gifted by the gods similar to the heroes of old from mythology.
What more reason do you need to read it????

The First Girl Child is a wonderfully inventive tale with a satisfying pace for character development. The well-executed creative premise resulted in an ending with elements that were surprising to the reader but fit with the characters. Author Amy Harmon penned clever phrases that hit hard in context and will linger in your mind due to their brilliance.

Harmon introduces us to a world that could have fit within our history, borrowing from Norse and Christian influences to meld a people who are relatable in ambition, love, devotion, and sacrifice. We follow the story of Bayr, Dagmar, Alba, and Ghost as they navigate life on Saylock through these key elements of life and witness how their lives unfold through their experiences together and apart.

To me this book felt like the fantasy novels I grew up with. The world Amy created was harsh and unrelenting but with a little sweet dandelion popping up here and there. The magic is ancient and revered, with a imposing presence. It engulfs you and then cradles you against her warm bosom.

Dearest Bayr,

I want to write this letter so you fully understand just how much you mean to me. You were born from death; cursed and blessed as you took your first breath. You were strong in mind, body and soul but tongue often failed you. They misunderstood you, shamed you and yet you didn’t let it get to you. You’ve touched a special place in my heart with your gentleness and I’m indebted to you forever.

There are many love stories throughout this book. The love of a mother to her children, love of men and women and love of power and greed. We see the many sides of love through the characters eyes. You’re shown the result of this love and how it can salvation or damnation.

“We are abused. We are used. We are bartered and abandoned. But rarely are we loved. So be it. From this day forward, there will be no daughters in Saylok for any of you to love.”
Amy gave us so many voices when it came to hero’s in The First Girl Child. She let us become intertwined with the characters. I felt their pain, as I felt their triumph. I pray that we get more of Saylok

Thank you 47North for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!