<b>I LOVED THE NORDIC MYTHOLOGY BUT DIDN'T REALLY ENJOY MUCH ELSE</b>

I love everything that has a whiff of anything mythological, so this book should have been right up my alley. Sadly, there wasn't much else besides the mythology that got my motor running, so to speak. Still, I fairly entertained but not ecstatic.

<b>THE THINGS I LIKED</b>

<u>Mythology</u>: Like I said, throw a little mythology into the mix and I am sure to pick up your book. Nordic mythology is, for obvious reasons (I am a Dane), a personal favourite of mine.

<b>THE THINGS I DISLIKED</b>

<u>Pace</u>: The first half of the book was packed with so many things that it felt choppy and confusing. The second half almost put me to sleep.

<u>Lena</u>: The main character Lena was a thoroughly unlikable character. She was moody, depressing and really not all that bright or clever even though she was described as smart. It sure didn't show in her actions...

<u>Beginning</u>: I like a good <i>in media res</i> - emphasis on <u>good</u>! This one was not good. Some major things happened way too soon before I could connect with the characters or the story. Because of that the entire book felt sort of disconnected for me.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of the below book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Title The Weight of the Soul

Author Elizabeth Tammi

Release Date December 3, 2019

Description from Amazon

When Lena’s younger sister Fressa is found dead, their whole Viking clan mourns—but it is Lena alone who never recovers. Fressa is the sister that should’ve lived, and Lena cannot rest until she knows exactly what killed Fressa and why—and how to bring her back. She strikes a dark deal with Hela, the Norse goddess of death, and begins a new double life to save her sister.

But as Lena gets closer to bringing Fressa back, she dredges up dangerous discoveries about her own family and finds herself in the middle of a devastating plan to spur Ragnarök –a deadly chain of events leading to total world destruction.

Still, with her sister’s life in the balance, Lena is willing to risk it all. She’s even willing to kill. How far will she go before the darkness consumes her?

Initial Thoughts

I love mythology and Viking culture so this book totally caught my eye. I was also intrigued by the fact that Elizabeth Tammi is a young author. I think it’s so cool that she hasn’t even graduated college and she already has two published works! You go Elizabeth Tammi!

Some Things I Liked

Vikings and Norse Mythology. I loved the cultural references and the attention to detail that this book uses. My knowledge of Norse mythology mostly comes from watching Vikings on the History Channel and the Thor movie series (can you blame me? I mean have you seen Chris Hemsworth?) But, despite my somewhat limited knowledge, I recognized so many names and loved the fact that this book made me want to research new terms that I wasn’t familiar with.
Morally grey main character. Lena was so devoted to saving her sister, Fressa, but she had moments where she was blinded by this devotion and she did things that she probably wouldn’t have without the pressure of her deal with Hela. I really enjoyed the fact that Lena wasn’t all good.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

Romance. I totally missed the romance factor in this book. Amal loved Fressa, but we really didn’t get to see that. Where was Lena’s person?? She did everything by herself and I found that somewhat disappointing.

Series Value

This HAS to be a series. Lena deserved so much better. This book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger and I would be VERY interested in reading another installment.

Final Thoughts

This was a slow read for me. It wasn’t a terribly long book but it did take me a while to read it. I think I wanted to see more characters but, this story is mainly about Lena and Lena’s actions. I hope to see this turn into a series because this is a world I would like to learn more about. Overall, I liked it a lot, but I think it came up just short of a 5 star review for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young – if you liked the Viking vibes and the idea of a sister who would do anything to protect a sibling, definitely check this book out. Also, check out The Girl the Sea Gave Back which is a sequel to Sky in the Deep.
Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell – again, if you like Vikings and the warrior culture mentioned in The Weight of a Soul, definitely check this new release out.
Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford – if you liked the bond between sisters that drove this story, check out Crown of Coral and Pearl.

I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review will go live on Goodreads on September 6th, 2019.

I'm still shook from the ending, it all happened so suddenly I don't think I have recovered yet.

Our MC, Lena, is one of the better MCs I've read. However there is a time or two where it feels like she jumps to a conclusion or decides to do something with almost no thought or reason to it. I think a portion of this is validated by the way the book is written and it makes sense when you look at it as a cohesive whole.

