I look forward to every new release from Amy Harmon, but this book just wasn't for me unfortunately. One of the things I enjoy about Amy Harmon is the way she can write so well in different genres, but this fantasy felt flat to me. I didn't care about the characters, and everything felt very slow until the very end. The ending did work well for me, and those last few chapters were my favorite of the entire book. Part of my disappointment was just my own expectations, and I think this could be a great choice for people who like their historical fantasies heavily grounded in history and light on the fantasy.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for a review!

It was a very good book! It had Nordic kings and gods, it was full of the magic of the mythology, it was powerful and poetic and beautiful!
I absolutely loved it!

Amy Harmon weaves magic with words, she has a way to enthral you with the story and characters, and for me she has outdone herself with this title. The pace of the plot, the plot itself, the characters, the relationships between them, the worldbuilding... All of it made The First Girl Child a page turning novel.

Amy Harmon is one of those authors that I have heard only good things about. Due to the gigantic TBR list and the lack of organization, I haven’t read any of her books yet. So when I noticed The First Girl Child on NetGalley labeled as ‘Read Now’, I took it as a sign.

What Did I Like?

✔ The fast pace of the plot. With 13 novels under her belt, Amy Harmon is a veteran of literally battles. Her experience is evident in practiced, even pacing and good tempo of the plot. The First Girl Child covers about 20 years of events in 400 tightly-packed pages.

✔ Vikings are one of the ethnic groups that hold a certain appeal to me. Yes, I know that most of the people see them as big brutes. But I always regard Vikings as great, inspirational warriors.

“This is not a world where a man or a woman gets much choice into their happiness. We are born into war and each day is a battle.”

✔ Norse mythology is a given if the novel is about Vikings. But Amy Harmon gave it her unique twist. She invented Saylok, the son of Odin, and created fictional Viking tribes who worshiped him. And additionally, there is a hint of Christianity mixed in.

✔ A rich culture that is full of unique rituals and superstitions. Since my knowledge about Vikings is not substantial, I could not tell which of the customs are invented and which ones are authentic. But Amy Harmon wove a bunch of small details to paint a full picture of people of Saylok. For example: how the length of warriors braids corresponds to the longevity of the king’s reign.
Blood magic featuring utilization of runes. It fits the Vikings’ culture perfectly.

“Blood was the only thing earth answered to. Blood represented sacrifice, and the earth would not trade her secrets for anything less.”

✔ Multiple POVs offered different aspects of the same events and made me feel close not only to one but to a bunch of main characters. Nothing helps you feel close to someone, like hearing their thoughts, dreams, and fears.

✔ The Chosen One cliche is one of the most used ones in speculative fiction. So, Amy Harmon decided to make the hero a little bit less perfect by giving him a stutter (among other flaws).

✔ Large and small scale drama. Most of the fantasy books deal with some crisis that threatens a country, and The First Girl Child is not an exception. But through the narration of multiple characters, I could also see how these problems affect their lives. Although these personal tragedies seem smaller, they affected me more deeply. For example love of a mother for her child (Ghost) or allegiance of a brother to his sister (Dagmar)…

“Be careful what you fear,” Ivo replied, grave. “We draw the attention of the fates when our fear grows too loud. The fates are cruel, and they will reward you with what you fear most.”

✔ Not too dark. I have read a lot of modern fantasy novels lately and there seems to be a competition how bloody they can get. This is especially true if warriors like Vikings are the subject. So, while the events described in The First Girl Child are unquestionably brutal, I didn’t find it too grim.

What I Didn’t Like?

While I can’t point at anything that I did not like in The First Girl Child, I am still giving this novel 4 stars. For me, 5 stars are reserved only for the absolute favorites that I could read over and over again.

My Rating: ★★★★☆

The First Girl Child was a pleasant journey to the time of Vikings where the magic was bloody and the warriors were fierce. I warmly recommend it if you like a historical fantasy set in this time period.

Amy Harmon definitely piqued my interest with The First Girl Child. In Afterword, she wrote that she hopes there will be more stories set in Saylok. I hope so too. But until then, I am already contemplating which book from her wide opus should I read next. So far, I am leaning toward The Bird and the Sword Chronicles.

I rarely read fantasy but when I saw that The First Girl Child was from Amy Harmon, I didn't think twice about picking it up because I love her writing. She did not disappoint, creating a wonderful plot inspired by Norse mythology full of intrigue, curses, betrayals, struggles, adventures, wisdom and action. Not to mention two exciting backdrop romances.

