I am withholding my review in support of the HarperCollins Unions Strike. All employees should be given a living wage.

The gods are dead and gone, life has gotten harder, the land is dying, but not everywhere. Somewhere in the mists lies an island said to be made of gold, with abundant vegetation and plenty for all. All Eiric has ever wanted to do was go Vikingr and sail all summer long. The his circumstances change and he is forced to go in search of this mysterious magical island.

Reggin has a gift with song and storytelling, but she is a thrall and belongs to a demon. She dreams of escape but knows there is nowhere she can run that he can't find her. When her path crosses with Eiric all that changes.

With danger lurking everywhere it will take wits and luck to survive. Twists and turns abound in this fantasy inspired by Norse mythology and the Vikings of old. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to the publisher, HCC Frenzy, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the Archipelago, life has been difficult ever since Ragnarok, and most people struggle to feed themselves, but Eiric Halvorsen works hard on his mother’s farm which continues to yield a good harvest, and he, along with his mother and sister, do well. But when Eiric is about to be convicted by a biased jury of his mother and stepfather’s murders, a powerful jarl intervenes and offers to pay the blood price in return for a year of service. He wants Eiric to lead a voyage to the mythical Temple of the Grove, where the last magic wielders are said to reside, and seeing no other option to save his family’s farm, Eiric agrees. Liv, his sister, insists on accompanying him on the dangerous journey as she has an interest in and a gift for magic herself. Meanwhile, spellsinger Reggin Eiklund, who is a thrall to a fire demon, has spent her life travelling from town to town, performing her music, until one day, she discovers a new ability which leads two wyrdspinners from the Grove to make her an offer to return to the Temple with them to be trained in magic, and freedom from the demon along with it. Eiric, Liv and Reggin journey towards the same destination, but not all is as it seems and New Jotunheim, which looks like a paradise at first glance, hides dark secrets that will have very different, but equally monumental repercussions for each of them.

Mythology retellings are my absolute favorite, so naturally, I’ve been looking forward to this book for over a year now.I’m not nearly as familiar with Norse mythology as I am with Greek and Roman, but I still found it quite easy to follow along with this. I’ve only tried reading one of this author’s books before, Flamecaster, which for some reason, I just couldn’t get into and had to DNF within a handful of chapters. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case with this book, and it was interesting enough right from the beginning to hold my attention until the real action started. I liked this take on Norse mythology and the world building was intricate. The descriptions of the places, particularly New Jotunheim, were vivid and made it easy to imagine and immerse myself in the world.

This story was narrated in dual POVs, that of Eiric and Reggin, and it was balanced, giving unique perspectives of the plot as events begin to unfold in New Jotunheim. Both characters’ arcs were well written, and each of them had several mysteries in their past which is clearly going to lead to their paths crossing again as there is still much left to be revealed at the end of this book. I did feel that it might have been a nice addition if Liv had a POV as well, since, her past and motives are arguably the most mysterious of the three, seeing as she actually seems to know and remember quite a bit of it unlike the other two.

I was rather disappointed that no map was included since it would have proved useful for a story like this, which involves the characters travelling a lot (not to mention the complicated names of places which I still can’t get straight). The various Norse words threw me off a bit – it wasn’t hard to pick up, but without a glossary, it was time consuming every time a word came up that I needed to stop and think about. My biggest issue with this book however, was the pacing. If the plot hadn’t been as interesting as it was, I would have probably ended up DNF’ing this book too with how much it dragged. By around the 35% mark, the story still hadn’t moved beyond what was in the synopsis, and even once things got moving, the pacing continued to be choppy.

The point at which the author chose to end this book struck me as kind of an odd stopping point since while it was a bit of a cliffhanger, so many of the key plot points still felt extremely vague. Overall, this was a strong start to a new fantasy series and I’m looking forward to picking up the sequel when it’s out. I would definitely recommend Children of Ragnarok to fans of the genre!