It felt hard to miss Fressa, when we barely saw her and didn't get a lot of flashbacks to see why her and Lena would be so close. I liked how basically all of the other characters were developed besides Fressa, but she is only really present for such a small portion so it isn't a big deal.

The plot does hit a bit of a slog in the 30% to 50% range, it just feels like nothing is happening and we're just waiting. Before and after that point, it reads great. I loved the way the last 50% percent of the book was written and I basically binged it in one sitting.

The twists were perfect, and I had to keep guessing where the plot was going. When it was moving, which again is one of my issues and why this isn't 5 stars. The twists and pushes are great, but it still hits a really slow slog for a time and I think that might be a deterrent for some.

I read Elizabeth Tammi’s Outrun The Wind last year and absolutely devoured it. When I heard that she was coming out with a second book, I was beyond excited.
Lena and Freda are sisters who are extremely close. When Fressa is suddenly killed, Lena stops at nothing to get her back. As someone with sisters, I related to this feeling a lot, as I would do anything for my sisters. I loved the relationship that the sisters had with one another and felt that it was very well-written and realistic.
I do feel like the twist at the end was slightly predictable but, it fit well with the overall tone of the story. I also wish that Lena had been a little more developed but, I still really liked her character and the strength she possessed. I only wish she had been fleshed out a bit more.
The ending also left off with enough openness for a potential sequel and I’m very intrigued to see what Tammi comes up with next. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Elizabeth in the future.

The Weight of a Soul follows Lena, the eldest daughter of the Chief, whose younger sister's death sends her on a magical journey to bargain with the gods and bring the one she loves back to life. I really enjoyed the mythological components of the novel, as well as the focus on sibling/familial relationships vs. romantic attachments as is prevalent in this genre. However, I wish that we would've spent more time with the sister relationship and/or had flashbacks to times in their lives so as to better be invested in our mc on her quest. Overall, a satisfying story and one I quite enjoyed!


A special thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Weight of a Soul, wraps you in a mythical intrigue holding you in a whimsical dream-like state, and it throws you in and out of a web of emotional chaos.

Featuring Vikings, and Norse Gods, the novel tells the story of the heirs of Clan Freding. Starting with an emphasis on the familial, and characteristic relations between the characters, the novel immediately gets to work setting a scene, and weaving its web. Carefully traipsing the line of reality, and mythology, we experience a death, a pledge, murder, heart break, feelings of betrayal, understanding, and the reuniting of lovers.

Above all other things, this novel is brilliant. It’s linguistic magic runs parallel to a wonderfully constructed plot-line, likeable characters, and an easy read.

**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

I am so surprised this book is averaging 3 stars out of 5 as it's better than some eARCs I've recently read.

PROS:
+ Norse mythology (with recognizable Gods/Goddesses in popular media)
+ Twists (some cheap, but expected)
+ Moral ambiguity (Just HOW FAR would you go to save the person you love, whether it be a lover or family?)


CONS:
- I couldn't wrap my head around why everyone disliked or treated Lena so poorly compared to her sister Fressa?? There should be more detail about that or better characterization of her mother/father to explain.
- Lena's choices appear extreme as we are not given a long introduction to Fressa to care about her that much.

Overall, I thought "The Weight of a Soul" was an easy and quick read. Tammi's writing kept me engaged and turning the pages to find out what happened next. However, more and better characterization is needed in order to empathize with the supporting characters.

3.5-4 out of 5 stars

This book had an interesting story to tell, with many worlds and gods. Unfortunately, the story fell flat for me. It took to long to get get where it was going.

Give me everything Norse mythology! I loved how Elizabeth tied in the god and goddesses of Scandanavia into this story that's rich with family and tradition. I loved the bond Elizabeth created between Fressa and Lena and all the emotions that come with being so close to someone you love.

This book was such a rollercoaster that was filled with incredible descriptions that allowed you to feel everything that the characters experience. From the grief and despair of the loss of Fressa, to the desolation the tribe feels at their possible impending doom and the determination of Lena to right how Fressa was wronged.

It was incredibly emotional from start to finish and be prepared with tissues!