It was wonderful to follow the journey of Dagmar, Ghost, Alba and Bayr. Early on we learned of Bayr's mother Desdemona's relationship with her brother Dagmar, showing her impetuousness and his strength in defying his father who wanted him to be a clan warrior rather than a temple guardian, a keeper.

Then we follow Bayr's life, all his shyness, obedience, sweetness, and strength, remembering Samson and Moses, biblical characters.

Finally, we saw the struggle of a people against a tyrant and traitor capable of everything for power just like medieval movies.


Fantastic and engaging from start to finish.

Every book I pick up by this author I find I can't put down and The first Girl Child is no exception. Bayr and Alba's story set amongst the myths and legends of Saylok is intriguing and as always beautifully written by this exceptionally talented Author. You want to know what is going to happen as their lives become more and more entangled and the actions of others from long ago begin to be revealed with dire consequences. If you're a fan of Norse Mythology you will love The First Girl Child even if you're not stick with it it's so worth the read.

It’s not too too often you’ll come across a book where you’re almost completely left speechless or unsure of even how to go about leaving a review without spoilers.

All you need to know is that any review I can come up with will not do it justice. It’s just one of those books you’ll never forget. It was just that good. I don’t think 5 stars is fair, I’d really like to give it 6 stars. It was absolutely spell binding, just epic!

WOW

Thank you Netgalley, publisher and Amy Harmon, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own and are completely unbiased.

The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon inspired this post. It’s a heavily researched new novel that is perfection for anyone who loves this type of book. It tells the story of a cursed village and it’s clan. The characters jump right off the pages and the intricate plot makes it unputdownable. And no worries, it has a slow build of a romance that pulls at your heartstrings. I want to hug all of my favorite characters every time something happens to them that i was not ready for. It is a journey and one that is unforgettable.

I have a book hangover from reading this. I can't get the world or the characters out of my head. She made everything come to life for me. This is my first Amy Harmon book, but it won't be my last.

In this story, Amy Harmon has created a magical world that will leave you wanting more. Bayr is born in a land cursed by his mother, but he is destined for great things. Alba is the first girl that is born in years, but her birth is shroud in deception. The tale is captivating and unpredictable. The female role in this story is powerful and love triumphs. This is not my usual genre but you can’t go wrong with this author. Amy’s words flow beautifully and capture every character’s emotion perfectly. Take your time reading and get lost in a whole new world.

This book was soo good! I loved the characters, the world and the magic. I'll have to write a longer review later, because this book has left me too emotional!
**
I really loved how this book felt like a good example of viking 'home' culture - not out raiding. I'm no expert, but there were several fact that I remember learning at school that were referred to, which made me like the book even more. There was also a lot of cool magic, rune magic, which I would love to learn more of, maybe I have to become a keeper!
I loved Dagmar, and Bayr, Alba, and Ghost.
This book deserves so much more hype. If you like vikings, and magic and don't mind it being a bit bloody at times, read it!

Sometimes a book will cross your path that leaves you wondering how to write a review without spilling the secrets hidden between the covers. Anytime I pick up an Amy Harmon book, I get that feeling that I might gush so much I will ruin the nuance for other readers. No matter the genre, Harmon expresses her writing style with such finesse and creativity. There really isn’t a genre that Harmon tackles that doesn’t lead me into a world of beauty, connectivity, and the treat of such amazing characters.

The First Girl Child leads readers into a world that has been cleverly crafted around Norse mythology. The time frame spreads out for more than 20 years. Saylok wasn’t just a Kingdom on paper. Harmon wrote this story in a way that made the fantasy as believable as any reader could imagine. The secondary characters felt just as important as the main characters in the novel, a feat that isn’t easy to create. This tale set in a time of kingdoms, curses, and magical powers will lead you to uncover just how important loyalty and devotion is to your life.

I want to applaud Harmon for crafting a world that a reader wants to stay in for almost thirty years and follow these characters around. I thoroughly enjoyed TFGC and could NOT put it down. Definitely a must read.

This is one of the hardest reviews I have written this year.

Amy Harmon has been a HUGE influence on my reading over the last 5 years. I've read all of her books, and especially her YA novels mean the world to me. I really enjoyed her other fantasy series as well, but unfortunately The First Girl Child didn't work for me. I actually waited to see if the audiobook would make a difference, but not even that changed the fact that I didn't care about this story.

