5 stars – A true adventure fantasy full of fantastic world-building, details, and an epic character arc/journey

This full cast epic adventure fantasy series is steeped in Nordic lore, but full of the creative energy one expects from a seasoned writer like Cinda Williams Chima. It is the kind of fantasy story that I love because its content is appropriate for all ages, but still completely engaging and compelling. Part mystery, party adventure, filled with magic, coming-of-age, secret identities revealed, as the characters assemble for the epic battle at the end of the world.

1000 years after Ragnarok magic is dying out and no one worships the old gods anymore. A mysterious girl is brought home by Eiric’s seafaring father. Where did she come from and why did his mother take her amulet away and change her name? Who is this girl and where did she come from?

Reggin is a thrall (slave) whose master is a magic sucking fire demon from the now destroyed land of Muspelheim. He is stranded in the Midlands and uses Reggin to survive, until Eiric (now a young man) intervenes and aides her in her escape. Where she is able to meet a Spinner (one who uses magic) and is offered a freedom she’s never imagined… passage to New Jotenheim, a haven where she can develop her magic, but not is all what is seems to be.

Life has been tough for Eiric, with his parents dead he and his sister are left with their abusive, alcoholic, and greedy stepfather Sten. Sten thinks that he should inherit the family farm instead of Eiric, but when things go awry Eiric's whole life is changed. His only hope is retrieving a precious artifact for the Jarl from a mysterious island, but Liv won't let him go alone.

I loved it. I loved the epic capturing and imagining of what life might be like for people after Ragnarok and the creative development of the characters. It was beautifully done and I am desperately wanting more.

DNF, the language is a bit too complicated for the intended audience and it loses the story completely.

The summary really grabbed my attention. Sadly, I can't say the same about the book. I never felt a connection with the characters. Some parts were just very confusing, and it could've perhaps benefitted from a tighter edit.
There is a lot of worldbuilding, as this is the first book in the series. I'm not sure I'll check out future books.

The midlands is home to humans, stuck between the worlds of gods and demons. Odin gave much to learn the future and spent his life trying to avoid it. But the end of his world came anyway. Now the midlands is a barbaric place with very little magic and even less hope for the future.

Reggin Eiklund is a thrall, or slave, to Asger Elder, a demon stranded from the fiery world of Muspelheim. She works as a singer, healer, and seer while Asger travels nearby, always watching. He abuses her and draws out her magic to strengthen his own. She is offered a chance to escape to the mysterious Temple at the Grove, promised safety and a chance to learn about the magic she didn’t realize she had.

Eiric Halvosen is an angry young viking, falsely convicted of murdering his mother and step-father. A rich jarl offers to pay the blood fee if Eiric takes on the job of locating the Temple. As he prepares to leave, his half-sister demands to go with him across the sea, along with an untested stranger willing to learn to sail in return for adventure. And it appears that only with her help will Eiric be able to locate the hidden island where the Temple is located.

This is the first in a series, so much of the book is spent worldbuilding. It is a complicated world, especially for those less familiar with Norse Mythology. (Even the movies about Thor barely touch on the information crammed into this book.) It is slow going. Very slow. As a fan of Chima, I pushed on but I don’t know if my high school students will do the same. The story could be tighter and would appeal to many more readers. It is a slog, even for fans of Norse mythology - and Cinda Williams Chima.

3.75, rounded down. I slogged through this one and never felt connected to any of the characters. I loved how it started and was more connected to Eric and Liv than any other characters, but I found myself disengaged and confused from when Eric was shipwrecked until the end. This one just wasn’t for me…