Reading this book was like being caught inside a devastating, wistful, beautiful dream. I could feel it all so vividly: Lena's raw grief and despair, the bone-chilling coldness of her world, and the gathering darkness heralding the approaching doom. Offering a fascinating new take on Norse mythology, The Weight of a Soul is about what happens when gods meddle in mortals affairs and how sisterly love and devotion can challenge the will of the cruel gods and resist fate. Amazing and thought-provoking!

Ultimately I felt like this book just wasn't really for me. It likely has its audience, but I had trouble getting into it. I think my biggest issue was the characters. I didn't really feel anything for Lena most of the time. She didn't come alive much as a character for me and when she made some very drastic decisions, they often felt unjustified. I also felt like the plot meandered too much in the middle then just kind of ended within a few chapters. Further, the crux of the novel, Lena's attachment to her sister, is only really displayed for a chapter or two on-screen and even there, most of the focus is on Fressa and her significant other, Amal. This made it hard to really appreciate the plot itself, even had I been more invested in Lena as a character in her own right.

Pros:
-Focuses more on sibling relationships than the usual romance arcs common in this genre
-Features a Viking society and doesn't shy from incorporating fantastical elements from Norse mythology into its setting and plot

Cons:
-Characters aren't very vibrant or particularly interesting or likeable.
-Plot is pretty slow-moving

The book has plenty of other positive reviews and I enjoyed the author's other book, Outrun the Wind. So while I don't think I'd be especially inclined to recommend this book, I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would like it. This might just be more of a taste thing.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own.

This was a beautiful story with a beautifully tragic ending. This book tells the story of Lena, who loses her sister in an untimely death. Lena would do anything to get her sister back, even make a deal with the gods. Lena doesn't really know what shes getting into or what she'll have to do to get her sister back and not every story has to have a happy ending.

This book is well written with great pacing. I read it all in one sitting with no real interest in putting it down. I highly recommend it for anyone that likes the cruel sort of fairy tales or Norse mythology. This would also be a good transition book for anyone who is a fan of Marvel's Thor who wants to read historically based mythos of some of those characters.

This book was hard for me to rate. I really loved the beginning. The atmosphere, the gods/myth, the bonds; it was so interesting. Then Fressa died, and Lena had to invoke the gods. Boom, I was done. Sold and gone. I loved her struggle and decisions. I knew who the soul to free Fressa would be, but I really enjoyed seeing how and when Lena would find out. I also knew about Loki, so the book was a little predictable. But it wasn’t bad. The only thing I didn’t like was how it seemed to drag on. It was definitely a quick read, but I wanted answers sooner. I can be a tad impatient. I was also hoping the wedding didn’t have to happen. I felt so bad for Lena. She was so relatable and deserved more. I’m not sure if this is a standalone, but I would love to see more.

I really wanted to like this book, but could not get into it. I thought the introduction was a little rushed. We were thrown right into the adventure before we even really understood the characters and their realationship with each other. The author tried to tell us, but I would rather see their interactions for myself and understand their friendships/relationships that way vs. being told.
I ended up getting about 65% finished with this and just put it down. I did not connect with the main character, and when she almost killed her good friend, I just lost interest. Not a good message for a YA read.
The plot kind of dragged on without ever really making sense to me.
There were admirable parts, but overall not even worth my time to finish.

While the description of The Weight of a Soul hooked me initially, it didn't quite live up to this in the way expected.

Although I loved the relationship between the two sisters, the clear and present processing of loss/grief, the political complexities, and the clear and present mythology-there was just something lacking. Lena and Fressa have a strong sibling relationship cut short by the death of Fressa following some upsetting news. The rest of the novel centers on Lena's quest to make a deal with the gods in order to get her sister back. In the midst of this, there are some beautifully written scenes of introspection, authentically written cultural scenes, and honest depictions of grief. Several of the personal relationships are lacking, though-showing no depth or growth throughout the novel. In addition to this, some of the personal introspection from the protagonist rings false, as it doesn't hold true to her character.

Overall, this novel was beautifully written. However, there were issues with character development, personal relationships, and a lack of reflection at the conclusion of the novel.

A story with a great deal of heart, but not a lot of follow through.

The nucleus of The Weight of a Soul is the love and devotion between sisters, chief’s daughters Lena and Fressa. In the midst of political tensions within the clan and an unnatural early Scandinavian winter, Lena navigates deals with Norse gods and her clan’s expectations as she works to recover her sister’s soul and investigate the mysterious circumstances of her death. That determination and grief is the tether of almost every plot development and character decision. This makes it an exceptionally cohesive book, with clear character motivations and an easy to follow plot.