Seeing all the 5 star reviews, it's clear to me that this is definitely a ME and not the book kind of situation. I'm incredibly sad, and bummed out that this book didn't work for me. But I'm also happy that it's such a success story!!!

DNF

I haven’t read a fantasy book in a while and boy am I glad that this book lured me back in. Of course, I chose it because, as far as I’m concerned, you can never go wrong with an Amy Harmon book. Her writing is perfection and her characters always find a way into my heart. And, guess what, with this book she’s done it again! Mixing well-known Norse mythology with a world of her own creation, Ms. Harmon has written a story that I can easily see being made into a movie – one with action, deception, and just a touch of romance.

The author makes us work for this one. There’s a lot of background information to explore and years of history to understand. There are also many characters to get to know and love. This means that, as a reader, you have to be patient during the first few chapters…it may feel a tad slow but, trust me, it’s worth the time you put in because once this book takes off you have to hold on tight. There are characters you’ll love and those you’ll loath, and their interactions come in both the expected and unexpected varieties. Each has their story to tell. So much so that you will feel there are many leading characters in this story – so many of them will peak your curiosity and touch your heart.

I know I haven’t told you much about the story but, trust me, this is one you want to explore on your own. You’ll want to emerse yourself in this world and let the story wash over you, you’ll want to spend time with these characters and will root for them to get what they want, and you will be sad to leave this world when it’s over. Once again, Ms. Harmon has proven that she can write anything she wants and make it an indisputable 5-star story!

Amy has created a world that I would love to read more about. While there was a lot of heartache, and one scene in particular still has me upset, there was also a lot of hope. I’m crossing my fingers we get more from these characters at a later time. Their story feels like it just beginning.

Totally Speechless.

I’m so afraid that I don’t have the proper words for a review to do this book justice. This is my first kind of book in this particular genre. I love fantasy, but this is beyond anything I’ve read. Norse mythology, Vikings, blood runes..I found myself looking up things and wanting to learn more. That’s the sign of an amazing storyteller and Amy Harmon has truly outdone herself with this one. I just want to stay in this world for a while.

Where do I begin..Bayr, the “temple boy” totally captured my heart. This power he has, this strength he possessed from the time he was born—he wasn’t like other boys. His weakness was his speech. He stuttered and it caused him embarrassment at times, but it made me love him more. His heart was so good, pure, protective and had such a strong love over the little Princess, Alba. The bond these two shared from the moment Bayr held her as a newborn was intrinsic. She moved, he moved. “There is no Alba without Bayr.” They were best friends. The love they shared gives me chills..So much I could say here, but for spoilers sake I will not. I’ll just urge you to read.

Dagmar and Ghost’s forbidden love story added such a marvelous element as well. They captured me from the start and I knew they were both doomed by the love they felt for each other. That old song comes to mind, “If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.” I’m still in my feels over this part:

“Then his mouth brushed hers, a kiss no deeper than a raindrop, and she tightened her hands at his face, holding him to her.

“‘I cannot see, my tongue is a traitor,’” he whispered, the whispered words tickling her lips. “‘My flesh is a foe, my heart a betrayer,’ Alas, they had to guard themselves against each other, but were still best friends even though they knew what was between them. I just love this.

Amy did such a good job at building this story from the ground up. I was enraptured with the origin of this story and the background. This is all essential to understand where it’s going and I loved every single morsel.

Open your heart and mind and just feel your way through this book. I felt every emotion known to man I feel, and my heart still aches from finishing such an epic tale. I need more and I’m so glad Amy is writing more of this world because there are more stories to be told with these characters and clans. Infinite stars from me.

This was…good. Just that. Good. I’ve read so many of Amy Harmon’s books before, and am frankly slightly disappointed. It didn’t have the spark that her other works have had in the past. This might be due to the unbearably slow pace, due to the story spanning twenty years. I really had to push myself to finish it, even though I liked it. It just wasn’t holding my interest long enough for me to power through to the end.

I think the main problem is probably a “me” problem. Vikings just do not interest me that much. And it didn’t help that the magic system remained rather unexplained and underutilised. This definitively pales in comparison to The Bird and the Sword.

The story takes place in Saylok, a land created by the Allfather, Odin. Loki’s actions caused the land to be separated into six different villages: Adyar (eagle), Berne (bear), Ebba (boar), Dolphys (wolf), Joran (horse), and Leok (lion). As the book progresses, the reader begins to see the commentary on misogynistic injustices that Harmon provides. Bayr was my favourite character, so strong and sweet. Alba was brave and kind, but often overshadowed by more prominent figures in the novel. Dagmar and Ghost were also lovely, supporting characters, both devoted to Bayr and Alba, while having a forbidden romance of their own.