A beautifully written book with plenty of adventure leading into book two. It did move a bit slow at times, but I think that was because so much needed to happen in this book so that book two could pick up and move the story into the true beginning of the end. I loved the characters. Reggin grows so much in book one that I can't wait to see what she does in the upcoming book. And the ending brings the story around in a way that leaves you desperate for the next book.
As someone who loves mythology, I was intrigued by the way the author weaves mythology into the setting, the characters, and their own history. Definitely going to need the next book asap.

I loved returning to Cinda Williams Chima's writing. After reading a loving Seven Realms, I was excited to see what she would do with a new series, and it did not disappoint. The world-building was delivered at the perfect pace, the characters are ones you immediately feel a connection to, the stakes are high, and the sense of adventure continues to grow throughout the book. I can't wait for the sequel (although I'm sad I have to wait at all!) and I'll definitely be recommending this to other fantasy fans.

I absolutely loved this book. A great story based on Norse Mythology with great characters. A great mix of romance, adventure, and magic.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Balzer&Bray, and Cinda Williams Chima for the eARC of this book!

Before receiving the eARC of this book, I must admit that I was unaware of how well-loved author Cinda Williams Chima is. However, I now understand why. The scale of this fantasy is unbelievable. In my opinion, it is more of an adult high fantasy than young adult.

I have always loved Nordic mythology and considered myself quite knowledgeable on the topic; however, Chima goes so in-depth that I feel I have learned so much more about it. Because of this, a lot of the book is spent world-building, setting up everything the reader could possibly need/want to know. The actual plot doesn't seem to start until a few hundred pages in, which, if you're like me, can make the book drag quite a bit.

As I found the story a bit slow, it took me quite a while to finally get through. Despite that, I enjoyed both characters and the dual POV approach. Additionally, various messages in the book and the plot itself were of great interest to me. "Do we have control over our fate? Or are we trapped in our own story?"

I would recommend this book for older, more-experienced readers who are looking for a good epic/high fantasy.

I think I've said it enough times that anything mythology/lore related will pique my interest and Norse/Nordic is one of the ones that I really enjoy so I was eager to pick this one up.

I have heard great things about Cinda Williams Chima in the past, but hadn't gotten around to her earlier books, so this was my first experience with her writing and I'm so glad I finally read something from her! The writing style was easy to read but definitely something that could be enjoyed by all ages and I was engaged pretty much from the get go. The characters are well fleshed out in my opinion and I just loved the mystery and adventure that played out in this story.

The world building was wonderfully done and I always like when I feel like I can see things being described, it's just another way to suck in the reader. I also really liked that this isn't your typical spin on Norse mythology, but looking at what life might be like for people after the supposed end of Norse mythology (Ragnorok). I'll definitely picking up further books when they come out!

DNF read for now.

I loved the introduction, as it gave a great overview/intro to Norse mythology. (I'll freely admit that everything I knew about Norse mythology prior to picking this up, I learned from Marvel's _Thor_/Avengers movies. Take that how you will.) So learning more about what it actually is, and not just Marvel movies' take on it, was really interesting.

But then the actual book started, and it was way more in depth than I expected. This is fine, but a surprise to me as the book was marketed as children's fiction and teen/YA. (Also, IIJM, or is a book typically children's _or_ teen/YA? But I digress.) It felt like the book was trying too hard to be too many things--and the subject matter/depth alone made me leery of presenting it to a kid. It's super deep.

Again, fine if that's what you're going for--this just turned into a dichotomy between my expectations and the book itself. The twain shan't keep meeting for now.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Let me start off by saying that I really enjoyed this book. I’m such a fan of fantasy, and this book had that— along with magic, adventure, and Norse mythology. The novel is told from two perspectives— one a thrall (slave), and one a farmer/coaster (sailer).