Unfortunately, the writing drags on. I’m usually a huge fan of introspective, character-driven books, but each of Lena’s internal monologues felt like a re-hashing of the last. And while the plot is clear, the emotional themes are muddled. Lena and Amal’s relationship doesn’t change and develop until the end, even though he above all other characters would have shared her grief over her sister. Major reveals come just a bit too late, when I really would have liked to see Lena reflect on them – we get only a few paragraphs before out next twist whisks us away.

Overall, The Weight of a Soul didn’t quite land for me. It was an interesting read, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to pick it up, but it just didn’t have the weight (ha) that I was looking for.

(Review will be posted on my blog Librarinna on publication date (12/3/19) under the attached link.)

This is the perfect fast-read that centers on Norse mythology. It has enough plot, character development and a little bit of mischief to make it an enjoyable read. The story follows two sisters, Lena and Fressa, who are the daughters of the local chieftain. Fressa is in love with Amal, the adopted son of the town's healer as well as Lena's mentor. However, everything goes wrong when it is revealed that Lena, who will become the next chieftain, is betrothed to Amal.

Fressa upset at this news, runs into the woods and later is found dead by her sister. Reeling from grief, Lena decides to do everything in her power to bring her sister back and right this wrong. This involves making a deal with the goddess, Hel, who promises to trade Fressa for another soul. Lena descends down this dark path and discovers what taking a soul entails.

As I said, this is a fantastic fast paced read that deals with grief, the results of gods meddling with human affairs and the unbreakable bond between sisters. I'm a huge fan of Norse mythology and really liked that Tammi also introduced the fact that vikings interacted with the East and the Mediterranean. So, bonus points for that!

Lena knows her path in life . She is to be the next healer in her village . The daughter of a chieftain .
Fressa is Lena’s sister , a warrior in her own right , and the other half of Lena’s heart and soul.
Amal is a childhood friend . He has grown up with both sisters , until his affection has gradually changed in the direction of Fressa
Amal and Fressa are so in love they are engaged to be married , and just await the chieftain to return to ask his permission. Unknown to the friends, Lena and Amal have been betrothed since birth. . The chieftain doesn’t care about love ... he wants to strongest to lead the village ... Fressa overhears this and with a broken heart , runs into the forest .
Lena goes to find her sister and finds her dead. . So many suspects at this point . Is it a rival clan ? Did someone sneak into their borders ? Or is it something supernatural? Lena thinks back to the gift her father brought back from a trip for Fressa that glowed green with ruins ?

I have to say I loved this book from the moment I started reading it . I didn’t want the story to end . This is heartfelt , sad ,poignant and will not end the way anyone wants.

“They did not understand people as Lena did; they did not understand how fast power could seep through fingers that weren’t clenched.”

Everything in Lena’s life seems perfect. She’s studying to be the clan’s apothecary, her sister and best friend are betrothed, and her parents are still in control of their people, despite her father disappearing to raid their rival clans. But, after her sister is found dead, Lena makes a deal with Hela, the Goddess of Death and daughter of the Trickster God, Loki, to get her sister back. Yet, getting involved with the gods is never a good idea, and it’s a lesson Lena learns quickly after she finds herself in the middle of Ragnarök, a devasting battle between Loki and Odin, a war that could end her entire clan’s existence.

I really wanted to like this novel. And I did in parts. I loved the mention of gods and the interesting setting of Lena’s home. The ceremonies they performed felt authentic and true to the nature of a small clan. Lena’s grief for her sister was written and conveyed well, which broke my heart. But those are all minor compared to the plot, characters, and overall arc of the book, which I didn’t enjoy.

The idea of making a deal with a god or goddess isn’t new, so when you take on that theme, I think it’s important to do it well. And this book didn’t. After Lena makes her deal with Hela to get her sister back—and I’m intentionally staying vague so I don’t spoil anything here—she moans about it for chapter after chapter instead of taking action. And when she does finally take action, but it’s not enough, she continues to moan and gripe. Meanwhile, the only sign of Ragnarök is the sun disappearing as if an early winter has come. And the clan is uneasy, yet their fear and worry doesn’t read authentically, especially since Lena cares deeply for her people and clan, and you’d think she’d be worried about them.