While this was a beautiful story, its slow pace proved that it just wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t dissuade you from reading it though, because it truly was quite enjoyable. I’d recommend it to fans of Sky in the Deep and Warrior of the Wild.

“‘I cannot see, my tongue is a traitor.

My flesh is a foe, my heart a betrayer.

My eyes will I blacken, my lips will I close.

And let the runes lead me down paths I must go.

No man can follow.

No man can lead.

No man can save me, no man can free.”’

This book is PHENOMENAL!

Desdemona of Dolphys spent her last day alive giving birth to the bastard son of a cruel chieftain, and cursing the kingdom of Saylok: If man can so easily turn his back on his child and the woman who carries him, then man will know what it means to live without woman.

“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.”

The First Girl Child is about a curse over a kingdom that ensures only males are born. It is about the life of a temple boy named Bayr who is gifted with inhuman strength, and the first girl child born during the curse, Princess Alba. The book is one of love, sacrifice, deceit, honor, faith, hope and brutality. Women are taken by force from territories and surrounding Kingdoms, in the hopes that women outside of Saylok are exempt from the curse and can break the drought. There is adventure and war, but also compassion and loyalty dripping from these remarkable pages. It is a story of oppression and doing what is expected of you, rather than what you choose.

“This is not a world where a man or woman gets much choice in their happiness. We are born into war and each day is a battle.”

This is an EPIC historical fantasy that I don’t think I could have lived without! It centers on Saylok, a kingdom made up of six territories, with each territory being ruled by it’s own chieftain and Saylok being ruled by a King. The territories of Adyar, Berne, Dolphys, Ebba, Joran and Leok live in peace with the role of King being rotated between the tribes each time one dies. At the center of Saylok resides Temple Hill, where the Keepers live in isolation, protecting the knowledge of the blood runes and communicating with the Gods.

The story is set over a number of years as the reader watches Bayr grow within the temple walls under the care of his uncle and the Keepers. As he becomes a toddler, it becomes known that Bayr is unlike other children. Within 6 months of his birth he is walking and running, and by the age of 5 he has already taken down a bear with only his hands. But with his inhuman strength and speed also comes his unflinching heart and need to protect. So when the first girl child is finally born, Bayr feels an instant connection to the her and swears an oath to become her protector. We watch as Bayr and Alba grow together, becoming a formidable and inseparable pair, and how their relationship begins to shift as the years pass.

The relationship they share is positively adorable and beautiful. Bayr is the solid figure in Alba’s life as she grows into a small child. He acts as her confidant, brother, guard and bestfriend. His days center on Alba, and hers center on him. I found so many small smiles blossoming my cheeks as I read about these two growing together, having adventures and learning. Alba being a fierce and outspoken little girl, and Bayr being a quiet and observant boy who treats her with such care and love. They are the true heart of this book, and the romance that is…EVERYTHING you could ask for.

“There is no Alba without Bayr.”

But two other characters that really steal the show are Dagmar, Bayr’s uncle, and Ghost, the biological mother of Alba.. These two play HUGE roles in the development and lives of Bayr and Alba. They are kindhearted, compassionate and AMAZING people who live their lives in the shadows. A love between Dagmar and Ghost blossoms, but it is a relationship that is forbidden due to Dagmar being a Keeper. But the resilience, strength and selfless love that these two exude is the touch of hope and innocence that envelopes this book.

I think what really blew me away about this book, besides the incredible world-building, overall plot and complete badassery, was the writing. This is my first read from Amy Harmon, and I am SHOCKED and a little outraged that I have never come across her before! Her writing is detailed, exciting and addicting. I don’t normally go for fantasy books that have that Game of Thrones/Lord of the Rings style, but I am SO happy I decided to request this. I was fearful that it would be slow, that I would have trouble with the names and places, but NONE of that happened. I was ADDICTED!

If there is one bad thing I can say about this book, it’s that it isn’t the first in a series.

But, I’m secretly hoping it magically becomes one.

I got as far as 25% into this and... I simply can't proceed. Maybe it's the fact that the plot still revolves around a child protagonist at this point, or that there is very little fantastical about this fantasy plot, or maybe it's just the many unnecessary scenes that add nothing to the story - in any case, I won't be finishing this novel, an it's a pity, because I've liked Harmon's writing before!