Reggin has spent the majority of her life as a thrall to a fire demon named Asger, who has her performing in alehouses. Though adept at music, basic healing, and reading runes, she also makes money by conning people into believing she can perform miracles. One evening, a fellow thrall dies, and Reggin is able to talk to his spirit and bring him back to his body. In exchange for this act, Reggin asks that the thrall be freed from his service, feeling as if it’s the first truly good deed she’s done in her life. Two visiting wyrdspinners at the alehouse witness this event, and are convinced that Reggin can communicate with the dead, and offer her the chance to escape Asger and come with them to an island for the gifted; a place for people like her to train and enhance their abilities.

Eric lives on a family farm, though his ancestors were once influential coasters. After his grandfather and father passed away, his mother remarried an abusive drunk (Sten). After his mother sacrifices her life to protect her newborn child, Eric and his stepfather get into a fight, and Sten ends up dead by his sister’s hands (Liv). Eric is placed on trial for not only Sten’s murder, but also his mother’s murder, and Liv is accused of being using magic. A Jarl intervenes, and Eric is forced to sail and find the Temple of the Grove— the island where wyrdspinners practice magic— and if he fails, he will lose his farm.

Eric, Liv, Reggin, and Asger’s journeys all intertwine, and they all end up on New Jotunheim; a place where first appearances are deceiving, and a darker storyline runs deep.

This story is full of adventure, betrayal, deception, grudges, mystery, and more. Though the book ends in a cliffhanger (prepping for a sequel), the strong plot and character development make this an enjoyable read. I loved seeing the characters develop and learn more about themselves, and I enjoyed how all the characters lived/histories are intertwined. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Eric, Liv, and Reggie are characters you can root for! That you want to see grow and invest more time into. I LOVED everything about Children of Ragnarok. As one of my first Chima books, I enjoyed the world building and the characters growth.

Cinda Chima is my favorite fantasy author of all time! She just has such an incredible way of creating characters that feel like home, in a setting that is so atmospheric and palpable. So excited to continue this series.

I loved this book. It will be among my top favorites for 2022.
It happens after Ragnarok (the great war between gods and the forces of chaos) in the Midlands where humans dwelt.

The focus falls on sixteen-year-old temperamental and impatient warrior Eiric (descendant from gods), his sister Liv (witch), Reggin (a thrall who has a powerful voice and with her runes and music she has shown great skill), also charismatic supernatural characters who help to weave the humans' stories together.
When the characters think their life purpose is defined, everything changes, and they're forced into new paths.

I love the great balance of darkness and hope and the characters' quests. The simple magic system is associated with spirits and demons, runes, healing, voice, and music powerful enough to raise the dead. Reggin is my fav POV as she learns more about herself.

This is my first contact with this author's work but I am convinced that I'll love anything written by Chima. I love the pacing, the worldbuilding, the mysteries, and seeing all come together. Especially for a fan of Viking-themed books and video games such as myself.

This one took me quite a while to get through for various reasons. It is a long book with a lot going on. I enjoyed the two different viewpoints of the characters, but found Eiric's story quite a bit more interesting. I wish the whole book was as fast-paced as the last 40% or so, I would have gotten through it more quickly that way. This is deeply based in Norse mythology, so there will be a lot of unfamiliar terms if you are not well-versed in that area. I am very knowledgeable about Greek mythology, but not nearly as familiar with Norse so I felt that I needed quite a bit more explaining...which may come in the future books in this series. I do recommend this, but it will not be a quick read for most. It does remind me of the YA that I was so into about 10 years ago though, which is a great thing.

Chima’s Children of Ragnarok took me completely by surprise. Traditional YA fare of late has been less than enticing for me, but this book is more like the YA of yesterday, with substance and plot and character, more interested in telling a story than going with the flow. It’s YA appropriate as well, though I would recommend it for older teens, possible 15 or 16 and up, as it’s quite violent. It’s bound to be if it’s about Vikings, though, right?

Eirik Halvorsen loves sailing and island hopping on his viking boat, but he’s stuck on a farm helping his mother and half-siblings get by because his stepfather is a completely useless drunkard who beats his family and is only interested in inheriting the farm from his wife when she dies. When an outburst of anger goes awry, Eirik, who has by now grown up and grown a beard, fights back. Stuff goes downhill from there.