I found Lena to be frustrating at times and annoying at others. She’s what I would call an unlikable protagonist, even if I sympathized with her grief and pain and understood why she made a deal with Hela. But I didn’t dislike her, I was irritated at her actions and thoughts. The relationships she held with her mother and friends (if you would call them that) didn’t feel real to me. Certain moments with her mother seemed touching, and others they were just plain mean to each other. I found it jarring to read about them because I couldn’t understand their relationship.

The Weight of a Soul started off strong, but by the middle, it had gotten dull. I predicted the plot twists (which for this book, I think they were meant to be that obvious? I couldn’t tell.) and didn’t care for either of them. The end wasn’t nearly descriptive enough and came all too quickly after a very long, very boring, middle.

Unfortunately, this storyline just didn’t pull me in as much as I would have liked. The concept of Norse mythology isn’t new (obviously) but it’s not something I’ve seen written about in YA that often. I had high hopes for this one, but it didn’t meet those expectations.

3/5 stars

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and thoughful review.

**C-/D+** | While the premise was good and interesting, the execution was unfortunately mediocre at best. The story drags on and on. The characters are boring. Although grief and denial are explored here, it was difficult to feel anything because things felt dry, flat, and stale. This book might be called *The Weight of a Soul*, but there’s little weight or soul in this book.

Part of the reason why I requested this book on NetGallery and got excited when I was approved was because I was drawn into it due to the synopsis. Who could blame me? The idea of a sisterly bond so strong you would make a deal with Hela to try and get her back? Yes, please. I love books that explore sibling relationships and loss and grief.

I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointed and utterly frustrated I am with this book.

Everything — from the characters and their relationships to the plot to the ending — felt forced and unnatural at times. There was no emotion. This book goes into how souls have weight and one soul is not equal to another just because they’re both warriors. But where is this book’s weight? Where is this book’s *soul*?

One of my biggest beefs with this book is that we’re always told things, but never actually *shown* evidence of why we should accept what we were told as truths. We’re told that the sisters mean a lot to each other, but never actually shown just how close their relationship was before Fressa’s death. Yeah, Lena is willing to murder to get her sister back, but if you want me to be able to empathize with her situation and choices, then I’m going to need more than being told of how good her relationship was with her sister.

Give me flashbacks of the two as children. Give me memories. Give me _something_. This book would have been far more compelling if I got to see Lena and Fressa’s relationship for myself that wasn’t just Lena’s random thoughts of how she was the first person to make Fressa smile. Like, okay? That’s cool. Give me more.

Another example of being told things rather than shown them is with Lena herself. She’s meant to become the tribe’s leader. Sure, she has to marry someone to gain that power, but her “destiny” (if you want to call it that) is to rule the clan.

> “No—she had hesitated for power. For her rightful place as the leader of this village and its clans.”

Even she believes it’s her rightful place to rule. But she doesn’t act like a ruler. She doesn’t act like the heir apparent. If anything, she acts like a little girl playing dress up but will run away when responsibilities call.

Look, grief does all sorts of things to people. It can turn them into people they never wanted to become. But see, the problem is that we never get to see Lena be a leader or at least try to act like one. We never see Lena attempt to help her people through these tough and terrifying times. She makes comments like:

> “ Her family’s hold on this village weakened with every day he stayed away, with every second the sun stayed out of the sky in the middle of summer.”

And:

> “ Her family’s hold on this village weakened with every day he stayed away, with every second the sun stayed out of the sky in the middle of summer.”

Knowing this, I would have expected to see Lena taking up the mantle in some shape or form either in the present or in flashbacks, but I got none of that. It’s so disappointing, especially because I feel like Lena never truly got a chance to properly grieve nor did she ever actually develop. She was the same person from start to finish, albeit with blood on her hands.

This is made worse by the fact that Lena dies so she doesn’t even get to mature. Like wow, great. She brings Fressa back with her death, but at the cost of her never actually having full character development.

I don’t and can’t recommend this book. Despite it having an interesting premise, it was poorly executed.

Thank you to Flux and North Star Editions over at NetGalley for providing a copy of the eARC. All opinions are my own.