After reading a physical copy of this arc, I have to say the audio does this story justice. You can really feel connected to the characters and the world and the use of accent is great.

Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to listen to this audiobook. I think I would prefer to read it. The vocabulary was difficult to understand making it hard to follow the audio book.. It would be much better in book form with a glossary to consult.

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, part adventure, filled with magic, coming-of-age, secret identities revealed, as the characters assemble for the epic battle at the end of the world. 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.

Lots of adventure and surprising twists to keep me glued to the story. I got a bit confused about the people of power on the magical refuge island, but it did not stop me from enjoying the story and I look forward to the next installment.

A fantastical novel. Chima does it again with magnificent world building. A slow start as she builds the landscape and creates an entire world for her reader, but then the action picks right up and we are taken on two seemingly separate adventures. The reader gets to see the two stories entertwine and stay on the edge of their seat. A great start to another sure to be amazing series from an amazing fantasy writer.

I have never read anything by Cinda Williams Chima before, and I feel like that was a mistake.

The most magical part of this book, in my opinion, was the immense world building. The book was dense and long, but the world building was full of showing instead of telling its readers what the world was like one thousand years after Ragnarok. As a person who only knows Norse mythology through the media, I think Cinda did an amazing job tying all the things known about this mythology while creating her own world.

The cast of characters were thrilling, and I found them all to be relatable and interesting. There was so much that kept me going to learn more about them and their secrets. Our main cast is Eiric, a 16 year old who has taken care of his family for so long, he ends up in trouble when he doesn't head his mother's warning to leave before things get worse. Our core three includes Eiric's half-sister Liv who was dropped off at their family farm by their father after one of his many voyages. Eiric doesn't know much about Liv's past before she came to live with them, but he does know his mother has some of the items Liv came with hidden with no intentions of telling her.

The last of our core cast is Reggin, a thrall (slave) who is forced to performed in a new town every week. Things seem to never change for Reggin until one day, she brings a person from her audience back from the dead. Now everyone wants a piece of her, and she doesn't know what to do, let alone how to evade her captor.

The best part of this literary experience, for me, was the fact I listened to this novel through the audio book. It made the adventure and atmosphere so real, and I felt like I was right there next to Eiric and Reggin as they each learned new things about their environments and the people who surrounded them.

I love the place this ended, and it almost feels like this first book is the exposition for the entire series - in the best possible way. I found this book to be absolutely thrilling, and I can't wait to immerse myself into this world fully in the future.

For all my fantasy, epic adventure friends.... you need to read this.

That's all.

Thanks to netgalley for the advanced readers copy!

This was interesting and enjoyable read. My kiddos enjoyed it as much as I did. Can’t wait to see what comes next

I liked the start of this book, but quickly lost interest. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I liked the author's writing and the characters were ok, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the story.

If you don't invest in this author's work... YOU ARE MISSING OUT!

I was so excited to see a Norse book hitting the markets soon, then I saw who wrote it and my mind was blown. I own a set of her books and my teen has reread then over and over because they are just that good. She even gives them a better review than she does Harry Potter, which for her says more than you realize.

This novel pulled me in and those hooks didn't let go even after I finished reading. But now I mourn the fact that it will be a literal year before I get to see book 2. (TT_TT)

If you are unfamiliar with the Norse mythology, I suspect this book will be a doozy. For those more familiar than the basics that Marvel throws your way, you will definitely be pleased. The world-building is phenominal and really helps you do a head dive into the culture that Chima wrote in. If you have read any of her series, you will recognize the pattern here. Book one gets you into the world and it builds from there. So don't expect a swift resolution to what comes up in these pages. You have to let the drama marinate to get the full flavor and effect. ^_~

The addition of the brother/sister duo was interesting and I'd definitely say older teens might find it just as fascinating because of that particular note of relatability.

What a journey! No one really knows what happens after Ragnarok. Magic has been a thing of the past but when Eric's dad comes to shore with this strange child claiming it was his half child. Once Eric's mom sees her she agrees to be the child's mother as long as she is able to hold onto her special necklace. Eric's father found her while he was out Viking and had his wife take care of her.. When Eric is of age, his abusive stepfather has plans to take the farm away rom Eric and Liv. Erik and Liv are forced to work for another person due to a "unfortunate event. As they are sent to work with this man they are sent on a mission to the Temple at the Grove. Where magic is said to still be alive there.

Another part of the story starts with Reggin Eiklund who is traveling healer. Her master is a fire demon named Asger. Reggin draws the attention of two wyrdspinners after one of her amazing performances. She is able to escape her terrible master for a chance to learn magic at the Temple Grove.

What mysteries await Eric, Liv, and Reggin at the Temple Grove? Are the gods truly dead?

The Midlands are a dangerous place to be since the final battle at Ragnarok wiped out the rest of the 9 Worlds and most of the Norse gods. Magic is gone, refugees from the other 9 Worlds lurk in the shadows, slavery is rampant, and justice is used to serve the purposes of the unjust. The entire book feels like a slow and methodical introductory piece that sets the stage for the war brewing under the surface. It’s a brutal place; and the characters are hardened and tough, the only way to survive. As you get to know them, you begin to see each as a person just looking for purpose and satisfaction in the hard existence they must scrape out in this harsh forsaken world.

Runestone Saga: Children of Ragnarok is an epic fantasy tale set in the Viking era.

The story follows Reggin and Eric, the former of which is a thrall to a demon and the latter of which is a young Viking raider devoted to his family. Their stories intersect at one point and then diverge again. There is much world-building here and the pace is a bit slow for much of the book.

When not raiding, Eric spends his time trying to ensure the safety of his mother, half-sister, and new baby brother. As his family is ripped apart, Eric and his sister are forced to go on a trip to retrieve artifacts for the local war lord. Meanwhile, Reggin escapes the demon on a ship bound for a secret land where those with magic thrive.

Intentions and morality start to get murky as Eric and Reggin separately attempt to do the right thing. This story is in the same vein as Ursula K LeGuin, but the pacing could be improved.

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.

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…