Reggan Eicklund, slave to a fire demon, has strange magical powers and shows us the other part of the world, in taverns where she performs fake (or are they?) tricks for nominal fees from the patrons. After spinning some serious magic herself, which she seems to not know she had, she draws attention from magic-wielding warriors from a far-off mystery island who offer her the chance at freedom from her master in exchange for her attendance at their magic school where she must play catch-up andlearn the basics at lightning speed to be able to stay. 


If the plot doesn’t sound complicated enough, we have several more story lines threaded together to bring all the characters eventually to the same space and tie them all up neatly in one big finale. This would make a recipe for a disaster of a narrative, but I think Chima, along with the hefty 557 page length, manages quite nicely to spin a tale that had me rapt from the beginning. The characters were very believable and relatable, the settings well described and immersive, and the plot so full of action and intrigue that I found it hard to put down until I was finished. Everything you think and assume about everyone is wrong, and if you think you’ve figured out what’s going on, keep reading. You may not have.

With all the action and plot development, I feel the one drawback had to be in Reggin’s magic usage. Though she spends quite a deal of time learning at a school, I was still left without an understanding of what runes are, how they were first developed, and how exactly Reggin is special in her abilities. I imagine perhaps the next book in the series may go into that more in detail, but I would have preferred, for all the work reading this giant tome, to get a bit of an explanation of the generalities of the magic system at least. As it is, we get tidbits of answers but not a full exposition. I realize it’s a series, but the magic feels foundational and first books are foundations.

Overall, 4.5/5 (rounded down to 4 here). Highly recommend this book for YA readers who want a fantasy action/adventure novel with a heavy dose of coming of age and a side sprinkle (very light, just a teeny dusting) of romance.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, for which I willingly give my own opinion, though I did get an audio copy from my local library as well.

#cindachima #childrenofragnarok #runestonesaga #yafantasy #scandinavianmythology #norsemythology #vikingfantasy #youngadult #yathatisactuallyya #balzerandbray #harpercollins #netgalley

This is my first Cinda Williams Chima book, though I’ve heard her name mentioned often in the fantasy fiction world. I'm definitely going to be looking up some of her other works after this! The world building in this book was really strong - I liked the magic system and the use of the Norse setting and mythology. But what I liked most of all was the characters. It felt like it ended in a bit of an odd place, even for the first in a series, but it was still really excellent and I can’t wait for the next one!

Representation: nonbinary people mentioned, disabled characters mentioned

CW: domestic abuse, alcoholism, slavery, self-harm, gore

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers for sending me this E-arc in return for an honest review.

Vikings, Norse mythology have been something I have always loved, even before Thor became even more popular after his marvel comics were made into movies. I loved seeing Viking influences in England, especially in York, learning of what they had named it as Jorvik. Chima does an excellent job of crafting a story full of ancient magic and Norse mythology weaved together. Both main characters I found quite intriguing, as both continued in their journeys that would often cross one another. There were many layers to uncover as the story progressed, and so many clues hidden in the beginning that helped us understand why certain events happen. I love fantasy books that are immersive with a wide world to sink my mind into, and this one did not disappoint. I can't wait for the second book!

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima is an epic historical fantasy rooted in Norse mythology and doesn't shy away from its darker aspects.
Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
I love the cover. It's gorgeous! And the fact that the story is based on Norse mythology has my imagination tingling. The description tells of a story full of magic and with lots of action and adventure, both of which I love. It is listed as a YA book, so that can mean teenagerly things I don't care for, but it doesn't sound like a story that would have stuff like angst.
Actual Reading Experience:
I found the story to be engaging and compelling without fail. Everyone knows that I get bored very quickly, but not once do I lose focus when reading this story because there was just too much action for that to happen.
I love that the author was not scared to embrace the darkness of the times reflected in the book. The world was not a happy shiny place back in early Norse history at the time of the Vikings, nor is it a happy shiny place in this book. The story reflects the barbarism that existed then and the fallout from that kind of world to perfection.
I felt like I got to dive deeper into Norse mythology than ever before, and I loved it. It's so complex and fascinating. Also, it is much more violent than Greek/Roman mythology, which also has some brutal aspects.
The only thing I was the least bit disappointed in was the cliffhanger at the end. I do not care for cliffhangers, instead preferring soft conclusions. Partly because they…well…leave you hanging, as this one does, at such a crucial time. And because I feel like the author doesn't trust my love for their characters enough that they realize I will want to follow the tale to the end on that alone. It's a teaser of the meanest kind.
Characters:
Eiric is the epitome of the swashbuckling hero. Descended from two different Gods, he has much more potential than even he realizes.
Liv is Eirics half-sister who came to live with them when they were young. Her history is a mystery but one she discovers the answers to as the story unfolds.
Reggin is a thrall who can bring the dead back to life. But she has no idea where her magic comes from or how to control it. When she is freed from captivity by a spinner and brought to New Jotenheim, she hopes to learn about her magic and, ultimately, about herself.
All the characters have troubling lives and pasts full of hardship and sorrow that have helped shape them into the characters we meet. They are all well-developed and complex, shaped by the scars you can see and those you can't.
Narration & Pacing:
The narration is in the third person and focuses on two characters alternately: Eiric and Reggin. Both of their tales are exceptionally compelling and only intertwine at a few random points, which gave me a much broader understanding than I would have had otherwise.
The pacing is relatively quick, as plenty of action and thrills keep those pages flipping. I loved the pace, especially in a fantasy with so much world-building. Sometimes that world-building can slow things down in other books but not this one.
World-building / Use of Setting:
I found the world-building to be exceptional. The details are superb and pulled me into the story in a comprehensive sensory manner. I experienced the basicness of the buildings in the village and the much more elaborate structures on the islands of New Jotenheim with my whole being. I could smell the firewood, feel the cold and wetness outside, and hear the wind whistling through the cracks and crevices of the long homes.
I also loved the magic, which was a combination of elemental magic, rune magic, and healing nature magic. The magic system is so diverse as some stems from the Gods themselves, while other magic is carried through mortal bloodlines. And yet one more magic - elemental magic - is so old that it invokes fear in other magic-wielders for being more potent than anything they can produce.
Read if you like:
• Dark fantasy
• Norse mythology
• Great character-driven story

Norse mythology's Ragnarok has occurred and the survivors are just trying to get by in a world without magic. Eiric Halvorsen, a young man trying to keep his family and farm safe, crosses paths with thrall and magic user Reggin. He believes her dead after a fire at an alehouse, but their paths will cross again. Reggin manages to escape on a boat bound for the magic-filled land of New Jotunheim, but all is not well in paradise. Eiric is drafted by a local jarl to find New Jotunheim. He, his sister Liv, and another set out to find it. He will wish that he didn't.

First I would like to thank Netgalley/the publisher for providing me with an ARC :)

Now I will say I haven't read a lot of high fantasy in a while so I was hesitant on if I would understand the story as well. I can say that since it was based on Norse mythology that it was easier for me to follow. This was highly entertaining to read. There were a few areas that still needed to be completed within the arc (that someone with the actual book won't have to deal with) that were confusing. The Dual POV/multi POV was amazing. I loved each character and was excited to learn more from each which I think is rare due to most people disliking at least one of the main characters. I do wish that some things like the character Asger had been flushed out more. He seemed to change characterization halfway through the book which was weird but that also might be explained in the next book. The world building is great and I loved learning more and more, it is easy to understand. I think the antagonist might be vague/over-simplified, so hopefully that is finessed a bit more in the next book.

I think this book is great for anyone who is just getting into High Fantasy, who loves Norse mythology and/or someone who wants more of a pg-13 version of the TV series Vikings.